Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Ophelia
My lower abdomen felt like it was being clawed in half.
I cried out, hunching over in bed, and warmth trickled between my legs.
“What’s wrong?” Malakai shot up beside me, placing a hand on my back. Gray dawn light cast a shadow around him, his voice thick with sleep.
“Go fucking get Rina,” I hissed, clutching my knees to my chest.
“Oh, fuck, okay.” He fled the room before I could reply. Malakai had seen me when my cycle arrived plenty of times, and I was willing to bet it was one of the things he didn’t miss while he was gone.
We hadn’t spoken since our fight. I’d lingered in the office until well into the night.
Until I heard the door to the bedchamber close and another hour after that.
Because I hadn’t known what I’d say to him.
With facts and figures of Annellius’s life clouding my mind, I didn’t trust myself to not let an unintended insult slip.
Now, I curled in a ball until Rina arrived with the tonic her mother had made us since we first bled.
Normally, I’d have known my cycle was coming, but I’d been distracted lately.
One sip of the cool liquid and it started alleviating the pain.
A full dose and I’d barely feel discomfort the rest of the day.
“Twice a day,” she instructed, ever the thorough healer.
“I know.” I winced, but the sharper pains were already dulling to a manageable pulse in my lower back and a slight headache. “Thank you.”
“Of course. I also left your next week’s supply of contraceptives in your bathing chamber.
” She’d been brewing those for me since we took up residence in the palace.
Some mornings, I’d hear a gentle knock, and when I opened the door, the next dose was sitting there, Rina having already disappeared down the hallway.
I thanked the Angels for giving me such a doting friend when it came to health and healing. Human or warrior, sometimes there wasn’t much difference between us. Or at least, there shouldn’t be, despite the distance the world tried to instill.
“Thank you,” I repeated.
“Mm-hmm,” she hummed. “Keep heat on your back.” She headed for the door, probably hoping to get a bit more sleep in.
As Santorina left, Malakai returned, carrying a silver tray. He set it on the table between the fire and the couch I was curled on, then ran a hand over the back of his neck, avoiding my eye.
I hated this.
Hated the jagged spikes of tension separating us. One move and they’d puncture an organ. Anything to make us bleed out all those tainted words we each kept cradled away from the other.
“What’s this?” I asked, eyeing the tray, tiptoeing over those spikes. The smell of hibiscus rose to me. He’d found my favorite tea, and those looked like the lemon biscuits I loved.
“I assumed you’d take breakfast in here today if you’re in pain.
” He busied himself striding to the sideboard, organizing the assortment of daggers we’d collected into an orderly line.
Including the one he’d taken off his father’s body, onyx Engrossian gems and all.
He wouldn’t tell me why he kept it, but I figured it was his way of grieving, so I didn’t prod too much.
His hand hovered over the last weapon—the one I’d carried since Cyph had given it to me for my birthday, the one I’d used on his father—before he shifted that, too, laying it beside the others.
“That’s very kind of you,” I said, voice small. Timid like I’d never been with him. Afraid of pushing whatever was happening in his mind that I didn’t understand. “But it’s unnecessary. I won’t hide in here all day.”
Never mind the fact that my back still hurt and I was utterly exhausted. I wouldn’t let the warriors I sought alliances with think me weak or incapable due to my gender. If anything, I’d use this as another strength against them. Show them what I was capable of even while in pain.
“Are you certain?” Malakai asked, giving me every opportunity to change my mind. A sign of support.
“Positive.” I sprang to my feet and strode around the table, grabbing a lemon biscuit as I went. “I will take these, though.”
“If you insist.” Malakai met my eyes over his shoulder for the first time since our fight, the slight lift of his lips at the corners a balm to the bruises between us.
A Starsearcher, a Soulguider, and a Bodymelder. One from each of the three minor clans met us in the palace’s training yard for the usual morning circuit, prepared to take up temporary residence with us. Train with us. Dine with us. Know us.
“Good morning,” Tolek cheered, his voice bouncing off the high stone walls as he descended the staircase from the palace into the sunken dirt arena.
Sun coated the space, warm and welcoming.
It highlighted the Mystique sigil carved periodically along the facade, as it was throughout the palace and city.
An oval with a sword slashing diagonally across it and an outline of three mountains along the bottom.
“He’s in a cheerful mood today,” Cyph said, eyeing his friend from just over his shoulder.
