35
Deep down I knew Raylin Caye would be here, I had been anticipating this over the last couple of days. I was just hoping that maybe his father had sent him away for something, or that I would have a chance to breathe before having to talk to him.
I hadn’t told Xander and Cole, not for any reason in particular. I mainly just didn’t feel it was necessary. Though seeing the way they both looked at Raylin, maybe I should have.
But there hadn’t been a right time, even last night when I was debating telling Xander, our conversation had led elsewhere.
I feel the heat rising up my neck at the memory.
I turn my attention away from last night's moment and back to Raylin. Who before today, had felt like a memory I had long since buried.
“How have you been Maeve?” He asks, like we’re just casual friends who haven’t seen each other in a while.
“Fine.” I say bluntly. If the tone in my voice hurts him, he doesn't let on.
“Since when were you with Xander?” He blurts out.
Really? I almost leave him right then and there. Abandoning all thoughts of talking to him or hearing what he wants to say. I’m so pissed that after everything, that’s what he wanted to ask.
“I’m not with Xander, I work for him.” I reply with venom lacing my tone.
He levels me with a knowing stare, seeming to fight the urge to roll his eyes.
“What about the Agency?” He demands.
“I got conscripted, I’m out of the Agency for five years.”
His eyes widen slightly, clearly shocked that the Agency would give me up but they didn’t have a choice.
Not when the King was threatening to shut down their entire operation.
The Agency and Hidale generally work alongside each other, helping one another when needed.
But I don’t think that would be the case, had they not existed in the same part of Aressor.
They’re both too bold, too direct and want too much.
I always dreamed of a day where they would turn on each other, leading to the destruction of the Agency.
But it never came and I think I’ll be waiting a while before it does.
“Look Raylin, I don’t have time for this.” I say crossing my arms, “what did you want to talk about?”
“I just wanted to see if you had changed your mind?”
The thought of changing my mind had never occurred to me, not once in the last three years.
“Absolutely not.” I seethe at him, “you have to be insane to think I would have rethought my choices after what you did!” My voice rises without my command, I hadn’t realised I had still been so angry.
“What I did! You broke my heart first Maeve!”
I all but stumble back at his words. I was right, he is insane.
“That is not an excuse for what you did!” I yell at him, my arms flaring out as I do. I’m so tempted to punch him but I’m holding back because I know we need his fathers support on what we’re about to do. I don’t want to ruin that for Xander.
“You can’t be serious Maeve!” Raylin shouts, even louder than I was.
I start to turn back to the door, entirely done with this conversation but Raylin grabs my wrist, holding me back.
“Let go of me!” I shout at Raylin, half turned towards the door, half facing Raylin as I try to shove out of his grip.
The doors fly open in front of me and the King and Cole storm out, anger tracing their features.
“What’s going on?” Xander demands as he takes his place beside me, narrowing his eyes at Raylin, who’s hand is still on my wrist.
“Nothing, this is between Maeve and I. Back off.” Raylin seethes at Xander.
Ultimately the wrong thing to say. Xander’s jaw ticks as he levels Raylin with a stare that is nothing short of menacing.
“Let go of her.” He growls, no room for argument in his voice.
Raylin scoffs at Xander before yanking his hand away from my wrist.
His gaze moves to stare down at me, judgement running through his light blue eyes.
“Yep. Not together.” He says sarcastically before he turns and walks away, heading down the hall. I watch Raylin as he turns to the left and flings the door open using nothing but his power.
“What was that about?” Cole demands.
“Nothing, let’s go.” I reply quickly.
Xander looks at me incredulously, questioning me with his gaze. “It didn’t sound like nothing.”
The accusation in his tone bites at me, though I can tell it’s not entirely directed towards me.
“It is, trust me, he is not worth anyone’s time.”
I motion for the guards to show us to our quarters and start walking down the hallway.
The King quickly catches up and so does Cole.
“Are you going to tell us what that was about?” Cole demands and I look across to him, his gaze almost as lethal as Xander’s right now.
“Not yet, wait till we’re alone.”
The guards guide us to our rooms and I walk in to see that we’re sharing one large sitting area with our connecting bedrooms down a private corridor.
I haven’t stayed in these rooms before but they all look very similar. I'm definitely glad they hadn’t given me my old room. I dread the memories that would flood back.
