Chapter 60 - Aerin
AERIN
The time between Zeneith and Keylar goes by quickly with Aerin’s racing mind. As the cart door slides open the Zeneith Royal Guards are quick to rise, blocking the exit. Quinn stands, then scowls when they don’t move.
“Hello?” She waves in their face. “I need to stretch my legs.”
“No one gets off,” the older guard says.
“Are you serious?” Quinn whines.
“King’s orders.”
“Well, the King doesn’t have to know, does he?” Quinn asks in her most sultry voice. She throws in a pout for good measure.
The younger one seems to be weakening his resolve. Quinn runs a finger down the lapel of his uniform.
“Maybe you can escort me?” She bats her eyes, the purr in her voice more like a hiss.
The elder nudges him. Clearing his throat, he parrots the other male: “King’s orders.”
“What’s the big deal? It’s just Keylar,” Quinn questions.
“It’s the Humans,” he says, this time getting a full slap on the chest from the older guard. While no one moves, Aerin can tell this caught everyone’s interest.
Vyx laughs. “You’re afraid of a couple of Humans?”
“It’s not just a couple of Humans,” he rebuts. The older one sighs.
“The Humans are protesting for equality in Keylar; the city isn’t safe right now. Especially not for Royals from other City-States,” the older guard says. “Or daughters of high-profile Shifters,” he adds pointedly at Quinn.
“What do you mean by equality?” Reyna asks hesitantly.
The guard shakes his head. “That’s all I know.” Everyone in the cart knows it’s a lie.
“Equality is a laughable concept, particularly for Humans,” Vyx goads.
Everyone keeps their gaze off Reyna. Aerin knows her friend well enough to know she’s fishing for information.
“What could they possibly think they deserve? They should be thankful we don’t hunt them like we used to in the days of Old. ” Vyx looks at her nails, unimpressed.
Aerin sneaks a glance at Reyna, who looks ready to rip the Viper’s head off. She glances at Khortland, who even without touching Reyna, seems to be calming her down.
The young guard laughs, “Exactly!” He visibly relaxes. “They want to live inside the walls, can you believe that?”
The announcer informs them they will be leaving the station for Valtara at sunset.
“They are in a lot more danger living inside the walls with us,” Vyx agrees, her hissing prominent in the words, as if to display her predatory nature.
The Fae looks smug. “I’ve always said Humans are only good for three things.
” Aerin doesn’t need to hear the end of the sentence before she acts.
They are all aware of the prejudices against Humans.
Aerin throws out her invisible magic, like blankets, over Khortland and Reyna, before the Fae can finish.
When he does, she is glad she did. “Labor, food, or fucking.”
Both Khortland and Reyna strain against the magic that holds them perfectly still. Vyx laughs in agreement as the guards sit back down in their chairs. Aerin doesn’t let her magic fall until they are far from Keylar.
The relief Aerin feels when they pull into Valtara is short lived as the cart doors slide open. Fyton stands on the other side, flanked by a group of Valtara Royal Guards. Most are familiar faces, including Bryer.
Her father’s bond-mate narrows his eyes at Aerin. “Princess Tolvare, we are here to escort you to the Royal Village.”
Aerin’s gut sinks. If Father sent Fyton, then there is no flirting or conniving her way out of it. Fyton has never been fond of the Tolvare children, and Aerin’s certain she’s his least favorite of all.
Standing from her spot in the tube cart, Aerin pulls her shoulders back. She’s immediately flanked by Emrys in his Wolf form and Malice.
“Fine,” Aerin accepts, stepping forward. Fyton reaches a hand for her. Before it can land, Malice catches it. The sickening crunch of bones echoes. Pain crosses Fyton’s harsh features.
“Do not touch her,” Malice growls, flames dancing in his eyes.
“How dare—"
Malice snarls like Reikan’s half out of his body, ready to devour the guards. Most of them tremble, but Fyton only looks furious.
“How dare you, a lowly Fae guard, presume you have the right to touch the Princess,” Malice growls. Tension racquets up. The Zeneith Royal Guards are unsure what to do. The other Valtara guards hesitate to interfere.
