8 What is Forbidden 2 (2/2)

'Lilly what is it?'

'I need some time for myself.'

'All right.' He fought against the urge to tuck her hair behind her ear before he returned to the study.

By late afternoon, James was nearly finished with reading what he had found about Adremedians in the summer home. He had found the answers to quite a few of his questions. The coloration that Lilly now bore appeared because the life given was to help her healing progress. If it had been to save her life, no mark would have manifested. What the poisons were and how they worked he understood, but still he didn't understand how Lilly had been poisoned in the first place. The book had not specified what the Forbidden was either.

He took a break from his reading and stepped into the sitting room. He was surprised to find it empty. James looked outside and didn't find Lilly anywhere. He asked the staff. No one had seen her since that morning. Concerned, he ran to the stable for Torta. He rode to the forest and searched everywhere for her. James called for her, but she never responded. He spent the entire night searching for her. Calling for her.

When morning came, James sat at the base of one of the larger trees and wept.

'What breaks your heart so, Prince?' he heard Lilly ask softly.

James gasped and looked around. 'Lilly? Lilly, where are you?!'

'No need to shout Prince. I can hear you clearly enough. Why have you come?'

'To...take you back to the summer home. I...I want... you to get better.'

'I appreciate your concern, Prince, but I am fine now.'

'No! Please...I....There is so much I still want to learn from you.'

'Have you finished your reading?'

'Not yet.'

'Come back when you have finished.'

'Not unless you come with me.'

'Return to your place of study, Prince. Your time grows short.'

'Lilly?...Lilly!'

He wept. He didn't understand why she refused to come back to the summer home. They had kept it quiet for her. It wasn't as if he was asking her to leave the forest forever. Just a little while longer so he could get the answers he was seeking. He staggered to where Torta waited. He pulled himself up and slowly left the forest. Why could she not understand? He wanted her to learn more. He wanted...

”What James?” he asked himself. ”To have her close because you've finally allowed yourself to feel how attracted you are to her?”

He shook his head and kicked Torta to speed his return to the summer home. Once at the summer home, he entered the study. He picked up the book just to slam it back down. Did she not see how much he was trying to help her? He paced the room, too agitated to sit. By the time it was dark, he could finally bring himself to open the book. Lighting the lamp, James finished reading the book. All questions but a few had been answered. What was the Forbidden? How were the poisons tied to that? What happened when the Forbidden occurred?

James wondered if Lilly would answer his questions now if he returned to the forest. But as he saddled Torta the next morning to do just that, an armed escort arrived to take him back to the castle.