21. Chapter 21
The dark room was identical to the one Ophelia and I shared, almost down to the placement of the furniture. My eyes quickly adjusted, seeing the room through its shadows, and I made my way through to the bathing chamber.
After a swift cleanse, I studied myself in the mirror above the sink.
The gashes and cuts were already closing and fading to a light pink.
If there was any benefit to this possession, it was that it wouldn’t allow me to stay injured and put it at risk of whatever it has been running from for centuries.
I felt frozen in time, slowly wasting away.
The only time I felt different was when I was in her presence. Her orbit.
Despite the initial pain of her driving the Ancient One back into the far depths of my mind, I welcomed the new feeling of life she gifted me, even if it did take longer for me to come back each time.
Water droplets rolled off me as I padded across the empty room in search of a fresh tunic and trousers, finding only a pair of linen pants that fit just well enough before returning to Ophelia.
I heard her still bathing and wanted to forget the fact that I had just washed and wanted to join her, but decided to lie on top of the covers and wait patiently.
Soon she exited the bathing chambers, not noticing me as she dried her wet black strands with a towel while wearing a dangerously low-cut nightgown.
I felt my cock stir as I watched her. My fingers twitched, wanting to run through her hair and strip off that pathetic excuse of nightwear.
She stopped in her tracks the moment her eyes found mine.
Her lips parted before she straightened her spine and lifted her chin.
“Forget a shirt?” she mused.
“Like what you see?” Her eyes gave her away. I watched Ophelia lick her lips as she took in my body, lingering on the hard lines that rippled across my abdomen and arms. She drank in the dark lines of ink that told stories across my flesh.
Her pale skin was now unmarked and she walked without any pain in her features. I silently thanked Fyom’s concoctions for closing the wounds both hidden and seen, allowing her easy movements once again.
I rested one hand on my chest while the other was tucked behind my head to prop it up against the over-stuffed pillows as I continued to look into those teal-jeweled eyes. Her heart fluttered at a rhythm I knew all too well and practically sang a ballad in my ear. “Heartbeat, moonlight.”
She looked away momentarily, proving I was right. Her skin began to pink, a sign that her body was warming for more. I wanted her. Needed her. But I needed answers first. “Why did you lie?”
Ophelia blinked at me as if I had just doused her with ice water. Her eyes narrowed as she threw her towel on a nearby chair. “What do you mean?”
I moved quickly to the edge of the bed, causing her to release a soft yelp of surprise at how fast I moved, and held out my hand for her to reach.
Her feet obeyed until she was within reach for me to grab and pull her close between my thighs.
Her loose hair fell past her shoulders and framed her features so beautifully that it hurt.
Her warm arms wrapped around my shoulders. I toyed with the wet ends of her strands, but she refused to look me in the eye. With firm fingers I gripped her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. Her breath hitched as she stared at the silver hue I know had grown, overpowering the browns.
Her heart shifted to an unsteady sound. “Why did you do it?” she whispered. I knew her intention—she wanted to know why I would allow the thing to gain more control when I fought so hard to keep it at bay.
“You first,” I said as I let go of her jaw and twined a wet piece of hair around my finger.
“I see what it’s doing to you.” I tugged just a little as I continued to twirl her locks.
“You might be used to going unnoticed. Being content in the shadows. But I see you, Naa’n le’ya.
Don’t carry this burden alone like I have for so long.
I ran to the edges of the earth, thinking I could shoulder this weight by myself, and I paid the price.
Over and over. You have me. You have all of us.
We are here every step of the way as you learn about this power.
Trust us. Lean on us. Don’t hide it. Tell us well before you’re at your breaking point. ”
Her eyes welled with tears, but she refused to cry. I watched the shame billow inside her. “Would it help to know that the lie tasted bitter?”
“Perhaps.”
She took a deep inhale. “I’m the last thing they need to worry about.”
“I beg to fucking differ.”
“Peiro, we need that army. We have a kingdom to save. A throne to reclaim. Damn keys we need for a prophecy—and those could be anything. I am so far down on the list and only need to hold myself together until the battles begin.”
“Now you’re just trying to make me angry.” I pulled her in closer, caging her inside my hold.
She leaned in, resting her head on my chest. “I burned with an anger I had never felt before.” I cradled her head with my hands, feeling my skin catch her tears. “It scares me. Peiro, I not only wanted to harm someone that could be vital to our cause, but I also put you in harm’s way.”
“I was never in any danger,” I whispered into her hair.
