Serenah sat silently in the front passenger seat. She was so humiliated by Alastar's behavior in the school parking lot. Her mark still throbbed with Romeo's anger. For a brief moment, she thought Romeo would attack Alastar. She had stopped him but just barely.
Her instincts told her that he would be trouble for Alastar in the fighting department. Alastar was good; Romeo would be better even if he were human. Serenah was great at gauging people's skills and abilities. Her observational power allowed her to survive in her father's hostile court and avoid the nobility who sought to use and abuse the powerless youngest princess.
Alastar's irritated aura filled the car. It suffocated her in many ways. She couldn't wait for them to arrive at the law firm. She needed distance between her and her brooding guard. They arrived and she gratefully sighed. She moved to open her door but froze when Alastar grabbed her left arm.
He dug his finger into her arm and she yelped, "Ow!"
Serenah whipped her head around, her surprised gaze on Alastar's scowling expression.
"Let go, Alastar!"
His response was to dig his fingers into her arm even more. Tears welled up and she gasped. She grabbed his hand and tried to move it.
"Let go!"
Alastar yanked her toward him. She reached out her free hand to stop herself from colliding into his chest. His other hand came around and grabbed her chin in a bruising grip. Fear filled her. This wasn't the Alastar she knew.
"Listen well, Princess. His Majesty has ordered that you only do your school work and tasks related to the internship. You are not allowed to do anything else. If you choose to defy his order, the consequences will be severe."
Alastar gazed deeply into Serenah's eyes. A chill stole over her. This man was alien to her. Gone was the friendly, smiling Alastar she remembered. Before her was a person with unknown motives. Her heart hurt. Was this all an act? She didn't know anymore.
She didn't want her trust in Alastar to be a lie. He'd been by her side since childhood, same as Lael. They were her constant companions. It would be too cruel if it were all an illusion.
"You understand what I just said, Princess? Be obedient and get rewarded. Disobey and feel His Majesty's wrath."
Alastar's probing gaze stabbed at her until she lowered her eyes. Anxiety and fear mixed with denial. Had she really been that wrong about him?
"Do you understand, Princess?" His words lashed her as his fingers dug into her jaw.
She nodded and he released her. He got out of the car. After a moment, so did she.
Once inside, they silently headed to their department. Serenah's mind was in a frenzy. She didn't know how to feel or what to think. The possibility of Alastar's betrayal ate at her.
She forced herself to take a calming breath before walking into the department room. The familiar buzz of the employees calmed her. She needed to focus on doing a good job today. She pushed aside her thoughts, smiling at the adults in the room. She returned their greetings before going into the conference room.
Romeo sat in his usual chair. He glanced up and smiled at her. She felt her heart melt at his happy grin. Warmth spread from their bond into her. She basked in. Here was safety. Here was home. She slid into the seat next to him.
Shyly she looked at him when he threaded his fingers through hers. The contact grounded her. Made reality stabilize for her. "Romeo," she whispered.
"Sera, feel better?"
"Yes." And she did. He always had this effect on her. He soothed her soul and heart in so many ways. Idly, she wondered if it was the same for him. Did he burn for her as she did for him?
"Penny for your thoughts."
She blinked, focusing on Romeo. It took a second for his words to sink in. She laughed. She'd not heard that saying before. Must be an Earth thing. What did money have to do with her thoughts?
"My thoughts aren't worth that much. I was thinking about how much you mean to me," she honestly replied.
He gave her a surprised look as he turned completely to face her. She blushed from the intensity of his gaze, fidgeting nervously. Had she upset him with her honesty? She didn't realize that she was trembling until Romeo's hand caressed her cheek.
Her eyes widened, and her gaze zeroed in on him. His gentle expression almost pulled tears from her. When was the last time anyone had looked at her that way? Years. In fact, the memory of that last time was faint. Her mother was the last one who had shown such an expression to her.
She closed her eyes, leaning into the touch of his fingers on her cheek. Her breath slowly blew out, a stillness coming over her. In this moment, she only wanted to feel and not think about anything.
"Sera, let's finish our work. I can't wait to share my surprise with you."
She opened her eyes, staring into his eyes. "Okay."
She felt his reluctance to let go of her through their bond. She grinned, reassured of his feelings for her. She focused on completing her work, falling into an easy rhythm.
Beside her, Romeo did his work quickly and efficiently. Time flowed peacefully by. A knock on the glass door brought Serenah up from her deep focus with a start. Mr. Lancaster stood there.
She poked Romeo's arm. "Romeo, your father is outside."
Romeo glanced up, saw his father, and stood. "Give me a second, Sera." He went out of the room, closing the door behind him. She saw them through the door talking. A few minutes later, they both came inside.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Lancaster."
"Good afternoon, Sera. Can you come with me to my office? I need to discuss some things with you."
Serenah's heart lurched. Was she in trouble? Had her father and sister done something to sabotage her one haven? Anxiety rose, sharp and biting, blending with the fear that her dreams were about to be destroyed. She stood and went to the door.
She followed him to his office, throat dry with worry. Was today going to be her last day here? Would her father and sister finally shatter her? She closed her eyes before opening them. She steeled herself for her dreams to end.