Page 101 of Possession

“Now you see why I was so scared when I found you earlier.” His breaths fall against my cheeks, his eyes shut as he savors the moment, face soft and open. “I care about you, Mary. Everything I do is to keep you safe. If I’m ever away, if it’s ever for long, it’s for you.”

For… me?

I don’t know what to say, almost dizzied by the turn of events. I just stare at him, lips parted in surprise.

“It’s all for you, Mary,” he says and kisses me again.

***

We end up talking for hours, until Henry leaves to talk to the Grand Mage about the wards. By the time I get back to my room, it’s midnight, but I’m wide awake—buzzing, even, as I run through everything. In just one day, I met Jaegen and kissed Henry.

There’s promise, growth towards a future. All I’ve wanted for so long.

But, while I’m pleased, I’m also somewhat removed from my pleasure. It doesn’t make any sense; I should be ecstatic. Henry is finally noticing me—no, Henry has noticed me the whole time. He likes me.

Yet, alone in my room, Aris is the one I’m thinking about.

Chapter twenty-two

The next day, I wake to a knock at my door and a call of, “It’s me.”

Henry.

I stumble out of bed, riddled with nerves. He’s here—right now! My floor is still covered with papers, I just woke up, and I’m a mess! My breath probably smells awful.

“What’s… up?” I say awkwardly, hoping he won’t want to come inside.

“I brought you breakfast. Can I come in?”

Crap. I start sweeping the pages under my bed. “Okay, cool!” I call. The floor is soon clean—clean enough, and I turn around in a few circles to double-check my assessment. Yes, it’s clean. Appropriate enough for Henry to enter.

I go to let him in, but I don’t realize how dizzy I made myself by turning, and I run into a wall on my way to the door. I hiss and rub at my forehead, trying not to let out a stream of curses.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes!” I take a pained exhale through my nose, rub my head once more, then finally make it to the door.

Of course, the second I open it, I’m faced with the perfection that is Henry. Not a hair out of place, no lint on his smart blazer, he is completely composed. It’s almost depressing how put-together he is.

He looks me up and down, eyes lingering on my legs. Normally, I’m fairly covered up, but he has a full view of me in my pajamas. For a moment, I’ve no idea what he’s looking at—or for, until it strikes me that he might find me attractive. Even like this, first thing.

Henry finally meets my gaze and smiles. “Good morning. May I come in?” he asks and steps inside with a large bag and an even bigger smile. “I was thinking we could spend the day together.”

I brighten, following behind him. “Really? I should probably shower first.”

“Nonsense,” he says, opening his bag to reveal a whole assortment of breakfast items. “You look beautiful.”

He sure knows how to shut me up. Trying to hide my smile, I busy myself unwrapping a muffin and taking a small bite. “What would we do?” I ask.

Henry shrugs. “Whatever you want, so long as we’re together.” He catches my free hand, running his thumb over my knuckles. “I almost lost you yesterday.”

The fact that I met Jaegen still hasn’t really set in. I take a beat to gather my courage before squeezing his hand. “I’m here,” I say quietly and meet his gaze. I can hardly understand that someone like Henry would have cared if I died—not because he wanted to use me, but because he would’ve missed me. Because he cares about me.

Cares enough to check in on me. To kiss me. The thoughts are thrilling, but also guilt inducing. After everything he’s done, I went to bed last night thinking of Aris and how he looked in my dream… how it might feel to kiss him.

But that was a temporary bout of insanity, and it won’t happen again. Spending the day with Henry will provide some much-needed clarity.

“Okay,” I say, smiling.

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