Chapter Thirty-One
The closed doors at the end of the hall have to be symbolic of something—some message I’m meant to understand but don’t. Or maybe I’m doing my best to avoid its meaning.
This decision I’ve made, it doesn’t follow logic. It follows a longing, a yearning—and emotional decisions are the worst kind, this I already know. As the war between my heart and my mind worsens with each step, the pit in my stomach grows larger.
Heartbreak will come, and I’ll only have myself to blame.
As if Ryc could feel me warring with myself, he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. A warm, living reminder I’m not alone and I’ve chosen not to be. Lifting my face, he’s staring down at me, a small smile on his face.
Two royal guard, both fae, stand at the end of the hall.
They step forward, grabbing the large wooden doors, and swing them open. I don’t know what I’d expected, but it wasn’t the quaint scene they reveal with a total of six guests relaxing by the grand fireplace.
In the lounge space beside the fire, a few sit in the matching plush settee and chairs. Others stand next to the fireplace, engaged in conversations too low for me to hear. Lilith’s laughter rings out, followed by the laughter of the blond male I don’t recognize standing near her.
She’s seated on the couch end closest to the fireplace and he leans against the mantle, a glass of wine in hand. Eve sits next to Lilith and while she smiles along with Lilith and the blond, it’s not as heartfelt.
A mask, I quickly realize.
Before I allow guilt to consume me, I swing my attention away from her.
Across from them, on another couch, sit Tanila and a male fae with dark brown hair.
The two possess many similar features, leading me to believe the male is none other than her father, Rowen Grayflame, the Sovereign King of Vis.
It quickly comes to my attention that Tanila watches me with a level of scrutiny obvious of a female spurned.
This is going to be an uncomfortable exchange, I can tell already.
It’s the unknown male whose face shifts—the blond with Lilith—seeing Ryc and I first as we enter the room. His ocean blue eyes meet mine briefly before darting to Ryc as he straightens himself.
The others take notice, their heads turning in our direction as they rise from their seats. Lilith’s face beams with excitement as she watches us cross the room. She shoots me a wink, or at least, I think it was a wink? Each encounter I’ve had with Lilith has proven more strange than the last.
Eve, on the other hand, contrasts Lilith.
Her expression is more reserved, her ice blue eyes pin against Ryc beside me. She’s watching Ryc closely, and it’s then I remember Ryc is the reason Eve went into Celesta’s service. She folds her arms over her chest, her lack of temple robes becoming evident.
My brows furrow. She dons a set of black fighting leathers over black clothing, appearing more like a mercenary than one of Celesta’s devoted.
Where are her robes?
“Good evening,” Ryc greets, his tone warm. “Thank you for joining Ves and I tonight. While I understand the circumstances for this meeting are somewhat tense for more than a few of us, I hope you’ll enjoy the evening all the same.”
My first real glimpse of the kingly version of Ryc causes me to draw a deep breath.
We all have roles to fill, it would be unfair to expect Ryc to be any different.
Almost immediately, the blond fae male peels himself from the mantle of the fireplace to approach.
The smile on his face is nothing short of dazzling.
Good gods, he is a mountain of a fae.
He towers over me by at least two and a half feet, Ryc by at least one.
There has to be demon blood in his family line somewhere.
Fae are tall, but not this tall.
“Ryc,” he greets, and his smile broadens, flashing his fanged canines. “I’m glad to see Ves has made a full recovery.” His attention turns to me, and I’ve never seen eyes so blue.
They remind me of the deep waters of Kevus Lake on a clear day.
He continues speaking, “You’ve made a mess of this male, he’s been damn near insufferable. The castle on lock down, increased guards, the healer needed to be searched before he was allowed to see you…”
“As if you wouldn’t do the same were our roles reversed,” Ryc laughs lightheartedly.
“Nah, friend, you’re mistaken,” the male counters playfully, his smile turning wicked. “I’d be worse.”
Both he and Ryc begin to laugh.
“Ves, this is Fenryn, Sovereign King of Sol,” Ryc says gesturing in the male’s direction, and Fenryn bows. A pleasantry I don’t return. “Fenryn and I have known one another for centuries.”
I may not have as impressive a memory as Ylara, but I believe Cora mentioned something about this Sovereign King. I just can’t remember what.
“What he fails to tell you is I’ve tolerated him for centuries.” Fenryn chuckles and sips heartily from his wine. “Broodiest damn fae I’ve ever met.”
Arching a brow, I can already tell I’m going to like Fenryn.
