Page 43 of Kingdom of Lies

But Kathleen continues peeling off clothing. "Come now, do I not look pleasing enough?" Her tone is sharp, mocking.

I grasp her wrists firmly. "Do not play such games. Talk to me plainly!"

She tries wresting free from my grip. "What more could you want? I have given everything already!"

"Enough pretense, Kathleen! Speak your true heart!" I shout, patience fraying.

"I am only being what you wanted - an obedient mate!" she yells back.

"I want a partner, not a slave!"

"A slave is all I am! You yourself made the contract!"

She hurls the bitter words, the room ringing with accusation and hurt.

"Please, just talk to me as your true self," I implore, softening my tone.

Kathleen's eyes glisten. "I don’t know my true self anymore," she confesses brokenly.

My frustration melts away, heart aching at her anguish. I fold her into my arms.

"Then we will find it together," I murmur. "No more false fronts between us, agreed?"

Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she unleashes a torrent of words. They spill forth uncontrollably, the weight of her conflicting emotions too heavy to bear any longer. "I struggle to reconcile the deep-seated hatred my Grandma holds for your kind... with the intense and undeniable feelings I have for you! I am left with nowhere to go with nobody to talk to... she is the only family I've ever had. This is tearing me apart... what do I do?"

Her raw admission stuns me silent. Seeing my shock, Kathleen continues desperately, "Yes, I confessed love for an elf! Are you satisfied now, my lord?" Sobs wrack her slight frame.

I pull her into my arms, letting her weep bitterly against my chest. My own eyes grow hot with tears, but I bite them back. "Hush now, do not torment yourself so," I soothe once her sorrow begins ebbing. "Your grandmother is unwell - her cruelty is the disease speaking, not her. She raised you with love."

Kathleen looks up at me searchingly. "Then you are not angry that I have fallen for you?" she whispers.

I smile through my own tears. "I could never be angry at you for returning my love." I kiss her tenderly, wishing I could absorb all her pain.

I'm grateful to hear Kathleen confess she has fallen in love with me. Before this distress, she never voiced the true depth of her affection.

Unable to stop myself, I capture her lips in a fierce, passionate kiss mid-sob. She freezes, then melts into me, returning my ardor with equal desperation.

When we finally separate, foreheads touching, her tears have ceased. Cradling her face, I whisper the words buried deep in my heart:

"I love you too, Kathleen. I have for longer than I realized."

She lets out a small gasp, eyes shining. I kiss her tenderly once more.

"Whatever comes, we will face it together," I continue, voice husky with emotion. "You don’t need to bear any burden alone again."

Kathleen's head nods slowly, her trembling lips stretched into a bright, radiant smile. She nestles back into my embrace, seeking refuge from the world in my arms.

I wrap myself around her, enveloping her in a protective cocoon. Our bodies mold together seamlessly, two puzzle pieces perfectly fitting into place. Right now, holding her close to me is all that matters. The softness of her hair against my cheek, the warmth

I’ve never loved anyone or anything as much as the sweet fragile little thing in my arms.

25

DRAKNIR

The morning after our tearful reconciliation, Draknir urgently sends for a renowned healer. The elderly elf arrives in a flurry of vibrant robes and sparkling silver jewelry, his face lined with wisdom and concern. With quick, precise movements, he brings out his bag of tools and kneels beside Grandma's bed. His fingers move with practiced grace as he checks her pulse, listens intently to her breath, and runs gentle hands over her forehead and temples. Every movement is deliberate and purposeful, his focus solely on the woman lying before him.

"Sudden shifts in personality may indicate damage to the brain," he explains solemnly. "She will require round-the-clock care and medicine to manage the symptoms."

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