Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 259

With her eyes still closed, Elowen spoke in the relaxed, habitual tone she always used with her maid. "Mira, I'm thirsty. Could you pour me some water?"

A cup was placed into her hand almost at once.

Without giving it a second thought, Elowen accepted it and took a sip.

A moment later, however, something felt wrong.

The hand that had offered her the cup was not Mira's. The fingers were long and steady, the knuckles defined, and the skin carried the faint roughness of someone accustomed to sword hilts and riding reins.

That was no maid's hand.

A shiver crept up Elowen's spine. She slowly turned her head.

The first thing she noticed was a familiar wooden wheelchair beside the edge of the pool, its wheels still marked with damp streaks of mud.

Her gaze lifted.

A dark robe fell neatly along a tall frame, the subtle stitching catching the light.

Then she saw his face. Cassian.

His features were sharp and striking, the sort of severe handsomeness that drew attention without effort.

He was looking down at her, his expression balanced somewhere between amusement and calm observation.

Elowen startled so violently that she lost control of the water still in her mouth.

She spat it straight across his face.

Cassian paused.

Warm water slid slowly down his cheek and dripped onto the front of his robe, darkening the fabric.

He did not grow angry, nor did he show the slightest irritation.

Instead, he raised one eyebrow with quiet deliberation.

"Ella," he said mildly, "are you attempting to poison your husband?"

"How could I possibly do that?" Elowen hurriedly protested.

Flustered, she placed the cup aside and began to rise, intending to wipe his face.

She had barely lifted herself halfway out of the water when the surface rippled around her shoulders.

The warm water slipped away from her skin, and the cool evening air brushed against her.

The realization struck instantly. She was not wearing anything.

Color rushed to her face so quickly it felt as though her cheeks were on fire.

In a panic, she dropped straight back into the pool, sinking so quickly that only her wide, startled eyes remained visible above the surface.

"Cas—"

She stopped herself and corrected quickly, her voice turning small and embarrassed.

"Cassian... why are you here? I thought the guard said you had important business tonight and wouldn't be able to come. They said it might be tomorrow or the day after instead."

From Cassian's vantage point, only half of her face was visible above the water.

She looked timid and wary. Cassian studied her quietly, the hint of humor in his eyes growing more pronounced.

"Didn't you say that if I didn't come," he replied calmly, "you would be terribly disappointed and spend the entire trip feeling miserable by yourself?"

Elowen blinked in confusion. She had no memory of saying anything like that.

That's just cruel! Absolutely cruel!

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