Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
The clock hanging on the stone wall ticked loudly, the sound cursing my ear drums. Only minutes left until noon. I leaned against the corridor across from King Hawthorne’s study, waiting eagerly for the meeting to begin, simply so I could get it over with.
Footsteps thudded along the floor of the corridor. I didn't look towards the sound, knowing it was Sebastian by the way his boots echoed on the marble.
Even though I hadn't been training with him, he still came to my meetings. The king didn't know that Sawyer had been training and guarding me for the past two and a half months. At least I don’t think he did. He probably wouldn't have minded much anyway, as long as I was still doing what he wished.
I stared straight ahead, focusing on the door of the study so I didn't have to make eye contact with Sebastian as he approached. Of course he decided to come stand right beside me, leaning back against the wall and tilting his head to the side towards me.
“Good afternoon.”
When I didn't return his greeting, he said, “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
“Huh?”
“During your trials.”
I nodded once, then took a step away from the wall to put some distance between us.
“How long do you plan on avoiding me?” Sebastian asked, grabbing my arm and pulling me back to the wall.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
He scoffed. “You’re spending time with Sawyer by choice just so you don’t have to train with me.”
I rolled my eyes, not breaking my gaze from the door. “I like spending time with Sawyer. We’re friends. And I just talked to you the other day.”
He moved in front of me so that I had no choice but to look at him. I glared into his face, scowling, making sure he knew how unamused I was.
“That was two weeks ago and I hardly consider that a conversation,” he argued.
“What could you possibly want to have a conversation about, Crown Prince Hawthorne?”
He ground his jaw at the use of his formal title. “You know what.”
I looked over his head at the clock. I’d never been so eager to see the king in my life. I tapped my foot. It was noon. He should open his door any—
“Good afternoon.” King Hawthorne’s voice bounced off the walls of the corridor as the door to his study flew open.
I sidestepped and marched by Sebastian as if he was not even there, then took my usual seat and crossed my legs. The other two filed in after me, the king shutting the door and moving behind his desk.
He got right to the point, not wasting any time before completely fucking up my day.
“Duke Sinclair has located three more traitorous Caelestians, whom he has dealt with.
However it seems that Draemor is still receiving information about our kingdom and you, Maeve.
We are unsure how he's obtaining this information.”
I sat still and silent as he went on.
“We suspect that there could be someone within the walls of the castle who is delivering this information to Cyprian. The things he's aware of are not things that are public knowledge to most Caelestians.”
I twiddled my thumbs as Sebastian moved to take a seat next to me. I fought my eyes from wandering to him as King Hawthorne slid a piece of parchment across his desk to me—a letter from King Beaumont.
To the Ruler of Caelestis,
I present you with one last opportunity to turn over Maeve Willawood to the Kingdom of Draemor.
As I have previously offered, in return, I will cease all hazards that threaten your civilians.
If you decline, prepare your soldiers for relentless bloodshed.
My army will not fall back until the eastern territory belongs to Draemor, and until Maeve Willawood is under my reign.
All the best,
Cyprian Beaumont
I pushed the letter back to him, disregarding Sebastian's hand that tried to grab it to read as well. Unfortunately the king ruined my pettiness by passing him the letter himself.
Sebastian scanned the paper, showcasing how fast of a reader he was. “This is just the same shit he's been threatening us with for months.”
“I am aware,” the king responded calmly.
A muscle in Sebastian's jaw ticked. “I thought you were supposed to be taking care of this.”
“I have it under control.”
“Clearly you don't. Beaumont is just getting more insistent that he’ll have Maeve no matter what—war or no war.”
“He will not take her. Unless there's a good enough reason for me to give her up willingly, that is.” King Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. “Is there?”
Sebastian crossed his arms, his muscles flexing under his shirt. “There's not,” he growled.
“Then I suppose we best prepare for war.”
“Seriously? That's the best you got?”
“What do you suggest, soldier?”
“Hm, I dunno maybe—”
I sighed loudly at their bickering, interrupting them.
“Something wrong, Miss Willawood?” King Hawthorne diverted his eyes to me.
