A Dance Of Twilight: (A Fae Dark Fantasy Romance Stand-Alone )

Chapter 43

As the first days passed of married life, I wondered when things would really begin. Nicholas and I shared the bed in the royal bedroom. We would spend most of our nights discussing books, things we did as children, and bore ourselves completely to each other.

It was wonderful. Better than I could ever have hoped for. I sat on the terrace overlooking the rose garden, holding a cup of warm lemon tea in my hands and listening to the soft sound of birdsong. I couldn”t help, but wonder when my freedom was to begin.

Nicholas had promised me once we were wed, I’d be allowed to explore the city, visit his people, and show them their new queen. I’d overheard some of the servants discussing the king’s enthusiasm to get my coronation ready, but something seemed to be holding him back.

My new sisters had not visited me either. I found it strange, but Nicholas expressed it was tradition for a new bride to be left alone with her husband. However, he had left me in the early hours of this morning. Percy, his right hand, called him away on urgent matters. I was left waiting, wondering if he were to tell me what was so important that dragged him out of bed before dawn.

“More tea, majesty?”

The young girl I’d rescued from that awful tavern stood close beside me, her hand ready to pour me another cup. With a soft smile and a shake of my head, I sat my cup down.

“Isla, do you like it here?” I asked, wondering if she felt the sting of homesickness, too.

“Of course, majesty.” She lowered her head in a bow, and I could tell she’d say anything to please me.

“I’m not going to shout at you, Isla. I”d like for you to tell me the truth. Please, I am just as new here as you are. Sit, join me.”

Her eyes widened as shock covered her face. Was it such a difficult request? To join someone for tea? Back home our housemaids dined with Talia and I. Especially when it was just us home while our parents left to travel.

“I couldn’t do that, majesty. It wouldn’t be proper, and the king may lose his temper if he caught me.”

“You let me worry about the king. Now sit. That’s an order if I must command you to.”

She sat almost instantly at my command, with fear in her eyes. I pondered how our housekeeper Claire was really treating her. Nicholas already told me that she wasn’t impressed to have such a young girl given to her. Claire didn”t seem to want to take care of, feed, or teach Isla.

Isla was sent to me as soon as she was settled with some basic lessons. I’d grown rather used to her presence being near. I hated how young she was—younger than Talia—and already she’d faced so much evil and darkness in this world.

Pouring her a cup of tea, I handed it to her. She shook as she took it from my hands. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and protect her at the sight of her trembling. Was I truly that scary? Or perhaps it was who I married that scared her?

“Please, don’t be scared of me. I won’t let anything happen to you. You showed me kindness that day and I will repay it the best way I can. I know not being a maid isn”t the most exciting, but?—”

“Oh, but it is majesty!” she interrupted, ”I am and will always be grateful to you and the king for saving me and taking me away from that awful place.”

She popped her cup down on the small table in her excitement to speak up. It was then I noticed how her fingers and knuckles look bruised and cut. I made a mental note to send for the healer to help fix her hands. They looked awfully raw and painful. It made me wonder what she was getting into that would cause that kind of damage.

“How did you end up there?” I asked, wanting to know more.

She was no older than fourteen, at the very most, and to be working in a place like that. The thought made a shudder run through me. How could anyone leave a vulnerable child to be surrounded by any number of people who could take advantage of them? It made my stomach twist in knots.

The images of that night flashed in my mind’s eye, and I tried not to show my discomfort or the fact my heart was racing. I was desperate to block the noise of those men undoing their belts, the screaming that escaped my throat, or the noise as his head hit the floor.

“My mother—she died, you see, and my dad, he was a soldier, mam said. I was just passing through and I ended up in my mistress”s house as I had nowhere to go. Mistress said, I could work in the kitchen—away from the others.”

She winced as she played with the edge of her sleeve, pulling it down slightly. To cover the scars. I’d already spotted them days ago when she arrived in my room with breakfast one morning.

How many other scars did she have hidden,I thought.

