Chapter 21
Creatures continued to pour from the rift over the next few weeks. A battalion went out every morning and when they returned in the evening, another was sent to continue their work. The kingdom was on high alert. No one was allowed beyond the city borders to prevent any civilian casualties.
Gaelin was preoccupied with the continual threats, which I was thankful for. It prevented any real alone time between us. Though we slept in the same bed, I was not ready to venture deeper. Levos and Madison became my constants. I continued to help the human servants anyway I could, though I never felt like I was doing enough.
The king continued to display unusual behavior that made everyone begin to question his judgment. A few of the humans even began to call him the Mad King. He would have random unprovoked outbursts during meals. He would strike anyone who was near him. He even beat his chambermaid so badly she was bedridden for a week.
He took me whenever Gaelin failed to kill or capture the creatures they were hunting. This sent Gaelin into a downward spiral. He would stay out in the woods long after his infantry had returned home. He was barely eating or sleeping, afraid for my well-being.
Every time the king took me against my will, a little part of me died. I didn’t know how much a person could give until there was nothing left, but I was afraid I was about to find out. When I would return to Gaelin’s room, he would just look at me as if I was a different person. I guess, in a way, I was.
We fell into the routine of ignoring what was happening to me. Gaelin would always ask if I needed anything from him, but this kind of torture was the type that I had to keep to myself. If I confided in him about my experiences, I was afraid he would break. It was better that I handled this on my own. Avoidance worked most days, but when the reality of my situation would come crashing into focus, I found myself huddling in a corner, screaming, and crying as I lost control.
Levos’s room became my haven. When I was about to have a breakdown, I would hide out there, knowing no one would bother me or come looking for me. Levos would hold me until the tremors stopped, but I knew my pain was wearing on my friend. He had to be there for both Madison and me when one of us was taken against our wishes.
The day before the wedding, Gaelin was a mess. He wouldn’t talk, eat, sleep, or even look at me. Levos did his best to be there for his cousin, but he already had a lot on his plate with everyone’s lives being in disarray. Regardless of what was going on in my life, Gaelin was my friend. He was even willing to rewrite the laws of the alfar to protect me. I had to be there for him.
“Do you want to go for a ride to clear your head before dinner?” I asked Gaelin.
He sat on the ledge of the balcony in his room, looking over the kingdom. “If I leave now, I may never come back.”
“Let’s try and think of this from a positive perspective, okay? Just humor me.”
He looked at me as I approached and smiled softly. “I’ll bite.”
“You marrying Daealla could be very good for everyone involved. You will eventually become king, having more power than anyone in the kingdom. You can change things, just like we’ve talked about. You can put Daealla in her place. You can cut communication with the dark alfar and restore your kingdom to the purity you seek.”
“But how long?” he asked, looking out over the horizon.
“What?”
“How long will it take for me to get enough power to prevent us from living in the hell that we are currently in? How long will King Lysanthier live? How many times will I have to lay with Daealla to conceive an heir? How long will it take to change the laws so you are safe, and we can be together?” he whispered, already sounding defeated.
“It doesn’t matter how long, as long as you get there in the end,” I said.
“But it does matter.” He turned his head to me. “Living like this is breaking both of us. What if by the time I am given the power, there is nothing left of either of us to save?”
I went to him, taking his hand in mine. Be positive, I thought. Be strong. “You doubt my strength, Gaelin. I’m a bit offended by it,” I said with a smile.
He laughed softly, squeezing my hand. “You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t know how you deal with everything and then still have the strength to sit here trying to find the positive in all of this.” He looked at me longingly. He leaned into my touch, closing his eyes to savor the contact he hadn’t had from me in weeks. “I love you,” he whispered.
“And that is the greatest gift you could ever give me,” I said, trying to sound sincere. It was the truth. Without his love, I didn’t know where I would be right now. I could be dead or tossed around by the whole alfar court. His love didn’t protect me completely, but it did offer a shield of sorts.
He made a graceful gesture toward a vine that was wrapped around the banister. A beautiful red flower bloomed from the base. He plucked it and gently placed it behind my ear. He touched my face softly, slowly circling his thumb around my lips.
I couldn’t give him what he needed, but I could at least give him something. I wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him close. I buried my face in his shirt, taking in his scent. His arms were large and firm as they took my small, frail body against his own. He inhaled my scent from my head, and relaxed. We stayed in that position for at least an hour, not saying another word.