It’s strange to hear Ryc described as brooding when all I’ve seen from him are smiles, laughter, and light.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Fenryn says in more serious tones, the smile he flashes prompts me to smile in return.
Lilith links her arm through mine as she walks up beside me. “Forgive us Sovereign Kings, but I cannot allow you to bore Ves to death with politics. Or scare her with stories of your impish behaviors.”
Leaving no time for a response, Lilith turns, pulling me away from Ryc. She leads me through a door to the right of the fireplace, out onto a balcony that overlooks a garden similar to that of the temple, but significantly smaller.
“Take all the time you want,” she says quietly. “Let me know if you need anything, Ves. We’re all here for you. For Eve, too.”
I open my mouth to speak, but she withdraws her arm from mine and nudges me forward. She retreats into the castle, closing the door behind her without another word.
Confused, I turn and find Eve standing at the far end of the balcony, looking over the garden.
“Eve,” I breathe, rushing toward her.
She turns in time for me to throw myself at her, slinging my arms around her neck. Catching me, she stumbles back a step, bracing herself against the railing. She wraps her arms tight about my waist, and she buries her face beside mine.
“I’m so glad you’re alright,” she breathes, clutching me.
All the emotions I’d tucked away during the bath pour out of the darkness upon hearing Eve’s voice. The feeble mask I’d built falls, and I bare myself to her.
“I’m so sorry.” My voice breaks and tears fall, likely ruining Oraphia’s work on my face, but I don’t care. “I tried—I tried to get to her, I tried to stop him—”
Eve’s chest heaves and she crushes herself against me.
She continues to tremble, fighting against the sobs that begin to rake through her. After a moment, she sucks in a deep breath, an attempt to collect herself.
Her mask is as fragile as mine.
Pulling back, she clasps her hands on my shoulders, locking onto my stare.
“I can’t,” she manages softly, silver tears rimming her eyes. “Not right now. I need to focus on anything but her, for my own sanity.”
Wide-eyed, I stare at her through my tears.
My jaw tightens as I nod weakly, forcing myself to shove all the messiness that had tumbled free into a small little box to be set beside a dozen others. I can understand, respect even, her desire to not process things right now.
Gods know I’ve done the same.
Get through the mess, the demands, the requirements first, then contend with yourself.
“Look at you.” She smiles meagerly, sniffling. “This isn’t the Ves I know.” She looks me over from head to toe.
Scoffing a laugh, I reply, “She looks like the Ves I’ve long forgotten.”
She reaches, gently wiping away a tear from my chin.
“You don’t look like the Eve I know.” I give her a weak smile.
“A fine pair of strangers we’ve become,” She halfheartedly teases.
With a chuckle and a downward glance at her own attire, she releases a sigh. I feel the tired sadness of the sound in my bones.
“Artemise removed me from temple service,” she says. “You find me as the most recent hire of the Sovereign King. You’re looking at your own personal guard.”
My eyes shoot wide.
“What?”
“Artemise dismissed me following the attack.” She releases me and tears her gaze from mine to turn, facing the garden.
She leans against the stone banister, pitching herself to rest on her forearms. I step in beside her, letting my hands fall upon the cool stone that separates me from a two-story fall into the flowers below.
“She blames Druka for not warning about the harpies or the archdemon,” she scoffs bitterly. “Druka had no idea. Not until it was too late, at least.”
“Eve, I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be.” She shrugs off my words, hiding away her pain and hurt. “I’ve never been the most devout of Celesta’s followers. How I made it to Priestess is beyond me. Cora—” Her voice trembles, and she looks down. “I blame Cora.”
She cracks the knuckles on her hands, shifting her weight. “I’m glad I got to de-wing and decapitate that fuck.” Her tone hardens. “I would have loved to sink the dagger into his chest myself, but your Sovereign King beat me to it.”
He’s not my Sovereign King.
But… he is bound to me, making him mine in the most demonic sense.
I sigh, unsure how to respond to Eve.
“Lilith told him about Artemise’s decision to dismiss me, and he sought me out. I was staying at The Lioness.”
She’s making it sound like days have passed.
Confused, I ask, “How long has it been?”
In my mind, everything happened last night.
“The attack happened two nights ago,” she answers, her voice quiet, barely audible over the birds in the garden.
I blink. A few times.
“Two nights ago?”
“Ves, your injuries were some of the worst I’ve ever seen.” Eve shifts, giving me an incredulous stare. “The hellfire burns alone would have been enough to kill a human—”
Her own words stop her short and she swallows hard, taking a deep breath to try again.