62

Sixty two
*Freya*
I couldn’t stay here and allow my stepsister to walk all over me. I turned to leave, my vision blurring with unshed tears, when Rafe’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “Kelly, leave us.”
The room fell silent, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating. Kelly whirled around, her eyes flashing with anger. “Excuse me your highness?”
Rafe met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “I said, leave us. I need to speak with Freya alone.”
Kelly’s face contorted with rage, her fists clenching at her sides. She glared at me, her hatred palpable, before silently storming out of the room, slamming the door behind her with enough force to rattle the walls.
And then… it was just us. Rafe and I, alone in the stillness of his chambers. I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears, feel the weight of his gaze upon me. The air between us crackled with an electricity that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
Rafe broke the silence first, his voice low and controlled. “Why are you here, Freya?”
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Why was I here? To confront him about his behavior? To demand an explanation for the way he had been treating me? To tell him that I loved him and didn’t want to lose him?
But as I looked at him, I found myself at a loss for words. There was something in his eyes, a flicker of emotion that I couldn’t quite decipher. Was it anger? Regret? … Jealousy?
“Have I offended you in some way, my king?” I asked quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
He was silent for a long moment, his jaw clenched tight. I could see the muscles working beneath his skin, the tension radiating off of him in waves.
And then, finally, he spoke. “Tell me, Are you involved with Connor?”
The question hung in the air between us, heavy and loaded with unspoken accusations. I blinked, my mind reeling with shock and confusion. Connor? My friend who knew of my love for Rafe? Why would Rafe even ask such a thing?
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. All I could do was stare at him, my heart breaking all over again as I realized the truth.
Rafe, the man I loved with every fiber of my being, believed that I had betrayed him… with his own friend.
I shook my head, unable to form the words to deny his accusation. How could he think such a thing? How could he not see the truth that was right in front of him? I looked into his eyes, I saw the hurt and the anger that he was trying so hard to hide. And I realized that no matter what I said, no matter how much I tried to explain, he wouldn’t believe me. Not now, not like this.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I can’t stay here and listen to you accuse me of something that isn’t true.”
I turned to leave, my heart shattering with every step. “Freya! It was just a question. Freya!” I heard him call my name, his voice rough with emotion, but I didn’t turn back. I couldn’t face him, couldn’t bear to see the anger and the mistrust in his eyes.
The moment I stepped out of Rafe’s chamber, the tears I had been holding back finally burst free. They streamed down my face in hot, salty streams, blurring my vision and making it hard to breathe.
I couldn’t believe it. Connor, my friend, the one person who had been there for me since the day I came to the palace… and now Rafe thought that we were involved? That I had betrayed him in the worst possible way? all because of a stupid hunt?
It was all too much. The pain, the confusion, the helplessness of it all. I had agreed to be Connor’s hunting partner because he was my friend, because I trusted him. I never imagined that it would lead to this, to Rafe doubting my loyalty and my love.
As I stumbled down the hallway, my sobs echoing off the stone walls, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the end. If Rafe’s suspicions had destroyed any chance we had of being together, of building a future that I had once dreamed of.
But even through the pain and the heartache, I knew one thing for certain. I loved Rafe, with every fiber of my being. And somehow, someway, I would find a way to prove it to him… no matter what it took. As I turned the corner, my vision still blurred by tears, I nearly collided with a figure blocking my path. Blinking rapidly, I looked up to see Kelly standing before me, her expression unreadable.
“Freya,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “I need to talk to you. Privately. Follow me.”
I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to refuse. But something in Kelly’s tone made me pause. She sounded… different. Almost worried.
Against my better judgment, I found myself nodding. “Okay,” I said, my voice hoarse from crying. “Lead the way.”
Kelly turned and strode down the hallway, her steps quick and purposeful. I followed, my heart hammering in my chest as we wound through the palace corridors, climbing higher and higher until we emerged onto a balcony overlooking the grounds.
The night air was cool against my skin, and I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. Kelly walked to the edge of the balcony, her back to me as she looked out over the vast expanse of the palace grounds.
“Why did you bring me here, Kelly?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. “What do you want to talk about?”
For a long moment, Kelly didn’t answer. She just stood there, her shoulders tense, her hands gripping the balcony railing so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Then, suddenly, she threw her head back and laughed. The sound was harsh and grating, like nails on a chalkboard, and it sent a chill down my spine.
“Oh, Freya,” she said, turning to face me with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Sweet, naive little Freya. You have no idea what’s coming, do you?”
I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest. “What are you talking about, Kelly?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Kelly’s smile widened, and she took a step towards me. “You think you’ve won, don’t you?” she said, her voice dripping with contempt. “You think that just because you found some stupid golden rabbit, that means you’re better than me. That you deserve Rafe’s love and attention more than I do because he made you his favorite.”
I shook my head, my mind reeling. “No, Kelly, for God’s sake.. I never said that. I don’t think I’m better than you.”
“Liar!” Kelly snarled, her face twisting with rage. She advanced on me, backing me up against the balcony railing. “You’ve always thought you were better than me. Better than everyone. But you’re not. You’re nothing.”
I tried to move away, but there was nowhere to go. The balcony railing pressed against my back, and I realized with a sickening jolt of fear just how high up we were.
“Kelly,” I said, my voice shaking. “Please. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. Can’t we just talk about this?”
But Kelly wasn’t listening. Her eyes were wild, her face contorted with a hatred that I had never seen before. And as she lunged towards me, her hands outstretched, I knew with a sinking certainty that there would be no talking our way out of this.
****