Chapter 186

Chapter 267: Epiphany Expressed

It was late in the afternoon when Lord Arnav came back and Kushi couldn't hold the discovery of the morning any longer.

He was in the Library, poring over some books and quilling down some numbers and names, when Kushi came to him with his afternoon tea.

"You can keep it there," his hand waved to the vacant side of the table, his attention on the parchment he had been reading.

Kushi placed the tray of tea and cupcakes on the table and then stood there, contemplating on the appropriate statement.

Sensing her eyes on him, he looked up.

"What is it?" he asked simply, feeling the feathery end of the quill absentmindedly along his jawline, as his eyes returned back to the book.

"My Lord," Kushi began, and then realized she didn't quite know how to say it. But she gave it a try, "The General-"

Lord Arnav looked up suddenly, "The General?"

The mention of his enemy had alerted his anger and his grave gaze directed Kushi, "What about him?"

Flustered by his sudden rage, she tried to explain more calmly, "In the morning, when I was in the Gallery-"

All at once, Lord Arnav shot up from his armchair and stepped towards Kushi, "What did he do? Did he harm you? Did he-?"

"No, he didn't harm me," Kushi said, pressing her hands to her waist and wishing her husband would stop startling her so.

"Then what is it?" Lord Arnav demanded, his hands on her shoulders, "What happened in the Gallery?"

"I saw something..." she said in barely a whisper.

Lord Arnav frowned in confusion, "You saw something?"

Kushi bit on her lower lip, afraid to speak but knowing she had seen the fearful thing and not imagined it.

"What did you see?" Lord Arnav sounded curious.

"A strange kind of fire," said Kushi, "In his eyes."

The frown on his face faded, "You saw fire in his eyes?"

Kushi nodded, "A strange kind. It changed and became something like..." She paused, swallowed up her resolve and said, "Like a serpent's eyes."

She sensed his hold on her shoulders slacken and watched him withdraw, his eyes looking away.

"My lord?" She was surprised by his response and then a realization struck her, "Did you know about this?"

He took a deep breath and looked at her, "You were not hurt, were you?"

"No, I wasn't," she said, noticing a relief was over his features at her answer but she knew he was evading her question, "Do you know something about this?"

Lord Arnav shrugged and turned to his table, "You needn't worry about him. Just remember to keep away and let him find no cause to confront you again."

Kushi was convinced of it: the General had told the truth, and her husband was concealing it from her.

Her tone was serious, "This has something to do with the way you are, doesn't it?"

Lord Arnav stilled, his back to her. "What are you talking about?" he asked in a gruff voice.

"He told me," Kushi stepped forward, her eyes on her husband's back, "The General told me what I knew of you in the nights, when you are not yourself-"

"Did he?" Lord Arnav turned on her suddenly, frightening her with the abruptness of his cold regard, "And what else did he tell you?"

Kushi paled on seeing her husband's unnatural disregard, and unsought words tumbled out from her memory, "He asked that I cure him by love-"

The words were out before she could stop herself.

Lord Arnav's eyes roared with fury and his fingers clenched in a fist, "How. Dare. He."

In an instant, he had turned about, making for the door.

Kushi rushed after him, "No, my lord, don't. He is dangerous!"

Lord Arnav's was already out the door but he looked over his shoulder to answer, "Anyone who speaks to my wife in an unworthy way must die!"

Kushi scampered after him but he was outrageously fast, flying down the stairs and out the Castle, and before Kushi could stop him, Lord Arnav had already gotten on Shadow and rode out into the late afternoon to hunt down his archenemy.