Chapter 23 Rorin
Rorin
I had every intention of leaving her there to stand uncomfortably with yet another of my admissions.
But now knowing she's been taking off on a regular nightly basis — I don't trust her to be alone with herself or anyone else.
I was done putting my trust in others to keep her safe shortly after witnessing her jump from her horse and dive straight into a horde of creatures.
While I’ve stunned her into silence, her serpents slide anxiously along her skin, their mouths opened as if they might strike in defense. I’m surprised she didn’t strike me down at my utterances of the word ‘love’. Instead, she’s just stood here, rocking back and forth on her heels.
Eveera’s attention drops down to my palms, and her fingers snatch out, grabbing my wrist and lifting my hand to her eye level. Confused, I watch as she examines it before snapping those golden orbs back up to my face. "Wield."
“Excuse me?” I sputter, tugging at my hand to take it back, but she digs her nails into the sensitive skin there.
"I said Wield." Her voice rattles around in my head, the intrusion unexpected.
"I'm not going to Wield."
Her left brow cocks up, "I've seen you — you twitch every time you use it. You squirm under that level of power because people made you feel weak. Now I find out you’ve been wreaking havoc on our neighbors for months? You didn’t cause tensions between Sorrel and Obsidian with just your hands, princeling.
Plus, I caught Mousy’s comment before our spar – about how you've used it far too much lately. So you clearly have grown more comfortable since we last were together.” I yank again on my wrist, but she doesn’t relent. “Wield."
"You cannot demand that I Wield, Eveera."
Her chin lifts, defiant, “and you can't demand that I sit idly and safely by simply because you feel guilt over killing to get what you want."
"I do not feel guilt over killing those who wasted my time.
The only regret I have over my actions is that I didn't return home with you and Ezra's head on a fucking pike.
" Her face stays scrunched as she processes the words that I'm growling at her.
"I don’t need to practice my Wield to know how to use it. "
“Yes, you do, or it’ll kill you in the process. Now, Wield. Put me on my ass.”
I huff, scanning her up and down again, trying to make sense of the enigma that she is.
One second, she’s throwing stars at me and stabbing my shoulder with daggers.
Next, we’re exploring each other’s mouths with our tongues…
arguably much more enjoyable than her stabbing me.
Then she’s running off in the middle of the night to…
to… “I’m not doing anything until you tell me what you were doing out there tonight. ”
Her arms fold across her chest, and she sits into her hip.“I thought we were done with that conversation. I told you I’m doing what I have to do.”
“I heard, and I decided I’m not done with it.
” Her eyes roll, and she tries to turn away, my hand catching her elbow.
“You want me to Wield? Tell me what you were doing, and no excuses.” She sighs, looking reluctantly to her right.
Her desire to avoid this conversation is obvious as she curls her shoulders inwards, mumbling under her breath. "What?"
"What? You didn't hear that?" She snarks.
I can't help the scoff that slips from my mouth, "clearly not."
"Well, maybe you should listen better—"
"Eveera."
She takes a deep breath before delving into an arduous explanation.
Evidently, since returning, her trips with Vada have involved Eveera trying to control the creatures rather than destroying them.
She tries to rationalize her reasoning, but while J listen all I can do is wrestle with the decision of whether I want to yell at her, kill her, or just accept the fact that she has no sense of self-preservation.
Annoyingly, I go with the third option.
Eveera’s rationales all end up back at the same point: the sentient creature we’d come across in the woods all of those months ago.
Every night she’s been seeking out the beats that seem to be as aware as it was, and “I succeeded,” she admits.
“I found one tonight that was just as present.
But when I tried manipulating its mind…"
"What happened?" I grit out.
"I'm not sure. It was as if it redirected my magic, and my brain felt like it was melting. It affected Vada through our bond as well, and in her fury, she roasted them all on the spot — sending me back to square one."
I can relate to that fury. I want to say, but don't, choosing to continue my pacing in front of her. "Why?"
"Why what?"
My feet stop, and I turn back around. The exhaustion has deepened in her features, and she looks ready to fall over. "Why are you even attempting something like this? Do you have that much of a death wish? Is your life so unbearable that you feel the need to constantly throw yourself on the knife?"
She flinches at my words and straightens her spine, "I am doing what is necessary to end the war Baelor started. The war you dragged me into."
"What purpose does experimenting on something like this serve?"
"We will never be outnumbered again." She replies simply, her lips pursing.
My hands slap down at my sides, the wound in my shoulder twinging, while I try to come up with something else that might get through to her. Before I can, however, I watch her face light with an idea. “Eveer–”
Quickly, she turns, releasing her Wield at the weighty doors. Her tendrils wrap around the handles, flinging them open and startling the guards standing outside. Breezing past the two alarmed soldiers, Eveera grabs hold of the velvet rope hanging to the right of the entrance and pulls.
RRRRIIIINNNGGGG! RRRRIIIINNNGGGG! RRRRIIIINNNGGGG!
"Eveera!" I hiss, and she tosses me a withered stare over her shoulder. "You're going to wake up the whole bleeding castle!"
Her eyes roll backwards, "that's the point, princeling.
" She whirls on the large guard in front of her next, "collect Felix and the others — tell them to meet me in the council room.
" He nods and swiftly disappears down the hallway.
Dusting off her hands, she starts stalking her way to the room in question, only stopping when she notices that haven't fallen in line beside her yet.
