Chapter Twenty-Two
My life, and the rapidly evolving disaster it’s become, became worse at dinner. The entire temple buzzed with the recent rumors stemming from the castle.
The engagement between the Sovereign King and Tanila Grayflame of Vis has ended. And of course, temple members can’t help but speculate. Whispers behind hands, fleeting glances follow me through the halls of the temple.
It’s the hells all over again.
Despite the rumors, there’s been no official announcement. Nothing from the castle that sits across the courtyard to confirm or deny or explain the spectacle hundreds of people witnessed in the South Ward this afternoon. The silence only seems to have fueled theories and gossip.
I hate it.
Ducking into a shadowed corner of the gardens, I slip the glamouring ring onto my finger once again.
I can’t take it.
I can’t take the stares, the arched brows, the whispers.
Under the cover of the glamour, I can breathe. No one notices me, no one has anything to say.
The hardest part about all of this: reconciling the fact that Ryc is the Sovereign King. The pull, the draw, everything I felt for Ryc means I felt that for the Sovereign King. One of the males positioned to claim me in some quest for power in this cursed realm.
Reconciling the two halves of the whole—the strangely familiar and comfortable fae and the stoic and powerful Sovereign King—isn’t possible. The fae who’d seen me through the veil, that I’ve dreamed about for centuries, cannot be one of the Sovereign Kings.
But he is.
There’s no mistaking those molten gold eyes ringed with black.
If it hadn’t been for Camille, I would have offered him a contract tonight. I would have bound him to me for the rest of our lives. It would have been the perfect set up for him. I wouldn’t be able to escape him.
It’s not like there’s a realm separating us.
Gods, do I even still meet with him now, knowing what I know?
The moonstone in the pommel of the dagger glimmers in the sun in response as I emerge from the shadowed corner and I sigh. I have to return this gift. Keeping it is out of the question.
So, yes.
I still have to meet with him.
Lilith has done well to avoid me since our last meeting, but should I ever see her again…
“You’re going to force him to intervene,” Lilith’s warning chimes in my mind.
Is that what this has been? Him intervening?
I truly have not been the only one hunting.
Passing through the winding corridors from the gardens to dining hall doors, I push them open. A few faces turn in my direction, and on instinct I lower my gaze to the floor. They quickly lose interest and return to their conversations and meals.
Cora, Eve, Aenwyn, and Opal sit at the usual table, near the center of the room, engaged in conversation over their dinner—a pasta dish tonight, judging by what I can see.
I’m not sure I want to sit with them.
There’s too much on my mind for me to be good company. And I wouldn’t even bother eating if my stomach didn’t require it. No, I need to be alone. I need to process.
Wedging myself into the front of the line, I grab a bowl of pasta, sweep past to fetch a glass of water and silverware, and leave the dining hall—not caring about the stares or whispers.
Repercussions be damned.
Crossing the hall, I push open the doors and return to the quiet of the gardens. The sky is ablaze with the orange, red, pinks, and yellows of the sunset. A breathtaking sight I can’t be bothered to admire because my thoughts linger on Ryc and the mess I’ve created.
The gardens lie mostly empty, and I claim a seat at a small stone table in the northwestern corner.
Heaving a sigh, I settle in and mindlessly eat.
It’s a strange concoction of beef, vegetables, and lentils in a tomato sauce—spiced poorly.
Having learned my lesson letting meals go cold, I force myself to eat while it’s still hot.
Eve seats herself next to me, an apple and knife in one hand, a half empty glass of water in the other. She folds a leg under her as she sits on the bench, and setting her glass down, begins to cut away at her apple.
“You wear a face,” she says casually, her eyes raking over me.
Judging my glamour, I assume.
I chuckle, pulling my hair over a shoulder. It’s jet black. That, in tandem with Eve’s recognition, tells me I wear the same appearance as the other day at The Lioness.
“As do you.” I crack a small smile.
Eve laughs, her smile brightening her eyes. “No, as in you’re making a face.”
Again, I’m reminded of Vaelyn.
“You have that look about you, Ves.” I can hear his voice.
Chuckling as I stab at the pasta with my fork, I nod. “My mind is heavily occupied by today and I couldn’t take the stares anymore.”
She nods slowly, throwing me a glance. “The temple is divided.” She pops a sliver of apple into her mouth. “There are those who think he ended it because of you, and those who think she ended it because of you.”
I scoff a laugh. Either way, I’m in the middle of their speculation. Amazing.
“It doesn’t matter.” I push my barely eaten bowl of pasta away. If I continue to eat, I’m going to make myself sick.
“You’re right,” she says through her chewing. She swallows. “But, even so, he hasn’t made any decrees for Artemise to turn you over.”
“He doesn’t have to.” The words tumble from me before I can stop myself and her eyes narrow.
I purse my lips into a tight line.
She stares at me, a firm stare of expectation, waiting for me to explain.
“Ryc is the Sovereign King.” And gods do the words sound as impossible aloud as they do in my head.
