ARIA:
"Are you leaving again?" I sat up immediately and he got to his feet and walked towards the window.
He lowered his head and peered out like he was watching out for someone while I waited for him to answer.

A deep sigh came and he turned to me. "No, I am not. I would have told you before I did."
"It's not like you tell me anything," I scoffed in disregard and turned the other way. I could feel his intense gaze on me. Then I heard an audible sigh. "What? Are you going to defend yourself now and tell me it's all a lie?"
"No, I won't," He replied. "I know you're right and I'm sorry it's this way. Hell, an apology does nothing but you get where I am coming from, right?"
With a sigh, he nodded. "Yes, I do. But I wasn't going to leave without telling you anyway. I wanted to take a look outside."
"Because that's where you want to be," I laughed. "Am I wrong?"
I felt the bed dip before his arm snaked around my waist and pulled me into his chest. "You're very wrong. This is where I want to be. In your arms, around you. It's the only thing that makes sense to me right now."

There was a wistful hint in his voice. One that made me turn to face him immediately. "Is something wrong?"
"No, why?"
I could tell he was lying. From the way he stared at me, the way his eyes glazed over, told me something was wrong. "You're lying. You look like something is definitely wrong."
He laughed. "I hate how it's so easy for you to read me. Not everyone can do that. In Fact, it's just you who can read me this easily."

"I guess I know you way better than they do. Plus, I am also your mate."
A knock sounded on the door before he could reply and I jolted, sitting up and looking towards the door. I could feel the thud of my heart against my chest and Daneesha's words came back to me. She'd asked that I minimize the way I spent time with Lyall.
But I was doing just that and it definitely didn't feel right.
Lyall, on the other hand, seemed really calm. He grabbed me by the wrist before I could get out of the bed, brows raised in confusion. "Why do you look so panicked?"
I shook my head immediately and laughed. "Nothing at all. I'm just worried about who's knocking. It's probably Daneesha."
"And who the hell is Daneesha?"
"She's my maid," I laughed. "The one you appointed to me."
"The one who's also your friend?" I nodded. "So why do you look like you're doing something bad?"
I slid back into the bed and stared at him with a sigh. "What we're doing is wrong in everyone's sight."
"And what does it matter what they think?"
I laughed. "You speak like you don't do the same."
"And you doing just what I do justifies this action? Does it make you feel good?"
"No, that's not what I mean—"
"It's fine," He cut me short before he climbed out of the bed and grabbed his tonic. He slid his arms in and buttoned up his shirt. "You're right. We're doing wrong by everyone. I need to leave. I have something to attend to."
I blocked him from leaving with both of my arms. "Why do you sound like this? You know I love spending time with you. Do you know how bad it is on me that I am your mistress? You get to go scot-free while I bear the brunt of it all. Can't you see that?"
"Like there's no pressure on me, huh?!" He snapped. "You know what, fuck whoever is out there by the door. I don't give a shit. What I am concerned about is how you perceive me."
My eyes brimmed with tears and I tried not to let it out, staring up to the ceiling and blinking several times before I looked back at him. "That's what you think? That there's more pressure on the Alpha King than there is on a mere palace maid?"
His expression softened and he walked towards me with outstretched arms. I backed away from him, shaking my head in disdain. "Do you know what your wife has done to me in your absence? And you tell me there's pressure on you because you're with me?! You know what? Fuck you! Get out of my room. Now!"
"What are you talking about? What did Sheila do to you?" He asked, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Speak, Aria!"
"No, I will not," I pointed towards the door. "Leave."
"I will not. And you won't do a thing about it."
I began to walk towards the door with the intent of pulling it open and showing him out but he grabbed me by the arm, stopping me. "Tell me what she did to you, Aria!"
"Let me go, Lyall!" I yelled. "Leave me the hell alone! Go out there and attend to your Kingly duties. You're starting to be a pest!"
"I don't care what you say. You must tell me what Sheila did to you! You can't keep these things from me. How do we work this out if we can't communicate with each other like fucking adults?"
"There is no communication to be done," I tipped my chin towards him, hating how his eyes automatically dropped to my lips. "You made it clear from the onset that I am nothing but your mistress. You said it out loud to everyone even in my front. How can I believe you wouldn't do the same with Sheila? Defend her even if she is wrong?"
"You know that's not true— Aria!"
But I had already shifted, tearing from his hold and running towards the balcony. I jumped several feet from above, landing on the ground before I broke into a run, zipping past the palace gates and startling the guards manning the gates. Even with Lyall's voice calling out to me from my room, all I wanted to do was to be out of here. I didn't want to be anywhere close to a man who didn't see me as important enough to make things clear to everyone.
Why did he get mad that I was uncomfortable with people being aware that we spent time? Like he wasn't the worst? Like he hadn't told everyone that I was merely a mistress he would toss out as soon as he got what he wanted from me?
Like he hadn't kept quiet when Mason called me all sorts of terrible names? He had the guts to be mad when I was getting mistreated by his Queen.
I increased momentum, running straight towards the cliff, past bushes. Twigs and branches snapped in my wake and I didn't stop until I got to the fountain.
I shifted back to my human form and as soon as my feet hit the water, I broke into tears, sinking into the running water and letting my sorrows drown in it.