Chapter 30
“This is your new home,” Lyriasthe teased me as House R?viel’s manor rose out of the mist. Wide windows interspersed between the stucco walls allowed sweeping views of the lake. Smoke curled from chimneys, and through the glass I glimpsed a servant kneeling in front of a hearth, stoking the fire.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be a Herra,” I grumbled, drinking in the sight of the elegant house.
The structure was so different from the homes in the trees in the Es? Forest. Even different from the manors that dotted the lake country to the south.
“Besides, we’ll only be here a few days. ”
I glanced behind me at the group of Hatha islanders who rode at our backs, long spears in their hands. My new protectors. At my introduction, they’d remained at a respectful distance, even as they fell to their knees in adulation.
No touching.
No begging me to bless them.
Only impassioned expressions and fierce oaths to Chieftain Oshenai. Loyalty and devotion took many forms, and their respect was as pure as I’d ever witnessed. There was no need for possession with them, only attention.
Even as we passed through the gates, Vaeron lurked in my mind, like he didn’t quite trust what I would find upon my arrival. I was grateful that he’d sent me to rest—even if the prospect of being away from him also terrified me.
Phantom fingers still caressed my skin, keeping my shoulders locked close to my ears. Owning the title of Seraelth so that the blade of it couldn’t be turned against me was one thing; embodying it was another. Somehow, I had to accept it and wield it like I was my Sight.
Because I’d never let myself be powerless before Iaoth and Stadiel again.
We trotted down a long, wide path, raised beds on either side brimming with autumn blooms. Burnt reds, rust oranges, and buttery yellows twisted together, creating waves of heady floral scents that picked up with the breeze.
At the end, two females and one male waited, dressed in livery akin to what the servants at the palace wore.
On their breast pockets, the sigil of House R?viel flashed in the sun.
It was so familiar after I’d spent countless hours staring at the ring Vaeron had given me, wondering if I’d ever put it back on.
A stone settled in my gut. I’d lost the trunk in Vyss. With everything that had happened, I hadn’t thought about the important contents in it…
And now, even if one day I wanted to place it back on my middle finger, I couldn’t.
“Herra R?viel!” one of the females called out, stepping further into the light.
I pulled my horse to a stop. She tossed her head as I slid to the ground. Lyriasthe’s horse huffed like she was glad to be rid of her rider. The islanders, however, remained atop their mounts.
The servants swept into deep courtesies and bows. When the first straightened, she offered me a warm smile that crinkled her eyes at the corners. “At last. When I heard that Vaeron had a mate, I was so relieved.”
Relieved?
My face must have betrayed my inner question, because she let out a soft laugh. “I’ve served House R?viel since before he was born. I started as a kitchen maid, then a caretaker for the children, before finally reaching the coveted head housekeeper position.”
“I see,” I said, studying her again. Her clothes were finer than her companions’, and the belt on her skirt held a ring of keys.
She tutted, smacking herself on the forehead. “How silly of me, I forgot to introduce myself to you both. I’m Mayyal.”
“Hello, Mayyal,” Lyriasthe replied, dipping her head. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
She turned to my friend, gaze sweeping up and down her linen clothing tucked beneath a gray cloak. “And who might you be?”
“I’m Lyriasthe, Maelsar’s–” She cut herself off, shifting her weight. Because no one could know of their relationship—not yet anyway.
“She’s my best friend,” I jumped in, holding her gaze. “I couldn’t go anywhere without her.” Each word rang true.
She mouthed a thank you before facing Mayyal again.
“Well you two look exhausted. Let’s get you inside and fed. The journey from Sivy is long. Will your companions be joining us?” She looked past us to the Hathi warriors.
I turned toward them, clearing my throat. “Do you, uh, want to come inside?”
The leader of the islanders tightened his grip on his weapon. “We’ll ride the perimeter, then position ourselves around the manor to ensure all sightlines are covered. You rest, Seraelth. We will protect you.”
“Go in peace,” I said before my brain caught up with my mouth. I braced for a sharp intake of breath, a disdainful look from one of the servants. But none came.
Instead, Mayyal beckoned for Lyriasthe and me to follow her. With one last look at my guards, I entered the cool embrace of my mate’s childhood home.
“As I was saying, I know the children as well as any mother would. Though they aren’t children anymore, not really.
