Chapter 18
Having a guardian wasn’t like I expected. It didn’t seem like an extended imprisonment, which comforted me.
Nash kept me company. He was so lighthearted that it kept my mind off of Silas and Nyx for most of the afternoon while we wandered around Arcadia, and I familiarized myself with its native things under the heavy gray clouds.
Occasionally, I’d glance over and look at Nash and see Iain instead. His gait, his smile, his hair, his laugh even. Except his eyes had a darkness to them. Yet, almost being in Iain’s presence eased my anxiety, a reminder that I’d found what I’d been searching for.
But when dinner came and went, Nash returned to his room. The day faded into night, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Thoughts that lingered with the images I’d seen in my dreams.
I sat at the base of the throne in Guardian’s Glade, feet tucked to the side. I felt almost grounded, sitting in the place where I had started only three days ago at the base of the throne. And here I sat, spiraling despite experiencing the truth of the dreams I’d had since childhood.
What has my life become?
“You seem like you could use some company.”
I raised my head to see Caroline gliding towards me, almost floating. She dropped down to her knees and her silver robe pooled around her.
“Is it that obvious?” I groaned.
“You’re in here alone. Without a lantern lit.”
I noticed the depth of the dark for the first time since sitting down. I must’ve been sitting there for an hour or so. I could no longer make out the details of the double doors at the end of the aisle. I had lost track of time.
“I guess you’re right.” I sighed. “Did Silas send you?”
“Why would he send me?” She furrowed her brow.
“I had another dream last night. Nash volunteered to be my guardian when Silas couldn’t be there, and Nash had other things to tend to after dinner. They think I need protection even inside of Arcadia. Does that mean I’m not safe here?”
Caroline grew somber. “Arcadia is a magical thing, but so is he. He’s a Seer after all. Somehow, he’s influenced your dreams. Who knows what other deep forms of magic he’s capable of when he’s desperate.”
Heseemed a lot more powerful than I first imagined him to be. All the nightmares, his uncanny ability to know things, those hollow, flaming eyes.
“Is Arcadia protected by magic? Or is there something we can do to ward him off? I feel restless, like I can’t do anything to help.”
“They banished him once, but history is a little foggy when it comes to the terms of his banishment. That’s where you come in.” Caroline gave my hand a quick squeeze. “We need you to research as much as you can alongside our other historians to read about encounters with Nyx from the past. My hope, and Silas’s, is that you can find the answer by reading our texts with fresh eyes.”
“Human eyes,” I retorted.
“I suppose so, yes. That’s exactly why we need you. I’ve spent years reading the same texts. No doubt there’s something in our books that could be an answered prayer, but only new eyes can find it.”
I thought of the old books I’d begun to scour earlier, reading age-old words written by the ancient kings of the past.
Ancient wolf kings.
Kings like Silas.
The thought of him made my stomach twist.
Wolf. King. Husband.
Maybe everything would work out, maybe this would have happened all along. My doubts still swirled at the surface as I stood. I may have been human, but I’d help if I could.
“I want to be helpful.”
Caroline beamed. “I knew there had to be a reason my father chose you. Come on. I’ll find you some of our other histories.”
I measured my breaths, thinking of how useless reading seemed to me at this moment. But if Caroline’s words were true, somehow being human would be a benefit in the days to come. I only hoped I’d live up to the expectation.