"Princess Stella? Your friends are here, saying they want to see you. Shall we let them in?" Stella turned her head towards the door and frowned at the servant who was bowing. The servants here were either very rude or very timid. She had hardly ever seen any of them smile or look relaxed. Solaria had always ensured that people were treated with respect and that every employee was treated fairly, but Eraklyon was terribly backward in this regard. "Please lift your head, I am not someone you need to fear. As long as we maintain respect, it's enough." The servant looked up at Stella, nodding at her words, which she had been hearing often lately. She would get used to it; Stella would teach all the staff to be proper individuals until she got out of this place. Sighing, she turned away and, though not ready, allowed her friends to enter.
At first, she thought she saw a flying object. But realizing the flying object was Aisha, Stella immediately jumped up. "What the heck?!" Aisha landed in front of Stella, glaring angrily, while Musa and Flora, who hadn't expected their friend to do a somersault into the room, followed closely behind. "Girl, what are you doing?" Musa came up to Stella and hugged her tightly, while Flora gave Aisha a disapproving look, shaking her head. Aisha grumbled and turned her back, while Musa still hadn't let go of Stella's neck, hugging her tightly. "Musa," Stella started to struggle, as Flora came to her aid. "Musa! For God's sake, get a grip, you two! One of you is suffocating the girl, and the other..." She turned to Aisha, giving her another disapproving look, "I don't even know what you're doing."
Aisha nudged Flora with her hip and hugged Stella. "Why haven't you been answering our calls, woman?!" Stella smiled as she hugged her, and Flora laughed affectionately, wrapping her arms around both Aisha and Stella. "We were so worried about you, Stella, are you okay?"
Stella sighed, nodded, and continued hugging her friends tightly. Musa also jumped on top of them, joining in the hug. "I'm fine, girls. I'm sorry for dragging you into this, but I didn't want to take out my anger on you." The girls made a collective grumbling sound, and Stella giggled, hugging them tighter before pulling back to catch her breath. "You can't have missed me that much." She wasn't the only one out of breath. The girls were so happy to see that their friend wasn't as broken as they had feared, that the situation seemed to warrant a celebratory group hug.
"We did miss you! You meanie, why haven't you been answering us?" Aisha shook Stella by the arms, and Flora came to her aid again, pulling Aisha aside. "Why else? Nothing here is sugar, cake, and chocolate for me if you hadn't noticed. I'm trying not to lose my mind here!"
"Oh, fine! Come here, I'll hug you again." Flora grabbed and tugged her, growling, "Enough already!" Aisha pouted at Stella while the two fairies looked at each other and started laughing, hugging again. Flora settled on the bed in the room, rolling her eyes. "Damn it, just keep hugging, hug all day." Musa sat down beside her, giggling. Stella had forgotten how much being around her friends warmed her heart. Just remembering this was enough to lift her spirits for the ball.
"The Queen wanted everything in shades of burgundy! What are these, are you trying to drive me mad?!" The servants were running around, things were being moved, and many newly arrived objects were being placed. Brandon, standing in a corner with his arms crossed and back against the wall, was observing the surroundings. There wasn't a single servant he didn't recognize. He knew them all, and he was sending away any new or unfamiliar ones. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, focused on seeing and analyzing everything.
"What's with all the seriousness?" Helia greeted Brandon with a nod as he approached, but Brandon only briefly took his eyes off his surroundings to acknowledge him before resuming his vigilance. Brandon shrugged and silently sighed, not missing the chance to speak with his old friend whom he hadn't seen in a long time. "It feels like it's going to be an unpleasant ball." Helia, grinning as he looked around with the same interest as Brandon but appearing more relaxed, responded.
"I've never seen you completely relaxed when it comes to a ball. So, I can't take what you're saying seriously." Brandon couldn't help but smile and turned to his old specialist friend. Helia had long since left Red Fountain to take on the role of commander in Nyxoria. Although the position hadn't been handed to him on a silver platter, Brandon knew better than anyone how hard Helia worked every day to prove himself. Helia was the only one, apart from his uncle, who genuinely wanted Brandon to come to Nyxoria and tried to persuade him from the heart. Brandon could guess that the situation in Nyxoria was not very promising, given that the place had not made peace with anyone lately and was constantly in conflict. But just as it wasn't his responsibility, a voice inside whispered that if his parents heard that their homeland needed protection, they would return without a second thought. Brandon had almost never listened to that voice until he met Stella.
