Chapter 458

She wondered if she could sneak out and see him now.

“Byron, be honest,” Maeve said, snapping out of her thoughts and meeting his gaze. “Are you saying that because you want to trick me into coming out?”

Byron was quiet for a moment. Then, “Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’ve gotten smarter.”

Maeve laughed. She knew it. Good thing she wasn’t easily fooled.

She shuddered, remembering his words from the other day: “You want to die? You can only die in my bed.”

He almost got her again. Maeve gritted her teeth. “Keep trying. I won’t fall for it. So what are you going to do then?”

“There’s no rush,” Byron replied casually. “You can’t hide forever, right?”

Maeve froze, then quickly hung up, terrified he’d drag her to the other side if she waited a second longer.

The next day, when Maeve and the children entered the dining room, they saw a good-looking man sitting beside the Queen. Their eyes met briefly; he raised an eyebrow slightly, gave her a faint smile, and returned to his conversation.

Goosebumps rose on Maeve’s neck. His look felt too deep, as if he was trying to convey something. And why was he here so early? she wondered.

Tom witnessed their fleeting glance. He’d been carefully scrutinizing Byron, with the critical eye of a future son-in-law. He had to admit, the man was impressive—more than enough for his precious niece. Still, he wasn’t happy. His niece had found an outsider before she’d even settled in. No one would be pleased.

Throughout breakfast, rule-following Tom stared at Byron, silently hoping he’d take the hint and leave. His expression changed only when Maeve and the children arrived. He casually asked about their sleep.

Maeve assured him she’d slept well. Will and Theo, however, having spent the night running around with Loren, looked worn out.

They noticed Byron, but he was speaking with the Queen, so Will didn’t approach his father.

The Queen caught Maeve’s eye and smiled. “Maeve, Mr. McDaniel is your guest today. Make sure you treat him well.”

Maeve heard the teasing tone; the Queen knew everything. Maeve shot an annoyed look at Byron, who calmly sipped his coffee, seemingly unfazed.

Tom wasted no time. “Mother, men and women have limits. It’s more appropriate for me to entertain Mr. McDaniel.” He wasn’t about to let Byron have a private moment with his niece—they weren’t even married yet.

Picking up on his protectiveness, the Queen smiled. “Let the young ones handle it. Why are you so old-fashioned, Tom?”

Tom thought, Great, haven’t even had my coffee, and Mother’s already won over? He didn’t want to stop Maeve and Byron, but he wouldn’t make it easy either. After all, ease diminished value.

Ultimately, he had to obey his mother.

“Alright, I’ll bring Maeve and the kids to entertain Mr. McDaniel. We’ll show him how polite we are,” Tom conceded.

The Queen shook her head, amused. “Just don’t forget our guest.”

“Got it.”

The Queen, with a packed schedule, left after breakfast. With Tom overseeing things, Maeve needn’t worry about Byron causing trouble. She relaxed and finished her breakfast. Tom then led them through the palace, pointing out important rooms and landmarks. Since they’d be staying a while, he wanted them to familiarize themselves with the place.

Maeve scratched her nose, deciding not to burst her uncle’s bubble. Even though she’d return to the country soon, she let him enjoy himself.

Midway through the tour, someone summoned Tom for urgent business. With guards and staff everywhere, Tom assumed Byron wouldn’t attempt anything with Maeve. Feeling reassured, he left.

As soon as her uncle disappeared, Maeve sensed the shift. Byron’s gaze was unmistakable—heavy and deliberate, drilling into her back. She didn’t need to turn around to feel its weight.

But she reminded herself they were in the palace, surrounded by people. Whatever Byron wanted to say or do would have to wait until they were alone. The thought offered a small, momentary calm.

“Will, look! Over there!” Theo pointed toward a corner of the garden. His chubby face lit up. “Those roses! I think Mommy planted them before. They’re her favorite!” Will grabbed his hand. “Let’s go check them out!”

“Yeah.”

The boys raced toward the flowerbed, their matching suits making them look like little waddling penguins. Maeve grinned, ready to tease them about their round figures, when a strong hand seized her wrist.

Before she could speak, she was pulled into the shadows of the green maze. Her back hit the hedge, rough leaves brushing her skin.

“Wait—” Her protest was cut short as Byron’s lips found hers—firm and unyielding. One hand tilted her chin up, his fingers brushing her skin as he deepened the kiss.

His kiss was fierce, almost suffocating, as if he was determined to possess her. Maeve couldn’t fight back; she could barely breathe. It was easy to convince herself she didn’t miss him when they were apart. But being near him was a different story. He couldn’t help himself; it was like the only way to quiet the storm raging inside him was to leave his mark on her.

Had anyone glanced toward the maze, they would have seen a tall man pressing a petite woman against the leafy wall, his frame completely obscuring hers. Only a bit of apricot-colored fabric peeked out where their bodies met.

Footsteps echoed from nearby paths. Maeve’s back dug into the hedge; her heart pounded as the steps drew nearer. Just on the other side of the wall—mere centimeters away.

Her mind was a whirlwind, torn between panic and the futile attempt to push him away. Her legs felt weak, her head dizzy from a mix of fear and… something else.

Then his lips left hers, moving to her neck. She gasped as his teeth grazed her skin, sinking in just enough to sting before he bit and sucked. The sharp sensation sent a shiver down her spine.

Byron’s gaze darkened as he studied the hickey, his voice low and raspy. “That’s just the interest.”