29. Those Damned Violet Eyes
29
THOSE DAMNED VIOLET EYES
GAbrIEL
A brilliant light shines through my window, pulling me out of sleep. I crack open an eye, confirm the late morning hour, and my head falls back with a groan.
“Esyn help me,” I groan, my cock rock hard beneath the sheets, thanks to Wren.
I’ve been dreaming of her every night since I let her go two weeks ago.
The dream is always the same. Every night, I wake to the sound of her screaming in our bed after a nightmare. Every night, I hold her close, comforting her. Every night, I remind her that she’s mine as I sink my cock into the warmth between her legs.
The dreams aren’t the problem; it’s what’s causing them that has me scratching my head. I don’t understand where they’re coming from. On the one hand, a sex dream is far better than the nightmares of the king breaking my bond with Mist, but on the other hand, I wake up feeling more disconcerted and out of sorts than before. The dreams feel so real. So right.
And then reality sets in. I’m alone in a cold bed, haunted by the memory of those damned violet eyes.
I thought the dream would stop when I returned to Rosebridge, Myreth’s capital, but evidently, I was wrong. I got here last night when the moons were high, and the city was silent.
Instead of returning to my apartments in Rose Palace, I paid for a room at the Red Hound, an inn in a less affluent part of the city. Anything to avoid the king as long as possible.
The Winter’s Eve Ball is tonight, and my time is up. When the clock strikes midnight, the giving season will be over. A new year will begin, and I’ll have officially failed my task.
Even knowing that I’ll face the king’s rage tonight and likely lose my bond with Mist, I can’t help but hope that Wren took my advice and left Myreth.
My chest aches at the thought of never seeing her again, and I miss her.
Like the dreams, I don’t fucking know where these feelings are coming from. I was hunting Wren, for the gods’ sake. These feelings are completely ridiculous. How can I miss someone I barely know?
I throw off my covers with a groan. It’s one thing to dream about the little bird but another entirely to think about her while I’m awake.
I can’t waste any more time thinking about her piercing stare. I have a ball to attend.
If I had a choice, I’d skip it, but all Hunters are required to be present at the Winter’s Eve Ball. When one is invited to a royal function, one does not simply decide not to attend. Doing so would be a ticket to the executioner’s block.
Rolling out of bed, I stumble into the adjoining bathing room. I splash cold water on my face, take care of my needs, and get dressed. I strap on my weapons, including Wren’s dagger that I picked up in the alley the day I told her to run, before heading out.
Rosebridge has always been a bustling city, but today, the air is practically vibrating with excitement.
The last day of the giving season is a kingdom-wide holiday. It’s one of the only days the king doesn’t hold court. Suns, even the king’s executioners get the day off.
Everyone else is excited, but I’m filled with dread. It’s growing worse by the hour. Not only have I felt sick ever since learning about the truth of the Givings two weeks ago, but I disobeyed the king’s direct orders and let Wren go.
Knowing that he’ll be filled with rage, I don’t head directly for Rose Palace. Keeping my head down, I avoid the areas my father’s spies frequent and go to the central bank. There, I send Mikal the money I borrowed in Mora, which will be delivered by rider next week. I don’t want to go into tonight with any debts hanging over my head.
I’m not the only one feeling apprehensive. My bond with Mist has been buzzing since I woke up, and I can feel her anxiety rising as the night draws nearer. She’s waiting for me outside the city because I ordered her not to follow me. Maybe if she isn’t easily found, King Andreas won’t rip apart our bond.
And maybe horses have wings.
Even though it’s a long shot, I’m trying to protect Mist as best I can. I roam the streets until the suns are setting, and then I turn towards my childhood home. It’s time to face the king.
* * *
Rose Palace is impossible to miss, and it’s not just because of its blush-pink walls. Three stories tall, the U-shaped building stands behind a fifteen-foot-tall wrought iron fence. The structure is palatial in every sense of the word, from the multiple towers it boasts to the dozens of windows on each level.
The contrast between my father’s home and the rest of the city is stark. On one side of the gate are cobblestones and tightly packed buildings. On the other is a sprawling lawn that is still green, even on the last day of the giving season, and gardens that are perfectly manicured all year round. Snow never touches Rose Palace; the grounds are enchanted to remain green no matter the time of year.
Such a beautiful, rosy building to house a man whose soul is as black as ink. This place is filled with pain, yet it’s the only home I’ve ever known.
The setting suns paint the expansive lawn in shadows, adding an eerie tone to the king’s residence. A few carriages carrying partygoers bumble along the long, curved road leading to the palace entrance. Up ahead, men in their finest silk suits help women wearing splendid ballgowns out of carriages. Following tradition, they’re all wearing intricate masks.
I look beyond them to the walls of Rose Palace. Somewhere inside them, the king is waiting for me.
I shake out my shoulders, approaching the guarded gates. Faint streams of music are already lilting through the air. Based on the laughter coming from the carriages around me, alcohol is already flowing freely. No one could say that the people of Myreth don’t know how to party when the occasion calls for it.
I give my name to the two Watchers at the gate, and they nod. Wishing me well, they open the gate and let me through.
It won’t be a good night, but these soldiers don’t need to know that. I thank them, draw a deep breath, and step onto the grounds of Rose Palace.
My skin crawls as I pass through the king’s wards. His magic feels like ants creeping over me, and I shiver. He knows I’m here.
Hoping I timed this right, I stuff my hands in my pockets and stride towards the palace entrance.