Chapter 22
Nicholas made it a habit that we would dine together every evening. During this time, he tested me on my new knowledge of his kingdom and the way of the Obsidian Fae. Explaining how Crystal Fae had always believed them to be the superior of the species, even when they lacked many of the qualities of an Obsidian.
We were all blessed with the ability to use magic. Obsidians were more open and free about using theirs. I was ashamed to admit magic use was frowned upon back home. Only healers and seers would dare use their skills in public and even then, it was still punishable. Or at least that’s what our laws stated. Father however never punished anyone who was gifted.
“Do you think I have any magic?” I asked one evening as we sat near the fountain. It had become our spot.
The air was crisp and fresh as the moon flowers began to bloom. He looked positively dazzling in the moonlight. I fiddled with the hem of my sleeve, nervous about his answer. Nicholas paced a little back and forth as we chatted. It made me question if something was possibly on his mind. I hadn’t asked at dinner, but I made the plan to ask him while we were outside—alone.
“I would like to say yes, but it is possibly a very small amount. Crystal Fae stopped using their magic hundreds of years ago. It may be very faded by now, with the skills untapped and left to wither away.”
I sighed, a little disappointed. If I were able to use magic, I wouldn’t feel so exposed, vulnerable or different. I could tell by the way his household staff looked at me—the way some treated me—was as if I were an imperfect match for their king. And they would be right. I wasn’t.
“Is there something on your mind? You have been pacing back and forth since I sat down. Or am I so boring that you can’t wait to get back?”
He stopped suddenly, realising his actions and shook his shoulders out a little, removing the tension.
“You could never be boring,” he said with a laugh.
He finally sat down, and took my fidgeting hand in his before placing a small kiss on my knuckles. Heat raced across my face with a blush colouring my cheeks. These simple, affectionate gestures were his thing and something I was growing to enjoy.
“My apologies if I seem a little distracted. I will try to pay more attention from now on,” he apologised with a wink.
I felt my heart thump in my chest as our eyes met. I’d laid awake the last few nights confused by my feelings. Feeling angry at how easily Nicholas seemed to lie to me, then there was curiosity, where I wanted to know everything about him and our history.
“What occupies that mind of yours?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I winked in return and a small laugh escaped my lips. He placed his other hand against my cheek, gently rubbing his thumb across my bottom lip.
“My apologies, your majesty, and your highness, for disturbing you.”
A guard, no taller than myself, joined us within our small space and bowed low to the ground. Nicholas’s eyes landed on him and a low growl rose from his chest, causing the guard to cower.
“Yes?” Nicholas dropped his hands, not willing to let anyone see the affection he shared with me. I felt the coldness of his attitude around me as if it was a physical thing. “Speak up.”
“I’m sorry, my king, but there is a man and woman here, they wish to speak to you and eh—the princess.”
His eyes narrowed as he stood up, and thundered back towards the castle, ignoring me in the process. The guard and I quickly tried to keep up with Nic’s longer pace.
The doors of the room were blasted open at the wave of Nic’s hand. In the middle of the room stood two Fae. As my eyes met their’s, my world fell out from under me. Kathlyn and Hector stood in the middle of the room.
“YOUR HIGHNESS!” Kathlyn screamed as she tried to step forward. A blast of something flashed at her, preventing her from moving.
“What is this?” I demanded, looking at Nic as he took his seat. “They were found breaking through our borders, your majesty,” the guard spoke.
“Nicholas, please, this is Kathlyn, my handmaid and Hector, my tutor. They didn”t mean any harm.”
I tried to fight the nervousness that rose within me. This didn”t make sense. Why—how were they here? I didn’t know what to make of any of this. Nicholas shot a look at me which struck fear in my heart. His blue eyes completely disappeared as shadows licked at his hands.
“Why have you come?” he asked, his voice dark and frightening.
“We came to see our princess, and make sure that she was doing okay.” Hector”s voice broke as he spoke. Kathlyn never lost sight of me.
“And, are you, princess, doing okay?” Nicholas asked me, putting me on the spot.
I knew what he was doing. He’d already mentioned spies existed within both our courts. He possibly thought Hector and Kathlyn were here to spy and would sneak back out to report to my family.
“Yes, my king, I am doing well.”
I knew deep down if I said no, and that I wanted to go home, I would be trapped here—likely imprisoned—and Norok would not be healed. I had to stay here for his safety.
“This is the happiest I have been in a long time,” I admitted, for it was the truth, staring at my friends.
Kathlyn’s face dropped, as did Hector’s. They were expecting me to beg for them to get my parents, to save me, to do something. Part of me did miss home, but the other part of me knew I would be trapped in a marriage of abuse. I needed to spread my wings, and this was the only place I’d be able to do that.
“See, your princess is doing well. You may now run back to your lands and tell your dearest king.”
He waved his hand and the barrier that kept them from moving came down. Kathlyn didn’t move, but Hector did. Rushing towards me, he took me into a hug. The room started to shake, shattering the glasses as they fell off a nearby table.
“I will only ask this once. Remove. Your. Hands. From MY fiancé. NOW. Or I will remove them for you.”
Nicholas’s threat echoed through the room, shaking it once again. Hector removed them slowly, looking at me with worry in his eyes and then up at Nicholas. Hector lowered himself into a bow before me.
“Hector, please stand. It is alright,” I spoke softly to him. Turning and looking at Nicholas with anger I spoke to him, “It is fine! He will not harm me.” I pulled my friend back up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I am fine,” I whispered to him as he was pulled back by a guard. Kathlyn still didn’t move, fear keeping her in her spot.
