Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88 A Midnight Return

Elowen watched the maid’s retreating back for a moment, but exhaustion won out.

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She yawned again, got up to wash, and went to bed. She truly was worn out from the long day.

Her head had barely touched the pillow before she sank into a deep sleep.

In her dreams, someone was pinching her cheek not gently.

Rough fingertips were rubbing insistently against her lips, a tingling, annoying sensation.

Elowen finally stirred awake, her eyes blurry. She saw an exceptionally handsome face. looming over her.

In her groggy state, she didn’t immediately recognize him.

“I… I’m married,” she mumbled. “You… should keep your distance.”

The beautiful man in front of her gave a short, incredulous laugh and pinched her nose harder. “Tell me then, who did you marry?”

Elowen blinked slowly, recognition dawning. A sleepy smile spread across her face.

“Oh… my lord. It’s you.” Her tone turned placating. “I married you. I married you.”

Cassian raised an eyebrow. “Do you remember what you promised me? About getting accustomed to each other?”

“Mhm…”

“And you went to sleep without waiting for me again?”

Elowen blinked slowly. “But weren’t you going to stay the night at Miss Wren’s?”

Cassian said, “You’re my duchess. Why would I spend the night with her?”

Elowen whispered, her voice slurred with sleep, Because she’s your true love or something…”

She was too far gone, her words indistinct.

Cassian didn’t catch it. “What was that?”

Elowen didn’t repeat herself. Her eyelids, heavy as lead, began to drift shut again.

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19:15 Fri, Feb 13 TTD

Chapter 88 A Midnight Return

Irritation flickered in Cassian.

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She shows no reaction to me spending time with another woman. Doesn’t even send someone to check on me. Goes to bed this early.

And now, even with me here, all she wants is sleep. Have I been too gentle with her?

A sudden, perverse impulse took hold. His gaze fell on her lips.

They were already full, now even rosier from his earlier ministrations. His eyes darkened.

Elowen found herself in a rare, pleasant dream.

Her brother, Julian, was taking her riding on her favorite, a fiery chestnut horse.

The grasslands stretched endlessly around them Excitement bubbled up, and she kept urging him, “Hurry! Hurry, hurry!”

Her aunt appeared from somewhere and popped something into her mouth.

Elowen felt something rough grinding against her lips. It was uncomfortable.

She frowned and tried to twist away, but the sensation continued. It felt like one of her aunt’s pastries.

Perhaps a lifetime of acquiescence had conditioned her. Thinking she should humor her aunt, she stopped resisting. She even sat down and willingly picked up the ‘pastry’ to eat.

After what felt like a long time, the discomfort on her lips finally faded.

Relieved, she sprang up and turned to Julian. “Julian! The horse! Let’s ride!”

Julian just smiled silently.

So Elowen went to fetch the horse herself.

For her seventh birthday, her grandfather had gifted her a horse, brought all the way from the western steppes.

It had been a small, fine-boned filly then, whose sweat looked like blood when it ran.

Elowen had adored it, even wanting to sleep with it at night.

Later, after injuring her knee saving Alaric, even after it healed, riding always brought pain. She’d forced herself a few times, each leaving her limping for days.

Eventually, it was Daphne who suggested sending the horse away. “Out of sight, out of mind,”

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19:15 Fri, Feb 13 TTD.

Chapter 88 A Midnight Return

she’d said.

Elowen had grieved for a long time.

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Now, in her dream, she saw her beloved horse again and pressed her forehead against its neck.

Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. It felt like her nose was being pinched shut.

Confused, Elowen tried to shake off the feeling and jolted fully awake.

Her eyes met Cassian’s deep, intense gaze. And it was indeed Cassian pinching her nose.

“Awake now?” Seeing her eyes open, he slowly withdrew his hand.

Elowen made a muffled sound of affirmation. Outside, it seemed to be dawn; light filtered through the bed curtains.

Cassian looked down at her, his expression deliberately cool. “Explain yourself.”

Elowen was bewildered. “Explain what?”

“Going to sleep without waiting for me again?”

“I did wait!” Elowen protested, innocent. “I really did!”

Cassian simply watched her, waiting.

Elowen told the truth. “Miss Wren’s maid came to tell me you would escort them home and stay the night. I… I even sent someone to check afterward. They said you had indeed left the manor. I thought since you wouldn’t be coming back, I might as well sleep.”

Cassian let out a short, exasperated laugh. “So you just believed whatever some maid told you?”

“I mean, why wouldn’t I? Why would she lie to me?”

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