Chapter 10
10
T he next couple of nights, Ronan found every way possible to see me; whether by sneaking into my bedroom, finding me in the kitchens, or coming to see me in the bath chambers. He didn’t miss a night, just as he promised.
The night before the banquet, it was nearing midnight and he still hadn’t arrived. I grew anxious with each hour ticked by, as many of our guests had already started trickling in. From what Viktor told me, Chief Aryan of the Crimson Clan arrived in the capital earlier that day.
There was a knock on my door and Tessa came in with warm tea. “Some chamomile with valerian root to help you sleep,” she announced as she placed the tray on my bedside table.
“Thank you, Tessa.” I crawled to the edge of the bed as she poured me a cup. “Do you know if—”
“He has not arrived yet, Your Highness,” she said, giving me a knowing look. “Viktor is on the lookout for him. He just left for the Northern palace to see if he’s still there.”
I snapped my mouth shut and nodded. It hadn’t taken long for Viktor and Tessa to realize what was happening, but they promised to keep it a secret. That was all Ronan and I could ask of them.
“Do you think he’s in trouble?” I asked, worry lacing my voice. I believed in Ronan’s promise and knew he wouldn’t break it unless he had no choice.
“I don’t know, Your Highness. He’s been very careful. I can’t imagine him getting caught,” she said as she urged me to sip some tea.
I drank some of the tea and paused, then took a sniff. “Why is there so much valerian root? Are you trying to knock me unconscious?” I joked.
Tessa chuckled. “No, Your Highness, my apologies! This was my first time making tea and I wasn’t sure of the ratio. I should have gone to the palace healer. Next time, I will.”
Dismissing Tessa's concern with a wave, my restlessness refused to be quelled by the mere presence of tea. “Don't worry. Thank you for trying.” I set the tea aside, its warmth untouched.
“Your Highness—”
The plush bed offered no solace to my unease, prompting a sudden decision. “You know what?” I interjected before Tessa could voice her worries. “I think a night stroll in the gardens is just what I need.” I swiftly shrugged off the covers and leapt from the bed, propelled by a need for movement and the fresh embrace of night air.
Tessa's laughter, light and understanding, filled the room as she handed me my robe, a shield against the coolness of the night. Perched on the edge of the bed, I slipped into a pair of sturdy shoes and left the softness of my slippers behind. “Come on, Tessa, let’s breathe in some fresh air,” I invited. Together, we ventured out into the gardens.
The garden paths, bathed in a subtle glow from the moon, wound before us, a labyrinth of shadows and silhouettes. The night bloomed with the heady scent of roses, their fragrance intensified by the cool air to guide us as much as the faint trail underfoot. My steps, aimless yet purposeful, kicked at the pebbles along the path, their soft clatter a companion to our nocturnal wanderings.
Seeking a diversion from my tumultuous thoughts, I turned to Tessa’s steady presence. “Tell me about your time in the army, Tess,” I prompted, genuinely curious to hear her story rather than dwell on my own.
Tessa's response was modest. Her hands were clasped loosely behind her back as we walked. “There’s not much to tell, Your Highness. I joined the Mage quadrant when I turned seventeen and have been there ever since.” Her words were simple, yet they hinted at a depth of experience hidden beneath the surface.
My curiosity piqued, I probed further. “But what made you join? Not all mages choose the army. Wasn't there anything else you dreamed of doing?” The question lingered in the air between us, an invitation to share more about herself.
Her denial was gentle yet firm. “No, I can’t think of anything else. My mother was a mage, too, in the Valorian army, until …” Her voice trailed off and the sentence was left hanging, laden with unspoken history.
“Until the war,” I finished for her, the weight of her legacy a silent echo in her words.
“Yeah,” she whispered, her voice barely audible against the backdrop of singing frogs from the fountains nearby. In her admission, there was a sense of continuity and loss, a story of service and sacrifice that spanned generations. We continued to walk, the night around us a cloak of shared understanding that bridged the gap between past and present, a princess and her protector.
“I’m so sorry, Tessa,” I muttered, feeling incredibly guilty. While deep down I knew the war wasn’t my fault, I was still one of the reasons for the attack. At least for the Crimson Clan’s part. Keldara just wanted our lands.
“Lyanna!” someone called out from behind us.
Tessa and I turned to see who it was and my stomach dropped when I saw Caelan striding across the garden. Even in the dark, his silver hair shone like a beacon. I tensed. Noticing the change in my demeanor, Tessa stood slightly in front of me, partially blocking me from his view.
“I just want to talk,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I promise.”
I moved out from behind Tessa and nodded. “Go ahead, then. Talk,” I said unflinchingly.
He prowled toward me and stopped a few feet away. “Tomorrow’s the banquet. I don’t know if your father has showed you the guest list, but—”
“He hasn’t and I don’t care,” I cut him off. “Is that why you came looking for me? To discuss the guest list?”
He shook his head. “No. Not really. I just didn’t want you to be surprised when you saw a contingent from Keldara here.”
I frowned. “Keldara?”
Caelan nodded. “Your father invited all who may be important in Asteria, including Keldara.”
I didn’t want to believe him, but at the same time, what was his motive to lie? There was no reason I could think of.
“Fine. Is that all you wanted to tell me?” I said, pretending I wasn’t bothered by his news when I clearly was .
