Chapter 18
The dark bedroom engulfs me as a hand clasps over my mouth.
“Shhh,” a soft voice whispers in my ear. “I’m sorry to startle you, but please don’t scream, or it may follow us.”
I push the hand away from my face and quickly get to my feet. “What the fuck.”
A light clicks on in the room's far corner, and a small figure remains half in the shadows. "Please don’t be mad, Your Majesty.”
A woman emerges from the darkness, causing me to squint.
She looks familiar. Long white hair cascades around her petite hips, and her large, round eyes are as black as the shadows enveloping us. I lean in for a closer look, still trying to steady my blurred vision.
Before me stands a dancer from the dinner on the first night, an evening I wish I could erase from my memory—the woman who couldn’t take her eyes off Silas.
The memory strikes me, and jealousy surges through my veins for a moment.
She offers me a soft grin and points to an old chair.
I wearily tilt my head and move to join her.
She continues to stand. “Please have a seat.” She bows.
“Oh, you do not have to do that,” I say, as I sit on the worn furniture.
“Apologies, Your Majesty.” She smiles. “It’s just in my blood to treat royalty as such.”
The woman sits in the chair across from me, smoothing out her dark dress.
She tucks her long hair behind both ears and settles in.
I focus on her, but I can’t shake the urge to glance at my hands.
She appears exhausted, and I immediately feel a soft spot for her.
She’s older than I am, but her eyes tell the story.
Years of hardship linger behind her shadowy gaze.
What the fuck just happened in the hallway?
“I don’t mean to be rude, but who are you?” I ask.
She chuckles at my forwardness, but doesn’t seem offended in the slightest.
“My name is Yara. I was one of the women providing the entertainment the other night during your arrival dinner.” Her white smile dazzles in the dim lighting.
She’s a stunning Lumor Wielder.
“Yes, you look familiar,” I reply, stiffly.
Yara dips her head and settles into the chair, relaxing her shoulders. Her eyes soften, and I can tell that she’s holding back, saying what is desperate to roll off her tongue.
“What exactly can I help you with, Yara?”
She nods. “I want to apologize for grabbing you. I heard shouting, so I came to see what was going on. I…I saw what you did back there—wielding light. That was really impressive, to say the least, and interesting.”
I nod, letting my own confusion slam into my chest.
“Interesting is a great word for that,” I say.
“Do you often practice Shadow and Lumor Wielding? It’s quite rare.”
I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.
No, I didn’t know I could fucking do that.
I look at my hands, and they remain unchanged. My black fingertips tingle, and subtle black veins emerge beneath my skin. “Yara, please don’t tell anyone about that.”
She gazes at me with an understanding look. “I won’t.”
The dimly lit room is filled with a musty odor, yet the open window allows a breeze of fresh night air to flow in. It’s smaller than the other rooms I’ve seen and certainly not as ornate. “Do you live here?” I ask.
“Yes, for many years now. I work here as a dancer and help with various castle staff needs, among other things.” She looks toward the ground, and a flash of shame hits her dark eyes.
“Your dancing is quite beautiful. You should be proud of the talent you have,” I say, and chuckle. “I would have crashed into everyone sitting at the table.”
Yara returns the laugh. “Oh, I doubt that, Your Majesty, but thank you. I’ve danced for years.”
“Please,” I respond. “Call me Briar.”
“Okay, Briar.” She nods.
The tremor in my hands begins to subside as the adrenaline of recent events fades in my system. I take a deep breath to slow my heartbeat and convince myself that I’m safe in here.
At least, I hope I am.
“Thank you for bringing me into your room. I’m relieved I’m not still outside with that creature.”
“We call them Travelers.”
I tilt my head. “The invisible creatures?”
“Yes.” She shudders. “I’m not sure anyone knows their real name. They move unnaturally and silently until it’s too late. All I know is that they are deadly and not of this realm. They have a way of shifting in the shadows that no one truly understands.”
“How wonderful,” I say sarcastically, but her words stick in my mind.
“I can’t fathom how ancient these creatures are. The king seems to be the only one who has full control over them,” she adds.
I grimace; the memory of the hot breath against my skin makes it crawl. “Yes, his guard dogs. I have had the pleasure of running into a few of them already.”
“It’s not a coincidence that I ran into you, Briar.” Yara’s eyes meet mine. “I was looking for you. I heard rumors that you were speaking with Malachi tonight, and I needed to speak with you, too.”
