Chapter 20 Night Of Drunken Whispers Chapter 20 Night Of Drunken Whispers . 59 +20 Free Coins When he located Fiona and Princess Aurora , the two lay curled together on a travel blanket , cold forcing them into one another's arms . An overturned bottle of wine and forgotten finger foods sprawled across the fringe of the cloth , yet no sign of present danger lurked nearby . Alone , Soren could never haul two senseless drunkards down the slope . He had just turned to fetch assistance when a frail , bewildered murmur drifted after him . " Hubby . " He pivoted , torchlight dancing over mossy trunks , and saw Fiona pushing herself upright . Even with her hairpins crooked and ribbons loosened , Fiona remained devastatingly lovely- dishevelment only softened her like moonlight on water . Soren hesitated , shoulders tight , then lifted the small flare - torch higher and stepped until its glow washed over her face . The liquor had not yet left her veins ; her gaze drifted , unfocused , tears shimmering at the rims like dew . For someone so young , she carried sorrows too numerous to tally . " Who taught you to draw a bow ? " Soren asked , his eyes steady on hers . He might as well seize the moment for answers ; without that question , he would never have bothered stepping closer . " You did , " Fiona whispered after studying him for a long , hazy beat . " And why would I ever teach you ? " He kept his patience , guiding her gently onward . " Because you couldn't resist temptation ," she murmured , biting her lower lip . " You wanted to sleep with me ." Soren's mouth flattened ; silence spread between them , thicker than the night air . " I never cared about mounted archery , " Fiona confessed , small fingers gathering the edge of his sleeve . " I only needed a reason to stay near you . Every time we shared a bed , you left me the moment it was over . " Soren pinched his brow , then tugged his sleeve free from her grasp - an unadorned , almost ruthless gesture . The motion jolted a shard of clarity into her fogged mind . Her voice dispersed like smoke in a breeze , barely audible . " If I died , I suppose you'd be delighted . " 1/4 14:40 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 20 Night Of Drunken Whispers Soren , of course , dismissed the drunken melodrama . 59 +20 Free Coins Even remembering a previous life , logic still reigned . He had neither motive to marry Fiona nor anyone capable of forcing his hand ; the two of them could never have become husband and wife . Finding her uncooperative , he wasted no more time . He struck the flare and sent a blooming red spark into the sky. " I'm cold ," she whispered . Soren shrugged off his heavy cloak . Fiona , still recovering from illness , was too frail for mountain chill , and he did not mind owing Xavier a favor for the lost garment . The moment the wool settled on her shoulders , Fiona sought the true heat and burrowed against his chest . In her muddled mind , she was still living her previous life . After three years of managing the Zonfrillo Estate for him , why shouldn't I draw warmth from him now ? Years of martial discipline kept his body warm and imposing . As her arms started to circle his waist , his hand moved - swift , unyielding - and halted the embrace before it could close . Soren's voice glided through the night - steady , almost chilly - as crimson lantern light flickered across his calm features . " Ms. Fiona , a little dignity , if you please . " " Oh , drop the saintly mask , " Fiona answered with a scoff sharp enough to draw blood . You play the gentleman in daylight , yet when darkness falls , you still sneak into my rooms . One brow lifted , a silent , razor - thin question hanging in the air . Before he could speak , the soft crunch of gravel under boots broke the stalemate . Xavier strode into view , Ulrich right behind him , their urgent steps humming with concern . Soren eased a deliberate step away from Fiona , distance settling like a wall between them . " Ms. Fiona and Princess Aurora simply drank too much . They are in no real danger ." At the sight of Fiona standing - flushed but unharmed - both men let their tense shoulders sag , relief washing over their faces like sudden thaw after frost . Ulrich inclined his head . " Thank you , Lord Soren . " Soren drew his cloak tighter . " The night is raw . Take Ms. Fiona and Princess Aurora back before the chill bites deeper . Fiona's eyes shimmered , tears clinging to dark lashes as she stared at him - wordless , aching . 2/4 14:40 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 20 Night Of Drunken Whispers Z ( 59 ) +20 Free Coins His gaze lingered a heartbeat , unreadable . Then he turned , footsteps fading into shadow , leaving only the hush of wind in his wake . Sunlight already leaned past its zenith when Fiona finally stirred . Midday warmth seeped through the drapes , yet her body felt as heavy as lead . Yolanda perched beside the bed , smiling gently . " At last , you are awake . Ulrich nearly died of worry last night . Thankfully , it was only the wine playing tricks . " Fiona had never guessed the wine could burn so fiercely . The lingering ache in her skull promised she would not tempt that fire again . She rubbed her throbbing temples . A rush of scattered memories tumbled back , halting her breath in the throat . The haze concealed many details , yet one moment cut crystal - clear . She remembered calling Soren " Hubby " the previous night . Color drained from her cheeks . Soren already held leverage over her ; to have taunted him so brazenly and then pretend nothing happened was reckless , bordering on suicidal . She rehearsed an apology , but Soren was nowhere to be found . Ulrich reported that urgent matters in Jexburgh had summoned Soren and Xavier home at dawn . With Soren gone , her planned atonement had to wait - uncomfortably - on the shelf . She did not see Princess Aurora again . Their drunken antics had rattled the court , and Emperor Aldric , citing her need for quiet recovery , politely declined every further invitation from Princess Aurora . Talk of Princess Aurora seeking a husband abruptly died , whispers fading like smoke with no fresh wind to carry them . Fiona was rather curious about who Princess Aurora's groom might be , though she had no memory of such a thing . In the blink of an eye , the grand autumn hunt folded its tents and vanished , leaving only trampled grass and half - remembered laughter behind . On the day the caravan rolled back toward Jexburgh , Emperor Aldric summoned Fiona and presented a snow - white parrot , feathers glistening like new frost . Fiona dipped a respectful curtsey . " Uncle Aldric , I have no talent for keeping birds . Perhaps the Sixth Prince would be a better master for such a rare creature ." 3/4 14:40 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 20 Night Of Drunken Whispers . : B 59 +20 Free Coins Zephyr chuckled , eyes alight . " A white parrot appears once in ten years . Father gifts it because he favors you . Hire a birdkeeper , Fiona , and let the treasure stay yours . " 4/4