“Well, this is your home now and you won’t be treated as poorly as you were there. If Mistress Claire gives you any grief, please, tell me.”

“Oh, Mistress Claire treats me as if I were one of her own. She’s been very kind.”

“Good. I am glad to hear that. Otherwise, I’d have to have a few words.”

Winking at her as I drank the rest of my tea, I made sure she drank hers and enjoyed some of the sweet cakes. We sat watching the sunset in silence before heading back inside. Dismissing her so she may go and eat dinner herself, I headed back up the stairs to Nicholas’s study, hoping to catch him before dinner.

“I don’t care how you do it Percy! Just do as I command!”

I could hear Nicholas’s voice shouting from the hallway as I walked towards his study, the door slightly ajar. He didn’t sound happy, and I contemplated leaving and asking him later what was the matter.

A thud and a loud bang sounded, drawing my curiosity back. I peeked through the gap in the door, surprised to see no guards waiting in the hallway, they must have been dismissed.

“I cannot, Nicholas! If we do not act now then war will arrive by the end of the month! You either send for Nora to round up our army, or King Sirius and his men may just burn this valley to the ground to get Princess Ornella back.”

My eyes widened at the sound of my father’s name, and I couldn’t help to listen more, to find out more.

“Then let them come! They will not be able to do anything now that I have married their dear, sweet princess. She is mine! I will kill her first before they can get to her.”

I slapped my hand over my mouth as I gasped. Kill me? No, surely that wouldn’t be what he would do? Nicholas seemed to care deeply for me, he’d shown me more this past week than ever before. Surely this was just a ruse, a lie.

“You can’t be serious? Have you gone mad?!” Percy shouted.

I was surprised by how freely he spoke to his king. Another crash sounded as Nicholas threw a glass across the room, smashing it into a million pieces then slammed his fists on his table.

“I am deadly serious. Nora believes they will not be able to cross the border. Until I can find out why Ornella is able to open the portal, they will not have her.”

Portal? My mind went blank for a moment before the pieces clicked into place. The portal hidden underneath the castle! I hadn’t thought much of it after Nicholas practically carried me out of that room, demanding I never step foot in there again. I wouldn’t even if he ordered me—after the mention of monsters and whatever else—I’d rather stay firmly away from that place.

“They will be here by the end of the week, surrounding our borders. Our spies have informed me they have a mage with them, who may possibly be able to break the border. Please, see reason and think about what I’ve said. Ornella might be your wife, but she is their princess and heir to the Crystal throne, they will fight to the very last Fae to get her back.”

Percy turned towards the door, and I rushed to hide, ducking behind a rather large plant pot. I held my breath tightly as he thundered out the door. He stopped in the corridor, looking around before proceeding towards the main hall.

Silence entered the corridor and I waited to see if Nicholas would emerge. Surely he would have guessed I was already here? He could hear my thoughts if he chose to. But there was something else. Something more. I’d felt it since our vow ceremony and wondered if he too felt different. I felt warmer, lighter even and had this strange feeling deep inside, as if something was waking up and pulling me towards him, making me more aware of him.

“Annwyl, I know you are there.”

His voice entered my head, and a feeling of dread flooded my body. I wondered if he knew for how long or what I’d heard. Entering his study, I saw shattered glass scattered all around the floor—the crashes I heard may have not been the only ones from today. Stepping carefully, the glass was impossible to miss and crunched under my shoes. Nic had his back turned and was looking out the window.

“I don’t take kindly to people eavesdropping on my conversations. Wife or not.”

“I didn’t mean to listen in. I was just coming to see if you were joining me for dinner as I had not seen you all day.”

My voice was soft, gentle as I didn’t fancy provoking him. He was obviously annoyed and stressed. The threat of him killing me still lingered in the room. Did he even realise I’d heard that part or just the end?

“How much did you hear?”

He turned slowly towards me, his eyes blacked with his shadows as they danced at his feet. I wasn’t too sure if he was angry because of me or everything else.