I wished I’d voiced my concern with Iaoth marrying Stadiel before she came of age, though I doubt the former Herr R?viel would have taken kindly to an attendant’s opinion. He was very traditional.”
Lyriasthe’s brows furrowed. My lips pressed into a firm line. Vaeron had spoken about how cruel their father had been to him. I loathed Iaoth and didn’t want to be told of how she’d suffered too.
“At least Vaeron found love. I still remember the sadness in his eyes the day of his mother’s funeral. His father was furious that Kissta R?viel’s favorite necklace was missing. His sour mood tainted the whole day.”
Mayyal prattled on, and I tried to absorb it all. Vaeron shared so little of himself. The details of this house were weapons I may need one day. But every step forward was a drag, my eyes heavy as boulders. All I could think about was lying down.
“And this,” she finally said, “is the Herr’s chambers.
” Throwing open twin doors carved with the R?viel motto, she revealed a sitting area with sweeping views of the lake.
Mahogany furniture dotted the space, with cushions softening the unforgiving wood.
It was nowhere near as opulent and gaudy as Thalvireth Palace.
In fact, the decor was elegant in its restraint.
Lyriasthe drifted to the windows, mouth parting as she drank in the panorama.
“What are you two hungry for? I’ll head to the kitchens straightaway,” Mayyal offered.
“Fish and vegetables?" I asked. It had been so long since we’d had a proper fresh meal, and I was craving anything other than gruel.
“Of course. Anything else?”
“Chocolate,” Lyriasthe said, shooting me a wink.
A grin twitched up the corners of my mouth. “Yes, if you have some, that would be amazing.”
“I’ll return shortly. You’ll find fresh linens in the bathing chamber in the meantime.” Mayyal dipped her head and backed out, closing the doors behind her.
With a groan, I sank onto one of the couches. Lyriasthe joined me, a yawn nearly unhinging her jaw. “Do you want to bathe first?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be quick,” I promised her. But I didn’t move.
She knocked her shoulder into mine. “Quick?”
“Ugh. But then I have to stand up again,” I huffed.
Lyriasthe shoved me harder, laughing.
“Fine, I’m going,” I grinned, staggering to my feet.
The sleeping room was decorated with a four-poster bed large enough to fit several Vaerons.
When was the last time he slept here?
The more I studied the space, the more it seemed…soulless. Empty. Barren of life. The bathing chamber too felt like no one had entered in centuries, save for the occasional cleaning.
Shaking off the odd feeling, I turned the taps for the tub, hot water splashing against the basin. Steam wafted as I stripped out of my dirty riding clothes and gathered soaps and oils. When it was half-full, I stepped in, hissing at the sudden warmth.
I was tired enough that I didn’t luxuriate in the feeling. Yet my thoughts lingered on my deception. Here I was, taking advantage of the luxuries my role offered me, while every person in this house could fall under a Demon blade one day because of me.
I scrubbed my skin pink and scalp nearly raw trying to remove all the grime. And guilt.
Fluffy bath sheets awaited me, and I wrapped one around my body and the other around my silvery hair. Using my forearm, I wiped away the condensation on the mirror, nearly jumping when haunted blue eyes met mine.
Is this really what I look like now?
A gauntness clung to me, angles of my face sharper, a hollowness in my cheeks. Purple bruised the undersides of my eyes. With shaking hands, I applied a cream to my face, hoping that would lessen some of the sallowness of my skin.
When I returned to the sleeping room, I found clean clothes waiting on the bed, far more conservative than what I’d worn in the heat of Sivy. Once I’d dressed, I rejoined Lyriasthe in the sitting chamber.
“Ah, just in time,” Mayyal said, picking her head up as she settled the last tray on the table.
My mouth watered at the sight of the spread. My body begged to race to the table and shovel every morsel into my mouth. I forced myself to approach at a reasonable pace, lest Mayyal think her new Herra uncultured. Lyriasthe spooned heaps of food onto her plate, not even looking in my direction.
“Thank you, Mayyal,” I said, taking my place across from my friend.
“If you need anything else, you only need to pull that rope.” She gestured to a braided fabric on the wall by the entry. “I’ll let you two rest now.”
With that, she disappeared, leaving us alone at last.
“You look better,” my friend commented around a mouthful of fish.
