15. Chapter Fifteen
When Eero approached me, his face fell.
Lyra had tucked herself somewhere far off after I shooed her away, knowing that Eero would—well, knowing that Eero would do precisely what he was doing right now.
He grazed a thumb across my raw, red cheek. “I will tear her straggly little blonde strands right out of her scalp—”
I grimaced. “You cannot look me in the face and say I wouldn’t be worse for wear should Lyra have been a real soldier out to get me.”
Eero’s mouth clamped shut, and he let his hand slip back to his side. I could see the fumes misting off him, but he turned his head toward one of the accompanying rebels and said, “Put Lyra on the midnight shift tonight. I don’t want her getting a wink of sleep.”
Though he furrowed his eyebrows, he nodded and bowed before dismissing himself to find her. I cleared my throat. “That may not be the wisest idea.” When Eero returned his attention to me, I smiled weakly. “I’ll be returning at dawn.”
“Aurelie—”
“You said you wanted me to train, correct?”
He paused. “I did.”
“Then that is what I will do. I made a promise to Queen Evangeline, and whether we get our answers or not, I will at least come out a bit stronger. Smarter. Isn’t that worth some bruises and early mornings in the end?”
Although his gaze hardened on me, he nodded. I took his hand in mine and pressed a kiss to it. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest before he said, “She’ll still take guard tonight. Nobody lays a finger on you without remorse in the end.”
When I smiled up at him softly, my eyes radiating the warmth that exuded off him, a string of loud curses echoed throughout the camp. I wondered if this glamour did much to conceal the sounds, but something told me Lyra had just been given her next duty.
Eero grinned.
Sapphire had returned, nestled into a cushioned chair with a book in hand. Casynox slowed, and when I glanced at him, his eyes narrowed on her. I peeked at her and realized the twitch in her thumb as it rested against the back cover.
Eero smacked a hand on Cas’ shoulder, nudging him away. They disappeared into the study, and I walked over to her. At first, all I did was lounge on the loveseat nearest her and pick at some of the fuzz. There was a soft, subtle crackle in the fireplace across from us, but otherwise, the flick of every page consumed the silence. I eyed the red leather engraved with silver foil text.
“What are you reading?”
Sapphire glanced at me. “Currently, I’m studying the torture methods utilized throughout the various eras. Mortal and fae.”
I nearly choked on my own breath. “How fitting,” I squeaked as I swallowed the laugh bubbling in my throat. “I’m certain that would be useful to know in times of war.”
“It’s rather useful in our daily lives, too,” she said with another turn of the page. “You never know when you need to extract information…or get some revenge.”
I stood slowly, holding my hands up in defense when she hardened her piercing, crimson glare. “Hear me out, Sapphire,” I muttered before latching my fingers onto the top edge of the book and pulling it free of her tight hold. “You put this down for the night and occupy yourself with something healthier than…”
I turned the book over and read a few of the sentences, my face turning red.
“Healthier than castration.”
“I think that’s a perfectly healthy solution to my problem,” she said, reaching for the book, but I held it out of reach and tutted.
“I would beg to differ. Will you tell me what happened while you were away, or do I need to guess?”
Sapphire’s lips smacked shut, and she flared her nostrils, her face turning redder than the leather of this book. “Have you always been so nosy, Aurelie?”
“I have,” I said with a smirk. “You can ask Eero. So, go on. Tell me.”
She nestled back into her chair and crossed her arms. I returned to the loveseat and tucked the book behind a pillow beside me—for safekeeping. Sapphire eyed it a moment before sighing. “Well, Evander had grown tired of his mother’s tantrums long before we arrived to face Julius’ judgment. She’d been complaining about his presence for days, so when you and Eero had arrived to speak on it, he pulled me away for a…date.”
“A date?”
“A date,” she snapped and nodded. “A proper one, really. The guards didn’t even follow us, which is rare as the heir. It was quaint.”
“And you’re upset?”
“Enraged, actually,” she said, tapping her finger against the arm crossed over her chest. “Because it wasn’t meant for me.”
I frowned and tucked my feet under my legs after ridding them of my boots. “No…”
“Yes,” she hissed. “There’s some princess from the Autumn Court. Can you believe it? Autumn. It’s appalling, truly.”
“I’m surprised a man like Jeniathan has any daughters to begin with.”
Sapphire scoffed in agreement and twisted to face me. “She was supposed to meet him for an early dinner. She’d traveled by carriage for days. He hadn’t expected her until this evening, but she had arrived early. Bright and early in the morning, to be exact.”
I cocked my head. Something was laced in her tone, and her face got redder by the second. “What happened next?”
“What do you think?” she said, lunging onto her feet and pacing. “She ignored all the guards. Every one of them! Sauntered right into his room as if she’d been intimate with it before—as if she owned the castle. She’s lucky I didn’t burn the entire room in a rage.”
“I’m sorry, Saph,” I said quietly and stood. She brought her long nails to her teeth and chewed on them nervously. I’d grown to quite enjoy her company. She was fun, wise…albeit a bit dark, but if I ever caught Eero acting that way, I’d think about castration as well.
“I’m his mate, yet I’m treated like a second-class citizen. The queen had me escorted out when I started a scene. I don’t think they quite understand what I would have done if I was naiver and less patient.”
“Did he have anything to say for himself?” I asked as I rubbed her back. When Sapphire turned to look me in the eyes, my breath caught in my throat. Crimson irises burned into my head, akin to Yenira—a reminder of a friend I didn’t know. Sapphire was nothing like Yenira, outside of the shape of their face and the color of their eyes, but I couldn’t help but compare them when I had nothing to distract me from my sunken, sorrowful memories.
Nothing stung more than realizing you knew nothing about the people you once considered friends. Lovers. Family.
“What could he say, Aurelie?” When she smiled, the sadness crept along her face like a haunting melody of acceptance, defeat, and denial, all in one go. “He has made choices that will always speak louder than any sour excuse or apology he can muster.”
I let my hand fall to my side after she nodded once and turned, walking toward her room. I cuffed my hand around my wrist and picked at the threads sticking out of the tunic. I ached for her—but there wasn’t anything I could do.
Evander had made his choice, as she said. Sapphire was beautiful and intelligent. I just hoped it didn’t get to her. In the end, we all knew she deserved somebody who appreciated her for the good and bad, the dark and funny. Sapphire was a complex creature with a history so twisted, I doubted I’d ever get the whole story, but what I did know of her was good. It pained me at times how she often resembled the person I considered to be a sister, but I couldn’t let it get to me. After all, I don’t know where I’d be today without Sapphire’s help.