My senses are filled with the scents of salt and sea mist as we walk further into the light and airy room.
The sandstone pillars in front of us, border the sitting area.
The floor in this section sits slightly slower than the stone floors around it.
There’s a light green sofa, some chairs and a rug in the middle.
Many of those arched open windows line the back wall, next to the corridor that leads to our rooms.
I must admit, this castle is beautiful and still holds a place in my heart for being my escape from the Agency when they would grant me leave.
But it’s different now.
I thank the guards and take a seat on one of the sofas, the guys join me not a second later.
“So.” Cole says, “what’s going on?”
I take a deep breath, it shouldn’t be this hard to say it, they’ve probably guessed what’s going on by now. Who Raylin is to me and how I know the King of Faystra.
Yet I know they’re waiting for me to confirm their suspicions. So I take a deep breath and share the truth I couldn’t share when we were in Erador.
“Raylin is my ex.”
I look over at Xander and see a soft rage flicker across his features before he masks it.
“And what offer are they talking about?” Xander asks carefully, resting his forearms on his knees. Looking up to me with those deep blue eyes.
“His proposal.”
Xander’s gaze is unnerving as he waits for me to elaborate.
I sigh and lean back. “Raylin proposed to me three years ago and I said no for many reasons.”
The room is quiet for a moment, feeling too small as I share parts of my life that I haven’t shared with anyone. I don’t look at Xander or Cole, waiting for them to continue with their questions.
“And what did he do?” Xander asks.
“What do you mean?” I breathe out as I look towards the ceiling. That’s not what I’d expected him to ask.
“We heard you outside the door.” Cole says carefully, “you said it didn’t excuse what he did.”
I scoff at them and roll my body up from the couch. “It’s rude to eavesdrop.”
Cole looks across to me, something I can’t place in his eyes. “We weren’t listening until we heard your voices raise. You could have been shouting at us with how loud it was.”
I roll my eyes and look away from the commander.
I don’t feel like this detail is necessary and I don’t want to share or rehash anymore of that time in my life.
“Maeve.” Xander says and I look at him, “we need to know everything so we can be prepared for what Raylin is angry about and what King Castor may ask for in return for activating the artifact.”
I rest my head against the back of the sofa and look up. Clenching my jaw as I prepare to offer yet another piece of my life.
“We stayed together, after I had declined his proposal but apparently Raylin didn’t care about me anymore. I travelled up to visit him and found him with another woman.”
My cheeks turn red and I don’t dare look at the King and Cole. I hate this, hate every part of being back here, because of what it brings. Seeing him again and now having to explain my embarrassing past relationship to these two— I hate it.
“That bastard.” I hear Cole say and I sit up, looking at him curiously.
I know we’ve gotten closer but I hadn’t thought he’d care about this.
Least of all, care enough to essentially defend my honour.
The commander's gaze goes to Xander who looks pissed off but continues to stare at the ground. Saying nothing in return.
“Why didn’t you tell us, we could have left you at the castle, done this alone.” Cole says, taking his eyes off Xander.
I look at Cole before replying, wanting to move this conversation in an entirely different direction. I want to get back to the way things normally are between the three of us.
“I wanted to come, I wanted to help.” I say before forcing a smile onto my lips. “And you guys are still paying me, I can’t say no to a job.”
Cole smiles at me, it’s a sad smile but it’s better than the way he was looking at me before.
“So.” I say, casually moving on, “does anyone want to tell me what this artifact does once it’s activated?”
Xander looks up at me then, seemingly welcoming the distraction that pulled him from his thoughts.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He says with a smirk.
Xander stands up and retreats to one of the stone pillars before continuing. I furrow my brows at him as he walks away. Maybe he needs space from me after my admission, like he did last night when he left me on the balcony.
“The artifact can only be activated by a specific type of fae with a specific ability. When you had told me that the prophecy involved the activation of the artifact, I knew it was Castor who must do it.” He says as he leans casually against the pillar and crosses one ankle over the other.
“So the Nytherin must use this artifact— that King Castor activates with his power?”
“Yes. Do you know what that power is, love?” He asks, a careful caution in his eyes.
I think back to the ability that I know King Castor has and I gasp at the realisation. Xander looks at me, knowingly and waits for me to say the words.
“He can control heart rhythms.” I breathe.