Chapter 22
The emotional toll of the prior day provided an entire night of deep sleep. I wished I could say that I felt rested, but instead, I felt drained, my body and mind sluggish. Cora woke me at Anya’s arrival, and I pulled my heavy body from the comfort of my bed and lumbered out into the sitting area.
“Are you alright?” Anya asked.
“Yes. I am just so tired.”
“Mom, the captain is here to take me to my lessons!” Cora shouted as she bounced on her toes.
Cora held open the door, and Darragh stepped into our rooms. Anya gasped, and my cheeks flushed as he entered.
I realized a moment too late that I was wearing nothing but a tunic that barely grazed mid-thigh and panties.
The room was hot and uncomfortable last night, so I refused a long nightgown.
Darragh spun away from me immediately, giving me time to rush to the bedroom to put on something to cover my legs.
“Cora!” I admonished as I bolted for the bedroom.
“Oops. Sorry, Mom!” she called after me as I slammed the bedroom door shut.
This. Kid.
“My lady, I apologize. I did not know you weren’t properly clothed.
” Darragh’s voice frantically drifted through the door.
I looked in the mirror as I yanked on trousers.
My long waves frizzed, and dark circles had formed under my eyes.
Oh, good goddess above! I quickly pulled my hair back in a braid and walked back out of the bedroom, fully clothed but looking like a disheveled mess.
Anya’s lips pulled inward, and her eyes crinkled in the corners.
Darragh had his back fully toward me, looking at the golden flecks in the marble fireplace like they were the most interesting thing he had ever seen in his life.
Cora gave me her biggest doe eyes and oscillated back and forth with her hands behind her back.
“I am decent now,” I said calmly.
Darragh turned back around and blew out a breath. A smattering of rosy pink painted across his cheeks. “Lady Aurora, I should not have presumed to walk into your rooms without permission. The fault lies with me, not Lady Cora.”
I held up my hands. “You can call me Rory in front of Anya. It’s alright. I am not angry.”
“Are you ready for your lessons, my lady?” Darragh walked to the door, addressing Cora.
“Yes!” She bounded toward Darragh in her peach-colored dress. “Bye, Mom! I love you!”
I smiled. “I love you, too, sweet girl. Have a wonderful day. Remember to mind your manners, and don’t let anyone hold you back!”
“Oh, before I go, Rory,” he slid his eyes to Anya briefly, “I have two correspondences for you this morning. I will be back after I take Cora to her lessons to help plan out the logistics of what you want to do today.”
Darragh placed two envelopes on the table before guiding Cora out the door and leaving Anya and me to stare at each other for a moment. Both of us burst into raucous laughter at the same time.
“I could feel both of your embarrassment and then Cora’s guilt all at once! Before I could tune in further, Darragh shielded. But I don’t need my enchant to know that you positively flustered that man.” Anya waggled her brows.
My cheeks flushed again, and I diverted the direction this conversation was headed. “Let’s see who wrote me.”
My darling Aurora,
I apologize for being so absent. We are set back on course to find those horrid militia usurpers, and I hope that I am back to you soon. I keep thinking about you. I can’t wait to look into those gorgeous blue eyes once again and maybe steal another kiss from you, if you’re so inclined.
Your favorite seraph,
Gabriel
I didn’t mean to roll my hazel eyes so obviously, but I slipped. Anya searched my face, and I handed her the letter.
“I thought I was your favorite seraph,” she joked with a wink.
I plopped down on one of the sofas. “Ugh! He is trying too hard. I haven’t spent more than two days with him!”
“Gabriel can be…passionate.” Anya chose her words carefully. “He also is a nobleman who sets his mind to something, and nothing will dissuade him.”
I rested my head in my hands. “I don’t respond well to this kind of attention.”
She shrugged. “Gabriel isn’t used to a woman who doesn’t fawn all over him to gain his favor.
Before you came to the castle, ladies practically threw themselves at him, the kingdom’s most eligible bachelor.
Once you came here, he made it clear that they needed to stop immediately, and if they didn’t, he would send them to the atoner. ”
My eyes widened. “That’s harsh.” I didn’t need to constantly look over my shoulder because someone felt threatened by me. I didn’t even want Gabriel.
“I wouldn’t be worried. Angheals regard Gabriel as a step below the king.
If he, for one second, feels someone will target you, they will pay dearly.
