Chapter 31
Vesper
It was daytime, yet the room remained silent. Oryx laid asleep on my lap, his hair entwined in my fingers. He hadn't stirred since I awoke, and I had no intention of disturbing him. His stomach was distended. It looked like he had consumed a lot of blood.
My hand ran across it, and it made a gurgling sound.
Hopefully that was a satisfied sound, not indigestion. Wait—could he even get indigestion?
I brushed my hair away from my face and carefully raised Oryx's massive head. I took the pillow I'd been resting on for who knows how long and placed it near Oryx's nose. He grasped it firmly and snuggled into it, drifting into a deeper slumber.
He had just been fed, or had engorged himself with someone’s blood.
I’m hoping it was Veylor’s. He deserved it.
He was the biggest fae douche in history.
Even if I had only met two fae.
I freed myself from the twisted sheets and shuffled to the bathroom, the cool tiles waking up my feet.
After using the toilet, I noticed a neatly folded dress waiting for me on the counter.
Although I felt fresh and my skin was still smooth from whatever cleaning Oryx had done, I decided to step under the warm spray of the shower to rinse off nonetheless.
The water danced on my skin, and as I toweled off, I caught the lingering scent of the rich oils in my hair, which gleamed and flowed smoothly from the recent brushing.
I was certainly taken care of, and I knew it was all due to Oryx. He loved simple tasks of brushing my hair, even washing and this was his work.
I slipped into the simple gown, its soft fabric hugging my curves as it cinched snugly at the waist and across my breasts.
The delicate ties at the back pulled the material taut, accentuating the natural shape of my body.
As the gown settled into place, my stomach let out a low growl, reminding me of my hunger.
I glanced over at Oryx, who remained peacefully asleep on the bed. I quietly decided to make my way to the kitchen.
Surprisingly, I had a lot more energy. Maybe I would have been better earlier if I wasn’t impaled by a tongue on my previous waking. I pressed my fingers to my lips and shook my head. Oryx was impatient; he didn’t hurt anything, but for a brief time after I fell asleep, I did return to nightmares.
The clicking.
The claws.
The ripping of skin.
I attempted to shove the swirling thoughts from my mind as my bare feet touched the cool, polished stone floor. The chill of the surface anchored me firmly in the present moment as I stepped into the kitchen.
A kettle, gleaming with a soft sheen, sat quietly on the stove, its metallic surface catching the morning light. In the center of the preparation island, a plate piled with golden-brown biscuits awaited, their buttery aroma mingling with the faint hint of brewing tea.
Benedict closed the cabinet furthest from me. “My lady, you are awake.”
I raised an eyebrow. My lady?
"You must be hungry. Please sit, I’ll get the jellies and honey. Humans have those, correct?”
I scoffed. “Of course, we aren’t barbarians.”
Benedict pulled up a stool for me as he rushed around the kitchen. I pressed my cheek to my fist and frowned.
"My lady, I must offer my sincerest apologies." Benedict's hands trembled as he placed a saucer and an elegantly adorned ceramic teacup with gold embellishments in front of me. I glanced up at him, puzzled.
"I left you outside," he confessed. "I didn't even consider the possibility of vampires in the stables. It completely slipped my mind; I assumed my lord had fed them. They would have been docile if that had been the case..." Benedict went on, his voice quivering and his hands shaking.
I reached out my hand to steady him, and he gasped for breath. “When they brought you back. I thought the worst.”
I frowned and squeezed his hand.
"Oryx was in a state of distress, your blood covered them, while you hovered on the brink of death. Veylor, who I've never seen so worried about anyone other than Oryx, was completely beside himself."
The pity I had for Benedict dried up in an instant. I pulled my hand away from Benedict and he tilted his head in confusion. “My lady?”
“Veylor went to fetch me? He was concerned?”
Benedict nodded, and I rose from my seat, pushing the chair back quietly. I walked to the wide window that framed the estate's sprawling gardens. Outside, deep red tulips and burnt orange daffodils were poking through the rich soil, their petals unfurling in the light stones rays.
The trees were alive with new life, their branches dotted with tender green buds ready to burst into leaves. High above, a pair of sapphire blue and forest green colored birds perched on the topmost branches, their feathers gleaming like jewels in the afternoon light.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t picture that.”