Stella was taking such confident steps that Brandon could see she was willing to marry Sky not just for herself but also to protect the planet and her father. She had married because she couldn't foresee a war by saying no. Although this situation irritated him, Brandon knew that the partner she had chosen was child's play for Edden. The only person Edden took seriously was Brandon Ward. Similarly, Brandon only considered danger as real when it came to Edden Renoux. By coincidence, Stella was exactly who he was avoiding.
"Isn't Sky around?"
Brandon responded with a shrug. He hadn't seen his childhood friend since yesterday; when Queen Samara arrived at Eraklyon at midnight, Brandon had seen him by his father's side to greet her. Besides that, neither the king and queen nor Sky had been around. It wasn't hard to guess: Samara was angry, and when she ordered Stella to come to her immediately, and the princess of Solaria sent the servant back, saying no one could summon her, Samara's anger had probably doubled, likely taking it all out on Sky. Even though Sky deserved it, Brandon had to control himself not to grimace, knowing how far Samara could go. "He must be getting ready."
"Claw must have informed you." As Brandon looked at Helia, he couldn't contain his irritation and pulled his friend out to the balcony by his arm. "We talked about not sending him in all of a sudden, Helia. I wasn't alone." Helia raised his eyebrows in surprise and scratched his neck in embarrassment. "Sorry, buddy, you know Claw, he never likes to wait." As Brandon shook his head, his eyes were still on the ballroom he could still see. "Who was with you? Who saw him?"
"The princess of Solaria." Helia raised his eyebrows, trying to discern if Brandon's calmness was an act. "A member of royalty saw Claw, and you're calm?" Brandon rolled his eyes, reaching for his sword. Helia tried to see what he was doing, but Brandon was merely busy scolding a few workers. "Aren't you listening to me, man?" Brandon took another glance at the ballroom before turning to Helia and shrugged. "Stella won't tell anyone."
Helia tried to shake off yet another shock he experienced today and looked at Brandon in disbelief. "Stella? Just Stella, right? Not a princess or anything to address her?" Brandon, looking at him as if he didn't understand, sighed in annoyance and started to walk back to the ballroom, but Helia instantly grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Where are you going?"
"My eyes shouldn't leave this ballroom for a moment, Helia. We'll talk later."
Helia looked at Brandon in disbelief as he had already started giving orders. Whatever had happened, he could sense something different in his friend. Even if not directly, Brandon could quickly get last-minute updates through Claw, with whom Helia was constantly in touch regarding Nyxoria. One of these updates was that Edden would attend tomorrow night's ball. While Helia conveyed this news specifically because Brandon's enemy was involved, it was clear there were other underlying reasons. Although he didn't think the ball would lead to a fight or more significant planetary issues, it seemed like everything could be overturned.
Sighing, he looked at Brandon to give him a farewell nod, but his friend, unaware of his furrowed brow and tense shoulders, was already busy giving orders and questioning the workers to see the details of their work. As Helia stepped through the large doors, he felt as if a bucket of water, the temperature of which he couldn't discern, had been poured over his head. The most beautiful girl he had ever seen, perhaps the most beautiful girl anyone could ever see, was walking directly towards him, her heels echoing in the corridors. Her blonde hair flowed down to her waist, and she looked worried. The dress she wore fit her body perfectly, a soft beige color, ending just above her knees. The skirts fluttered with each step she took, making her walk feel magical. Helia couldn't help but think that such beauty shouldn't exist; it was unfair.
"Hello, have you seen Commander Brandon around here by any chance?" Helia forced himself to pull it together, but it took so much effort that his lips couldn't part to let any words escape. The reason was obvious—he was enchanted. Helia's admiration filled him with a sense of honor, while he inwardly wished luck to whoever was her partner. He would have to get used to always being second. "Uh, yes, inside. He's dealing with the arrangements for the ball."
"He's dealing with it? The ball?" Stella looked at Helia, clearly unable to hide her surprise. She didn't need to know Brandon for years to guess that he didn't like such things. As Helia nodded, Stella realized her rudeness and couldn't prevent her cheeks from reddening. "I'm sorry, I didn't greet you. I am Stella, Princess of Solaria." Helia didn't even try to hide his widening eyes this time. He looked at Stella in amazement, then suddenly turned his head towards the doors where he guessed his friend was standing behind. Was this Stella really that Stella? How had it not been made illegal for someone to be this beautiful? Sky, who was a very handsome and charismatic prince, would definitely pale next to her. He couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Sky, but then he shrugged internally, dismissing the prince who didn't concern him much from his thoughts and worries.