Anticipation rolls in my stomach. “What did you need to talk about?”
She pauses and takes a deep breath, as if carefully considering her following words.
I can’t help but pray this doesn’t involve Silas. I think back to dinner and how her gaze burned into his skin, as if she was trying to set him on fire—like something was left unsaid between them. I know there were women before me, but I never thought I’d have to encounter one.
“There is no easy way to say this,” she breathes.
My palms begin to sweat, and my once steady heartbeat increases with every passing second that she hesitates to speak.
“Does this have to do with Silas?”
She drops her gaze. “In a sense.”
“Well,” I shift in my chair, not letting my nerves show, “let’s hear it.”
“I’m having an affair…” Yara blurts. “With Malachi.”
My mouth slightly parts, and I can’t help but widen my eyes. For a split second, relief hits me that it’s not Silas, and that my assumptions upon arriving were wrong.
“I’m sorry,” I snap. “What?”
Yara fidgets with her long hair as her cheeks flush.
“Don’t make me repeat it.”
I speak again. “I think I misheard you.”
“It’s not uncommon for him,” she says, as she grows uncomfortable. “We’ve been sleeping together for close to five years.”
My eyes widen more, and I can’t help but place my hand over my mouth. “You win for most shocking confession, Yara.”
“Thank you?” she says, questioningly. “I guess.”
I shouldn’t have said that.
“How does this concern me?”
She stands, pacing the room. She moves to the open window and takes another deep breath. She slowly turns, and her eyes are filled with heavy tears.
I stand abruptly and walk to her. “I didn’t mean to react that way. It’s just shocking to think someone as stunning as you would sleep with someone like him.”
Shit, I shouldn’t have said that either.
“No,” she chuckles at that. “It’s not your reaction.”
I move her back to the chair and sit beside her on the couch this time.
“Malachi has always done this. Aerona is very much aware of the extra attention he requires. I think she appreciates someone else keeping him company in that way. Malachi is awful, I know, but he has a way of charming you to fall for him.”
Here comes the reaction again.
“You are in love with him?” I snap, louder than intended. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Yara reassures me once more. “After all these years, I’ve developed a sort of attachment to him, you might say. Whether it’s genuine or not, I question that every day.”
“Gods,” I mumble.
“He sometimes confides in me, and our relationship has grown quite a bit."
“Is he nice to you?” I can’t help but ask.
“He has his moments, but I would never put Malachi and nice in the same sentence,” Yara confesses. “But…”
She pauses, and I can’t help but lean in, impatiently waiting for her to continue, like this is the best gossip I’ve ever heard in my life.
A brief flash of doubt sits behind her large dark eyes.
“Every few years, Malachi picks a new…companion,” she says, cringing. “We all assume it’s because he tires of them. Lately, our conversations have felt less meaningful, and our meetings have become more…straight to business and uncomfortable, if you know what I mean.”
“I understand,” I respond, grimacing.
“It started when we were interrupted one evening. I was in Malachi’s study, where most of our meetings happened.”
“And?” I push.
“Silas walked in.”
“Oh, fuck,” I can’t help but blurt out. “When did this happen?”
“A few days before he left for Daramveer. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him, and I felt terrible.” Yara lowers her head. “I’ve known Silas my entire life, so it was awkward—to say the least—when he walked in on me and his father in a most compromising position.”
“That’s why you were staring at him during our first evening in Andorwood?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says, with a nod. “It was the first time I had seen him in a long while. When he wouldn’t look at me, I knew right then Silas knew it was me.
From that moment before Silas left, Malachi and my relationship began to crumble on both our parts.
” Shame floods her face once more. “What I once thought was my future isn’t what I want anymore. "
“Maybe I can talk to Silas for you. Is that why you are telling me this?”
She shakes her head. “I think my time is running out, and I’m scared. The girl before me went missing when Malachi grew tired of her.”
Nerves twist in my stomach.
“Ella was her name,” Yara continues. “She was a good friend of mine, and she told me similar things one day. She started to grow afraid of him and their meetings. I shrugged it off, thinking a breakup was coming, but then I never saw her again. Rumor has it that she left Andorwood to escape Malachi, but I know that isn’t the truth. ”
“Well, we can get you out of here, then.” I narrow my eyes and nod in understanding. “You don’t have to stay if you are in danger.”