“Enough to know my father’s army is coming and you will kill me before he gets me back.”

His face didn’t change. No hint of emotion or empathy crossed his eyes. Nic just shrugged his shoulders and went back to looking out his window. My heart thudded loudly in my chest. Anxiety and nausea raised in my throat. Did last week mean nothing to him? Did he really think killing me would solve his problem? If anything, killing me would be the worst thing he could do.

“So, that’s your plan is it? To kill me, to hurt my family like they hurt yours?”

“And why shouldn’t I? Your father didn’t just take my auntie away, but also killed my parents.”

Shaking my head in disbelief, I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea my parents would murder his or anyone for that matter. Perhaps my father had no idea about his auntie dying when he broke their deal. If he did, he would have apologised at least.

“You are so blinded, stupid even,” he spat as he turned back to face me, his shadows growing darker around him, almost embracing him. I could have sworn the room itself was darkening.

“You think a king, or any leader of a strong land wouldn’t remove their opponents from the game given the chance? Your family has been waiting—itching in-fact—to one day invade my lands, to try and take my throne. We are all chess pieces on a large board, just waiting to make our next move and I made mine by stealing you away.”

He stormed towards me then, rage pouring from his eyes as he gripped me by the shoulders and pushed me towards the other side of the room. My back landed hard on the stonework as he kept his grip on me. Fear filled my veins as I looked at him, those blue eyes completely disappearing in front of me.

“I will kill you as punishment for what your family did to mine.”

“No, you won’t. I know you care for me.”

He released a sinister laugh that shook me right down to my core as he bared his teeth. I wasn’t speaking to the Nicholas I knew. This was his other mask, the one he’d shown me back in the summer house. The king lost to his shadows, his power overwhelming him.

“You know nothing, you stupid foolish girl. I will kill you right here and send your head in a box to them as a gift.”

“Do it then,” my voice shook as the words came out, “If you are so bent on revenge then just do it already. Don’t make me fall in love with you when there is no point. When you don’t feel anything but hatred and a need for revenge.”

He dug his nails into my shoulders, and I could feel the trickle of blood running down my arms. I didn’t move, didn’t falter. He wasn’t going to break me. I may have been frightened and worried he would do what he threatened to do, but I still stood my ground.

“GO ON THEN! DO IT!!” I shouted.

Squaring my shoulders, I stood straighter and bared my teeth in return. My ears started to ring, my heart beat harder and faster in my chest while I shook with adrenaline. He just stared down at me as I watched the black fade slowly in his eyes then reappear again. Whatever was going on in his mind, he appeared to be fighting it.

“WELL!” I shouted, again.

Suddenly his lips were on mine, hungrily and filled with wanting. I pushed him off as best as I could while he still held me pinned against the wall. He pushed harder into me, his lips rough against mine, but I stood still. Unmoving. I refused to return the kiss.

“Ornella,” his voice came out soft, normal, like before.

I released a laboured breath as I continued to shake with tears streaming down my cheeks. The shadows retreated, revealing his blue pools again. Loosening his grip on me, I could feel the ache and sting as the new wounds exposed themselves to the air. Instead of moving away, or fleeing, I found my hand resting upon his cheek as he looked at me, confused and lost.

“Do you really want to kill me?” I asked.

He didn’t answer me right away, just continued to stare down at me and my breath caught in my throat. I’d been a fool. I was after all nothing, but his stupid, foolish girl. His puppet. His pawn to use and dispose of when he was done using me.

“Do you want me dead, Nicholas?” I asked again.

“No, but?—”

I didn’t want to hear the end of that sentence. He had said enough. I pushed him off me. This time he stepped back and I began to walk towards the door, determined to hold myself together until I made my way back to my rooms.

He reached out, grabbing my wrist as I walked away. I felt him tug me back and for a moment we stood, unmoving as I looked at him.

“You make me want to kill everything and everyone in this world. You make me want to destroy it all,” He admitted.