As Helia greeted Stella with a bow to show his respect, he began to speak while still bowing, "Princess Stella, I've heard a lot about you. It is an honor to meet you. I am Helia Darth, Commander of the Knights of Nyxoria." Stella quickly lifted her head, looking at Helia with excitement. She hadn't had the opportunity to see Nyxoria, but after meeting Brandon, her interest in that planet had grown. Her father's fond talk of Nyxoria—perhaps also because it was a friendly planet to Lunaria—added to her curiosity. On the other hand, Brandon's reestablishing a connection with his planet oddly pleased her. Considering her feelings, staying here on Eraklyon would only annoy Stella.
"Oh, really? I've always been curious about Nyxoria." Helia smiled warmly at the sincere princess. "We would be honored to host you, Princess. Nyxoria has always considered Solaria and Lunaria as friends." This was indeed valuable because, even though Nyxoria had the power to dominate most of the planets in the universe, it chose not to, becoming the most feared planet by merely instilling fear. "Thank you very much." As Stella smiled sincerely, she instantly turned around to the voice calling her from behind.
"Where have you been? You haven't even decided on your dress yet. Even Musa and Aisha have decided, and neither of their choices involve jeans; this is a first." As Stella giggled at Flora, Flora stood there, hands on her hips, glaring at her friend while catching her breath. "What's so funny? Are you trying to drive me crazy?" Stella placed her hand on her friend's shoulder, giving her a couple of playful shakes to calm her down. "Flora, look who I want to introduce you to." She turned Flora around to face Helia.
Flora's cheeks turned redder than the roses she grew, and Helia looked at her, entranced by a beauty that didn't overshadow Stella's but affected him differently. He observed her blushing cheeks and arms slowly lowering from her waist, where they had been out of embarrassment, moving behind her to clasp together. The allure of her dark skin and the shine of her wavy hair falling on her shoulders and chest hit Helia like a solid punch to the windpipe. As Stella introduced Helia, Flora bit her lip, causing Helia's heart to ache a little more.
Helia sometimes thought feeling this much was a sign of weakness or incompetence. Even if it wasn't, feeling this intensely bothered him as a commander. But right now, he didn't care at all. When Flora bowed her head and greeted Helia with a slight nod, Helia stepped forward, taking her hand into his and raising it to his lips. By the time he realized what he was doing, it would be too late, but he didn't care. When his lips met Flora's soft skin, he struggled not to close his eyes. "Pleasure to meet you. Very much so."
As Flora smiled and prepared to curtsey, Stella firmly placed her hand on her back, pressing her friend's body upright. Flora swallowed hard, taking Stella's warning to heart, and simply smiled, introducing herself and thinking that this was perhaps the longest introduction she had ever experienced. "Actually, Flora, you've been to the palace before. The king often tries to make use of Flora's botany enthusiasm." Though she struggled to keep from rolling her eyes, her grumbling tone didn't help much. "Why don't you show Helia around?" Without feeling the need to mention he knew the palace like the back of his hand, Helia turned to Flora with an expectant look. Flora, caught between wanting to pin Stella to the wall with her thorns and smiling at Helia, eventually chose to maintain her composure in front of him and nodded. "Of course, I'd be happy to."
"Excellent, then we'll choose the dress later." Despite Flora's annoyed look, she reluctantly nodded and waved to her friend with a forced smile. As Stella walked through the grand doors, she felt the joy of both saving herself and seeing a spark of light in her friend's eyes, a sight she hadn't seen since she broke up with Mirta.
With a smile on her lips, she walked without feeling the need to look around. The ball decorations didn't concern her at all, but the man standing before her, tall with broad shoulders and a generally aggressive demeanor, certainly caught her interest. As the sound of her heels on the polished floor gave her away, Brandon slowly turned towards the door and looked at the approaching princess with a sense of peace and passion that spread through him. All the compliments he could give to her beauty were tangled in his throat, as once again, Stella effortlessly and simply showcased her distinctiveness to everyone. She wasn't trying, she wasn't doing much, and if she did, Brandon couldn't imagine how his heart could handle it. The grace, strength, and confidence in her walk made even Brandon's head spin.
