Chapter 56
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“Elijah, you have to let go,” Fiona managed to say, her voice strained as she tried to catch her breath. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, squeezing her so firmly that she could barely move. Despite the joy that filled her heart, she couldn’t help but feel like he was trying to crush her in his embrace. “I can’t breathe,” she added, giving him a playful tap on his back.
Elijah finally loosened his grip, his eyes shining with a mix of relief and happiness as he pulled back just enough to look at her. “Sorry,” he said softly, though there was a smile playing on his lips. “I just needed to make sure you’re really here, safe.”
Before Fiona could respond, Elijah leaned in and kissed her. The world seemed to stop for a moment as his lips met hers. The kiss was slow, gentle, and filled with all the emotions he hadn’t been able to express during the hours of tension and uncertainty. Fiona melted into his arms, her heart soaring as she kissed him back, her hands resting on his chest as she pressed closer.
The kiss deepened for a moment, and Fiona felt warmth spread through her, easing the tension that had built up inside her. She had missed him–missed his touch, his presence–and now, with his arms around her, everything else faded away.
When they finally pulled apart, Elijah rested his forehead against hers, his breathing slightly uneven. “You’re okay,” he whispered, almost as if he were reassuring himself.
Fiona smiled, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek. “I’m okay,” she confirmed softly, her heart still pounding from the kiss. She looked around and realized they were back in Elijah’s study, the familiar warmth of the room wrapping around them. After the intense questioning and her release, Elijah had brought her straight back to the palace, refusing to leave her side for even a moment.
“I was so worried,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “When they arrested you, I thought…” He trailed off, shaking his head as if trying to push away the memory.
Fiona placed a hand on his chest, her fingers lightly tracing the fabric of his shirt. “I’m here now,” she said, her voice steady. “And they released me because the truth came out. They found the poison, just like I said.”
Elijah nodded, his expression softening as he looked at her. “I know. As soon as they confirmed it, I couldn’t wait to get you out of there. I wasn’t going to let anyone take you from me.”
Fiona laughed, the sound light and teasing. “Elijah, I was only there for an hour,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
Elijah gave her a serious look. “An hour too long,” he replied, his arms tightening around her again, though this time with more gentleness. He smiled, then glanced at her more closely. “You lost weight,” he said, frowning slightly. “I’m going to have the guards punished for starving you.”
Fiona’s eyes widened in disbelief before she burst into laughter, her head resting against his chest as the sound filled the room. “They didn’t starve me. I wasn’t even there long enough for that!” She shook her head, still chuckling at his overreaction.
Elijah shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, they kept you in a dungeon. That’s bad enough. Someone’s going to answer for that.”
Fiona rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the warmth she felt from his protectiveness. “You can’t punish them for doing their jobs,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Watch me,” Elijah teased, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe and taken
care of.”
Fiona’s heart swelled at his words. She rested her hand against his cheek, her voice softening. “I know you will,” she whispered. “But I’m safe now. We’re both safe.”
For a moment, they simply stood there in the quiet of the study wrapped in each other’s arms. After what felt like forever. Elijah finally decided to let her go.
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Chapter 56
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“So, how did you find out about the Prince?” Fiona asked. She immediately understood that the reason why Elijah was late was because he wanted to know about the Prince that Fiona was accused of harming.
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Elijah handed Fiona a cup of tea, steam curling from its surface. “Here, drink this. It’ll help you relax,” he said, his voice soft but still carrying that protective tone.
Fiona took the cup with a grateful smile, wrapping her fingers around the warmth. “Thank you,” she said, taking a small sip. The calming herbs in the tea soothed her nerves almost instantly, and she couldn’t help but feel a little more at ease.
Elijah settled into the chair across from her, his sharp gaze softening as he watched her. “Poisoning isn’t uncommon during the Rites,” he explained. “That’s why we’re all so careful with our food and drink. When I heard about what happened, I immediately sent someone to check on the prince, just in case there was more going on.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It didn’t take long before we found something–black blood. It was enough for me to assume there was poison involved. I figured you discovered it too, so I used that to prove your innocence.” His lips tugged into a slight smile. “Although, it didn’t seem like you needed my help.”
Fiona lowered her cup, processing his words. She hadn’t even realized how close Elijah had come to solving the problem on his own. “How did you know I found out about the poison?” she asked, curious now. “I didn’t get a chance to tell anyone before they arrested me.”
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