Benedict sighed, and I heard the teacup shake while he poured. “‘Tis true. He’s fond of you. More than you think.”
I turned around from the window and folded my arms. “Pardon my French, but are you fucking insane?”
Benedict stared at me, continued to pour the tea and overflowed the cup.
“He hated me as soon as he saw me. He tried to send me to the Under Shadows while I was in Oryx’s room.”
Benedict cleared his throat and took a towel from his waist, and began to clean up his mess. “It’s just his way of flirting, really.”
I scrunched my nose. “He threw a cake in your face when I made him take an oath that he wouldn’t lay a hand on me!”
“A sign of affection!” He held up the butter knife and put jam on the biscuit.
I stomped my foot. “He sent vampires to kill me!”
Benedict squinted and aimed the knife, sticky with jam, in my direction. "That was a misunderstanding. He didn't do it, but if he had, it would have been seen as a marriage proposal by him."
Oh. My. God.
“What would he do if he wanted to have sex with me?”
Benedict wiggled his eyebrows. “Well, we already know he likes to watch.”
I gasped.
“He’s been through a lot, my lady,” Benedict soothed.
“And I haven’t?” I squealed. “Have you seen the state I’m in, really? Kidnapped by a monster, hated by a lich, almost killed, multiple times, and now you say Veylor has a soft spot for me, and now you are calling me lady. I’m utterly confused. You better have something to spike that tea with.”
I stomped over the icebox and reached in, grabbing ice cubes and putting them inside the tea. Benedict opened and closed his mouth. “What have you done to the tea?”
“Making it better. Get me some booze, er, wine, something strong!”
Benedict backed away slowly and handed me a small bottle. I popped the cork and sniffed it. The smell burned my nose but I poured it into the tea cup anyway.
My mom would be so proud.
The fruity tea mixed with the warmth of whatever alcohol this was as it slid down my throat. Though the ice left it merely lukewarm, the flavor was surprisingly decent.
I needed this.
Benedict got two taller glasses, this time with more ice in both, and put the tea inside.
Okay, maybe he was onto something. Once they were filled with tea and left enough room for the alcohol we clicked our glasses together and sipped.
Oh, that was nice.
“This would pair nicely with...” Benedict’s eyes widened and he grabbed an unknown red fruit from the counter. He chopped them into little pieces and dumped them into both of our glasses.
We both took a sip and made smacking sounds with our lips. Benedict hummed thoughtfully. "I'm not sure how this will impact you, considering you're human," he said, swirling his glass.
“Don’t care. I just need something to take the edge off.”
Benedict shrugged his shoulders, but it wasn’t long until he was the one giggling like a maniac, and I was the one getting all the real tea of the house.
An hour later, I was lightly buzzed because I knew how to hold my drink back, unlike Benedict. He was a talker, and I suppose it came with the territory of being the house manager.
A plus for me.
I found out that not only had Veylor been a helpless puppy around Oryx while I had been sick, but also had been tending to me.
I took all this in with a grain of salt and still had no intentions of forgiving the twat.
It was nice to hear he was slaving away and looking for forgiveness with Oryx, however.
Oryx deserved it. He’d suffered being alone allt hese years in this big house. All he needed was a little guidance, love, and Veylor couldn’t give him that?
The little time I spent with Veylor and him being a complete asshole to me, I couldn’t imagine Oryx dealing with that for years.
As Benedict downed his fourth drink, he dreamily looked out the window. “I knew they were meant for each other, but something was missing.”
I pressed my lips together before I took another slow sip of my drink.
“The way they cared for each other was adorable, but I knew, just knew there had to be another piece to their puzzle.”
I cleared my throat. “Wait, what do you mean? I thought Veylor created Oryx and left him to fend for himself.”
Benedict shook his head, and that was when I was given the shock of my life.
Oryx wasn't always known as Oryx the monster; he was once a fae, a stunning being with golden hair, green eyes, and tanned skin.
Renowned as the true light of the Light Court, he was admired by all the males for his captivating smile and appearance.
However, it was Veylor whom he truly desired.