The confession took me by surprise. I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or something I should be worried about.

“You will be the end of me, Ornella. I know it. But for now, I believe you will need to be trained to fight like the Obsidian Queen you are, and only then, will we see what happens next.”

“And will you kill me if I fail?”

“No. Because you will not fail.”

With his final word, he finally let go of me, I nodded and left him alone with his thoughts, heading towards my wing. I would not be sleeping in the royal bedchamber this evening and possibly not for a while.

The last thing I had expected was to wake and find Nic lying next to me a few days later. I’d been avoiding him like the plague, but in fact he’d been avoiding me, too. Morgana did her best to avoid asking me any questions as did Vanessa. Whereas April had no problems calling me out as a terrible wife and that I should be sleeping in bed with him and not on my own.

His warmth next to me filled my heart with flutters. I shifted slightly, trying to get out of the covers without waking him. He moved, turning towards me, his arm tucking under the pillow and the other lazily over my waist.

My breath caught.

He sighed, relaxing.

How long had he been there? All night? Surely not.

Since sleeping in my own bed, I had found it uncomfortable and miserable. It would take me hours, usually until the sun rose, and only then would my eyes finally close. He came to bed in only his comfortable cotton trousers. With his chest exposed, I had to fight the urge to run my fingers down his muscled torso.

I had things to do. Morgana promised to take me riding today. Afterwards we would head into a small village just outside the castle walls, for a spot of shopping and tea. It wasn’t quite the city I wanted to visit, but it was the best she could do with Nicholas barking orders at her.

I would need to be extra quiet if I were to slip away without waking him. He’d escaped me many times before, so it was high time I did it to him. Staring at him now, I felt a pinch in my chest. He seemed at peace, sleeping soundly and I wondered if this was the only time he truly rested.

Since the blood and bonding ritual, I’d found my mind almost constantly infected with darkness. Shadows that crept around the corners of my mind, trying to snuff out any light it saw. Was this his mind invading my space while I slept? Is this what he dreamt of most nights?

Reaching out to move some hair off his face, I pulled back before my hand reached his pale and soft skin. He looked so delicate, almost innocent. I knew underneath that mysterious mask was a demon in disguise. He’d fooled me into believing I meant anything to him, to marry him, all for his own personal gain.

I would have gladly, easily fallen for him. There wouldn’t have even been a question or doubt when I did. After that day in his office, I could no longer trust him. I didn’t know who he was anymore. If I ever had.

Who was he? A king? Nicholas? My stable boy? The shadow man in the woods? Lord Cole?

He told me before he was all of those things, mixed into one body and mind, but which one controlled him the most? Which mask was in charge? The more I thought about it, the more I realised it was the king in him. The one who showed no mercy and enjoyed hurting people was most likely the one in control.

Nicholas was the man I met the night before our wedding. That was someone, I think, he wished to be or at least pretending to be. He needed to win me over, to claim me.

The shadow man was my protector and seducer when it suited him.

Lord Cole—that mask was someone I thought of as a flirtatious friend.

And finally, my stable boy. That was him before his parents were murdered and his innocence was stolen.

Without moving his arm, I slipped out slowly and pulled my dress robe over my shoulders. I checked he was soundly asleep before heading behind the changing screen to pull on my riding clothes.

Morgana mentioned we’d have breakfast in her room then head down to the stables. I tried desperately not to make a sound as I dressed. Throwing my hair into a braid, I stepped out from the screen to find Nicholas no longer on my bed. My eyes darted around as the bedroom door shut, only catching a glimpse of him as he stepped out.

A sigh escaped my lips, feeling awful we’d not spoken a word since his study and for waking him. Perhaps if I stayed put, Morg wouldn’t have cared if we rain checked on our plans. I could have tried to make amends with him.

Shaking my head, I told my inner voice off for evening thinking to make amends. He was willing to kill me to get back at my parents. I wasn’t sure if I could forgive that, even if he denied it afterwards.