Chapter 7
AURORA
Fire crackles on the hearth, casting a golden glow across the cozy interior of our cottage.
Shadows dance over the polished wooden floors and shelves cluttered with herbs, old books, and bundles of dried flowers.
The air smells like rosemary, lavender, and something sweet—fresh cupcakes piled high in a basket on our sturdy oak table.
Lyria drifts toward me, her delicate dragonfly wings shimmering in the firelight. She beams with pride, handing me the basket. “Take these for the celebration, Aurora. I made extra, so you should have plenty for everyone.”
“Thank you, Lyria. I’m sure everyone will love these.”
Her baked goods are always appreciated by my friends. Lyria has an affinity for plant magic, and she often uses it to make ingredients like raspberry and vanilla more potent and flavorful.
“Don’t forget your cloak,” Maribel adds, draping it around my shoulders. “I have a feeling it will rain later, my dear.”
Maribel is hardly ever wrong about the weather. Her water magic makes her especially in tune with the rain.
She turns to Thalric and hands him another basket.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“A gift for your friend’s birthday.” She smiles. “I labeled it from both of you.”
I wince inwardly as Thalric offers her a guilty smile in return. He’s never been good at lying and I’m worried they’re going to figure out something’s wrong.
Sure enough, Fiora eyes me from her seat by the window, arms crossed over her crimson gown, suspicion gleaming in her emerald gaze. “Whose birthday did you say it was again?”
I suppress a sigh, giving her my most innocent look. “Raina’s.”
It’s not entirely a lie. Raina’s birthday is this weekend, and she will be at the gathering, but not exactly at the bakery where Fiora thinks we’re heading. And instead of a birthday celebration, it’s actually Geralt’s going away party.
Fiora holds my gaze a heartbeat longer before reluctantly nodding. “Don’t stay out too late.”
“We won’t.” I smile sweetly.
Thalric swallows hard. “Of—of course not.”
Outside, the night air is crisp and cool, lanterns illuminating the path to the village. Thalric walks quietly beside me, a thoughtful silence hanging between us until he murmurs, “I don’t like lying to them.”
“It’s only a tiny lie,” I insist.
His eyes narrow, clearly not convinced. “You’re too good at this,” he rumbles, shaking his head. “Makes me wonder what other trouble you’re capable of.”
I laugh, bumping my shoulder against his solid arm. “Afraid I’ll get into some serious mischief?”
“No,” he says quietly, stopping me in my tracks with the intensity in his gaze. “I’m afraid you’ll get into trouble even I can’t get you out of.”
A warm flutter dances in my chest at his concern, but I roll my eyes in mock irritation. “You’re worrying over nothing.”
He sighs, clearly unconvinced.
After a beat, I tease gently, “How will you watch over me when you’re away at the capital?”
He frowns slightly, confused. “We’re going together.”
“I’m not talking about my birthday trip. I mean when you start your training for the royal guard.”
It’s his dream to follow in his family’s steps.
“Aurora—” His wings shift uneasily, eyes shadowed. “They might not even accept me.”
“Of course they will.” I nudge him. “You’re strong, smart, brave, and your family has a legacy. Your grandfather was the personal guard of the previous king.
“According to Fiora, the nobility love Gargoyle protectors. She even said Gargoyles have always been chosen over the past three hundred years for the coveted positions of personal guards for the members of the royal family.”
I smile. “And who knows? You might even be picked to guard the princess when she finally returns from hiding in that Temple of Amara everyone always whispers about.”
He squirms beneath the praise, as though he doesn’t quite know what to do with my words, yet something in his gaze lingers on me in a way that makes my face heat.
Quickly, he redirects the question to me. “And you?”
I chew my lip, gripping the basket tighter. “I love Fiora, Lyria, and Maribel. And I love our small village, but… I want more. I want to live in the capital, maybe work as an apothecary’s apprentice. My guardians have taught me well. I know herbs. I’m sure I could learn fast.”
Concern darkens his features. “The capital is huge, Aurora. Dangerous, crowded. Not everyone is kind.”
In truth, I would love to become an apothecary, but I could easily learn that skill here. As much as I want to visit the capital, the only reason I really want to live there is because that’s where Thalric will be once he becomes a royal guard.
I lift my chin, heart thumping nervously as I gather the courage to ask the question I’ve been thinking about for a while now. “Maybe… we could go together. What do you think?”
He halts abruptly and turns to me, something between surprise and regret in his features. “But my training means I’d have to stay in the castle barracks.”
I’ve already considered this. “I could rent a small room nearby, and we’d see each other when you’re free.”
Hope sparks in my chest as I await his reply. He looks torn, visibly battling something in his mind. “The training is intense. My father says they don’t allow candidates outside of the castle grounds for at least the first two months. You’d be alone during that time.”
“Oh.” My voice falters, disappointment stinging sharply. Maybe he doesn’t want me so close after all. Maybe he doesn’t—
“There’s… another option,” he says, pulling me back from my tumbling thoughts.
“What is it?”
He rubs the back of his neck, the tips of his pointed ears flushing dark. “You could stay in the barracks… if we were to—”
“Aurora! Thalric!” Reid calls out, and I hate that he interrupted what Thalric was about to say, but it can’t be helped now. Whatever it was, we’ll have to talk about it later.
We walk toward our friends and the castle ruins. I’ve always been fascinated by this place. Much of the structure is crumbling, but the ancient stone towers still stand tall and majestic, ivy climbing up the outer walls.
A small fire burns in a dug-out pit in the middle of what once was a grand courtyard, shadows dancing wildly around our gathered group.
Reid grins, lifting a flask. “Glad you two made it.”
I hold up the basket of cupcakes. “We brought sweets.”
The group cheers, reaching eagerly for treats as Reid presses a goblet into my hand. “It’s honeyed mead.”
Thalric scowls.
Ignoring his grumbling, I take a cautious sip. Golden sweetness floods my mouth, warm and smooth and delightful. Glancing up, I meet Thalric’s fierce, watchful gaze and try not to grin.
Tonight, I feel wild and daring and free.