Chapter 48: Unsteady Ground

Esme barely remembered the rest of the conversation. The moment Kael's lips had touched hers, everything else had faded into the background. Now, seated in the quiet of their shared bedroom, her fingers lightly touched her lips, still feeling the ghost of the kiss.

She wasn't supposed to react this way.

She was supposed to be angry, to demand answers, to push back.

Instead, her heart still hadn't settled.

The door creaked open, and she shot up from the chair, her pulse spiking as Kael entered the room. He was as composed as ever, his tailored shirt still pristine despite the long evening. He didn't acknowledge her immediately, instead walking over to the minibar, pouring himself a drink.

Esme crossed her arms, her voice sharper than she intended. "What the hell was that?"

Kael took a slow sip of his whiskey before finally turning to her. His gaze was unreadable, as always. "A kiss."

Esme let out a frustrated laugh. "Oh, really? I had no idea." She stepped closer, her anger growing. "You kissed me in front of your entire family, Kael. What was that for?"

Kael set his glass down on the table with a quiet clink. "Lucan was testing me. I simply gave him an answer."

Esme stared at him, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "So that's all it was? A convenient way to prove a point?"

Kael's silence was maddening.

Her chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, irritation burning through her veins. "You don't get to play with me like that, Kael. You can't just—"

"Did you hate it?"

His voice was low, smooth, yet there was something dangerous beneath it.

Esme's breath caught.

He took a step closer, closing the space between them with slow, deliberate movements. "Did it disgust you?"

Esme opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Because that was the problem, wasn't it?

She should have hated it.

She should have pushed him away immediately, called him out in front of his family.

But she hadn't.

Kael studied her, as if reading her thoughts. A small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "That's what I thought."

Esme's hands trembled slightly as she shoved against his chest, but he barely moved. "You think you can just do whatever you want, don't you?"

Kael tilted his head slightly. "I don't think, Esme. I know."

The arrogance. The complete lack of shame.

It made her want to slap him.

It made her want to…

No.

She shook her head, stepping back. "You're insufferable."

Kael's smirk deepened. "And yet, you're still standing here, arguing with me, instead of walking away."

Esme hated that he was right.

She hated him.

Or at least, she wanted to.

But the lines were blurring, and it terrified her.

She turned sharply, heading toward the door, needing to escape before she did something reckless. But before she could take another step, Kael's voice stopped her.

"We leave for the wedding venue tomorrow."

Esme froze.

She turned her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "So soon?"

Kael didn't answer right away. He simply picked up his whiskey again, swirling the liquid in the glass before taking another slow sip. "It's time."

Esme swallowed, a strange feeling settling in her chest.

Time for what?

For their fake wedding?

For whatever dangerous game they were playing to escalate further?

She wasn't sure anymore.

And that terrified her more than anything else.

Esme's fingers curled tightly around the door handle, her breath unsteady as she processed Kael's words.

"It's time."

She turned her head slightly, searching his expression, but as always, it gave away nothing. "Time for what, Kael?"

Kael set his glass down with a soft clink, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "For the preparations to begin," he said simply. "For the wedding."

Esme's stomach twisted.

Of course. The wedding. The contract. The entire reason she was here in the first place.

But why did it feel like he meant something more?

Kael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming in the dimly lit room. "Why?" His voice was low, almost teasing. "Did you think I meant something else?"

Esme forced out a breath, straightening her shoulders. "I don't care what you meant," she lied. "This is just a contract, remember?"

Kael's smirk deepened, and he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly over a strand of her hair. "You keep saying that," he murmured, tilting his head. "But your reaction tells me otherwise."

Esme slapped his hand away, heat rising to her face. "You're impossible."

Kael let out a quiet chuckle, unfazed. "And you're running out of ways to convince yourself you don't want this."

Esme refused to give him the satisfaction of a response. Instead, she yanked open the door and stormed out, her pulse racing.

Because the worst part?

He wasn't entirely wrong.

****. ****. ****.