That night at dinner, I was assigned to the royals’ table, as I had been ever since the king had taken me the first time. As I reached from behind the king to fill his goblet with wine, his hand slid up my dress to my thigh. I pulled away, but he caught my arm, pulling me to his lap.
The light alfar were discreet about their sexual affairs. It was one of the things that set them and the dark alfar apart. The king no longer seemed to care about what was expected of him or that he had an audience. He dragged his cold, disgusting fingers down my neck until he reached my neckline. He slid his hand under it, watching as I squirmed with discomfort and protest. Gaelin’s hands were tightened into fists as he tried not to watch. The king looked at him and laughed, amused by the pain he was causing.
“Lord Atros? What will your mistress be doing tomorrow evening when you are consummating your marriage to my daughter? I think I might keep her company in your stead,” he said, turning his attention back to me. He finally let go of me. I didn’t waste a second. I rushed back to the wall, feeling disgusting and embarrassed by his behavior. Felicity, the human girl whose brother I had helped, grasped my hand as I took my position by her. I squeezed hard, trying to steady my breaths.
“Are you not grateful to have the honor of being united with my beautiful daughter, Lord Atros?” asked the king. Gaelin just sat there without a word. Lysanthier’s body language went tense as his temper rose. “Or would you prefer I allowed you to marry your human mistress?”
Gaelin’s eyes snapped up to meet the kings in anger and hatred.
“Well?” said the king. “Answer me!” he yelled, slamming his fists on the table.
“It is an honor to serve the light court,” replied Gaelin.
“That is not what I asked. Would you prefer to marry the human whore?” Lysanthier roared. The room went silent, watching their recurring nightly entertainment. Gaelin swallowed, trying to keep calm. “You would, wouldn’t you. You’d prefer that worthless piece of scum over my daughter.” The king stood, pulling the tablecloth from the surface, smashing all the dishes and trays to the floor. No one moved.
“We’ll see if you prefer her when I am through having my way with her,” he said, turning away from his wife, daughter, and Gaelin. He marched to the wall, taking my arm, pulling me to him. Felicity held on until the last moment. He pulled me out of the throne room to his private chambers. I was crying before my foot stepped across the threshold.
The next morning, I went to the washroom downstairs in the servants’ quarters. When I entered, there were five girls preparing themselves for the wedding ceremony. They all looked at me as I entered the room. Their eyes scanned me from head to toe, stopping at the bruises and blood now dried on my skin. Last night was the worst it had even been.
I didn’t know what to say or do. We just stood across from one another in silence. One of the girls began to fill the tub with water. Two of them approached me slowly, taking me by the arm, leading me to the water. They undressed me, taking note of the wounds that hadn’t healed on my body.
One reached for my headband, removing it from my ears. They all stopped, staring in surprise at my secret. I didn’t even look up. I didn’t care. They poured the water across my body, cleaning me gently without a single word. They gathered clean clothes and helped me dress, hiding the evidence of the night before. They brushed my hair back into a braid, placing a new headscarf around my ears. My eye was no longer swollen shut, but you could still see the bruising around the soft tissue.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’ve been through enough,” a young girl whispered. Before kissing my cheek.
“Your secret is safe with us, do not fear,” another girl approached, kissing my temple.
“For what you’ve done, for our people.” Kiss.
“For the boy you took the lashings for.” Kiss.
“To remember your strength.” Kiss.
A single tear escaped my eye. I walked back to the main hall, trying to gather the courage to act like I was unfazed about what I had endured the previous night. I couldn't let Gaelin see me like this. Not today.
I went into the throne room, trying to find work to do. The servants in the hall looked at me for a few moments as I took a seat at a table and began polishing the fine porcelain dishes. None of them said a word as they returned to their duties. I stayed there, finding small things to busy myself with until the ceremony began.
That evening, the high houses of the light alfar filled the throne room. The humans took their places along the walls. The room was filled with fresh flowers, candles, and beautiful sculptures created just for the occasion. The king and queen stood at the front of the room on the platform, waiting for their daughter and Gaelin to enter.