Her head tilts, calling out to me, "well are you coming? "
My head drops back until I’m looking at the ceiling, begging whatever is out there for the strength to survive her. When I bring my chin back down, I see her staring at me with a smug grin before continuing.
Damn woman.
It didn't take long for the masses to file into the room clad in their sleepwear or disheveled day clothes.
Shockingly, the meeting itself didn't include any actual council members, but it did include her two remaining men, Felix, General Matthis, my men, and Millie.
Max rubs his eyes groggily while leaning up against the stone wall, and Millie walks over to him, the two of them speaking in hushed tones before Eveera claps her hands together to grab everyone's attention.
"Good. You're all awake." A chorus of grumbling disagreement rings out through the room, but she chooses to ignore it, motioning for everyone to gather around the table.
"Eveera, would you mind elaborating on why you've called this meeting in the middle of the night?" Felix's voice rises over the complaints, his accent exaggerated by his fatigue.
"Well, since you asked so nicely…" She draws out, her fingers drumming atop the table.
"Rorin here—" I freeze at my name, my eyes snapping to look down at her, a whisper of a smirk gracing her lips before she continues, "thinks it would be a good idea if I let everyone know exactly what I've been up to while you all sleep. "
The man’s head falls backwards, fingers coming up to press against his brow.
None of her men look surprised that she's been disappearing at night, other than maybe General Matthis, whose face shows some shock.
When he opens his mouth to speak, Felix raises a hand to him.
"Do not ask, Kander. You'll regret it the minute you do. "
"Kander?" I ask tentatively down the seal.
She flinches at the intrusion before rolling her shoulders back and lifting her head higher, "you didn't think his first name was General, did you?" She quips.
Eveera tilts her chin and smiles tightly at everyone, "no one wants to know?
Pity. Well, then, all of you are dismissed.
" Bennett and Will exchange brief looks with each other, then me, before shrugging and making their exits.
Millie, however, looks over at Eveera, who gives her a small nod, the two of them having a silent conversation.
Her eye contact with me is brief, her mouth tilting down before she turns and follows after my men.
The rest of them dismiss themselves, leaving the two of us yet again alone. Haughtily, she dusts off her hands and tilts her head up at me, "you see? You're the only one who seems to feel the need to corner me and question my activities."
I hum, placing my hand on top of hers so that she can’t move, then lean down to place my mouth at her ear, "that's because, despite their familial affection for you, Eveera, you are still their queen and they are still your subjects.
" She guffaws, attempting to spin out of my grip, but I don’t let go.
Grazing the sensitive skin, along the shell of her ear, I whisper, “and I…
Nightmare, am your husband. So I suspect that I might have just a bit more care for your nightly whereabouts.
Especially when they do not include you asleep next to or — due to your unfortunate decision-making skills — near me.
" Her body fights hard against the shiver that I feel roll through it, eliciting a quiet groan from my lips.
My right arm, though sore from her stabbing me, finds its way to her waist and pulls her body flush to mine. She gasps out at the touch, and I withhold the laugh threatening to burst through my chest.
"Rorin." She warns through the seal, and I shush her, nipping at her earlobe, before pressing my cheek against her hair.
I count each shaky breath she takes, pulling back only to find her staring up at me already, both pupils dilated. I mimic the smug look she had just moments ago, "don't tell me it's the council room that does it for you?"
Her jaw drops, and she slaps at the good side of my chest, but— "a-hem."
Our faces both look towards the disturbance, and I can feel her trying to wriggle out of my hold, her foot stomping in quiet frustration when I don’t comply. Millie looks awkwardly between the two of us, the smile on my face falling the moment I see who's behind her.
"Eveera, what in the bleeding gods are you doing?" I scold.
"Chatting."
My eyes roll back, and I pinch at her side. "She's a prisoner, not a guest. Remember?"
She flicks her gold irises up at me, mischief and defiance painted in them. "Sit." Her voice commands, and Millie brings the princess around the table, pushing her shoulders down into a seat.
Eveera chucks her chin for Millie to leave, and the latter mouths a 'good luck' in my direction, while pulling the heavy doors shut behind her.
My hand slips from Eveera's waist, taking up a spot squarely on both of her shoulders, while I step to her back. Against her better judgment, she relaxes subtly into my chest, allowing my thumbs to aimlessly rub circles along her skin.
The princess, doing her best to look unfazed, straightens in her seat and takes in the sight of the two of us. Her pasty lips flatten into a thin line for a moment, and in a bold move, she opens them."So, your highness, is my fate finally decided?"
Eveera inhales sharply through her nose and holds it for one, two, three seconds.
On the exhale, a cruel laugh flows with it, "Pruella dear, if that were the case, you wouldn't be here asking such a pathetic question.
Now, unfortunately, I've brought you here on a…
diplomatic purpose." She finishes, her right hand coming up to lazily stroke up and down my arm.
"Oh?" She squeaks, her tone conveying her disbelief and mistrust.
"Mhmm — see you're a leech, in my court, and the last time I had one of those I turned him into an affectionate little bobble.
" The image of her bringing out the Vellaran spy's head flashes through my memories, sitting sourly in my stomach.
"But, unfortunately, I've been persuaded that killing you would be in poor taste.
So, what you're going to do is answer my questions.
And if I like those answers, then maybe you'll get to live out the rest of your sad, miserable life. "
"May… be.." The princess repeats slowly, her hands fidgeting in her lap.
Eveera nods, "it's up to you. Either you answer all of my questions and convince me you're not a leech. Or you fail at that, and I give Percy a friend. Your choice."