Malia’s POV
If Ronan thought of my question as random or unusual, he didn’t show it. Or maybe it wasn’t as unusual as I thought.
“Of course he was there but he showed up pretty late,” he replied and then went on to mutter something about Derek taking him for granted just because they were quite close.
My thoughts churned in my head at his answer. It could mean that Derek had been in the library with Lila.
The book must have been a distraction to lure me away from my seat which was not too far from the door.
Or what if I was just overthinking this? Probably he had come to take a book from the library and his bracelet had fallen.
Ronan shook me gently and I gave a start.
His eyebrows were knitted together in concern. “Is something wrong? I’ve been saying your name.”
“It’s nothing,” I replied with a small smile.
“Indeed. That was why you looked so lost earlier,” he scoffed.
I thought of something else I could say to erase his concern about what I had been worrying about.
I cleared my throat.
“I was just imagining what it would have been like for you and your brother if your sister had grown up here in the palace,” I said.
I regretted those words immediately after they left my mouth. His countenance became drawn and he gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“You shouldn’t be thinking about that,” he said calmly. “If she was here you’d have a competition. I wouldn’t be paying you as much attention as I’m doing now.”
I smiled nervously trying to gauge how badly I had ruined his mood. His joke didn’t fool me.
“Aren’t you tired of sitting on this chair reading a book? There are a lot of interesting places to see in this palace,” he said suddenly, rising from his seat.
I took that as my cue to stop reading and to get to my feet. I had been hiding Derek’s bracelet under the book I was reading, so I pretended to adjust my shoes and slipped it into my ballet flats.
I just hoped I didn’t do much damage to it while walking.
I stood up holding the book in one hand and took Ronan’s hand with the other.
He arched his eyebrows.
“What? I’m not done with it yet and I can’t afford to come all the way down here from my room every day. It’s almost like walking to the ends of the earth,” I complained.
Ronan chuckled at my comparison. “You’re going to need the exercise. It’s healthy.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I’m healthy enough as it is,” I said.
“Indeed,” he murmured.
“And I want to give this book to Derek. He barely has knowledge about anything apart from fighting,” I said.
Ronan grinned. “Don’t let him hear you say that.”
“Even if you give the book to him, I doubt he’s going to read it. He hates reading. I remember when the Gamma forced us to read an ancient book on fighting.
He had sat with us in the library just to supervise our reading. You should have seen the look on Derek’s face. He seemed miserable,” he finished.
I chuckled and hoped it didn’t sound like I was faking it. The wheels in my head were turning and I was coming to a conclusion.
It sounded as if Derek couldn’t be caught dead in a library. According to Ronan, he disliked reading. So my first assumption was correct. Derek and Lila must be having an affair.
I had never even seen them together. Not once. So how did they get to start lusting after each other? I wasn’t sure yet if it was love.
And if it was….
“We’re here,” Ronan suddenly announced and I blinked in surprise. I had been so lost in my thoughts and only vaguely aware of going down about three flights of stairs.
He opened the oak door and we stepped inside.
I squinted my eyes a little at the sudden brightness as I gasped.
We were in a conservatory. The glass roof and walls provided an abundance of natural light. This room was really bright and airy. There was a glass door at the other end that led to the outside world.
The flowers here were the main focus. There were all sorts of beautiful poisonous flowers ranging from the lily of the valley to wolfsbane.
I had to restrain myself from touching.
“My mother adored this space. She regarded it as one of her most prized possessions. We can say she created this room,” Ronan stated as he offered me a pair of hand gloves.
“Your mom sure did have a thing for dangerous stuff,” I observed.
“You have no idea,” he murmured as he put on a pair of gloves.
“They’re so beautiful. I have to say that this room is the best in this palace,” I gushed.
Ronan arched an eyebrow. “You haven’t seen all the rooms,” he said.
“Your mama had excellent taste. If this was her favourite room, I’m sure it’s going to be the best one,” I declared.
With my hands covered, I reached out to touch the belladonnas first.
“It’s amazing how such beautiful things can be poisonous. Deadly,” I commented.
“Nature is wise. They’re deadly because they’re so beautiful. It protects them,” Ronan said.
I nodded in agreement. If they weren’t so poisonous, they’d be plucked indiscriminately, eaten more often and wasted.
“She particularly liked this one,” he said, touching the aconitum flowers. Wolfsbane.
My eyes widened in surprise. “Your mom was an enigma. Why would something that can particularly kill your species be your favourite?”
He shrugged. “It beats me too. But my mom was kinda different when it came to most things,” he answered.
“I would have loved to meet her,” I said.
“Yeah. You’re like her in a way,” he said.
“But I’m not weird,” I protested.
“If you say so,” he replied with a teasing grin.
I glared playfully at him and he chuckled.
“Does anyone ever come here apart from you?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Apart from the person who tends to this place, I’m not sure there’s anyone else.”
“Not even Ryder?” I asked.
He opened his mouth to say something when the door opened.
“Well well well, if it isn’t my two favourite people in the world.”