EVANDER POV
I stood up fast. Pulling Ember behind me, so my body would block her from Isadora's prying eyes. My heart was thumping, partly from the fake heart attack but mostly from the pure rage bubbling up in my gut.
"What the hell are you doing?" I roared. My voice bounced off the stone walls like a physical blow. "I don't care who your father is. I added, "Nobody walks into my private chambers without a knock."
Isadora stood there, her green eyes darting to the floor then back to me. She looked like she'd been slapped. The innocent look from earlier was gone, replaced by a mask of guilt that I didn't buy for a second.
"I... My Lord, I am so sorry," she stammered, dipping into a low bow. "The Council said you might be unwell after the trial. I thought to check up on you. I didn't realize you were…she rolled her eyes over then paused and said. "Busy with your staff."
"Out," I hissed. I took a step toward her, the shadows in the room thickening. "Now. If you ever cross this threshold again without an invite, I'll have the guards toss you into the moat. Move!"
She scrambled back, her silk skirts rustling as she vanished into the hallway. I slammed the door and bolted it, the heavy thud echoing through the room.
I turned back to Ember. She was huddled in the corner, clutching the towel so tight her fingers were turning white. She looked embarrassed , but her eyes were sharp as flint.
"Who was that?" she asked. Her voice was low.
"Nobody," I said.
"She doesn't look like nobody, to me tho," she mumbled. Tightening the towel around her. "So tell me, what happened with the council?" she stared at me with her cute eyes.
I let out a rough sigh. "That was Isadora. The Council is trying to force a marriage. They think I need a Queen to keep the throne in check."
"Uhmmm…I see," she replied. Slightly biting the side of her pink lips, she was lost in thought.
"Is that all you have to say?" I asked, trying to figure out what she was thinking about.
Ember's face went totally blank. She looked down at her bare feet. "Oh. Your future wife. I... I'm sorry, Evander. I shouldn't have been like this in front of her. I probably made you look like a mess."
"Don't do that," I snapped, walking over to her. I reached out to touch her shoulder, but she flinched. "Don't apologize for being here. You're the Anchor. She's just a political move. She doesn't mean anything."
"Right. A political move." She gave me a weird, tight smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I'm just the help and she's a political move, seems you have a role for everyone around you,I get it. She moved her eyes to meet mine . Then she added; I'm not upset or anything. Why would I be? I'm just a 'medicine' remember?"
"Ember—" I called out, trying to reach her, but she pulled away.
"I'm gonna go get dressed," she said, cutting me off. She walked past me with her shoulder brushing mine–heading back to the bath room.
"What could be her problem now?" I asked myself feeling confused.