Although this was the tale told, the reality was that they kept their love concealed due to a variety of reasons, including jealousy, financial concerns, fears of murder, and the underhanded tactics prevalent in the politics of the fae courts.
There were things Benedict said I didn’t quite understand but I didn’t care about the politics, I was still reeling that Oryx was a fae. Not always a monster.
Oryx didn’t remember his past life, and it tore Veylor apart. Veylor needed to understand Oryx would have to love him with this new body and forgotten memories.
It was heartbreaking.
Benedict chuckled, hitting the table with his hand.
"I helped them conceal it, guided them through the estate's tunnels, arranged secret carriage rides and silent picnics, yet they could still be apart.
That wasn't a genuine match, definitely not a true bond," he muttered softly.
"Something was lacking." Pointing a finger at me, Benedict added, "I would've wagered they were meant to be bonded, but it just wasn't strong enough. "
My mouth opened to speak, but no words came.
Benedict rolled his hand over in over, as he searched for words. “Humans, do they have a word that describes someone that is meant for you, only for you? Two people, together, forever?”
I sat back in my seat in thought. “Like a soul mate?”
Benedict snapped his fingers together. “Yes! A bonded pair, fated, soul captured. Their souls entwined. Yes, very much so. They were incomplete.”
That made me feel like crap. They were soul mates, but not?
“I think I’m going to go to bed.” I pushed the chair away, but Benedict grabbed my hand.
“No, listen. I think that you are the missing piece,” he slurred. “You are what can keep them together.”
I scoffed. “It sounded like they were fine before…before whatever happened that made Oryx die and Veylor had to bring him back to life.”
Benedict shook his head. “It had to happen; otherwise you wouldn’t have come through the portal. Fate, the future, certain steps have to happen don’t you see?”
No, I couldn’t see anything. I was talking to a drunkard.
All I heard was that Veylor was madly in love with Oryx, that their love was deep. They were lovers for a long time before me. They snuck around, hid themselves, and Veylor hasn’t let go. Will never let go.
My life just got ten times harder. I would be the third wheel.
I would always look over my shoulder.
Was it worth it?
I tugged on my hair. I’m still hoping that Oryx drank his blood and Veylor is just a hollow husk in the hallway somewhere.
That would be an awesome present.
Benedict mumbled and went to grab his glass. He missed, and the glass moved away.
“I think that’s enough spiked tea for you.” I pulled the glass away and put it at the end of the table.
Benedict whined. “Nooo, I want more of my juice.”
My lip curled into a smile. “Nope, no more juice, time for bed.”
So I can ponder my life and where it all went wrong.
I walked around the kitchen island. I put his arm around me and tapped his side for him to follow me.
Benedict let out a groan, resting his head on my shoulder.
He managed to support most of his weight himself as he guided me to his room, which was fortunate since I had no idea where it was.
As we moved through an unfamiliar corridor, warmth spread along my back while I assisted him. His hand reached up to rest on my hip.
“My lady, if you need anyone to talk to, I am here,” he mumbled. “I hope you see me as a friend, not only the help.”
I sighed and gently combed my fingers through his hair as we walked into his room. He flopped onto the bed, and I adjusted him so that his head rested on the pillow. He was already snoring by the time I covered him with the blanket.
"Sweet dreams, Benedict," I whispered softly, watching as his eyelids fluttered closed.
The warm glow of the candle flickered for a moment before I leaned in and blew it out, plunging the room into a peaceful darkness.
I tiptoed out and carefully closed the door behind me, ensuring it didn't make a sound that might stir him from his slumber.
As I turned to head down the dimly lit hallway, my eyes caught a shadowy silhouette standing silently at the far end, partially obscured by the fading light.
His long white hair moved with the draft, his hands were by his side and his face was unreadable.
There goes the idea of him being a withered husk.
Veylor took a tentative step toward me and I held my hand out to stop him. He paused, and my eyes narrowed at him.
I glared at him once more before turning my back to return to Oryx. He was all I wanted; he was all I needed. I didn’t need Veylor and his tricks. Unfortunately, Veylor was always going to be there. Always, because he was undead.
And I’d die before I hurt Oryx.
But at what cost would that do to me and my sanity?