Chapter 47
Consciousness drifted over me, and I reached out, my heart sinking as my hand grasped at the emptiness where Laryk should have been. I was alone. Glimmers of light peeked in from behind the drapes. How long had I been asleep?
My feet found the floor and I stretched, the blanket slipping down my arms. I yanked it tighter around myself and marched across the room, flinging open the curtains with a flourish. Late morning sun flooded in, momentarily blinding me.
As I collected my garments from the floor, all I could think about was how they got there.
The memory of Laryk's stormy entrance into the courtyard played on repeat in my mind. Reflecting on the memory now, knowing he’d been riddled with jealousy, pleased me more than it should have.
Shivers ran up my spine as my imagination became a bit too realistic.
I began to dress, wondering how long I had until this Esprithe damned ball began.
As I approached the door, hushed murmurs echoed from the other side. Pressing my ear against the rugged wood, I waited to hear them pass. The last thing I needed was to be caught sneaking out of the General’s quarters.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the voices from outside. Both were female, and one sounded familiar… I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Poor girl. Hasn’t she realized that he just craves a conquest?” I heard one of them whisper. Blood Clot. Anger stormed through my gut and I felt my fingers curl into clenched fists.
In my periphery, a dark shadow flew across the corner of the room and my head shot to the left, freezing the breath in my chest.
But nothing was there.
I let my face fall into my hands. Was I going crazy? Were my emotions driving me to this place of paranoia—one that could prove to be the deadliest of distractions? Or was it the unanswered questions… The ones that played in the back of my mind more often than I cared to admit?
I ran my hand through my unkempt hair and steadied myself.
Laryk had been clear with me about his feelings toward monogamy. I wasn’t an idiot to think we would ever be… something more, but he had called me important. And different. And said those beautiful words that were seared permanently into my brain.
I spun, pressing my back into the wooden door. My emotions had nearly destroyed me over the last few days. There was no point in letting myself wander into impossible fantasies. Even if this was fleeting, even if it was more to me than it was to him... Perhaps I could accept that.
Taking a deep breath, I replayed the words over and over again in my mind, trying to convince myself of their truth.
But my insides ached at the idea. I couldn't even lie to myself anymore.
I was falling, tumbling, spiraling for this man, and that feeling was terrifying. Hope was terrifying.
I never used to let myself do it.
My head leaned back against the door as I steadied myself. I’d be the one by his side at the ball tonight, however poor the timing may be. A part of that made me feel better, but I wasn’t sure if it should have.
My fingers edged the door open, and I crept down the hall, quietly rushing towards the initiate’s quarters.
A change of clothes was undoubtedly necessary.
As I neared my room, my pace slowed.The door was ajar. Esprithe sake . Had I really not closed it properly last night? A wave of annoyance rushed through me as I replayed the drunken steps I’d taken to the courtyard.
My decision-making skills had clearly been at their best since leaving Luminaria.
I shook my head, bounding forward and slamming the door open the rest of the way before jumping back, lowering myself into a defensive position. Someone was in my room.
“Are you going to attack me?” I heard the bubbly voice crack before bursting out in full laughter. My heart swelled, and I ran to find a head of perfectly primed curls sitting on the bed opposite mine.
“Osta?” I breathed, pulling her into a hug. I hadn’t seen my best friend in weeks.
“Are you surprised?” She sang as I released her. Her hair bounced in spring-laden ringlets as she hopped around the room. “I was hoping to surprise you last night, but you were nowhere to be found,” she said, cocking her head and narrowing those aquamarine eyes.
“Care to divulge what bed you found yourself in?”
I felt my face flush and looked down, escaping her excited gaze. “Wait. How are you even here?” I asked, eyes shooting back up. I plopped down on the bed, crossing my arms, “Did you come here with the Soleil family?” I asked, a desperate attempt to distract her.
“Yes, well… Lord Soleil was summoned to Emeraal after the attack. Lady Soleil and I will be staying here while the Lord leaves wi th the troupes to Stormshire tomorrow,” she said, pursing her lips. My heart felt heavy. The thought of Osta anywhere near the West made me want to vomit.
“Wait. Do you know what’s going on?” I looked at the door, making sure it was closed.
“Well, they told me we were facing a threat we didn’t know much about, but that I would be perfectly safe. So, I assumed it couldn’t be that big of a deal.” She shrugged.
