Chapter 28: Are you jealous

As we left the training room, Seraphina's grip on my hand was firm but not painful. Her silce was palpable, and I could feel the tsion radiating off her in waves. We walked through the grand corridors of the palace, the sound of our footsteps echoing against the marble floors.

Finally, unable to bear the silce any longer, I spoke up. "Seraphina, what was that about?"

She glanced at me, her expression guarded. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," I said, stopping in my tracks and pulling my hand free from hers. "You were jealous back there."

Her eyes flashed with irritation. "I was not jealous. I was concerned for your safety."

I crossed my arms, feeling a mix of frustration and something else, something hotter and more confusing. "It looked a lot like jealousy to me."

Seraphina's expression harded, her eyes narrowing. "You misinterpret my actions, Elara. As your wife, it is my duty to sure your well-being."

I took a step closer, my own irritation flaring. "Duty? It felt more personal than that. You looked like you wanted to rip Nyx apart."

Her jaw tighted, and she took a deep breath, clearly trying to maintain her composure. "Nyx was too close, and you were in a vulnerable position. It is natural for me to react strongly."

"React strongly?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You were practically bristling with anger."

Seraphina stepped closer, her presce dominating. "Enough, Elara," she said, her voice low and commanding. "I will not have this discussion here."

I held my g, refusing to be intimidated. "Why not? Are you afraid of admitting the truth?"

Her eyes darked, and for a momt, I thought she might truly lose her temper. But th she took another deep breath, visibly forcing herself to remain calm. "You are misunderstanding my inttions," she said, her voice cold. "I am not jealous."

"Th what are you?" I challged, my heart pounding in my chest.

Sighing, I walked over to the large window and looked out at the palace gs. The view was breathtaking, but my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I couldn't stop thinking about the way Seraphina had reacted in the training room, the intsity of her gaze, and the way her touch had st shivers down my spine.

Was it possible that she felt more for me than she was willing to admit? And if she did, what did that mean for us?

My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. I turned, half expecting to see Seraphina again, but it was Anara who tered, carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups.

"Good afternoon, Que Elara," she said with a smile. "I thought you might like some tea."

"Thank you, Anara," I said, trying to push my swirling thoughts aside. "That sounds lovely."

She set the tray down on a small table and poured the tea, her movemts graceful and efficit. As she handed me a cup, she glanced at me curiously. "Is everything alright, my Que? You seem troubled."

I sighed, taking a sip of the fragrant tea. "It's just... a lot to process," I admitted. "This whole situation, my marriage to Seraphina, the training... everything."

Anara nodded sympathetically. "I can only imagine. But you are handling it with grace and strgth. You should be proud of yourself."

"Thank you," I said, feeling a bit comforted by her words. "It's just that sometimes, it feels like there's so much more going on beath the surface."

Anara's eyes sparkled with understanding. "There oft is, my Que. People are complex, and relationships ev more so. But give it time. Things will become clearer."

I nodded, appreciating her wisdom. "I hope so."

We sat in companionable silce for a while, sipping our tea. Evtually, Anara stood up and gave me a reassuring smile. "If you need anything, my Que, you know where to find me."

"Thank you, Anara," I said, watching as she left the room.

I finished my tea, feeling a bit more ctered. But the unresolved tsion with Seraphina still weighed heavily on my mind. I knew we needed to have that conversation, to lay everything out in the op. But I also knew it wouldn't be easy.