“And why wouldn’t I be, CK? We have guests.” Tolek looked over the newcomers, then back to Cyph. “And I’m finally going to beat you in our gamble this morning.”
Jezebel barked a laugh. Turning to the delegates, she explained, “Every morning those three”—she pointed to Malakai, Tolek, and Cypherion—“create an obstacle course after training, and every morning Cypherion walks away with his pockets heavier.”
“And that isn’t about to change today.” Cyph walked around the edge of the group, toward the looming armory doorway. The brown leathers covering him neck to boot flexed with each movement, scythe on his back and sword at his hip. “Let’s find weapons for you three.”
The delegates and Jezebel followed Cypherion, and I observed them.
First was Erista, Meridat’s apprentice with the wild curls.
She had volunteered to stay and represent the Soulguiders over her twin sister.
I recognized Titus’s apprentice, Vale, too.
The quiet Starsearcher with the demure stare.
The Bodymelder, though, I’d only just met.
Esmond had a broad frame and tall stature that instantly demanded attention, but his demeanor countered it.
He remained aloof on the outskirts with keen gazes around our group and arena.
Each delegate brought the weapon of preference of their clan, but as this was to be a show of cooperation, we would also be sharing our specialties with them.
Tol’s eyes met mine when he stood with Rina, Malakai, and me.
His blink asked, How are you? and my worries eased with the nod I gave him in return.
“It’s a shame none of the Seawatchers are here,” he pointed out, satisfied that I was okay.
“What is the fascination, anyway?” Rina strapped the dagger I’d given her from my twin set to her thigh.
“He only cares for their weapons,” I teased, pressing a hand into a cramp in my lower back.
“Are you all right?” Tolek asked.
“My cycle came,” I responded dully.
“Do you need anything?”
“I’m fine.” It was a bit more of a snap than I intended.
“That you are.” He smirked. “If that’s the case, I want to spar with you today.”
“Get in line.” Malakai swung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
Tolek eyed his friend, frustrations from our conversation yesterday playing out behind his stare. His need to protect me against any more hurt.
But then, those grievances vanished. He placed a hand to his chest, ducking his chin. “She’s all yours.”
“It’s for the best,” I joked to satisfy Tol. “I wouldn’t want to have to beat you again, Vincienzo. You might bruise that ego we all adore.”
“I think your memory is challenging you, Alabath. My ego is too firm to bruise.”
“They’re going to kill each other one day,” Rina whispered, and Malakai only grunted.
I exhaled a laugh and turned to Santorina. “How are you feeling with your training?”
Her smile brightened. “Excellent, actually. I was thinking…”
“Yes?” I encouraged when she hesitated.
“It’s a shame humans are never trained. We’re in as much danger as warriors—more so if you consider that you’ve been around weapons since the day you could walk. I think humans should be given the same chance.”
Spirits, Rina’s courage was admirable. “You’re correct. We’ll work on that, as well.” I added it to the list of topics to discuss with the Mystique Council. Perhaps they could establish training posts for humans throughout the territories.
It was likely not all would want to train, but it was wrong to not provide the option. If it had been done sooner, perhaps Rina’s parents would still be here. When I met her glossy-eyed stare, I knew she was thinking the same.
“We’ll give everyone the chance they deserve.” I squeezed Rina’s hand, promises passing between us.
The delegates, Jezebel, and Cyph reappeared from the armory, the latter holding a menagerie of weapons. My sister and Erista took up a basic sparring pattern, Jezebel showing her a few of the simpler keys of spearwork. Cyph was assisting the Starsearcher, Vale, testing different swords.
Rina sighed, and I followed her line of sight to where Esmond stood alone, a sword in one hand and his rapier in the other.
As we watched, he sheathed the former, shirked the top layer of his leathers so he stood in only a thin green tunic, and began a solo warm-up routine with the latter.
Warm sepia skin stretched across firm muscles with each motion, and it was clear that while he was quiet, he was skilled.
“He’s wary after…everything,” Rina explained. After hearing how we’d slayed numerous Engrossians, likely. At least Santorina seemed to have befriended him. “I’ll go convince him to join.”
“Tol, go with her,” I instructed. “Use your charm.”
“As you wish.” He held out his arm to Santorina and escorted her to Esmond’s side. If anyone could convince him Mystiques were to be trusted, Tolek could.