C H A P T E R E L E V E N
I hated to leave. But I had to before she saw the monster.
C H A P T E R E L E V E N
Olwyn
I olas, his face tight with concern, leads me down to the small infirmary room tucked away on the lower level of the palace.
The air here is cool and still, a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier. The walls are a sterile white, and everything about the room feels too calm, too clean for the bruises and panic still pulsing through me. Shelves stocked with jars and vials line the walls, and a large wooden table holds an array of medical supplies.
I’m still catching my breath when we find Ailith already waiting, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed like she’s been expecting us.
I sit on the edge of the bed as Iolas tells her what happened, my hands gripping the crisp linens. They feel too fresh, too pristine against the violence I’ve just faced.
Without a word in response, she gives me a quick once-over, her sharp eyes lingering on the bruises already forming along my neck and arms.
“You can go,” she tells Iolas with a casual wave, not even sparing him a glance.
Iolas hesitates, his jaw tightening. I can tell he doesn’t want to leave, his eyes flickering with something like regret. But Ailith’s tone doesn’t leave room for debate. He presses his lips together, gives me one last look, and then turns to leave—probably to find Altair.
As soon as the door clicks shut, Ailith steps forward, her movements efficient, businesslike. She dips her fingers into a jar of salve, rubbing it into my neck with the same clinical precision as someone polishing a sword. Her touch is firm but not painful, and the cooling sensation of the salve soothes the bruised skin.
“Let me guess,” she says, her voice flat as she works. “Didn’t see him until it was too late?”
I wince as her fingers press into a particularly tender spot. “Yes,” I mutter.
“Thought so.” Her red eyes narrow, not in sympathy but in scrutiny. “What the hell happened?”
“You already know.” I can’t help the sharpness in my voice. Iolas had updated her the moment we walked in.
“I know what he said,” she replies, her tone dry. “But I want to hear it from you .”
There’s something about her directness, her blunt, no-bullshit approach, that makes it impossible to evade her questions. I sigh, feeling the weight of her stare, and recount the attack. “I didn’t see him right away,” I admit. “He was fast, and I think I tried to defend myself, but…”
Ailith raises a brow, her hands never slowing. “ Tried isn’t good enough, sweetheart. Focus. What did you do?”
Her interruption is firm but not unkind, pushing me to think, to relive it more clearly. I close my eyes and force the words out. “He grabbed me before I could react. I fought back, but he was stronger. I hurt him, but… not enough.”
She hums under her breath, applying more salve to my neck, her fingers moving to my shoulders. “And how are you feeling now?”
I let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t know,” I admit, the words spilling out in a rush before I can stop them. “Angry. Confused. He was human, so I’m assuming my own kind are less than happy about my union with Altair. But I never thought they’d try and kill me for it.”
Ailith steps back for a moment, considering me, her sharp gaze softening ever so slightly. “There’s always a reason,” she says, her voice a bit quieter now. “It might not be clear yet, but Altair will figure it out. There’s always a motive behind these kinds of attacks. Always.”
“Do you think it’s random?” I ask, biting the inside of my cheek. “Or do I need to worry about a larger group?”
Ailith meets my gaze, her expression unreadable. “Maybe. Maybe not. Could be an isolated attack. Could be someone else with their own agenda. You’re in a dangerous world now, girl. People will want to use you, manipulate you.”
Frustration surges in my chest, hot and relentless. I clench my fists until my nails dig into my palms. “Why me? All because of a prophecy I never asked for. A power I don’t even understand. I’ve been locked away, hunted, captured, and forced into a marriage that wasn’t my choice—all for what? I’m tired of being a pawn, of being controlled by something that’s dictated my life since the moment I was born.”
My voice rises, shaking with rage as I stare Ailith down. “If this is what they want, then let them come. I won’t stand by and let anyone decide my fate anymore.”
Ailith finishes with the salve and steps back, wiping her hands on a cloth. Her gaze is steady, unflinching. “Maybe it’s that prophecy, maybe it’s your union with Altair, or maybe it’s something entirely different. It doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that you don’t let this break you. You stood your ground today, and that’s more than most would dare.”
I let out a hollow laugh, the sound bitter and raw. “Then why does it feel like I’ve already lost?”
Ailith’s eyes harden, and she leans forward. “Because you didn’t finish him.”
The bluntness of her words makes me flinch. “I didn’t—”
“No,” she interrupts, her voice edged with steel. “And that’s fine—for now. But next time? You’ll be ready. You’ll be faster, stronger, and willing to do whatever it takes. Because you’ll need to be.”
Anger flickers beneath my skin, coiling tight with frustration. I stare at her, absorbing the truth in her words even as part of me resists it. “I don’t know if I have that in me,” I say, my voice thick with doubt.
Ailith’s expression softens just enough to show a glimmer of understanding. “You do. You’re more than just a pawn, Olwyn. But if you don’t fight, if you don’t become who you need to be, they’ll tear you apart. And I’m not just talking about today’s attackers or the lords circling like vultures. I mean everyone.”
Her words settle into me like a heavy weight, harsh but true. I draw in a breath, feeling something shift inside me—a resolve born from rage and exhaustion. I nod, this time with more conviction.
Ailith’s lips quirk into a smirk. “Good. But don’t thank me yet. You’ve still got a long way to go. And I’ll make sure you survive long enough to finish what you start.”