The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 666

Chapter 666

Chapter 666

Fuming, Xander jumped out of bed barefoot, flung open the door, and stormed out.

Ansel was standing night watch when he saw Xander storm out barefoot and disheveled. Startled, he stammered, “Your Highness rel

“Get out,” Xander snarled, his voice dripping with fury.

Ansel recoiled, cursing himself for speaking up.

Xander marched up to the study door, hesitated at the sight of it firmly shut, and for a moment considered kicking it open–but thought better of it

Then he circled around to the back and slipped in through the window.

The moment Xander stepped inside, he was enveloped by Athena’s unmistakable scent–familiar and uniquely hers.

Only a tiny candle flickered within the room. The bed was veiled by curtains, hiding what lay within.

Xander tiptoed closer, carefully drew back the curtain, and froze in stunned silence.

“DARLING, with a perfectly good door right there, you just had to climb in through the window like a rogue,” Athena teased, her eyes full of mischief. “Aren’t you worried about the scandal if word gets out?”

Only then did Xander realize she had set him up on purpose. Xander plopped down on the bed and immediately wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

Xander buried his face in her waist and grumbled in a muffled voice, “My dear, how could you be so heartless?”

Athena burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking with mirth.

Xander looked up at her, his eyes glistening with moisture. “Laugh all you want,” he muttered petulantly. “I couldn’t care less.”

‘Well, I’m already hopelessly wrapped around Athena’s finger this lifetime–what’s a little window–climbing between us?‘ he wondered. He was capable of far worse down the road.

Athena gently patted Xander’s shoulder and said softly, “There, there, don’t be upset. It’s not that I don’t want you with me. I’m just worried that if you see Michael, you’ll start overthinking things again.

“Rather than dealing with that, I thought it’d be better if we just avoided the situation altogether. Michael and I are just friends now. He took an arrow for me–that’s a debt of gratitude I can’t just forget.

Xander scoffed indignantly. “His so–called favor? I repaid him right then and there. Even if he hadn’t jumped in front of you, that arrow wouldn’t have touched you. What need was there for him to play the hero?”

At this point, his tone hardened, each word squeezed out between clenched teeth, his voice thick with barely concealed resentment. “If anyone’s going to take an arrow for you, it should be me.”“If anyone’s going to take an arrow for you, it should be me.“”

Three arrows had been shot at Michael. If Xander hadn’t swiftly intercepted the one aimed straight for his heart, he might not have survived.

Athena stared dumbfounded at the man before he–this was the renowned general whose military exploits echoed across battlefields.

He was decisive and ruthless, the Prince Xander whose single hand could shift the tides of power. But right now, he acting like a clingy puppy. His words were just so petty and childish, it was almost laughable.

Athena cupped Xander’s face in her hands, tifting it this way and that with playful scrutiny.

Her sparkling eyes mirrored Xander’s puzzled expression. “What are you looking at?” Athena teased.

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Chapter 666

“Just checking if you have been possessed,” Athena chuckled softly. “You’re acting so unlike yourself”

Xander froze for a beat, then it hit him–Athena was teasing him. He pounced on Athena like a playful tiger, pinning her beneath him.

Xander dug his fingers into Athena’s waist, relentlessly tickling her until she was gasping for air between peals of laughter.

Xander wouldn’t let up, tickling her as he teased, “Laugh at me, will you? Go on, laugh at me again do you dare?”

“No, no more. I surrender. I won’t dare again,” Athena gasped, pleading for mercy as laughter filled the

room.

Outside the door, Alexandra, who had hurried over, turned crimson with embarrassment at the laughter coming from inside. Flustered, she muttered, “Goodness gracious. What indecent behavior? Come on, let’s go–quickly now.”

Alexandra had gotten word that Athena and Xander were having a fight. Alexandra had been all set to give Athena a proper scolding as her mother in law. To her shock, she walked in on such an embarrassingly intimate scene.

Far from fighting, the young couple were all over each other, acting lovey–dovey.

Alexandra beat a hasty retreat from the study and, on her way back, vented her anger on her maid. “You stupid girl. Did that look like a quarrel to you? You made me come all this way for nothing.”

“Please don’t be angry, Your Grace. I know I was wrong,” said the maid.

“Let’s go. Move it,” Alexandra snapped impatiently.

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