His Forbidden Mate
Part 42

Kailani’s POV

I stayed curled up in the ball on the bed and I’ve remained this way for the last three days of my return from the capital.

It did not surprise me that the prince didn’t come after me, or send words. I took it as his way of moving on with lady Shewa, whom he referred to as his childhood friend. It hurt because that wasn’t the Edward I knew, or maybe this was the real Edward and the one I knew was a lie.

They would have much in common and she’d be a much better mate than I’ll ever be. She had the name, the grace and confidence, and I could tell she didn’t have a tainted past as I did. I would settle for my life as it was and make the most of it. It would take time to get over him, that was for sure, but I would get over him in time.

My door cracked open as Jane stepped in. “Should I bring you dinner in bed?”

“I’m not hungry,” I mumbled and sniffed.

“You have said that in the last three days. You’re going to break down without meat in your system, Ani.”

That was the aim.

A part of me didn’t want to exist anymore. There was no point. I didn’t think I’d be this affected by his absence, but I did, and it sucked. I had given too much of myself to him, and now I couldn’t function without him.

She made her way over to the bed where I laid and sat beside me. “I know it hurts, but you have to move on from him.”

“I love him,” I said, tears running down my face.

She took my cold hand into hers and squeezed down on it. “And he’s not worth it. If he cannot choose you above all others, he’s not worth it.” she barely finished when I heard a knock on the outer door.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked, raising a brow at her as I wiped my face.

“No, I’m not.” She released my hand and rose from the bed before leaving the room. I heard the door open, and a scoff left Jane’s mouth almost immediately. “What else do you want? Haven’t you done enough?”

“Can I see her, please?” Edward’s voice came through, desperate but calm.

“She doesn’t want to see you, not after what you did.” Jane remained firm on her stand.

“I know what I did was terrible, but I need to see Kailani, I need to see her.” his voice trembled in a scary way.

Jane must have seen something that changed her mind about him because she ushered him in. “Then come in.”

Not long after, my door opened again and Jane stood at the door. Her eyes showed a sceptical emotion as she stared at me. “He’s here wanting to see you.”

I nodded and pulled myself up, and she widened the door to reveal Edward.

His eyes looked dull and the light his eyes usually had was no longer there. His face had become paler and his lips dry. He had a dark line under his eyes and I wondered if he had found sleep in the last three days. My heart went out to him and I wanted to hug and hold him, but I remembered what he had done. I maintained silent and just watched him.

“Leave us, Jane.”

She didn’t want to, but I didn’t give her the chance to rebel. She nodded, glanced at Edward with narrowed eyes and left the room, leaving us alone.

“I’m sorry,” Edward began immediately after the door shut behind him.

“For what?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“For everything. For not telling you the whole truth. I’m sorry for what happened at the banquet a for not coming here sooner. For hurting you, for taking your love for granted. For not realising how much you meant to me.”

“You don’t have to do that Edward, you don’t have to come here and try to make me feel better. I can take the pain. In time, I will move on and get over what we were.”

He took a step forward, and I glared at him. “I don’t want to get over you. I don’t want you to get over me.”

“You do. If you didn’t, you would have put lady Shewa in her place when she placed her hands on you. You would have told your father about me. You would have told him I was your woman. And you wouldn’t have kissed Shewa back when she kissed you.”

“Kai…”

I cut him off, “Do not tell me that wasn’t it because I know what I saw and I can’t compete with that, her and so I won’t. She’s a better match for you. She’s from a notable and well-respected house. As your mate, your reputation would remain untainted, and you will have no reason to watch your back every time. She will bear you beautiful babies and you would never have to wonder what the world says about her because it would only be good things.” painful tears ran down my face and I wiped it off and blinked the rest back.

“I don’t want that. I know what she can give me. I thought about it and I know it all, but I don’t want that.”

“Do not do this to me, Edward. The pain is grave, but it will go. I will get over you and move on with my parlour as I always have. You will also move on. Let’s not torture ourselves any more than we have.”

“Being with you has never been torture, Kailani. It has been the opposite of that. And you’re right, I haven’t been honest and open with you, but I am here now, hoping to do just that.” he took another step forward and my heart raced in its beat.

“Don’t.” I held my hands up to stop him in his tracks.

“You were right. I didn’t tell my father about you. I was afraid of what he would say and I did the easiest thing, which was to hurt you. Father wants me to unite with lady Shewa. He already gave his blessing to that union.”

“Then why are you here instead of going with her?”

“Because she doesn’t have the one thing I need the most. Peace.”