CHAPTER 185: PROMISE ME

The moment Lumina stepped into the chamber, the irritation in Ashen’s voice struck her like a blade.

Serena had helped her till she got to her chambers, she purposely didn’t come in for her own reasons.

"Where are you coming from?"

The words froze Lumina where she stood. His tone wasn’t loud, but she could tell immediately that he was angry. His back was turned to her, his hands clasped tightly behind him.

Everyone around quickly avoided the scene not wanting to get their master furious.

"Hey... you are back," Lumina murmured, trying to soften the tension in his voice. But her words trembled, betraying the fear she was trying to hide.

"I asked you a question." He repeated and she gulped nervously.

Of course, he already knew. Somehow, Ashen always knew. His sources were like the wind but always there before anyone else.

"Stella," Lumina called weakly, and Stella hurried over, reaching for her trembling hands.

Lumina’s fingers were cold as she clung to Stella’s warmth for strength. But Stella could only watch helplessly as Lumina stepped closer to Ashen.

Ashen turned toward her, feeling her moving toward him, and he only watched as she walked until she got to where he stood.

Her hand trembled as she placed it gently over his chest.

"You shouldn’t speak to me like that," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I was already sad before coming here."

Ashen’s eyes flickered down to her, stormy. "Where you have been is what determines whether I will be angry," he said quietly, "or if I will understand why you’re sad."

Lumina swallowed hard. "Ashen..."

He turned his head away from her as he asked. "You went to Adam, didn’t you?"

Her heart stuttered at the name. She pressed her forehead against his chest, the scent of his skin grounding her. Her arms wrapped around his waist tightly, as if her embrace could make the anger fade.

"I am going to be more sad," she whispered shakily, "if you stay angry with me."

But Ashen didn’t move. His hands hovered by his sides before he roughly pried her arms off him. The sound of her bracelet clinking against his armor filled the silence.

"Were you ever going to tell me?" His voice was lower now, more dangerous.

She lifted her eyes to him, tears pooling at the corners. "Ashen..."

"Answer me," he cut in, "and stop trying to twist your way out of it."

"I planned to tell you," she said quickly, her voice small, "but..."

"But what?" His words cracked through the air.

"I didn’t plan to go to him," she said, desperate now. "He came to me. I had no choice but to listen. I had my reasons, and you shouldn’t be angry before knowing them."

She stepped forward again, her head bowing as she tried to rest it on his chest, but he caught her shoulders before she could. His touch wasn’t rough this time, just firm.

"Lumina," he said quietly, "the next time you go to him without my knowledge, touch the bracelet I gave you. I will feel it so stop giving me weird excuses."

"Ashen.."

"I’m serious." His voice dropped lower, almost a growl. "You have already been poisoned once by him. I won’t let it happen again. My brother cannot be trusted, and I am not going to risk losing you."

His words carried both fear and anger, two emotions she rarely saw in him at once. He turned from her then, the hem of his cloak brushing past her hand as he walked toward the door.

"Ashen, wait..."

But he was gone before she could finish. The chamber fell silent. Lumina’s lips quivered as she bit down on them, trying to hold back her tears. She stomped her foot against the floor, the sound echoing across the room.

"Damn it," she whispered under her breath. Stella took a hesitant step forward, unsure if she should speak. But as she approached, Ashen’s shadow appeared in the doorway once again.

He turned back slowly, his eyes meeting Lumina’s tear-filled gaze.

Without a word, he crossed the distance between them and lifted her effortlessly from the ground.

"Don’t cry," he murmured, his tone softer now. Lumina buried her face against his shoulder, the fight within her fading.

Stella exhaled in quiet relief. For a moment, it felt like the storm had passed.

But she herself wasn’t well. She hadn’t left the chamber since Lumina’s poisoning, staying close in case the antidote’s effect faltered.

Lumina had ordered her to remain indoors, but now, as the two reconciled, Stella’s body trembled.

A faint burn spread through her veins the same sensation that haunted Lumina not long ago.

"Stella?" one of the other maids whispered when she saw her sway.

"I am fine," Stella lied quickly, clutching her chest.

Her breathing grew shallow, her skin paling under the light that filtered through the curtains.

"Should we call for help?" another maid asked, panic flickering in her voice.

"No," Stella said again, waving them back weakly. "Let them settle their differences."

Her voice broke at the end, and she pressed her hand against her side as the pain deepened. The other maids exchanged worried glances, torn between obeying and acting.

Lumina lifted her head slightly from Ashen’s shoulder, sensing the tension now.

"Stella?" she called softly. But Stella smiled through the pain. "I am all right, my lady. I just need to rest early."

Ashen’s gaze followed the trembling maid. He frowned slightly but said nothing as the others guided Stella toward her room.

The chamber quieted again once they left. Lumina sighed out so loud again

"Ashen," she said softly, "I didn’t mean to disobey you... Stop getting mad at me."

He sighed, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "I know. But every time you are near him, something bad happens. I can’t protect you from everything if you keep walking toward danger."

His voice wasn’t angry anymore it was tired, he had gone to get her from the chambers when Aris told him she had left for Adam.

Lumina leaned into his touch, nodding slightly. "I will be careful," she promised.

"Promise me," he said, his tone almost pleading now.

"I promise," she whispered.

He looked down at her for a long moment before finally pulling her close again, his chin resting atop her head as he found his way to their inner chambers.

But even as she clung to him, Lumina’s thoughts wandered back to Adam’s words. His threat still echoed in her mind like a curse.

Her heart clenched painfully. She couldn’t tell Ashen yet.