C H A P T E R T W E N T Y – N I N E
C H A P T E R T W E N T Y – N I N E
Altair
A ll I have thought about for two days is that kiss.
And the fact that yet another person has tried to take her life underneath my roof. The tension in my body still hasn’t faded.
I haven’t broached the subject, but her spirits seem lifted lately, so there a glimmer of hope in my heart that it didn’t traumatise her. That she could be… happy.
I sit at my desk, running a hand through my hair, trying to gather my thoughts. But they keep circling back to Olwyn.
I need to tell her soon about Atha. That those trying to kill her are not doing so simply because she married me.
It terrifies me that she might not even choose me when she knows everything.
I clench my fists at my sides, forcing the thought away. If she chooses to leave... if that’s what she wants... I’d have to accept it.
But the thought alone... it’s like swallowing glass. Because I am falling so hard and fast. It’s almost an impossibility at this point not to.
And I don’t think I could let her return to Avantra.
Before I can think on it any longer, I hear the soft click of the training room door opening behind me. I don’t need to turn to know who it is.
“Iolas,” I say, my voice tight.
I hear his footsteps approach. He’s not rushing, but there’s a heaviness to the way he walks, like there’s something weighing on him. He stops just behind me, and I turn to face him, expecting the usual teasing grin, the light-hearted banter. But there’s none of that.
His brow is furrowed, his jaw set, and for a moment, I start to pani c? —until I see it is frustration and not concern that is set on his face.
“So,” he begins, his voice low and steady, “you’re taking her outside the palace.”
I nod, watching him closely. I should have told him my plans. There’s something in the way he’s holding himself, something tense and coiled. “I am. She needs to see it. Words won’t be enough to change her mind.”
Iolas crosses his arms, his eyes darkening slightly as he stares at me. “You really think that’s wise? Taking her out there? It’s going to be a huge shock to her system seeing humans and vampires living peacefully together. Are you prepared for her to realise that you weren’t lying when you told her that her whole life in Avantra was a lie? To react to that. What if she loses control of her powers?”
My jaw clenches at his words. I know he’s right. Olwyn still doesn’t know the full truth, not about the world outside these walls. But there’s no other way. I can’t just tell her—she must see it for herself. She has to understand.
And that’s why I’ve waited so long to introduce her to such a different world. I wanted to ease her into it, but our timeline needs to be brought up. I know it’s a risk, but it needs to be done.
“She must see what’s out there, Iolas. If we keep her locked in this palace, feeding her bits and pieces of information like a prisoner, she’ll never trust me. She’ll never believe any of it. We need to show her. Change her perspective through action. It’ll make her stronger for when she learns about Atha.”
He growls. “Fucking bitch.” Iolas’s gaze roams over my scarred eye for a split second, before glancing away. He lets out a breath, and for a moment, I see the hesitation in his face. Iolas has always been protective of Olwyn—ever since we brought her here. His loyalty to me is unwavering, but when it comes to Olwyn... there’s something different. Something personal.
“I’ll be there to protect her,” he says, his voice firmer now. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
I shake my head, meeting his gaze. “It will just be me and Olwyn.”
He blinks, taken aback. “What?”
“There can’t be an escort. No guards. No added attention.” I say it firmly, making it clear there’s no room for negotiation. “If we show up with an entourage, it’ll draw eyes. And that’s something we can’t afford. Not with the tension in the air. Not with Casius’s visit nearing.”
Iolas’s brows knit together, a flicker of concern passing over his face. “You’re sure about this?” he asks, voice low, but I can tell he already knows my answer.
I exhale slowly, my gaze shifting toward the window where the first shadows of dusk are beginning to creep in. “Yes. If word gets out that we’re visiting, Atha won’t need to search for us. We’d be handing her our location on a silver platter. And you know how quickly information spreads in the villages. A single rumour, a sighting from a wary bystander—it's all she’d need.”
Iolas nods, but his jaw tightens, the muscle there flexing as if he’s biting back a warning. He’s right to worry; every step beyond the palace walls comes with its own risks, especially now. But this is the only way.
“You’re putting a lot of trust in her.” Iolas says.
“I have to,” I say simply. “She’s putting a lot in me.”
He doesn’t respond right away, but I can see the tension in his posture, the way his shoulders are tight, the way his jaw works like he’s holding something back.
“You care about her,” I say. It’s not a question. It’s a statement, one that hangs heavy in the air between us.
He meets my gaze, his expression unreadable. “Of course I do. But you know that already.”
“No, I mean…” I hesitate, my brow furrowing as he looks away. “You care about her more than that, don’t you?”
He doesn’t answer, and I know it’s for my benefit, but I can’t help but notice the way his eyes lighten. And for the first time in a long while, I feel a pang of jealousy twist in my chest. Iolas has always been close to her, closer than anyone else in the palace. They share a bond, an easy friendship that comes naturally to them. He’s the easy choice for her—safe, reliable, familiar.
I take a breath, forcing myself to look away for a moment.
Because I may be her husband. But I was never her choice. And I’ve never been the source of that ease. That simplicity. I’ve been the disruptor, the unfamiliar path. And as much as it claws at me to admit, I can see the way she trusts him, the way she reaches for him instinctively. It’s not just habit; it’s something deeper, something that makes my chest tighten with an ache I wish I could ignore.
“She cares for you, you know,” I say finally, my voice steady but quieter, like speaking too loudly might break the fragile truth between us. “More than she realises.”
Iolas blinks, clearly taken aback by my words. “Al—”
“It’s all right,” I cut him off, my tone firm. “I just want her to be happy.”
I married her to keep her safe. To prevent Casius from trying to claim her himself when he found out she had been found. Vampire marriages are sacred, a bond that offers protection and power to the one who stands by your side. I thought, by making her my queen, I could shield her from the dangers surrounding us, offering her a place of safety in a world that would otherwise see her as prey.
But Iolas is more than capable of keeping her safe too. After all this is done.
For a moment, there’s silence between us, my words settling like stones. Iolas’s jaw works, his eyes flicking away from me as he struggles with whatever’s brewing in his mind. And then, finally, he speaks again.
“I care about her,” he says quietly, his voice softer now. “She’s... we’ve become close. But I see the way she looks at you, and… you’re my best friend, Al. I trust you. I trust that you’ll keep her safe.” He trails off.
I nod, understanding what he’s not saying. There’s no jealousy between us, not really. But there’s something else, something simmering beneath the surface. Iolas knows me better than anyone, but Olwyn... She's different. She’s the one thing we’ve both been drawn to in ways we haven’t fully understood yet.
“I won’t let anything happen to her,” I promise, my voice low but steady.
Iolas holds my gaze for a moment longer, then nods, his expression softening. “I know. Just... be careful.”
“I will.”
Iolas knows, just as I do, that this situation with Olwyn is more complicated than either of us expected. But I trust him. I trust that he’ll stand by me, no matter what.
And as for Olwyn... I’ll let her make her choice. Whatever that may be.
Even if it means watching her walk away from me.
Because her happiness and safety at the end of this is all that matters.