“You’re fucking joking.” The flatness of her voice matches her expression, but it quickly transforms into bewildered anger. “What in the fuck is the Sovereign King doing in The Lioness? Why would you accept a gift from him? What in the hells are you going to do now?”
The onslaught of questions continues as I stare at the bowl of pasta, unable to meet her gaze.
“He’s been following me since the night of my arrival,” I answer, heaving a sigh. “The night of Celesta’s ascension ceremony, the night of the induction, the morning in the Twilight Mire, then The Lioness, the North Docks, today…” I trail off. “He’s found me every time I’ve left the temple.”
“And you had no idea?”
“None.” Our gazes meet. “Lilith played her role well. I assumed he was her guard. Please spare me your ire, I assure you, my self-loathing is sharper.”
Eve draws in a deep breath, nodding.
“Okay. Okay, we can still salvage this,” Eve says with a confidence I don’t share.
“I don’t think we can,” I say, smiling weakly. “There’s more.”
Setting her knife down on the table, Eve rubs her brow.
“I’m not sure I can handle more, Ves.”
Fair.
I don’t want to handle it either.
Instead, I say, “He is the mortal who saw me through the veil centuries ago. I’ve dreamt of him countless times. I’m drawn to him for reasons I can’t explain or understand.”
Eve begins to cough, nearly choking on her apple. She reaches for her water and takes a hefty drink, clearing her throat afterward.
“Good evening, ladies,” Lilith’s twinkling voice greets as she seats herself beside Eve.
My jaw clenches as my fingers tighten around my glass of water. Instinctively, my thumb runs over the silver band around my little finger, ensuring it’s still securely in place.
“I hope you don’t mind if I join you,” she says, smiling. “I’m looking to find Ves.” She adjusts her dark blue robes.
If she’s here and in her robes, Artemise must have called another council meeting. I imagine I was the reason for that.
“You’re welcome to do as you please, Lilith,” Eve says, her tone unamused as she finishes the last of her water.
“Have you seen her?” she asks in a casual tone, glancing about the garden. “I heard she had quite the afternoon.”
Eve scoffs, turning her attention to her apple. “Artemise has her currently.” The lie rolls so smoothly off Eve’s tongue, even I feel inclined to believe her.
“Ah, yes,” Lilith laughs, nodding. “Artemise will want to keep her under lock and key. But it’s pointless to do so.”
My brows furrow, but I keep myself focused on the glass in my hands. I turn it, feeling the drag of the glass against the stone. The surface of the water ripples with the motion.
“I imagine it will be difficult for her to leave the temple now,” Lilith continues in chipper tones. “But I’m confident she’ll find a way.”
“Cut the shit, Lilith,” Eve snaps, her ice blue eyes fierce. “What do you want with Ves?”
Lilith’s eyes widen as does her smile.
She lifts her glass to her lips before saying, “The Sovereign King appreciates everything you’ve done for her. He admires your dedication to her as her guard. Her safety is important.”
Eve laughs, a dark, bitter sound. “Yes, because his interest in Ves is purely out of the kindness of his heart,” Eve counters with a curled lip and Lilith’s dark brows rise.
“I think in due time, you’ll come to understand the exact nature of his interest in her,” Lilith counters with a shining smile, her tone playful.
“Strange, I don’t see him here.” Eve glances around. “He sends you in his stead.”
Lilith laughs.
“You think he hasn’t tried?” She lowers her glass, an amused gleam in her eyes. “He’s appealed to Artemise several times to arrange a meeting over the last week. Artemise has declined all his requests.”
My breath hitches in my chest.
Ryc has tried to meet with me?
Artemise has never said anything. I had no idea.
“And rightfully so considering the rumors of the hour,” Eve retorts, slicing another piece of her apple.
Lilith’s laughter is musical. “Are you referring to the engagement Tanila ended? The king was ready to honor his word, but things have come to light that cannot be denied. Let’s just say Ryc is now free to step into his role as Ves’ guardian.”
Guardian?
What in the nine hells does that mean?
Does he know I want to offer him a contract?
How?
Lilith stands from her seat, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“When Artemise finally releases Ves, please tell her to visit the Twilight Mire tonight,” Lilith says softly.
“There’s a beautiful rooftop vista near the river; it’s the only three-story building on the block.
It’s one of the best locations in the city for stargazing.
Something I’ve been told she would appreciate. ”
Giving Eve a wink, Lilith leaves, crimson hair and dark robes billowing behind her. Eve stares after her, shaking her head.
“Absolutely touched by madness,” she scoffs, shoving another apple slice into her mouth.
“He wants to meet tonight,” I say quietly, mostly to myself. I can’t bring myself to look at Eve and, instead, watch a flock of pigeons land on the roof nearby.
“You got that,” she furrows her brows, “from that?” She juts a thumb in the general direction of where Lilith had gone.
With a small laugh, I nod.
“Are you going to go? If Artemise catches you…” she trails off, the warning in her voice clear.
“I have to.”
Not only to return the dagger, but because I’m a foolish, selfish creature who wants to see this fae. I want to meet him. I have questions.
I know one thing for sure.
I’m bound to lose this game of chess against the gods.