Chapter Sixteen
Ivorie and I lounge on the couch in the sitting area, talking and sipping on tea.
I decided to sit down with her when we got back and listen to her ideas about the wedding.
She has put in a lot of effort in finding color pallets and designing floral arrangements, so I listen.
She asks me what my preferences are, for pretty much everything.
I tell her that she can choose for me, just no red.
I have seen the color enough for my lifetime.
Glancing over at my bedside table, I see that she must have thrown out the flowers at some point when we got back. The lingering smell no longer sitting in the air.
Ivorie is in the middle of explaining the importance of a color theme, when I hear a knock at the door. She stops talking and we look at each other. It is past dinner time and most of the workers are finished for the night. Who could possibly be knocking on my door at this hour?
Ivorie stands up from the couch, walking over to open the door.
I look up when she opens it, just as Draven steps into the doorway. I feel my stomach flutter with excitement when I look at him.
I squash the stupid butterflies immediately.
He is running his hands through his hair and pulling as he gets to the ends. He is not in his usual attire. He is wearing tan riding pants tucked into brown knee-high boots with a hunter green button-up, untucked with his sleeves rolled to his elbows.
It looks good on him, the change of aesthetic. His cheeks are pink, almost like he spent too much time in the sun. He looks happy, content in a way I have never seen him before.
I wonder what, or who, is in Faeria bringing so much life back into him. I feel a pang of jealously low in my stomach and my features drop.
I stand up from the couch and walk to the door. Ivorie steps back into the middle of the room.
“Hello, little sun,” he says.
Before Draven can open his mouth to speak again, I do what anyone would do.
I shut the door in his face.
His boot sticks out, catching the door right before it closes.
“Okay, I deserve that,” he says.
I turn my back on him and walk further into my room.
He deserves more than a door slammed in his face.
I would do anything to take every ounce of frustration out on him right now.
The past two days have traumatized me to the point where I am mentally and physically exhausted.
I cannot be around him tonight and continue to be further traumatized by his actions as well.
Hell, I have traumatized myself enough today by my own actions.
Ivorie clears her throat uncomfortably. “Solene, I am going to retire for the evening. I will see you tomorrow for breakfast.”
I look over and smile at her. “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
She leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.
I turn back around, seeing that Draven is still standing in the doorway. I roll my eyes and walk back to the sitting area.
Draven steps into the room and shuts the door behind him.
“Come on Sol, just let me explain. You cannot stay mad at me forever.”
“Oh no, trust me I can,” I say as I flop down onto the couch.
“I am sorry I did not tell you I was leaving. I did not think I was even going to go. It was a last-minute decision and if I did not leave right then, they would have left me.”
I stare at him in contemplation for a few seconds. “Nope, not good enough. Sorry.”
He walks into the sitting area and takes the seat next to me. He turns his body toward me, leaning forward so he is closer.
I sigh. “I am not even upset about you leaving. I am more upset about how you just didn’t tell me.
You do not tell me things. I feel like you are the first person that comes to mind when I need to tell someone something or when I need someone I can rely on.
It is clear you do not feel the same way. ”
He leans forward even more, looking like he is about to touch me but he squeezes his eyes shut, then opens them again with a deep breath as he pauses.
“No, I do feel the same way. It is the same way for me.” He raises his hand to his forehead, smoothing out the creases as he scrunches his nose. “It was wrong of me to leave like that. We spend every day together and I left with no notice. I take full accountability for my actions. I was wrong.”
I let the hurt fully settle with his words. I did not realize how much him leaving like that, truly affected me.
“I needed you and you weren’t here,” I say quietly.
His eyes soften. “I am sorry. I promise I will not do it again.”
He lifts up his hand, sticking his pinky out.
I feel my own features soften. He cracks through my reserve so easily. All it takes is one simple motion. One that I taught him.
I reach my hand up to meet his, wrapping my pinky around his own. We push our thumbs together firmly. The contact of skin sending a shiver down my spine before our hands break apart.
Draven blows out a heavy breath and leans back into the couch, running his fingers through his hair and pulling at the ends once more.
I reach up and grab his wrist, bringing it back down into his lap. “Stop that, you are going to pull all of your hair out and become bald and that will not be a good look for you.”