As the sound of her heels etched into his brain, syncing with the rhythm of his heartbeat, Brandon released his grip on his sword and began to slowly move towards the balcony. He was satisfied that the heavy workload he had assigned to the workers was currently working in favor of him. Stella followed him towards the balcony without showing any signs of being perturbed. It was the balcony next to where Helia had stood, the one overlooking the forest. This was probably Brandon's favorite spot because he could avoid unwanted conversations by staying here during the ball, and since no one else preferred such secluded corners, he was never disturbed. This time, he had chosen this spot long before the ball. He noticed she was wearing a dress in the colors she always wore, and her heels did not hide her pedicured, well-groomed feet. Her skirt seemed to come alive with every step, as if a magical aura surrounded and entrapped Brandon. He took a deep breath to avoid staring at her. Scaring Stella was the last thing he wanted.
"I've been looking for you everywhere."
Brandon raised an eyebrow in surprise as Stella tilted her head and came right up next to him, leaping to sit on the wide railings of the balcony. Brandon, in a panic and reflexively, grabbed her by the waist to keep her from falling, while Stella giggled. He frowned at her, showing he didn't find it funny at all. Stella, undeterred, placed her hands on Brandon's shoulders, allowing him to slowly lift her by the waist and sit her down. As Brandon sighed, Stella began to massage his shoulders, pressing them gently. Since he didn't expect this either, Brandon felt as though he was nailed to the spot, then felt a warm blanket envelop him in the cold air. His tense shoulders tightened even more in response to Stella's touch, and she pursed her lips, giving him a look that said he should relax. Maybe if she had said something, it wouldn't have had such an immediate effect. Brandon relaxed instantly, and he slowly moved one of his hands resting on Stella's waist down to her knee, merging the warmth of his skin with the coolness of hers.
As her face took on a serious expression, Stella couldn't help but swallow. Every moment she was close to Brandon, she burned with an indescribable pain. Thinking about the things Brandon was willing to risk for her, upset her. She was aware of the bond between them, and yes, there was nothing between her and Sky and there never would be, but why should Brandon have to accept such a situation? Stella didn't know who Brandon was, why he left Nyxoria, or why he remained distant even though his uncle and father had disagreed. The princess's fingers glowed while Brandon, locked in her gaze, didn't even realize she was using magic. He was the best knight in the universe, the most feared and the strongest, but when it came to the Princess of Solaria, his ears rang, eyes sparkled, skin warmed, and his hands trembled. Brandon Ward knew he was so captivated by Stella Solaria that he should be careful with his actions, but he was already too deep to stop.
When Stella believed she had relaxed his tense muscles, her fingers slowly moved from his shoulders to his firm chest, pausing there. Their gazes were speaking; there was no need for words between them. Silence had become their new mode of communication.
"Your skin is still very cold." Brandon's voice warmed Stella, making her wonder how he could feel so hot yet remain so cold. "I thought I had reduced the cold. It seems I have to work on the issue a little more."
As Stella fixed her growing amber eyes on Brandon, he smiled. "How?" When Brandon reluctantly pulled his hand from her knee and pressed it to the cold marble railing, he sighed. "Didn't I tell you I'm from Nyxoria?" Stella nodded in acknowledgment, though her brows furrowed in confusion. "Can every Nyxorian do it? Can Helia do it too?"
This time it was Brandon's turn to frown. His body stiffened as his eyes roamed over Stella's captivating face. "Helia? How do you know Helia?" Stella paused for a moment, thinking. Normally, she didn't like making people jealous, but seeing Brandon's jealousy could please her. Yet, she stepped back and resisted the devil on her shoulder. Aisha, the angel, was Flora.
"We just met at the door. He helped me find you, so I asked my friend to show him around as a thank you." Brandon raised his eyebrows and looked at her for a few seconds before laughing and leaning close to her neck. As Brandon brushed his nose against her skin and inhaled her scent, Stella froze. "Helia knows every inch of this place like the back of his hand." Stella, caught in a cascade of emotions, hesitated for a moment. She parted her moist lips, but the words wouldn't come out. "He didn't mention that." Brandon, trying not to press his lips against her skin, looked at her. His mouth was practically watering, something he didn't usually associate with himself, but he was powerless against it. When she didn't get a response, Stella slid closer to him on the marble, causing Brandon to grip her waist tighter and pull her close to his body. Cursing internally for not being able to stop the moan that escaped her lips, Stella found herself pressed against Brandon's solid frame between her legs!