The musicians began to play as the alfar stood, honoring their future king and queen. Gaelin and Daealla entered the room, elegant and luxurious as ever. This was the first time I had seen Gaelin in anything besides his warrior’s uniform. His suit was a soft cream color, his jacket long, like the one Erendrial wore. Gold stitching covered the cream fabric. His hair was loose around his shoulders and back. His face was solemn.
Daealla wore a beautiful satin white dress. It fell off her shoulders and hugged her waist, accenting her perfect form. The long train trailed behind them both as they ascended the aisle. Her long hair fell straight down her back. A crown of crystal-clear diamonds sat on top of her head. She did not smile.
They walked arm in arm towards the king and queen. Once they ascended the platform, Gaelin looked back at the wall to me. His face didn’t show signs of emotions. He just stared. I forced a smile and nodded, trying to break the uncomfortable moment. His attention turned back to Daealla.
The ceremony was beautiful. The king and queen watched as a Nordic priest conducted the vows. Gaelin and Daealla knelt before each other, wrapping their hands in a white silk ribbon, representing the eternity of their union. After the religious aspect of the ceremony was over, they both signed a blood contract, cementing their union. Each had to sign their name in their own blood. They then took each other’s hand, uniting their wounds so their blood could be mixed between one another.
After the ceremony, the alfar celebrated. We worked the room, filling wine glasses and tending to their needs. Gaelin didn’t look at me during dinner. He nodded at the high houses that offered their congratulations to him and his new bride, without a glint of emotion. He had broken, I thought. I was sure I’d be the first to shatter, but I was wrong…it had been him.
I looked at the king as he flirted and laughed with anyone who came close. My stomach began to turn at the very sight of him. If I had to endure his touch one more time, I might offer myself to the fairies willingly. At least I would be certain that the pain of their torture would eventually end.
Levos appeared behind me as I collected the dirty plates from a table. I acted like he wasn’t there, but he continued to follow me. I made my way back to the servant’s hall, emptying my hands. He pulled me aside, out of earshot of the others. I pulled away from him, feeling my skin begin to burn. Even his touch now affected me in the most unsettling way. He looked at me curiously as he slowly lowered his arm.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I hadn’t seen you since last night. Are you okay? Why didn’t you come to my room?” he asked.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“That doesn’t mean anything. Some of the servants told Madison that you were pretty beat up this morning. Where did you go after? Back to Gaelin’s room?”
I shook my head, not making eye contact. “I stayed in the linen closet on the main floor until morning. Then I went to the servant’s washroom and cleaned up before helping with the preparations.”
“Why didn’t you come to me? I would have helped you. You know that.”
“You have enough to deal with. With Madison going through the same thing and Gaelin cracking, I have to learn how to take care of myself.”
“I will always have room for you. You aren’t in this alone.”
“But I am, Levos! I’m the only one that can fix me.”
He looked at me with pain in his eyes. He touched my face softly. It took every ounce of restraint not to flinch away. “You won’t have to worry about the king tonight,” he said heavily.
“That’s not what he said yesterday.”
“Gaelin has made sure of it.”
I looked at him, trying to figure out what they had done. “What do you mean?”
“Gaelin had an elixir made. I slipped it into the king’s wine when I went to congratulate them. It will knock him out in a few hours. He won’t be able to hurt you. At least for one night.”
I dropped my head, feeling pain in my heart for Gaelin. “How was he today?”
“Worried about you mostly. He will do what he has to do in order to accomplish the long game, but he’s changing, and not for the best.”
“I know,” I said heavily. “Can you tell him thank you for me? I doubt I’ll be able to get near him tonight.”
Levos nodded. He turned away from me reluctantly, exiting the servant’s hall. I made my way back out the throne room, feeling lighter, knowing I wasn’t going to have to share the psychopath’s bed tonight, but Gaelin was now going to have to face a similar situation.
After dinner, I went to Gaelin’s room. It felt weird being there without him. I bathed again and got ready for bed. I laid my head on the pillow, looking out at the stars, my safe place. If I could only find a way out of this. Or find a way to kill the king. That would expedite Gaelin’s path to the throne. Oh, how I would revel in watching the bastard die. The more gruesome, the better.
I would be happy to watch the fairies filet him into an angel. Or maybe one of the beasts from the rift rip him apart. I wanted his torture to be painful. I wanted his death to be public and violent. I wanted him to watch as everything was taken from him: his power, his family, his life. I wanted him to suffer, all while knowing I was the one responsible for his downfall.