Chapter 46
Azalea’s hands were trembling as the ball came to an end. The chatter and laughter of the guests felt distant, muffled by the weight of Bennett’s words. Every step she took away from the grand hall felt heavier than the last, her mind spinning with confusion and fear. Federico was by her side, his strong presence giving her a sense of safety, but the silence between them was thick, filled with unspoken questions.
Federico led her down the long corridors of the castle, his hand resting gently on the small of her back. Azalea glanced at him from the corner of her eye, his face stern, jaw clenched. He hadn’t said much after Bennett’s dramatic entrance, but she could tell he was processing everything. The tension in his shoulders was palpable, and she could feel his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
As they reached their chambers, Federico opened the door for her and followed her inside. Azalea felt the overwhelming need to collapse, her legs weak from the emotional strain of the night. She sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the sheets tightly, trying to steady herself.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Why is Bennett after me? What does he mean?”
Federico remained standing, his eyes dark as he looked at her. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice tight. “But I will find out.”
Azalea let out a shaky breath, her mind still racing. “Maya… she seemed scared. But I don’t even know her. How could she be involved?”
Federico frowned, pacing back and forth. “That’s what bothers me. None of this makes sense.” He paused, turning to look at her, his expression softening slightly. “But I swear to you, I won’t let him hurt you. Not ever.”
There was a sincerity in his words that made her chest tighten. Despite the chaos of the evening, the confusion, and the fear, she found herself drawn to him. His protectiveness, his strength-it was comforting in a way she hadn’t expected.
Federico walked toward her, standing close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You don’t have to be afraid, Azalea. I’m here.”
Her breath hitched at the tenderness of his touch. The world around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in the dimly lit room. She looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest for reasons she couldn’t explain.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice soft.
Federico’s eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to her lips. He hesitated for a moment, as if fighting an internal battle, but then, in one swift movement, he closed the distance between them.
His lips met hers in a kiss that was both unexpected and electric. Azalea’s heart raced as she responded instinctively, her hands moving to his chest as she leaned into him. The kiss deepened, the tension between them dissolving into something more heated, more desperate.
Federico’s hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer to him, and she felt the world tilt as he guided her down onto the bed. The weight of his body pressed against hers, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered. Not Bennett, not the confusion, not the fear. Just them.
Azalea’s hands slid up to his neck, pulling him even closer, her mind spinning with the intensity of the moment. She could feel his desire, the way he held her, the way his lips moved against hers, and for the first time in a long while, she felt wanted. Needed.
But just as quickly as it had begun, Federico pulled away. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stared down at her with wide eyes. His hands trembled as they hovered over her as if torn between staying and leaving.
“I can’t,” he whispered, his voice strained. He pushed himself off her, standing up abruptly and running a hand through his hair. “I can’t do this.”
Azalea blinked in confusion, her mind still foggy from the kiss. “Federico…”
He shook his head, backing away. “I’m sorry. I-” He swallowed hard, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and something else-something darker. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Azalea sat up slowly, her heart sinking as the weight of rejection settled over her. “Why did you stop?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Federico looked away, his jaw clenched. “Because I can’t let myself get… attached. This isn’t right. None of this is right.”
Her chest tightened at his words. “Attached? What are you talking about?”
He let out a bitter laugh, running a hand over his face. “You think I don’t feel something for you? That I don’t want you?” He shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. “But I can’t. I can’t allow myself… to fall for someone like this. Not with everything going on. Not with Bennett, and the kingdom, and…” His voice trailed off, his eyes filled with torment.
Azalea’s heart ached at his words. She had felt something, something real, but now it seemed like it had all been a mistake. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. “You don’t have to feel anything for me, Federico. I know this is all complicated, but… I don’t want to feel alone.”
He looked at her then, his eyes softening for a brief moment, but the hardness quickly returned. “You’re not alone, Azalea. But I can’t give you what you want. I can’t give you what you need.”
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving her sitting on the edge of the bed, her heart shattered.
Azalea felt the tears spill over as the door closed behind him. The loneliness she had feared so deeply settled over her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her. She curled up on the bed, pulling the covers over her as she let the sobs wracked her body. She hadn’t realised just how much she had wanted him to stay, how much she had needed his presence.
But now, she was alone. Again.
—
Across the castle, in a different chamber, Federico paced back and forth, his mind spinning. His body still hummed from the kiss, from the way she had felt beneath him, the way her lips had moved against his. He wanted her. God, he wanted her more than he cared to admit.
But he couldn’t allow himself to fall for her. Not now. Not with everything happening around them. Bennett, the kingdom, the weight of his responsibilities-it was all too much. He had to stay focused. He couldn’t afford distractions, not when the stakes were this high.
He ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. He had let his emotions get the better of him, and now he had made things more complicated than they already were.
But despite his inner turmoil, he couldn’t stop thinking about the way her lips had felt against his, the softness of her skin, the way she had responded to him. It drove him mad, the way he couldn’t shake the memory of her.
He berated himself for kissing her, for losing control, but deep down, he knew the truth.
He didn’t regret it. Not for a second.