They want him but also fear him. Besides, they will have to answer to me as well, and I know so many of their secrets that if they don’t want me to tell everyone, then they need to behave.
” Her eyebrow hiked up as she deviously smirked.
I giggled. “You’re a good friend, Anya. I have never had a friend in the aristocratic circles.”
“I am honored to be your first!”
I picked up the second letter and opened the note. The signature at the bottom made my heart tumble.
Lady Aurora,
My scholars notified me that you were unwilling to answer any of their questions and have not returned as promised to do so. You will go to the library today to meet with the scholars and answer all their questions.
We have been patient and understanding of your situation, providing you with safety and tending to you and your youngling’s needs. If you refuse to cooperate with my scholars, I will rescind my offer to keep you in my safety and good graces.
His Majesty, King Torrish
My stomach turned at the thought of being thrown out into the city streets with nothing and no one to help Cora and me.
Anya sat next to me. “Rory? You’re extremely nervous and have turned white as the moon.”
“King Torrish threatened to make us leave if I don’t go to the scholars and answer any questions they might have about Edenalee and me.”
“Everything will be alright,” she soothed, pulling me into a hug. “King Torrish can be quite harsh and direct. You just have to follow through with his command, and there will be nothing to worry about. I promise.”
The wind whipped through my unbound hair, galloping on a white mare owned by Anya. She insisted I borrow her when she learned Celeste had been lost. I didn’t tell her why she disappeared. That was a secret that I kept to protect both Darragh and me.
I couldn’t get dressed and out the door fast enough when Darragh came back to my rooms. Anya filled him in on the king’s letter and what I was required to do with my day as I put on warm clothes. Darragh looked positively livid when I came back into the sitting room.
“I’m sorry you have to be subjected to that scholar again, Rory.” Darragh handed Astorath’s reins to the young stable hand outside the library.
I released a breath. “I’m fine, but thank you. I feel better knowing you are here with me. I just want to get this over with. We could be doing better things with our time, like figuring out if humans or seraphs are going back and forth through the threshing wall.”
“I understand.” He lowered his voice and walked closer to me, dropping his face near my ear. “Let’s discuss it more afterward when there aren’t any prying ears listening to us.” He scanned the area. “Breathe, and let’s get through this.”
The implication that we were in this together made my stomach flip.
Acrion eagerly greeted me as soon as we stepped through the front of the library archway.
“Lady Aurora! So happy to have you back!” He grabbed my hands in his, and I held my stony expression.
The lies and embellishments he told the king made me less inclined to be warm to the ancient-looking seraph.
I pulled my hands from his. “Yes, well, lead the way, Acrion.”
He didn’t react to my demeanor and led me through the rows and stacks of books, Darragh following close behind me. After sharing a horse with him for hours, I could feel his presence near, even when I couldn’t see him.
Acrion opened the door to the same room we spoke in before, but this time, another two old seraphs sat at the table, both in deep purple robes.
One scholar had completely hazy white eyes and sat passively staring at the wooden walls of the room.
The other seraph scholar reminded me of a stern priest, ready to scrutinize the minute details of my life.
Neither had exuded the same warmth that Acrion gave off, however artificial that may be. Both intimidated me.
“He can stay out here until we are done,” Acrion addressed only me.
“That is not happening,” Darragh growled, narrowing his eyes on the three ancient scholars.
“You don’t have a say in the matter, crossling,” Acrion sneered.
“We cannot efficiently interview her with you lurking about, intimidating us, and trying to challenge our word at every turn. You wouldn’t understand because you lack the scholarly mind.
Now be a good guard and stay put!” He firmly pointed to the ground.
Darragh’s eyes darkened, and he took a step toward the ancient seraph. I put myself between them, placing a hand on Darragh’s broad chest to stop him from hurting the scholar, even if Acrion did deserve it. His warmth seeped into my hand, and his heart strummed steadily.
“Acrion,” I addressed coldly. “I am happy to answer all of your questions, but I require the captain to be in the room with me.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but I raised my hand to cut him off.
“I understand your concern. His Royal Highness, the king’s brother, commanded the captain not to let me out of his sight, and he is just following the commander’s orders.
Would you like to explain to His Highness why you refused to allow his Captain of the Guard to fulfill his duty? ”
Acrion stared at me for a moment.