"Don't drive me crazy, princess. Please, I need my mind."
Her breath quickened, and she felt like she was being hollowed out. The Cupids had taken over her entire being, and control was now in the hands of half-naked cherubs armed with arrows. Stella resisted the urge to press herself against Brandon again, while her hormones stood up and begged in unison for action, and her pride roared for patience. Finally, she nodded and pulled back slightly to look at Brandon, but he was gazing at her as if in a trance. As another giggle escaped her lips, Brandon felt a ravenous hunger. Even if he were fed pounds of meat and vegetables, he would never be satisfied. Even if liters of liquid flowed into him, fullness would feel like emptiness. He licked his lips, but they were dry, as if his mouth had turned into a desert. The cherry-red lips imprinted in his memory stirred storms within him, and when those storms raged, Brandon could only imagine those cherry lips under cold water. He felt like he had no right to anything more.
Brandon was now sure that the moan he had just heard would burn inside him for quite some time. Being the cause of Stella making that sound made Brandon feel as if a door to an emotion he had never known before had opened. He caressed Stella's waist with a touch far from gentle, while Stella felt like she was getting lost in the eyes of the man in front of her. With the slightest step, they would both give in so quickly, allowing their bodies to move as they pleased, and Stella was ready to let herself flow without caring about whether it was fire or water. Brandon was just as ready to catch her in that flow. Stella pressed her fingers against Brandon's chest, wanting him to lean back slightly, and he took two steps back without forcing her.
Taking advantage of the created space, she lifted her butt off the marble, placed her feet on the ground, and leaned against the marble again. Neither of them seemed aware of the passing time. She looked at him so beautifully that Brandon couldn't help but bring his hand to his neck and caress it, trying to shake off this situation. Was he embarrassed? How would he even know? The feelings he experienced while being with Stella didn't flow in order; he was just trying to survive with his emotions turned upside down.
"You're coming to the ball, right?"
Hoping to distract himself a bit and stop the throbbing of the bulge his uniform was hiding, Brandon focused on talking. So he nodded affirmatively, while Stella smiled, and that was the only thing that could relax her at that moment. As Brandon looked at her as if wanting to memorize her smile, Stella sighed, remembering something else.
"Bloom didn't come. She told the girls she would, but... I don't know, maybe she didn't want to witness Samara announcing the marriage to everyone."
"Everyone already knows. Her not coming wouldn't be because of that." Brandon held her arm to calm her down, but this caused a clear electric current to pass between them, making Stella jump and Brandon quickly pull back his hand. "Damn it, that's all we needed." Stella looked at him as if she hadn't heard, and Brandon shook his head dismissively, trying to brush it off. Without dwelling on it much, Stella sighed and started looking at Brandon in a way he had never seen before.
"Your presence will give me strength tomorrow evening, Brandon, be there, okay?"
An open invitation, something Brandon certainly wasn't expecting, but it wasn't the first time Stella had proven that she was a girl who openly expressed what she thought and felt. Nodding his head, knowing he would do what she wanted anyway, it felt odd to promise, but if that's what she wanted to hear, he wouldn't deny her. Brandon's hand went to Stella's hair, he couldn't understand how its texture, like its scent, could soothe him so much. Stella smiled at him with genuine warmth, as perhaps the last thing they would want to hear approached to disrupt this moment.
"At least don't be so obvious."
Sky walked toward them, while Stella closed her eyes for a moment, praying for patience. This kid clearly wasn't scared enough, she thought, so I won't hesitate to do what's necessary. Brandon looked at his childhood friend with an unfamiliar and intense anger, as Sky's gaze shifted between Stella and Brandon. The fury spreading through him was being experienced twofold by them.
"Sky," Stella stepped forward before Brandon, approaching her supposed husband with Bloom now far from her thoughts. "Do you realize what I can do?" Sky looked at her in confusion, his eyebrows furrowing as he started to speak, but Stella stopped him, moving away from Brandon and approaching Sky. "Have you lost your mind, interfering in my life? Do you want me to sign the divorce papers in front of everyone tomorrow night? Do you think that marriage contract can keep me tied to you? What is that you think?" Sky recoiled in shock as Brandon, pleased with the situation, moved into the position Stella had just vacated, leaning against the marble and folding his arms to watch Stella.
