Elara’s POV
Even though Alistair felt jealous, he kept it bottled up inside. Still, he had to do sothing about it.
"Alright, sweetheart," I said to him.
The big light on Alistair’ chest blinked a few tis before settling into a steady heart shape. I leaned against his arm and hopped up onto a high stool. When I glanced up and caught his adorable reaction, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
"Sweetheart, want to have a drink with ?" I asked.
Silas had been ssing with , so now I’d toy with Alistair a bit. He was such a pushover anyway!
I wasn’t an idiot. I knew exactly which buttons to push on which guys.
"Elara, you’re playing gas with ..." Alistair said, his voice tight.
He slowly raised his robotic arm, paused for a second, then finally settled it around my waist. He dipped his head down, pressing his cool tal forehead against mine.
"You know I can’t drink," he added quietly.
"Then you’re in debt to . Pay back when you get out of here, deal?"
"Deal..."
That single word carried a hint of lancholy. His spirit collapse had hit quite a high percentage. He had no clue when he’d get his communication systems back online.
Thank God he still had his natural abilities to fall back on. Otherwise, he’d be screwed since I really wasn’t into his beast form.
Alistair hung around the kitchen with while I knocked back a bottle of ale. As I sat there drinking, he whipped up a couple more dishes.
I filled Alistair in on everything that went down with Beatrix and the crew at Glimraven Port, including all the drama with Cassian.
I was stone-cold sober. I just felt chatty when I looked at Alistair.
It was different from being around Silas, where I only had one thing on my mind.
"That sounds dangerous. But Beatrix’s your cousin?" Alistair asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. And those idiots fell head over heels for her. I’m telling you, ever since I divorced them, I’ve had this crushing weight on my chest that just wouldn’t go away. After tonight’s chaos, I finally feel like I can breathe again."
Alistair stopped chopping, went silent for a beat, then let out a soft sigh. "Elara, you’ve been through hell."
I waved it off. "Not . She was the one who suffered..."
I caught myself before I said too much.
I am her now. That poor original owner.
Thankfully, Alistair didn’t pick up on anything weird.
"You... don’t have feelings for them anymore?" he pressed.
"Since when do I have such terrible judgnt?" I shot back. "I only got with them initially to avoid getting booted from the family. Later on, I figured out they weren’t worth the trouble. Honestly, when they started hooking up with soone else, I wasn’t mad or heartbroken. I was just mortified. They’ll sleep with anyone—absolutely no standards..."
By this point, I was genuinely hamred, my face burning red.
I clutched my glass, wobbled slightly, and slid down from the stool. Alistair panicked and reached out to steady , but I just threw myself at him, wrapping around him like a koala. I stared at the heart-shaped light on his chest and started giggling.
I might be boy-crazy, but the attraction had to go both ways. If Alistair wasn’t into , I wouldn’t want him no matter how gorgeous he was. A girl should never chase after guys.
I whined, "Sweetheart, carry back to my room."
I saw Alistair gulp hard. He seed to barely keep it together as I launched myself into his arms. I was just too much for him to handle—so tiny, so soft, slling so good, and now throwing myself at him. I could tell just by looking at him that the sight alone was testing his limits.
I started sliding in his grip. Alistair quickly caught .
I was incredibly llow when drunk, my cheeks flushed pink. The second I curled up in Alistair’ arms, I conked out imdiately, letting out soft little snores.
I was wiped out, plus I’d had way too much to drink. No wonder I crashed so hard.
——
Alistair shook his head and carried Elara back to her room. The weather had been sweltering lately, so he adjusted the temperature down once they got inside. After getting the little drunk tucked in properly, he finally pulled his consciousness back to his own hospital room.
Before going to sleep, Alistair set an alarm. Elara had stayed up so late tonight; she’d definitely sleep in tomorrow. He wanted to get up early to make her breakfast.
In Chamber Seven, Silas stared darkly at the tablet in his hands. His Elara had certainly kept busy tonight.
——
Elara’s POV
Back in my room, the mont I drifted off, Dorian slipped into my dream.
"Elara..."
Dorian showed up in human form but with beast ears, his big fluffy shape padding into my dreamscape. I was completely exhausted, so even in the dream, I was just sleeping.
Dorian tilted his head and nuzzled gently where I lay curled up in a pile of straw in the dream. Then he shyly crawled up next to .
The dream sun was a bit too harsh. I groggily opened my eyes and t Dorian’s sweet face...
I mumbled, "Your Highness? What are you doing here?"
Dorian bit his lip and whispered, "You made a promise. But you stayed up so late. I searched everywhere for you..."
Hearing that, I closed my eyes again. I reached out and pulled Dorian into my arms, making his face turn bright red.
"Elara..."
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