The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145 To Stand With You

“Those are both good points. I just don’t want you to get hurt in the process of being noble.”

“Too late for that. I’ve been hurt. We’ve all been hurt. This is about stopping the bleeding before it kills us all.”

Clara bumped her shoulder against Elera’s. “You’re a good person, you know that? Annoying and complicated and with way too many secret identities, but fundamentally good.”

“Thanks. I think.”

“It’s a compliment. Most people in your position would just destroy their enemies and be done with it. You’re trying to save them. Even the ones who’ve been trying to destroy you.”

“I’m not trying to save Xan,” Elera said. “He’s on his own.”

“Are you sure about that? Because I saw your face when you called him. You looked sad. Not angry, just sad.”

“He could have been different. In another life, another set of circumstances, he could have been a good man. But he chose to be this instead. That’s what makes me sad.”

“That’s fair.” Clara hopped down from the counter. “Come on. Drakonius is making dinner and he gets personally offended if we’re late. Something about respecting the craft of cooking. It’s very cute.”

“Drakonius is cooking?”

“Badly, but with enthusiasm. It’s adorable.”

They found Drakonius in the kitchen, wearing an apron that said “Kiss the Cook” and frowning at a pot of something that smelled suspiciously like it’s burning.

“I’m making pasta,” he announced. “It’s going poorly.”

“I can see that,” Elera said, peering into the pot. “Did you boil the water first?”

“Was I supposed to?”

“Yes. That’s like, step one of making pasta.

“The recipe didn’t say that.”

“It’s implied. It’s one of those things everyone just knows.”

“I don’t just know things about cooking. I have people who cook for me, anyway, this was a mistake.” He took off the apron. “Should I order something?”

“Yes,” Clara and Elera said in unison.

“Pizza?” Drakonius suggested.

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Chapter 145 To Stand With You

“God, yes. Extra cheese.”

Finished

While they waited for pizza, they sat in the living room and talked about nothing important. What movies they’d seen recently, which books were good, whether pineapple belonged on pizza (it did, fight me, Drakonius had said, starting a fifteen minute argument).

It was normal. Blessedly and wonderfully normal. And Elera needed normal right now, before tomorrow brought whatever chaos it was going to bring.

Later that night, after pizza and bad TV and Clara finally going to bed, Elera found herself alone with Drakonius. They were on the couch in his study, her feet in his lap, his hands absently massaging her ankles.

“Are you scared?” he asked quietly. “About tomorrow?”

“Terrified. But I think that means I’m doing the right thing. The easy things don’t scare us. It’s the important things that make us afraid.”

“That’s very philosophical.”

“I’m a woman of depth and mystery.”

“You’re a woman who’s about to willingly walk into a room with someone who wants you dead and tell her that her entire understanding of her life is wrong. That’s not a mystery, that’s a martyrdom.”

“A little bit of both?” Elera offered.

He pulled her closer, until she was basically in his lap, her head resting against his chest. “I love you,” he said simply. “I know I freaked out after the gala. I know I pulled away. But I’m done with that. I’m all in. Whatever happens tomorrow, whatever happens after, I’m with you.”

“You’re choosing a terrible time to finally commit to this relationship. Right before I potentially get murdered by a vengeful woman in a coffee shop.”

“That’s how we roll. We do everything the complicated way.”

Elera tilted her head up and kissed him. It was soft, gentle and full of all the things they hadn’t said yet. All the futures they might have, if they survived the present.

When they finally broke apart, Drakonius rested his forehead against hers. “Promise me you’ll be careful

tomorrow.”

“I promise. Frost will be there. You’ll be there, I’ll be surrounded by people who will tackle Sarah if she tries anything violent.”

“That’s only mildly reassuring.”

“It’s the best I can do.”

They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped up in each other, both of them trying not to think about what tomorrow might bring.