The Alpha King's Mind Reading Maid (Cecilia) novel Chapter 191

“What is it you need from me sire?” Landon finally asked, his voice softer now.

I thought about it… It was a weighted question, but the answer came almost immediately as I turned back to look at him.

“Find out where Cecilia was the night of the first consort ceremony,” I tell him. “I want to know about every move she made.”

Cecilia’s POV

The days following the ceremony felt unbearable. The palace was finally cleared of all the Alphas, Luna, and their daughters. There was no point in them staying now that the King had found his mate and ultimately decided to make her his queen.

I knew my father and Diana remained, though I hadn’t seen either of them since the ball. I was grateful for that, but I felt like I had to hold my breath every time I walked around the corner out of fear of runnfrig into them.

My room was still on the other side of the wing from Leopold, and honestly… it was probably for the best at this point. Now that he had a mate, I wasn’t sure I could stomach being around him anymore. I was going to be leaving this palace soon enough; I just needed to wait for Landon’s word of dismissal like the rest of everybody else.

I’ve been trying to avoid Leopold these last couple of days. But Warren made it difficult. At night, he would seek me out… trying to get me to talk to him. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t sure what I would say to him. The kiss we shared kept replaying in my mind, and then when I think about him with Sophia, pain is all I feel.

The library had become my first escape.

It was quiet there. Peaceful. Hidden away from the endless whispers filling the palace halls. I spent most mornings tucked between shelves with books I barely absorbed, hoping the silence would calm the storm in my chest.

It never lasted… because eventually he would appear.

It would be early enough that Leopold would still be sleeping, and when he slept, Warren emerged.

“You’re hiding.”

I jumped at the sound of his voice, not realizing anyone had walked in. I looked up from my book to find Warren leaning lazily against the shelf across from me, his arms folded, amusement flickering in his golden eyes.

I knew the amusement was just a mask, though; I knew better than anyone how hurt he truly was.

Over these last few months, Warren had become my best friend… and I his. Avoiding him hurts me as much as it hurts him, but I wasn’t sure what more I could do. He had found his mate, and it wasn’t me.

“I’m not avoiding anything,” I tell him, my eyes returning to the book in my hands. “I’m just reading.”

“You haven’t turned that page in over 10 minutes. You’re a faster reader than that, Cecilia,” he said, his eyes narrowing.

I hated that he noticed, and I hated even more that he’s been watching me for that long, and I hadn’t even noticed.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I tell him, putting the book aside and staring back up at him.

“Why not?”

He sat down in the chair across from me, resting his forearms on his legs as he stared at me, his eyes intense, and it made my chest feel tight and my cheeks warm.

“Because you have a mate,” I remind him. “Shouldn’t you be with Sophia right about now?”

Something unreadable crossed his expression, and his nose crinkled.

Chapter19H

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“She’s asleep,” he murmured, almost like he was trying to convince himself.

I stood, folding my arms across my chest.

“If you won’t leave… then I will

I started past him, but his words made me step for a moment.

“Has our friendship truly meant nothing?” Warren asked, and this time, he didn’t bother masking the pain in his voice. “I truly thought we were friends, Cecilia.”

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