- What are you talking about?
- Olivia was paid to drug him and take him to that room. - she fired. - It fell like a duck on her lip.
I frowned. Now I remembered feeling dizzy after having a little sip of the drink.
- Damn it! That's why I felt so bad. - I shot him making another face. - After sipping a sip of the beer she had brought, my head started to spin and I was very dizzy. I tried to get up to get out of there and she offered to help me get to one of the rooms.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Olivia drugged him and handed him over to three thugs, who decided to have some fun before killing him.
Aila stared at me for a moment. Then he went to the edge of the bed where he had put the basin and took it with enough anger to make the water spill on the ground. If I didn't know Aila, I'd say she was jealous, that's why she was so angry.
- Are you angry because I was drugged or are you jealous?
She stared at me shooting my eyes with her intense emerald look.
- Me? Jealous? - ...she asked almost laughingly. - Looks like they hit your head too hard.
- Maybe so, but I recognize a jealousy crisis when I see one.
- You're wrong! I'm not jealous! - ...she's been poking around. - I'm angry because, while I was sleeping, you decided to flirt with some woman, even though I was waiting for dinner. What do you think I'd do when I got to the inn and saw you in Olivia's company?
I let out a growl.
- Damn it! Dinner! - I whispered by passing my hands over my face. - I'd forgotten I asked the innkeeper to tell me I was expecting you for dinner. I assumed I'd wake up hungry, because we hadn't fed in a long time.
Aila shook her head in a frustrated gesture.
- I really thought I'd become a different man than the times I'd seen him, and luckily this marriage is a cover-up, because I want to get an annulment after we've reached our goal. Imagine my suffering if you stand by your side.
- Aila... - I tried to interrupt her, but she kept going.
- Your ego has put you in danger once again, Your Highness. - ...she accused him of bragging. - I risked my life to save yours this time, but I swear it won't happen again.
- Aila, I...
Aila moved away towards the door. Before I left, she stared at me with a dark look.
- Don't call me Aila. My name is Bree.
With a dry knock on the door, Aila disappeared behind the wood. I put my hands on my face and took a deep breath. I hit the bed mattress with my fists clenched. He had really been an asshole to accept Olivia's drink and let her stay, even though he knew that Aila could show up at any moment. I did not intend to seduce her in any way, for I was too tired to possess a woman that night. I had accepted the drink out of politeness and tried to explain that I was married, but I got dizzy and couldn't say anything more. Now I knew the reason. Aila was right to scold me like that. We could have both died. The good part of all this is that I knew Aila was biting herself in jealousy at the fact that Olivia had stopped with me in a dump room. The hope of being able to conquer it was kindled in my chest. The soaps had been a gesture of affection, because I knew very well that women valued something like that and Aila was not so different. Behind all that warrior posture there was a sweet girl and I intended to reveal that layer.
Chapter 17
Bree
I leaned back on the balcony chair and watched the fine rain that fell. The night promised to be cold. I took the mug of tea to my lips and sipped the hot liquid. I was thinking of Alec's disenchantment with his words when he insinuated that I was jealous of Olivia. There was no reason for me to feel jealous and I didn't like Alec that much either. Actually, I didn't even like him. I confess that, for a moment, I thought of Alec as a sensitive man who cared about someone other than himself, but I was wrong. Luckily, I could see that in time to do something foolish. There was no way to trust people, they'll always find a way to hurt us or hurt us. I was already tired of being hurt or injured and had enough marks to keep me alert.
- Excuse me!
A soft, fearful voice almost whispered behind me. I turned to face Olivia's gaze.
- Ah! It's you! - he said, concentrating on the rain again. - Shouldn't you be home, miss?
- I told my uncle I'd come visit Alicia. - she responded by getting closer. - She owns the inn, and sometimes I help her with her chores.
- All right! All right! Why aren't you helping her instead of being here bothering me?
Olivia froze back one step. There was a time when I was much kinder to people, but I learned the arduous feathers not to be so kind, especially when I was angry. At that moment I was like a steaming volcano and ready to explode. I just wish for a little peace.
- I swear I didn't mean to