I covered my mouth and yawned. “Nope, just waiting for you both to finish so I can go get lunch.” I smirked under my hand, knowing my comment would piss them both off.
He glowered at me, removing his attention from Sebastian and changing the subject. “How are your wielding sessions going, Maeve?”
I shuffled in my seat. The king had never called me by my first name before. “They are going well, Your Majesty.”
“Are you sure? Because you look even weaker than when I saw you two weeks ago.” He squinted his eyes at me. “I can imagine it's difficult to harness effective magic when you look like you haven't even eaten lunch in days.”
Ouch.
“Not to mention how you embarrassed me at the trial. That was absolutely pitiful,” he spat.
I swallowed audibly and could feel Sebastian's eyes on me. “I am sure, sir. That was just an off day. I have become very successful with harnessing my magic.”
King Hawthorne looked down at his desk. “Good to hear, however…” The corner of his lip quirked up in a devious smile.
My heart pounded in my chest, anticipating what he was about to demand from me.
He pushed off from his desk, towering over where I sat. “While I have you here, I would love for you to show me an example of your power. Seeing as you seemed to have an off day at the trial.”
Yeah. Saw that one coming.
I shoved down the feeling of panic that began to overcome me. It would be fine. I'd just use a super basic command. He wouldn't know any different. He just wanted to make sure I could actually use my powers.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The king gestured to Sebastian, who looked awfully pale all of a sudden. “Assist her please,” he demanded.
Sebastian and I rose to our feet, facing each other.
There was something unspoken between us.
I knew he was worried about me using my magic, but wouldn't say it in fear of what would happen if his father discovered how strenuous it was for me.
We could have faked it, but the risk was not worth it.
So we stared at each other, both on the same page about what we needed to do.
“Whenever you're ready,” the king said.
I adjusted my posture, racking my brain for a command that I knew wouldn't take too much out of me, but found it difficult to think of one. Training as much and as hard as I had been has made almost every compulsion draining.
Sebastian noted my apprehension. “Make me unsheathe my dagger,” he suggested.
I nodded. That was a good idea. Simple.
The king interfered before I could begin. “I was thinking something more like,” he tapped a finger on his chin, “commanding my son to utilize his magic to…hm…coat the floor of this room in a layer of ice.”
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Queasiness flooded my stomach, but I had no choice but to do as he said. Sebastian's skin turned even paler, and though I know he wanted to, he didn't argue with his father.
Please don’t pass out. Please don't puke. Please just keep it together until you're out of this room.
I took Sebastian's hands in mine, knowing the contact would make this at least a little bit easier. I shivered at the connection, but focused on what I needed to do.
The waves of the ocean pooled in my mind, the feel of them flowing over my skin as I dived beneath the surface. Delani laughed by my side as we swam. My mother stroked my hair, whispering my nickname to me as I dozed off. My star. My star.
I created visions in my brain of the things that usually calmed my thoughts enough to release my powers, but none of them worked.
The king cleared his throat.
My breathing shook. I was about to blow this.
Sebastian squeezed my hand lightly, either encouraging me to start, or in acknowledgement of my doubt.
You got this, he mouthed to me.
I breathed in deeply, and thought of the one thing that never failed to calm me—even when I was in the midst of a mega argument with that person.
Closing my eyes, I relived the first time I saw Sebastian at the Jewel-Light Ceremony, and how he quite literally stole my breath. I recreated the feel of his arms around me when he first embraced me. I thought of the soft plushness of his lips against mine when we kissed.
I may have still been hurt and angry, but I missed him.
The softness of Sebastian’s voice cracked through the barrier of my mind. “Ready?”
Nodding hesitantly, I blew out a breath and released the compulsion onto him. “Cover this floor in ice.”
The temperature of the room dropped as soon as the command left the confines of my mind. Sebastian released me, using his diamond to harness the magic I’d requested from him.
My eyes flinched open at the sound of ice crackling beneath my feet. Shards of frosted glass pooled from his fingertips as Sebastian formed a crystalline sheath over the marble tiles.