His Forbidden Mate
Part 20

My breath grew rigid in my throat, realising who stood in the dining room with the Lanes.

“You’re not Sir Valerio.” I immediately blurted out in an accusing voice, and this made the rest turn to me with a confused gaze.

I had never met Sir Valerio in person, but I was certain he would be much older, greyer, and less annoying.

“He’s not,” Oliver’s mother named Scarlett spoke up, coming into his defence, “My husband is on a royal assignment to the east and couldn’t make it here today despite wanting to. The prince stepped in for him and it was a noble thing to do.”

How noble of him.

My eyes moved back from Scarlett to Edward, who has since not taken his eyes from me. Of all the people I could have run into, it had to be him.

I haven’t seen him since the heated last dispute we had and honestly; I wasn’t looking forward to it. I never wanted to see him again, but fate had its sick way of bringing the worse dreams to pass.

“Do you two know each other?” Scarlett asked, her gaze darting between Edward and me curiously.

I shook my head, “No.”

“Yes!” Edward answered, his gaze on me turning cold. We had given different answers at the same time, and that wasn’t good.

I felt the rather confused gaze of Rue on me and I knew I was doing the exact thing I wasn’t supposed to do. Ruining everything.

“Which is it? Yes or no?”

Edward broke his gaze on me and moved it to Scarlett, who now seemed more confused than curious.

I stayed silent, not wanting to say anything that would worsen things.

“I think it’s a no, I must have mistaken her for someone I know.” he brushed off casually. Sticking to my initial answer and saving me from all the questions that would have risen if his answer was yes.

“Oh,” Scarlett said, looking less confused, and she turned her eyes back to Rue. A smile came to her face. “It’s a delight to have you here, Rue. I am Scarlett, wife of Lord Valerio Lane. Oliver had told me so much about you.” she said, lightening the tight air around them. “He said to make your favourite, so we did. I hope you like it. Please come sit.”

Rue’s favourite was sauced pasta and steak and the Lanes had made it in her honour and that had to be a good sign. I had onto that and prayed for only the best from here on.

We all took our seats around the dining table, with Edward directly facing me. I wanted the night to end perfectly because that was what Rue deserved, but knowing I had the prince in the same room didn’t assure me it will. Tonight’s dinner would tell if Rue would be a perfect match mate for Oliver and if is she was not, the family could step in and refuse their son’s choice for a mate. I fear for a refusal, but I could tell with the prince here, refusal was the least we had to worry about.

I knew the prince was capable of anything; he was a vicious man that didn’t really care about anything, or anyone, as long as he got his way. Such a man could do anything, anything like tells the table the job I do and the face the Rue guardian once stole from him.

They wouldn’t be a lie, but they wouldn’t be an appropriate truth for a time like this. If he reveals my true identity, the lanes would have a good enough reason to refuse their son’s mate.

Once again, the prince had made himself the most powerful player in the room and from the look in his eyes; I think he knew that, too.

Rue and Oliver were smiling fondly at each other as they ate. It was obvious they two were much in love and already had plans set out for themselves and knowing that all that could come to ruin because of me did not seem fair.

I hadn’t told Rue a few things. She didn’t know that I lost the parlour, nor did I tell her about my plans to leave after her marriage. I hoped to keep that hidden for as long as I can. If Oliver was the one for her, then he would pick up where I left off and he’ll make sure she’s never wanting of care and protection.

“You don’t like it?” Scarlett asked with her eyes filled with concern.

I had barely touched or eaten my food because so many thoughts had clouded my mind that all I could do was watch my food.

“I don’t have the appetite for it, I guess, but it’s a delicious meal, Lady Scarlett.” I politely stated and cleared my throat.

“What do you have the appetite for, then?” Edward asked, his eyes moving up and down my face before dropping to my neck and lingering over my weak spot, which he discovered and tortured many weeks ago.

I swallowed as the feeling rushed back into my mind. I had successfully blocked them out for the past few weeks, but he had brought them back by just looking at me.

“I don’t think I want anything at this point. I am full, my prince.”

“You sure?” he asked and for a moment, I almost believed he was genuinely concerned about me. “You’re not hungry for something else?” the emphasis placed on the words as he said them made me realise he wasn’t talking about food. Not really.

He glanced up at me and his eyes locked on mine while he waited for the answer. “No, I’m not. Thanks for the offer, though.”

I will not survive this night. That was for sure.