“Come on, let him go,” Bryer finally says, leaning in to separate them. He freezes when Emrys bares his teeth, letting loose his own menacing growl.
Aerin hears the other guards whispering, murmuring about how they thought the news was a rumor or a hoax. Khortland steps forward on the other side of Emrys, stroking a hand down Emrys’s spine.
“It’s alright,” he says to Emrys. Malice lets Fyton’s wrist go. The guard cradles it to his chest, a sneer on his face.
“We would be happy to attend a meeting with the King,” Khortland says casually. “My father wishes to send his regards anyways, best to get it done with so we can go back to enjoying ourselves, yes?”
Aerin smiles at Khortland, before looking back to the guards.
“You all act like I never listen to my father’s requests.
” Aerin smirks at Fyton, allowing her powers to ripple around the guards, like wind playing with their hair.
“Six of you seems quite excessive, but I suppose we do have a lot of bags. You two,” she points to the guards on the left of Fyton, “Go find our luggage.” They exchange glances but eventually break off from the group to comply.
“Bryer.” Aerin tilts her head, examining the Fae.
“Be a dear and escort my guest back to my apartment.”
Aerin turns to see Reyna, wide eyed, deep in the cart.
“Bryer will take you to mine, feel free to make yourself at home, and once all this Princess stuff is dealt with, we can go have some fun.” Aerin winks at her.
Reyna wipes the shock from her face before falling into an act. She struts out of the cart, Malice letting her pass.
“Well? Let’s go,” she says impatiently. Bryer seems resigned as he steps out of formation, leading Reyna away. Khortland holds his breath until she’s out of sight.
Aerin meets Fyton’s gaze. There is still rage in his brown eyes. With his position as both bond-mate to the King and head of the Royal Guard, Fyton is almost never questioned. The only creature he answers to is Oberyn.
“Well?” Aerin shoves more bravado into her tone than she’s really feeling. “Let’s go.”
Pushing past the remaining guards, Malice, Emrys, and Khortland move with Aerin. She swallows down her nerves as they walk across Valtara to the Royal Village.
Whatever her father wants from her, it can’t be good. And injuring Fyton, no matter how temporary the wound, would only make things worse. Luckily, Aerin doesn’t have to wait long. Her father meets them in the grand entrance.
Oberyn Tolvare is handsome in his age, like a figurine, not a single hair is out of place. His beauty doesn’t match the coldness that rolls off him in waves.
Upon arrival, the other guards make themselves scarce. Only Fyton, who flanks one side of the entrance, and Malice, who stops at the other, remain. Khortland stands to Aerin’s left. Emrys on her right.
Anger flashes over Oberyn’s face when he lays eyes on Emrys. Aerin places her hand protectively on his back. Her father looks up at her, his golden eyes a mirror to hers. His golden hair a mirror to hers. The Tolvare blessing and the Tolvare curse.
“Prince Khortland, please, Esalin is waiting in the sitting room to greet you properly. The Princess and I will be along in a moment.” Oberyn gestures to a hallway where a guard waits to lead her Paramyr away.
They exchange a glance.
“Ever a pleasure to visit your City-State, King Tolvare. I am elated to spend my summer here.” Khortland gives a slight bow before disappearing with the guard.
“My petulant child returns,” Oberyn says lowly once Khortland is out of ear shot.
Aerin rolls her eyes at him. In response, her father bares his canines at her before snapping his mouth shut aggressively. A warning.
“You are at the end of your rope, Aerin. Keep pulling and I will retaliate.”
Aerin’s anger burns under her skin as she takes a step forward. “You already have me leashed, Father. What’s next? A choke collar?”
Her father matches her step, rising above Aerin.
“You do not want to test me, child. I have never locked you up the way you like to pretend I have. I have given you everything, and yet you continue to disobey me. To disgrace this family.”
He’s always unfair, her father. And it feeds Aerin’s anger, justifies the way it begs to shatter the entire room. She pushes that desire down; her father cannot know she has full access to her magic again.
Aerin takes a deep breath followed by a step away. Back at Emrys’s side she strokes his head, leveling her words. “He’s the first of his kind you know.”