Her hair glowed when she was angry, her eyes sparkled, and her lips puckered, all things only Brandon seemed to notice, even if he preferred to. Brandon would have loved to keep everything about her hidden, but unfortunately, all he could do was watch. He sighed and returned to watching the show.
"And you're also upsetting my friend, aren't you? That's why Bloom isn't coming tomorrow?"
"She's not coming?!" Brandon shot Sky a sharp look at his rising voice but made no comment. "You didn't even know! Look at this mess!" Stella pushed him back angrily as Sky oscillated between confusion and anger, glancing from Brandon to Stella. A silly rage dominated the trio, Sky was free to do whatever he wanted, and the idea of Stella being with someone else, despite being bound to him by a supposed contract, drove him crazy. It wasn't jealousy; he was being provoked. His specialist friends kept teasing him, especially Riven's "What do you think your wife is doing right now, or who..." remarks. The more he remembered those, the more Sky was subjected to uncontrollable anger and crises. He had been someone who got scared quickly all his life, and now, with his family constantly pecking at him, if Stella had a relationship and it got out, Sky would only be humiliated more. This fear led to his ridiculous outbursts. He could have just asked them to be careful, but Brandon and Stella were already careful; they didn't even have a relationship yet!
"Stop pushing me, Stella!" As he roared and advanced towards Stella, it was the final straw for Brandon. He walked up to his friend and punched him in the stomach without a second thought, causing Stella to stifle her scream at the last moment and envelop them in a moon cloak spell. Making sure no one could hear or see, she ignored Sky's groans and turned to Brandon, holding his tightly clenched fists. "Please stop, let me handle it; you're friends!"
Brandon grabbed Stella's arm to make her step aside, but as Stella pressed her hands against his chest and gave him a pleading look, hoping he wouldn't resist, her aura started to ripple to calm him down. Brandon initially shook, but when his eyes found Stella's, he inwardly cursed, bringing his hand to his hair and pulling at it. "He should learn to shut up! Damn it, Sky, damn you!" When he turned his back, Stella looked at him in fear, thinking he would leave, but he was just walking back and forth, trying to calm down. When he suddenly stopped, Sky also stopped groaning and looked at his friend. Brandon approached Stella, pressed her against the wall, probably unaware of the invisible barrier Stella had spread around them, and didn't want her to be seen by others. Then he leaned toward Sky, growling.
"I'm your friend, you bastard! I've never stabbed you in the back, not once, even though you did every time. I never betrayed you! For once, I'm doing something for myself. Stop screwing it up or..."
Sky spat on the ground, looking at his friend through the hair falling over his face. He didn't know what would come after that "or," but he was scared anyway. Brandon had never been so determined to threaten him; after all, they were like brothers. But when Sky did whatever he wanted, Brandon was working like a dog. For what? For the kingdom he hated with all his being. Sky probably thought Brandon would back down from this, too, as he hadn't hesitated to warn Stella to stay away, not considering how angry Brandon would get.
"Or what?" He asked in fear, but only Brandon understood his fear. Because Brandon knew him best. When his gaze briefly shifted to another person looking at him with fear, he realized the only difference between Sky's fear and Stella's was its direction. Sky was afraid for himself, but Stella was worried about Brandon. He felt warmth inside; Stella did this to him too often. And he wasn't going to let it go easily. No matter who it concerned.
"Or, I'll accept that position I've never used, always ignored, and that many fear. I'll come before you as the king of Nyxoria."
Stella didn't know how to react, only able to watch. Brandon didn't throw this threat as if it were empty. She shivered at the thought of Brandon becoming the king of Nyxoria. Her eyes began to widen late. She didn't think she knew Brandon, but realizing how much of a stranger they were put her in such a void that Stella struggled to stand. As her eyes didn't leave Brandon, she didn't even notice that Sky was in the same void and state as her, but she didn't care about Sky right now.
When Brandon's gaze briefly shifted back to Stella, it became difficult to turn away again. It wasn't pleasant for Stella to learn the one thing she might need to know about him in this way, especially since Stella had told Brandon everything about herself from the first moment they started talking. In that moment, Sky was finished for Brandon. Because for the first time in his life, Brandon felt guilty, tasting the fear of losing the woman he cared about because of his untimely words. As Stella's hurt eyes roamed his face, Brandon closed his eyes and took a deep breath, thinking that he would struggle tomorrow night, but his ordeal had already begun.