Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 107

Izzy was the first to stir and cleared her throat, and I turned my attention to her, still feeling the power that I possessed. "Ley?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She cleared her throat again and shifted on her feet. "I-"

I raised my hand to stop her from talking and scowled, narrowing my eyes while I continued to look at her. "Hush," I softly scolded. "You have done enough damage, Isabelle," I said coldly, and she flinched and ducked her head closer to her chest.

She didn't say a word and pressed her lips into a thin line, not meeting my gaze.

"I would advise you to not let your feelings take control because it clouds your judgment and what is going on from right or wrong. Is that understood?"

She hesitated before she nodded, staying silent.

I sighed and shook my head before I cleared my throat, and I stood taller. "You don't know that man like I did and still do. I did not lie when I said that I was raped by him. Whatever Ethan told you was a lie and nothing more. Is that understood?"

Again, she hesitated but nodded. She pressed her lips into a thin further line. She didn't say a word while she looked at me with wide eyes, and I could tell that she didn't agree with what I said.

I sighed and shook my head before I pursed my lips in annoyance. "Be careful if you do decide to trust him and be smart with how much you let him in, Isabelle. Is that understood?"

She nodded again and pressed her lips into a thinner line, and for some reason, I could tell that she wouldn't take my advice, even though at that moment, I didn't care.

"Good," I said and set my jaw tighter. I looked at my cat, and she bowed her head a little and flicked her tail. "Come on, Tig," I said and gestured for her to come over to me. "Let's go to my room."

She nodded, hopped down from the chair, and walked over to me. She flicked her tail again before she hopped onto my shoulders, barely leaving a scratch, purring while she got settled.

I looked at her and smiled before I looked at my older sister, who had cooked me the food. "Thank you, Evelyn," I said. "That meal was amazing."

Even smiled and curtsied, not looking at me in the eyes. "Of course," she said before she cleared her throat and shifted on her feet. "I am glad that you liked it, Ley."

"I did. Thank you. Come on, Tig. Let's go to our room."

And with that, I walked out of the kitchen with my cat laying her head on my shoulder, purring, and the power that I had felt that helped me stand up to my father, the king, started to die off, leaving me feeling exhausted.

Thank Gods, I silently said, breathing a small sigh of relief when no one followed me out of the room because I was feeling very exhausted for some reason, even though I hadn't done anything.

Thank Gods...

***

I set my cat on my bed before I walked over to my bathroom door and locked it with my cat watching me. "I don't want to be bothered by my sister if she wants to talk to me about anything," I said and looked at her with a small cringe on my face.

Tigra flicked her tail and shrugged before she laid down, not saying a word that I could understand. She shifted to the side and slowly blinked, beckoning me to come to bed and get some rest.

"Hmph." I bit back a small smirk before I slowly started to walk over to my bed. "Thank you, Tig," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I bit back a small sigh before I shook my head, moving a hand across my face. "I appreciate whatever you did to help me."

Tig bowed her head in respect, and she flicked her tail and continued to purr. She flicked her tail some more and waited for me to go ahead and lay down beside her like she wanted.

I bit back a small smile and walked over to my cat, my heart growing warm and filled with love. "How did you do that?" I asked and cocked my head, studying her. "How did you give me that confidence to stand up to Papa?"

Tig flicked her ears to the back of her head and shook her head, and I had a feeling that was her way of telling me that she didn't do anything to me.

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head, becoming confused. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper before I raised an eyebrow in question. "Are you saying that you didn't do anything to me to make me stand up to him like that?"

She nodded in confirmation and flicked her tail.

I bit back a small sigh and shook my head before I laid down beside her, closing my eyes a little. "Then what happened?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "How was I able to do that?"

Tigra shrugged and flicked her ears to the side of her head. She moved over to my side and laid down with her resting her head on my shoulder, purring, and closed her eyes.

I bit back a small smile and closed my eyes all the way, relaxing, feeling exhausted for some reason, even though I had no idea why. "Do you think that Papa knows?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Or Dani?"

I opened my eyes again and looked at her, and she nodded and flicked her tail while she continued to purr. "Hmph." I pressed my lips into a thin line before I closed my eyes again. "Do you know why I feel so exhausted? I didn't do anything." I paused and opened my eyes a little, furrowing my brows and cocking my head while I studied her. "Did I?"

Tigra shrugged and opened her eyes as well. She stared at me before she slowly started to blink and then blinked again, waiting for me to slowly start to fall asleep, even though I had no idea why.

I sighed and moved a hand across my face before I turned in the opposite direction, and Tigra followed me. I closed my eyes again and shook my head, biting back another sigh. "Are you going to watch my back, Tig?" I asked, and she nodded again in confirmation.

"Good," I said, my whole body relaxing, and my heart grew warm while my heart skipped a beat. "Night. I love you, Tig, and I am still grateful that you are one of my protectors and are my favorite one."

And with that, I fell fast asleep, and for some reason, it seemed like I could hear her say, "always, Your Highness. I will always protect you until the day that I die."

"You have my word..."