Free Leopold: Part Five by Ember Casey, Renna Peak Page B

wanted to see it. But there’s something about the way he speaks to me—I can’t put my finger on it. I only know I need to explore the depths of whatever this is between us, even though it’s unfamiliar to me. And scary as all fuck.
    Stephan clears his throat—it seems like he’s lost his patience, not that he probably had much to begin with.
    I hear something that sounds almost like a growl come from Leo’s throat as he takes my hand in his. “My companion will be retiring to her chambers, Stephan. I’ll escort her there before I go to my father—”
    “You’ll both be seeing His Royal Majesty at once.” He motions us into the hallway. “And the young…” He clears his throat. “The woman will be leaving tonight as planned. His Royal Majesty will no doubt agree, now that you’ve both already undermined the arrangement he agreed to with this abominable behavior.”
    Leo tugs at my hand and we walk into the bright hallway, turning to face Stephan. Leo’s voice is low, almost growling. “As I said, I’ll be escorting Elle to her chambers—”
    “You’ll be following me to see your father.” The man sneers, narrowing his gaze at me. “Disgusting American filth…” He almost hisses the words. “Though I never could have imagined such behavior under His Majesty’s own roof—”
    Leo pulls his hand from mine, his fingers curling into a fist.
    I grab his arm as he’s reaching back, pulling at it before his fist can connect with Stephan’s jaw. “Leo, no!”
    Leo blinks a few times and turns to me. “I’ll not have him speaking about you like that. I’ll not have anyone —”
    “Stop trying to defend my honor.” I shake my head and pull his arm down to his side, trying to loosen his grip enough to take his hand in mine. “I’ve told you before, Leo, I’m not worth it. You need to stop—”
    “ You need to stop, Elle. Stop saying that—”
    Stephan interrupts with a sound of utter revulsion. “You both disgust me. Now…” He motions down the hallway ways with his hand. “His Royal Majesty will be waiting.”
    It’s like a death march, walking through the corridors of the palace. Leo grips my hand more tightly than he ever has, almost like he thinks if he lets go, I’m going to bolt.
    He’s probably not far off if that really is what he’s thinking.
    Reckless. That’s what I’ve become—how I behave around Leo. And that isn’t who I am at all. Leo might be able to embrace each day as it comes—enjoy whatever the moment brings. But I’ve never been that way. Everything he says sounds good. Right, even. But things aren’t that way for me. And considering how the universe seems to always intervene, I know that this isn’t meant to be. That there is no room in my life for happiness. I’m not sure why I ever thought there could be. Blind lust—clearly there’s room for that—but happiness? Love? No. Not so much.
    I stop walking and turn to Leo. “I can’t.”
    He turns to me and frowns. “He won’t expect you to say anything, Elle. The blame lies entirely with me—”
    “Enough with this, the both of you. I demand that you follow me.” Stephan stamps his foot and crosses his arms over his chest again.
    Leo’s jaw clenches for a moment and he turns to the man. “Go fuck yourself, Stephan.”
    Stephan’s mouth falls open and his eyes widen. “His Royal Majesty—”
    “Go.” Leo interrupts, motioning with his head. “Run down the corridor and tell my father what I’ve said. And do know, Stephan, that as soon as I arrive, I’ll be advising him of the stunt you pulled with Elle this evening while I was preparing for dinner. How you betrayed his wishes and went behind his back.” He lifts a brow and motions with his hand. “Do go. I’m going to delight in telling him of how you offended a guest of the palace. How you betrayed him.”
    Stephan flinches every time the word betray is used. But he doesn’t cower away—he lifts his chin, almost in defiance. “Then