Oberyn’s eyes heat with rage at the acknowledgement of the Wolf. Aerin doubts he believes the lie, but he won’t question the Hale’s for the sake of peace between the City-States.
“Part of Vitus’s collection, made just for me.
” Aerin continues to pet Emrys. She keeps her eyes locked on her father.
“I know it seems like I spent my whole weekend in Zeneith partying, and trust me, Khortland and I did have our fun…” Aerin gives Oberyn a smile she knows will boil his blood.
He narrows his gaze at her as she continues to pet Emrys.
“But I also spent quite a bit of time with Vitus. Such an interesting Fae. He showed me his entire collection you know.” Aerin holds her father’s glare.
Something else in the gold reflects back at her, a crack is his facade.
Perhaps he’s remembering what exactly he did to that Wolf, her mother, in those dungeons years ago.
“Wow does he have stories,” she adds casually.
Oberyn’s eye twitches.
Aerin sighs, relaxing her body, dissolving the tension.
“Anyways.” Aerin takes steps away from her father, following the path Khortland took out of the room, Emrys at her heels. Malice shadows her step for step. “I’ll keep your warning in mind, Father.”
Oberyn Tolvare says nothing.
By the time they get back to Aerin’s apartment building the sun is setting. Tea with her parents had been painful. Cisera joined them, talking up Khortland while Esalin eyed Emrys with distrust.
It was uncomfortable at best, leaving Aerin exhausted.
The elevator comes and she nods to Khortland and Emrys. “You two go; we’ll take the next one,” she tells them, wanting a moment alone with Malice. The blood-bond has been writhing unhappily in her side all day.
As the doors close Aerin says, “You’re really going to keep this up?”
Malice turns, staring down at her, clenching his jaw.
“Yes,” he says with finality before turning back to the elevator.
“It was extenuating circumstances!” Aerin all but shouts. Malice looks over at the Ursine doorman behind Aerin, but she doesn’t care. The door to the elevator opens and Malice quickly enters. Aerin follows, as she continues, “And, I didn’t actually lie to you at all. You have no right—”
“I have no right?” Malice cuts her off, whipping to face her. “You lied to me, again. You told me there would be no more secrets, and then you deliberately attempted to fool me and put yourself in danger, again!” He crowds her, their bodies almost touching.
“Technically, I never promised anything,” Aerin rebuts hesitantly.
“Gods damn it, Aerin!” Malice shouts.
Aerin is silent, waiting for something, for anything. A hint of how to fix this. The elevator rises, their time running out.
“I can’t be who you want me to be,” Malice finally admits, “Not when you constantly feed me these half-truths. You hoard your secrets and your manipulations like they are the only thing that protects you.”
“They are the only thing that protects me!”
“I protect you!”
Malice’s nostrils flare as he breathes heavily, holding himself back.
Tension intensifies in the small space. Aerin wants nothing more than for him to snap, for him to grab her and kiss her.
For him to do anything. He seems to be thinking about it, his gaze on her mouth, eyes, then down to her mouth again, chest still heaving.
The elevator door slides open and the moment snaps. They both turn to the hall where the door to her apartment is ajar, shouting coming from inside. They exchange a glance before quickly moving down the hall.
“I swear if you ever touch me like that again I’ll—” Emrys’s voice is more vicious than Aerin has heard in a long time.
“I was acting in front of the King. You’re welcome, by the way. In case you forgot, he’d kill you if he knew the truth,” Khortland fires back, indifference in his tone.
“You guys please,” Reyna’s voice pleads.
Malice is through the door first, moving to Emrys’s side immediately.
“What happened?” Malice demands to Emrys.
“He treats me like a fucking object! I ought to bite his hand off next time!” Emrys shouts, lunging for Khortland. Malice stops the Wolf.
“That’s enough!” Aerin orders, slamming the front door shut behind her. “We’ve all had a long weekend. Just please…” She sighs. “I think everyone could use some time apart. Khortland, you and Reyna can have the room at the end of the hall.” Aerin gestures down the hall to her right.
The sound of the trash can lid closing snaps through the otherwise silent room. From her left Theoden Marrow, in all his glory, closes the space between them.
“It’s about damn time,” he says just before both of his hands find her face and pull her in for a kiss.