“I’ll feel even better once I have some of that,” I said, scooping a helping onto my plate. I snatched a fork and dug it into the flaky skin. The sauce was divine, and I nearly moaned as the flavor exploded across my tongue. “Goddess, it’s like I’ve never eaten before.”
Lyriasthe took a glug of purple wine. “I think you should leave me here when you go to the front. I don’t want to live on sticky oats anymore.”
A laugh choked out of me, and I forced myself to swallow the food down. “Not a chance. We have to suffer together.”
But if Vaeron knew the truth, he’d want me to stay here. Away from the risk to my life. And seeing all those soldiers at the academy…
It had been difficult to hold back the information I cradled close to my chest. The closer we marched to the wall, the more real the consequences of my actions became.
Neither of us spoke again until our bellies were full to bursting. I slumped back in my chair, eyes drifting closed. “We can enjoy the next few days so when we’re eating cold mash for the tenth day in a row, we’ll have something vivid to picture instead.”
“Little fugitive,” Vaeron appeared in my mind, his voice a rough velvet.
“Yes?”
“I’m afraid we’ll be delayed until late evening. Could you tell Mayyal to prepare food for us around the twenty-second hour?”
I cracked an eye, peeking at a large clock hung on the wall. The hands were fuzzy, and I blinked, trying to clear my vision.
“Why? Has something happened?”
“There are more here than I anticipated. Many are unhappy with their forced conscription, and–”
The rest of his words died as my spine locked straight. Air lodged in my throat as I tumbled into a new vision before I could shut him out of my mind.
A burgundy-eyed female stood on an uphill slope, sword in hand. Around her, Demons battled, carving into their attackers. Screams echoed in my ears, drowning out all other sounds.
Her gaze locked onto mine, and I ceased breathing.
One step.
Another.
I couldn’t move.
When she was close enough to reach out and touch, I realized that beneath the helm was the same female I’d Seen time and time again.
She raised her blade like she was going to strike me. Panic spiked in my veins. But I couldn’t do anything except watch it fall.
The sharp edge passed through me like I was smoke instead of flesh. A shout vibrated in my ears, and a different Angel crumpled at my feet, his eyes lifeless as they stared at the cloud-filled sky.
The Demon shot ahead, and I spun with her, dragged along in her wake.
Fearless and fierce, she fought for her realm. And around her were dozens of other females—Demon females.
Snow fell in soft contrast to the harshness of the battle that raged. Tall pines forced Angels and Demons to split apart as the Demon forces dug deeper into the mass of Angels.
Our enemies poured over the wall behind me, the sky streaking with black and white.
And the burgundy-eyed warrior never stopped.
With a gasp, I returned to the present. Lyriasthe was by my side already, and I jumped at the sight of her.
“Sorry,” she said, backstepping to give me some space.
My heart beat a staccato rhythm, and I dragged in rapid breaths, trying to ground myself and puzzle out what that glimpse meant.
The Halálhívó’s mate was the one leading the charge. Did that mean he’d died?
“Have you Seen that before?” Vaeron pressed into my mind.
Fuck.
“I…” Honestly, I didn’t know how to explain—if I wanted to reveal that lately, most of my visions had been about her. He still didn’t know that I’d deceived him and the monarchs when I’d revealed my original prophecy. “I’ve been Seeing her more and more.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
Damn him. If he got to use his words to evade me, I got to do the same.
“What were you saying about the soldiers?”
“Don’t change the subject.” His tone was glacial. “Do you know that location?”
“I don’t,” I forced out, a tremor in my voice. I kicked myself for not keeping my words smoother. Because I had Seen the divider between the realms that ran along the spine of Keleti more times than I ever wished.
Lyriasthe waved a hand in front of my face, and I held up a finger.
“It is the wall. Specifically, the Angel side,” Vaeron said, each word landing like careful steps. Like he was testing me for truth.
“I’ve never been.” Not a lie since I’d never had my boots on the stone. Yet with our bond wide open and panic cinching my ribs, the carefully constructed story I’d presented was crumbling.
Silence stretched between us, so long that I thought he’d disappeared into whatever he was trying to do.
“I’ll be there in two hours.”
Ice flooded my veins. He suspected something—had for a while. Mind to mind, I could lie to him if I was careful. I could cordon off the parts of my thoughts that housed the true prophecy.
With him in front of me…
Two hours was not long enough to prepare for the end of us.
He would find out that we were all going to die.
If not by my hand…
By my lie.