“They told you it was safe? Osta, it’s dangerous for you to be here. I know it’s not Stormshire, but it’s close enough.”
“Fia, you think everything is dangerous.” Osta’s exasperation was palpable, “The Lord assured me himself. No harm will come my way.”
“I was under the impression he didn’t affiliate much with the Guard.”
“Not normally, no. But they figured his focus could be of use around the border.” She shrugged her shoulders, finally calming enough to sit next to me.
“What is his focus?” I asked, assuming it would be true to the Soleil family line, and therefore something involving fire.
“It’s an interesting one. I’m not sure I understand how it works, exactly, but he can pick up traces of essence and discern where they originate from. I guess you could say he’s like a bloodhound for magical signatures. I think they are hoping he can–”
“Figure out how the enemies move. Maybe even discover if they’ve been places we aren’t aware of,” I stated, eyes focused on the wall straight ahead. “That could be very helpful. I’m surprised they haven't used him before.”
“They have a few times, I believe, but there seems to be some kind of political issue between him and the Guard. If I was going to wager a guess, I’d assume it's because of his brother. They’re estranged, you know,” she said, leaning onto her hand.
My mind shifted to Baelor. He was so awful. I could only imagine what his father was like back in the day .
“I guess it makes sense. So, you travel with them wherever they go? Why would Lady Soleil follow him this far West?” I gulped. I never imagined Osta would find herself in an active warzone.
Osta scrunched her nose. “I’m actually not sure why she needs to be here.
But if Lady Soleil goes, I go. That’s the agreement.
” A bright smile returned to her lips. “And she’s incredible, honestly.
I couldn’t imagine having a better boss.
She loves every design I show her.” Osta bit her lip, but the smile still spilled over.
She was radiating pure joy despite being in perhaps one of the most dangerous parts of the Isle.
I didn’t want to ruin her excitement by divulging all the details. She was here now. There was nothing I could do.
“You deserve the world, as I’ve told you before.” I sighed, glancing toward the balcony. At least I’d successfully distracted her.
“So, now it’s your turn. Where exactly were you all night?” Her head snapped towards me, eyes ablaze with curiosity.
Guess not.
I felt my stomach twist. If she had caught me first thing this morning, I would have melted into a puddle and spilled all of the illicit details, but now? Blood Clot had certainly cast a dark shadow over my evening, despite how much I tried to shove what she said from my mind.
“Well, erm–” I started, scrambling to find the words.
“You were with the General, weren’t you?” She squealed, hitting my arm and bouncing up and down on the bed.
I shrugged but said nothing.
She screamed.
“I knew it!” She clapped. “I need to hear everything. I knew from the very beginning—at the ball when he was undressing you with his eyes.” She shook her head, an all-too-satisfied smirk forming at her lips.
“Well, I need to start by telling you what happened on the journey here.” I turned towards her and hoisted my leg onto the bed.
I spent the next hour filling her in on every detail. From discovering my dream walking abilities, to Blood Clot’s words outside Laryk’s door just a few hours before.
“She’s just jealous. She probably hoped you could hear her! Why else would she have that particular conversation right outside the General’s chamber? She had to have known you were in there,” Osta said, sighing with irritation and rolling her eyes. “I mean, it’s obvious, is it not?” she asked.
“I kind of figured no one knew I spent the night in his bed…” I trailed off.
“You’re sure no one saw you follow him to his room? Were you being sneaky about it?”
My face flushed.
“I mean, I don’t think we were being super noticeable.” I bit my lip, recalling how I had slammed the bottle down and stormed off after him in the middle of a very crowded courtyard.
“Well, I guess… there’s a small possibility that someone could have seen...” I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
“See? Exactly. And gossip like that travels so fast in places like this. I mean, what else is there to do?” She stood, beginning to pace.
“You said you’re attending the ball with him tonight?” she asked, that familiar elevated octave taking over her voice.
I nodded, eyeing her movements with suspicion.
“And he sent gowns for you to pick from?” Her eyebrows peaked as she stood on the tips of her toes, fingers twisting in anticipation.
A sigh escaped my lips before breaking into an exasperated smile. “It’s that chest.” I pointed across the room. “Do your worst.”
Osta immediately unbuckled the clasps and started digging through, throwing all hues of fabric across the room in a frenzy.