“Kathlyn, you can go. I will be alright,” I assured her as I stepped in front of her, placing my hands on her shoulders.
She looked at me with tears shining in her eyes, lost for words. Breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably, her whole body shook in tremors until I held her tightly against my chest. Looking at Hector over her shoulder, I found him staring at me, confused.
“Remove her from the princess,” Nicholas ordered. The guard’s hand rose to grab Kathlyn and I shoved him away before he managed to touch her.
“No! This woman is like a sister to me, and you will do no such thing.”
The guard retreated looking at me then at Nicholas with fear in his eyes. He would most likely be punished if he didn’t follow orders, or was forceful towards me. Nicholas nodded his head and the guard stepped away.
“Whatever is the matter, Kath?”
She continued to sob until I peeled her off me and held her head in my hands. Forcing her to look at me as she shook with each cry, I gently wiped her tears away even as more fell.
“I’m so sorry, your highness, I should have spoken up sooner. I should have told his majesty what was happening.”
My brows joined as I became confused, unsure of what she was talking about.
“I should have said something when they proposed your marriage.” She forced herself to stop crying, her breathing still erratic, causing her words to come out in small bursts. “I knew, I knew what he was doing, but he said he’d slaughter my family if I told anyone. I did not know he had more planned.”
My body began to shake as I processed her words. Breathing felt impossible, my chest grew tight as I dug my nails deep into her cheeks. She didn’t shout or whimper in pain, her voice silent enough to prove to me what her words were.
“You—You knew.” It’s all I could say as I pressed harder into her skin, breaking it. “You knew what he was doing to me.”
With my damning words the room began to shake again. Shadows poured from his body as he stood. His shadows slid over my skin, creating a barrier between me and Kathlyn. They protected me---shielded me. I could feel his wrath deep within my mind, awakening something inside of me as my anger grew. The hurt. The betrayal. It was overwhelming.
“How long?” I asked.
“What?” she sobbed, blood began to run down her cheeks.
“How long did it go on for? How long did you know? How long did you allow me to be hurt?”
“A—” she stopped, lowering her eyes and I squeezed harder, causing her to whimper in pain.
“HOW LONG?!” I screamed in her face. The ringing in my ears was becoming unbearable.
“SIX YEARS!” she shouted back. Sudden shock tried to take over my body. Everything felt heavy, my head dizzy and my sight darkened.
“For six years, princess. He would sneak into your chamber—I could hear you crying, begging for help, but he wouldn’t let me help you. His guards kept me away.”
I didn’t want to hear anymore. I couldn’t hear anymore. My heart shattered within my chest. How could she have done this? I didn”t even notice as she shouted and protested, being pulled away from me. Dragged through the throne room by an invisible force, she was thrown through the glass doors into the courtyard.
Hector stared in disbelief and shock.
Nicholas appeared behind me, his hands gentle on my shoulders as he brought my back into his chest. I heaved, desperately trying to gather air within my lungs. I couldn”t breathe.
“See to it he is taken care of. Not a word of this is to leave this room, understood?”
The guards all nodded in agreement, they wouldn”t dare cross their king. Hector shouted about being removed from the room, begging, and promising not to say a word. Nicholas’s arms dropped around my waist and chest, his shadows enveloping me.
“You are safe. He will not harm you again. You, my sweet, you will have your revenge, this I swear to you.”
And I would.
I would destroy everything Dorian touched and cared for. I would ruin him, break him. And with Nicholas’s help, Dorian would never touch another girl again.
We stayed in the throne room, sitting on the floor for a little while longer. Every guard was dismissed, and we were left alone. Grateful for the comfort he brought me in that moment until finally my breathing evened and my pulse slowed.
“You can let go now,” I said gently.
It took Nicholas a few seconds to register my words before he let me go. Standing with his hands out to me in offer, he didn”t look at me with pity and I was grateful. He lifted me off the floor then guided me to a small table tucked away at the side of the throne room. Sitting me down on one of the chairs, he brushed his knuckles down the side of my cheek as his eyes darkened again.
“I must take care of a few things, and get the doors replaced. I will send for my sisters to come and keep you company while you dine.”
“Will you not join me?”
“Ornella, I am trying desperately to keep my rage within and not head straight to your lands and ruin your family for what they put you through.” I was going to argue, but he raised his hand to quiet me. “But I will not, I know your siblings are blameless. However, I believe the two people who visited you today may know more information and I do not wish for you to be privy to what I must now do.”
He began to walk away, and I rushed from my seat to grab his wrist, falling to my knees. I knew what he meant.
“Please, don’t harm them. They are but servants to the crown and only know one way of life—that is to never overstep,” Pleading with Nic, I hoped my words would work. “Hector is a master tutor, please, perhaps he could stay here and continue my studies? He knows so much about your lands. And Kathlyn, send her to a mill, but please do not harm them.”
He didn’t release his arm from my grasp, even though I knew he could with one slight pull. His eyes slightly returned to their blue shade as they dropped to my eye line, then a wicked smile ran across his face.
“I will allow your tutor, if I find he had no knowledge of the abuse you were put under.” He licked his lips and his smile grew cruel, “However, your handmaid, she will not survive. Yes, you may care for her, and I am sorry you will lose her. But if she were loyal to you, my dear sweet, she would have sacrificed her entire family to save you. You were but a child and deserved more.”
He pulled his arm from my hand at last and took a few steps away before turning back as I cried silently.
“Ornella, do not ask me to spare the lives of those who have wronged you. While I will give you almost anything you desire, I cannot grant that.”
And with those words, he vanished in his shadows, leaving me to cry and wonder what torment he would put them both under.