“No,” he answered. “I want you to stay by my side tomorrow. For your safety.”
I scoffed. “My safety? Who would harm me in my own home?” Admittedly, home was relative, because I hadn’t felt at peace since I’d arrived in Valoria.
“You were the one who told me about the Crimson Clan’s plans. You really think they won’t try something tomorrow night?” he asked incredulously. “Don’t be na?ve, Lyanna.”
He was right. I was being na?ve. But I also wanted to believe Ronan wouldn’t let anything happen to me. For that, I needed to put my trust in him.
“I received your message loud and clear.” I looked over his shoulder to see Viktor approaching. “You can go now.”
Caelan furrowed his brows and followed my line of sight, peering over his shoulder to see Viktor. He turned his attention back to me. “If you’re waiting on a certain someone, I wouldn’t hold your breath. His father summoned him as soon as he arrived in the capital, and he hasn’t returned to the palace since.”
I hated how obvious I made my feelings known. If I was going to survive in the palace, I needed to learn to hide them better. I rolled my eyes and looked away. “If that’s all you came to say, you can be on your way …” I offered nonchalantly. As I spun on my heels to leave, Caelan took ahold of my wrist. I whirled around and saw Tessa grip Caelan’s wrist at the pressure point, forcing him to release me.
He glared at Tessa but released me at once. “Tomorrow won’t be easy, Lyanna. Your father thinks it’s a celebration, but the other nations will view it as a power move. You must be careful. You don’t understand everything that’s going on in Asteria— ”
“Then explain it to me!” I interrupted hotly. “What do I need to look out for? How can I protect myself?”
His eyes were earnest. “Just stay by my side, Lyanna. I’ll protect you.”
I scoffed. “Of course you will, because that’s what you want: for me to be a wilting flower who’s dependent on you. Sorry to break it to you, Caelan, but that’s not me. I can protect myself.”
His eyes glittered. “You may think you can, but you can’t. You’ve been in hiding so long, you don’t know what your return means to the world.” He stepped closer. “The return of a female Blood Weaver brings a change that no one expected, Lyanna. Your power—”
“A power I don’t even know how to use!” I exploded, instantly regretting my vulnerable protest.
“And it’s best if you don’t,” Caelan admitted. “It’ll keep you safe.”
My mouth fell open in shock. I couldn’t believe what he was saying! Would staying ignorant keep me alive? It was a contradiction. I never asked to be this so-called Blood Weaver; I just wanted a normal life – the one I had before I was discovered. The normal life Sir Edric tried to give me. But now it was gone.
I knew I could no longer stay hidden in the shadows. If I wanted to survive, I needed to be strong. I needed power.
“I won’t hide,” I growled. “So you can forget about it.”
Caelan sighed. “Fine. But at least promise that you’ll try to blend in tomorrow night. Stay by my side for now. Please, Lyanna.”
“I won’t make promises I can’t keep,” I said. “Good night, Caelan.” Gripping Tessa’s arm, I wheeled us toward where Viktor was waiting.
Viktor bowed as we approached. “Your Highness,” he greeted, then leaned in to whisper. “Sir Ronan is not at the Northern palace. His father—”
“I heard,” I cut him off. “Thank you, Viktor.” And with that, I returned to the Eastern palace to sleep.
Unfortunately, instead of slumber, Marcellus was waiting for me outside my chambers. With furrowed brows, I cleared my throat and caught his attention. “Hey … what are you doing here?”
He scratched the back of his head. “I was just taking a walk around the Eastern palace and thought I’d, uh … come say hi.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “In other words, you came to see Selene.” I pushed past him and into my bedroom while Tessa stayed outside to give us privacy.
Quickly, Marcellus followed me inside. “No I didn’t. I came to see you .”
My steps faltering, I turned to face him. “Is that so? May I ask why?”
“I wanted to … apologize.” He looked down at his booted feet. “I, uh, … know I haven’t been the best brother, and I’m truly sorry.”
I watched him for a moment; the way he nervously fiddled with his fingers, how he scuffed his boot against the floor, and how he avoided eye contact. I wished I could say I knew my brother’s mannerisms, but too much time had passed. I didn’t know who he was anymore. Still, I wanted to believe his motives were pure.
I sighed heavily. “It’s okay, Marcel. I don’t blame you … not entirely. I understand why you were upset. ”
He slowly lifted his head and looked at me with a frown. “Really?”
“Really,” I repeated. “Maybe we can start over?” I held out a hand for him to shake.
A slow smile spread across his face before he took my hand in his. “Definitely,” he replied eagerly.
“Good.” I chuckled as we shook hands. “Then maybe you can do me a favor tomorrow.” I winced as the words came out of my mouth.
He nodded. “Sure. Anything.”
“Do you think you can escort Selene to the banquet?” I asked as if I didn’t already know the answer.
He frowned again. “Me? Why?”
“I know I told you to stay away from her, but honestly, there’s no one else I’d trust with her safety,” I said. “I can’t escort her myself, and Caelan …”
“You don’t trust Caelan?” Marcellus asked, slightly confused.
I shook my head. “No. I don’t.”
His eyes widened slightly as he absorbed my answer. “Oh. I thought … never mind. It doesn’t matter what I thought. Of course I’ll escort her.”
I smiled up at him. “Thank you, Marcel. I guess I owe you one.”