Page 31 of My Fated Alpha: The Royals

She quickly turned her back on him, hissing, “Will you please behave?”

“I will, if you tell me you are truly fine.” Stepping in front of her once again, he tipped her chin up, his gaze gently probing as he murmured, “I did not think it was possible you would fall for such a trap. You must have known that illusions are one of the common ways for these woods to kill its prey.”

“I guess I’m just human.” Soleil shrugged uncomfortably, thinking that the marquis was too insightful for his own good. Changing the subject, she asked, “Have you seen the man I was pursuing?”

The marquis grimaced. “I wish you wouldn’t put it quite that way. It makes me wish I could kill him the second time.”

The second time?

A moment later, the marquis was cupping her elbow and gently turning her around, and that was when Soleil saw him.

Wilbur’s corpse was swinging lifelessly mid-air, a rope of vines wound around his throat. Either he had hung himself in guilt, or the wraiths had done it for him.

She closed her eyes and prayed for his soul, even though she knew it was pointless.

“You’re too gentle for this kind of job,” the marquis murmured when she finished praying.

“Gentle,” she reminded him with a deliberately gentle tone, “doesn’t mean weak.”

They started to walk, her hand on his arm, and her stupid sense of humor struck, making her want to laugh at the mostinappropriate moment. There was a dead body behind them, and here they were, strolling like they were taking a walk at the park.

Ilie noticed the way her slim shoulders shook a little. “What’s so funny?”

She froze, wondering if he found her demeanor too cold and insensitive.

Correctly interpreting the dismay on her lovely face, Ilie shook his head with a faint smile. “Be at ease, milady. I’m more amazed than anything that you’ve willingly chosen this type of life, and more so that you’ve been able to maintain any kind of humor despite what you have to face daily.”

“I s-see.” Soleil didn’t like to think of how relieved she felt at the marquis’ explanations. If she did, then it would mean acknowledging she cared greatly about his opinion – when she did not.

Shecouldnot, or at least not just yet.

“I hear your sisters calling to you.”

She blinked. “What for?” That he was telling the truth was not to be doubted. All otherworlders had naturally heightened senses, and more so when they were as old as Ilie, who had roamed the earth for almost a millennium.

Ilie cocked his head. “She says she received a call from Crystal.” He glanced at her. “If you believe it’s urgent, I can take you to them in a second.”

“I suppose it—-” The marquis picked her up in his arms.

“—-could be urgent,” she finished breathlessly, because what was supposed to be a ten-minute sojourn had been completed in two seconds, and she now found herself staring back at her sisters’ sly gazes.

Ilie carefully lowered her to her feet.

“Showoff,” she muttered under her breath.

“Only to serve you, milady,” Ilie said without missing a beat.

“Hurrah,” Fleur exclaimed as she clapped her hands in delight. “You saved her!”

“You’re so lucky,” Aurora gushed, “to have found someone like the marquis.”

Soleil rolled her eyes. “Drop it.” She knew that the only reason they were so intent on pushing her towards the marquis was because they wanted her to agree to be his heartkeeper – and save her life in the process.

But her younger sisters only laughed, and then they were pulling Soleil away from the marquis, their pretty, blood-spattered faces wreathed in smiles.

“Crystal called,” Fleur informed her. “Your new student’s sent word, and the ship carrying her should be docking in about a half hour’s time.”

“She wants you to be her welcoming committee,” Aurora added.

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