Killian turned his head, and when he saw Selena and me, he started walking toward us.
"S-Selena?" he stammered, looking between the both of us. His eyes finally landed on me, and he moved closer, but I stepped out of his reach and pointed at Selena.
"She's Selena. I'm Serena," I said, clearing the confusion. I stretched out my hand for a handshake, and he shook it. Sparks flew, and the butterflies I thought I'd buried began to flutter in my belly.
His eyes held mine. "I'm so sorry — I'm Killian Reign, Selena's husband."
He struggled on the last word like it took a lot to say it, which caught both Selena's and my attention. We exchanged a quick glance.
"Nice to meet you… again."
**********************
The party finally ended.
I had pulled off the heels I wore — my feet were aching like hell. I sat down on the bed in the room prepared for me. The party ran late, and Killian insisted I stay the night for my safety. I didn't want to, but he wasn't taking no for an answer. Eventually, Selena added her two cents, and I finally gave in.
I was exhausted, but I couldn't sleep.
I got up, took off my dress, slipped into the nightgown Selena lent me, and wore the fluffy slippers too. With no real destination in mind, I wandered the hallways until I found myself standing in front of the library. I'd always found comfort in the presence of books, and the mansion's library had quickly become a favorite of mine during my stay.
I stepped inside, heading straight to the shelves. My fingers brushed along rows of thick spines until I picked out a book — a romance novel, oddly enough. Not the type of book I expected to find here. Who the hell had been reading this?
I moved to the couch, but the room was dim, lit only by moonlight. So I got up again and sat by the window sill, letting the pale light fall on the pages.
"You're also pregnant?"
The voice I'd tricked myself into forgetting came from behind me, and I jumped.
"Oh my God! What the fuck?" I snapped, clutching the book like a shield. "Why are you sneaking up on me?"
"Ouch. Sorry. I didn't know you didn't realize I was in here too," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I saw you when you came in."
I rolled my eyes at myself. I hadn't even looked around.
"It's fine. I didn't check my surroundings," I whispered. I stood to leave, but his arms suddenly snaked around my waist, stopping me.
What the fuck?
"Huh?" I blinked, words failing me. "What's going on?"
"Relax," he said, pulling back. "I just wanted to know if Selena has a medical condition I should be aware of."
He gave me space, and I let out a quiet breath of relief.
"Huh?" I repeated dumbly. "You're asking me? Isn't she your wife? Your fifth-year anniversary was tonight, for fuck's sake."
"Is she bipolar?"
My jaw clenched. Calling my sister crazy — even if she was crazy — wasn't something I took lightly. Pot, meet kettle.
"Excuse you?" I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you think she's bipolar?"
"Don't get me wrong," he said quickly. "I just feel like… before I went on that business trip last month, we were living in peace. In love. But ever since I got back, it's like I don't even know her anymore."
I stiffened.
In love…
That was how he felt with me.
I sighed and stepped away. "Mr. Reign, my sister is perfectly healthy. She has no history of mental illness."
I picked up my book and moved to the couch, clearly hinting that the conversation was over.
"Serena, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was calling her crazy. I'm just… confused."
He followed and sat beside me. "I won't talk about it again. Can we just… talk?"
I turned to face him. "Talk? About what?"
This is getting out of my control, I thought.
"Why didn't you come for our wedding?" he asked. "I don't remember seeing you there."
The question landed like a weight in my stomach.
"Work," I said flatly.
He didn't budge, just stared at me, waiting. I sighed — again.
"I had a lot of workload on my desk. I couldn't make it."
"Oh. What do you do?"
"I'm an auditor. I work at an auditing company in London."
I purposely left the name out.
"Okay."
"Yeah."
The silence that followed lasted a beat too long. Then he said:
"So… you work where the money is?"
He laughed lightly, but I didn't join him. I had unconsciously placed my hand over my stomach, and I felt his eyes drop to it.
"So who's the lucky guy?" he asked quietly, offering a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"No lucky guy," I said with a shrug. "Met him at a bar. One drink turned into two, and before I knew it, it was morning. The rest is history."
I cooked up the story like I'd rehearsed it a dozen times.
"Oh. Still, he's lucky. Regardless."
His eyes were boring into mine, and my heart started to misbehave.
"Yeah. I have to go. This was… nice. Nice to meet you," I said quickly, standing up and heading for the door.
"And also," I added over my shoulder, "stop sneaking up on people."
I left the library before he could say anything else.
I walked fast through the hallway, back to my room. When I shut the door, I leaned against it, my heart hammering. I lifted my hands to my face — and paused.
The book.
I was still holding the damn book.
A sharp laugh escaped me.
God, this was unreal.
I tossed the book onto the chair, climbed into bed, and before I could overthink everything, I was fast asleep.
With Killian on my mind.