He looks at me with surprise and then busts out into laughter. I join in with him, all of the tension between us easing away.
He looks down at the table and picks up a color swatch. “Wedding planning?”
“Yes, unfortunately,” I say.
He scoffs.
“You missed me picking my wedding dress out today. It was a wonderful experience,” I say sarcastically.
“I do not think I am supposed to be there for that,” he teases.
I lie back onto the couch with a sigh. He reaches forward and grabs my hand, pulling me back up.
“Can I please have you for the evening? There is something I would like to show you.”
I look down at our hands still conjoined, gently pulling mine away. “I guess that would be alright.”
He stands up quickly. “Wonderful. Grab a cloak, we are leaving the castle.”
A flicker of excitement stirs in my chest at the thought of seeing somewhere new. I jump up off the couch and walk to my wardrobe. Choosing to keep my gown on, I throw a black cloak over top of it and slip my boots on.
When I turn back around, I see that Draven’s back is to me as he pretends to look at something interesting on my empty room wall.
I start to laugh. “You can turn around. I am not changing.”
He turns around and looks at me with a smirk. “That is a shame.”
“Oh, you are such a shameless flirt. Let’s go.”
I ignore the way my heart skipped a beat at his words.
As we walk through the hallways of the castle, Draven is once again being cautious at anyone seeing us. I cannot help but wonder if maybe he does not want to be seen with me. I feel hurt settling its way in at the possibility of that.
“We are sneaking out again because I do not want anyone trying to accompany us,” he says, as if he read my mind.
I nod my head and release a breath of relief, uncertain as to why I feel so sensitive toward his actions lately.
We continue our journey through the castle until we reach the front doors. Draven uses his shadows to cover us as we sneak past the guards and out the door hidden in the side wall. Once we are through, he starts to walk toward the barn.
Anxiety stirs deep in my gut as memories start to resurface from the Whispering Woods. I shove the thoughts out of my head and keep walking, not wanting to ruin the moment.
We reach the two horses from last time and Draven helps me mount mine. I cannot help but notice the way his hands linger on my hips longer than they did the previous time he helped me on my horse.
Once Draven is mounted, he starts to move forward, tilting his head the direction we are supposed to go. Thankfully, the direction is the opposite of the Whispering Woods.
We ride off quietly into the night. I turn around and see the castle disappearing out of view the further we travel forward.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“It is a secret,” he replies.
“Well, I do not like secrets.”
“Noted.”
We continue riding in silence. I usually do not mind the comfortable silence between us, but this time, I do not want it.
“So how was your trip to Faeria?” I ask.
“Oh, it was fine,” he says casually.
“What did you have to go for?”
“It was King Sander’s birthday.”
I nod my head in understanding. “So, he is the King of the Fae, correct?” I ask, already knowing this but just trying to keep the conversation going.
“Yes, but only because he is married to Queen Maura.”
I smile at the fact that it is a woman who has the power in Faeria.
“Maura is like a second mother to me and Sander like a second father, so their birthdays are important to us,” he continues.
“Do they have any children?”
He looks over at me with a smile. “Yes, they have a son. His name is Prince Alaric.”
“Oh, that’s cool that they have a son too. Do you speak to him?”
Draven tips his head back and a carefree laugh leaves him. “Oh, he would love to hear you ask that.”
I look at him with my eyebrows drawn together. His laugh sounds happier than usual.
“Yes, I speak to him often. He is my best friend. Honestly, he is more of a brother than a friend,” he says.
My features relax as grief presses against my ribs, feeling a familiar pain deep in my chest.
“I understand what you mean,” I say quietly.
Draven looks over at me, his gaze softening at my change of tone.
“I should have said this sooner, but I am deeply sorry about your friend.”
I nod, giving him a sad smile.
“Tell me more about Alaric,” I say, changing the subject.
“Alaric and I grew up together. When we were younger, we spent months at a time together either in Faeria or Vryko. Alaric usually got tired of not seeing the sun and would go home early. But I would stay in Faeria as long as I could before my mother or father would make me come back. Alaric would be back in Vryko with me shortly after.”
“That must have been terrible for you, having to stay inside all day when you were there.”
“Mhmm,” he replies.