Page 75 of House of Ydril

And he turns to walk away.

“What about Leo? Any news?” I demand, frowning because he obviously had no intention giving me an update on the investigation, as he likes to call it.

He stops, but he doesn’t turn around. “No. And I thought I said we’re done for today,” he snarls and disappears.

And just like that, I’m left standing there like some fool, baby cakes echoing in my mind and making me want to grit my teeth.

And still no news, huh, I think to myself as I start making my way back to my room to get changed. I guess I’ll have to do this investigating thing on my own then. But just as I prepare to enter the Ydril Tower, I see a guy approach me with a nervous smile on his face.

Chapter thirty-three

It’sbeenfortythreeminutes and Longborn still hasn’t texted me back. I’m back in my quarters and I’m supposed to get ready for a meeting with the Archduke, but I can’t seem to get it together. I keep pacing around the living room and checking my phone every five seconds.

After I told her we were done for the day, just before I left the training grounds, I caught a glimpse of a guy standing near the entrance, seemingly waiting for her.

And I tried to fight it, I did, but I ended up doing it again.

I pretended to leave, but I stayed behind, taking cover behind one of the oaks in the castle garden. With gritted teeth, I watched the guy sniff after her as she made her way to the Ydril Tower. And with bated breath, I eavesdropped on him asking her out to the Ball.

As I waited for her to give him her answer, I felt hot rage course through my entire body. How dare he, that little fucker.

But just as I balled my hands into fists, I saw her shake her head for no and I let out a long breath, feeling tension leave my muscles.

As fast as I could, I went back to my quarters and grabbed a card off my desk. Grinning, I wrote, “Good girl,” attached the card to a box of chocolates I picked out just for the occasion and gave it to Max to deliver ASAP.

He’s the only one who knows about them, my little presents to Miss Longborn. But just as I was about to enjoy visualizing her reaction once she received this one, Amelia came knocking on my door.

Pissed, she was so pissed about me forgetting to come to her as soon as Longborn and I were done with training. I don’t know what came over me, but I ended up telling her it was over. She started yelling, saying I can’t just break up with her and proving once again how far above everyone else she thinks she is.

“You think I’m stupid?” she finally demanded. “You think I don’t know who this is all about?”

“I’ve no fucking idea what you’re talking about,” I snapped at her.

“Well, good luck,” she said with a mocking scoff, “because that girl doesn’t seem to choose who she’ll flirt with.”

Now, that made my ears prick up. I got in her face, every muscle in my body tensing up. “Whatdo you mean by that?”

She just shrugged and left the room. My mind was buzzing so much, I just kept standing there. All I could think about was the guy from earlier. Did he go look for her again? Or is Amelia talking about someone else entirely?

Of course, I know what kind of person my ex is, and I did try to tell myself she’s probably just making stuff up to spite me. But there was no going back. I’d already gotten so worked up about it that I eventually made the mistake that I’m suffering for right now.

I found an excuse to text Longborn. “I’ll have to postpone tomorrow’s training by half an hour. Would that be okay with you?”

That was fifty two minutes ago, I think to myself as I check my watch while pacing around the living room. And I did realize it was a stupid and pointless thing to do, but only after I’d already sent the bloody text.

Now I have to suffer the consequences, being unable to think about anything else other than the fact that she still didn’t text me back. Or maybe she did do it in the meantime.

I tell myself this will be the last time. I grab my phone from the coffee table and pull up the messages.

Still no reply. Just ‘Seen’. I never knew a single word could get me so worked up. I grip the phone with both hands and stop pacing, cursing myself for being so stupid.

And I try to tell myself not to do it, but my fingers move of their own accord. They open the chat with Longborn and type, “Not even going to dignify me with an answer?”

Once the message is sent, I just keep standing there, staring the screen down.

It startles me, when they suddenly appear, the three dots that mean she’s typing.

I wait with bated breath for what seems like eternity. Then a message finally appears. “I thought you said we’re done for today.” I canhearher fucking tone.

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