Ophelia quickly pulled back, her eyes red and full of sadness. “You thought the only way you could bring me back was to allow that thing to take over and distract me. Fight me. Wear me down. You should never have done that. Promise me that you won’t do that again!”
I ran my hands through her hair again, holding her head next to mine.
“I cannot promise that I won’t do everything in my power to help bring you back to me, Ophelia.
I asked you before: what is one soul to a kingdom?
You are my kingdom. My giant’s realm and this living world.
If this curse of mine can help bring you peace, I will make that decision again and again. ”
“But it’s taking you too long to recover, and every time I have to use this magic on you, I fear it’ll grab on to you harder and tear you away and that there won’t be a next time.
” Another tear fell. “I can’t allow you to succumb to it because of me.
We have to find another way to control it because I cannot bear the hurt I pour into you. We have to find another way.”
I sighed and breathed her into my lungs.
“You fear my pain, but I welcome it, because it lets me know I am still alive—that you are giving me something worth living for. That this monster can finally be used for something good. My tortured soul has already endured more than one ever should, but you, my moonlight? You make what I have to endure so very worth it.”
She looked ready to retort, ready to plead with me that she wasn’t worth the gamble of control. That it wasn’t worth it for her to call forth her illicitus magic.
More tears were shed as she battled to find her words. She was about to speak before a rapid knock came from the door. “Are you two decent?” I heard a muffled Fyom on the other side. “It’s urgent.”
I growled in frustration as I moved from Ophelia’s hold and shifted off of the bed, but not before planting a swift kiss in her hair.
I strolled to the door, opening it just enough for me to peek my head out.
My shoulders tensed, sensing Fyom’s anger rolling off him in waves as his bright green eyes shone with venom. “What is it?”
“Beralt is here.”
From the corner of my eye I saw Ophelia wipe away her tears and straighten her spine at Fyom’s words.
I raised a brow. “At this hour? Does the fucker not sleep? Or does he indeed have a death wish?”
“Seems like we’re all a bit on edge,” Fyom retorted before he turned to leave, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
We were the last ones to arrive as I helped Ophelia tie a knot in the straps of her robe to hide from the others what was mine. I refused to don a shirt, regardless of her pleading about indecency and dignity.
It didn’t look like Aurora had left the room since our arrival.
She sat with a straight spine at the head of the small table that was in the corner of the room.
Beralt sat next to her staring at Sury, who stood behind Aurora’s chair with one hand clenching the back and the other resting on the hilt of his dagger.
“What’s going on?” Ophelia spoke up. Tension in the room was thick. Sury turned his eyes toward us, noting my attire, or lack there of, and muttered about me being a prick and a show-off. My smile widened at his remarks.
“Seems like Beralt had something important to say that was forgotten during our earlier meeting.” Aurora raised an eyebrow in his direction.
Beralt looked around the room, noting that most of us were standing within reach of Aurora and we all had our arms crossed across our chests. His eyes landed on Ophelia, widening, and he scooted back in his chair. “You said she’s not going to kill me, right?”
“I haven’t decided.” Ophelia smirked.
At that moment I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to our room for how beautifully spiteful she could be toward those who stood in her way, but instead I chuckled lightly. “Good girl.”
Ophelia barely turned her eyes to me, but it was enough for me to see her blush.
Beralt turned to me next. His face paled a few shades as if he had witnessed a specter. “Why are your eyes like that? What are you?”
My smile widened to show my teeth.
Aurora huffed and shook her head. “He’s no one you need to worry about for now. And no, she’s not going to kill you…yet. You have it on my authority.” The queen’s smile broadened.
“You may not know Thuvina”—Ophelia’s scathing look would make any grown man shiver—“but you do know me.” As if on cue, Beralt made a loud gulp noise and scooted farther into his seat.
Oh, how this woman delighted me.
“Now, why are you here?” Ora fumed.
“You’re quite rude for a guest,” Beralt replied.
“Why. Are. You. Here.” Aurora’s smile seemed stuck on her face as she spoke through her teeth. “You might not have to worry about my sister after all.” At that, a golden ribbon appeared from the palm of her hand and twirled through her fingers, turning into the shape of a dart.
A strange feeling surrounded me, something so converse. The monster in me recoiled in a way that it felt fear. Not fear of being controlled, but something else entirely.
“Pumpkin, play nice,” Sury said as he moved his fingers to Aurora’s shoulders. Pumpkin? I looked to Sury in repulsion while Fyom muttered something about once again being plagued with children.
“Fine.” Aurora huffed and extinguished her magic.
“Let’s play his game. Oh mighty Lord Beralt, Commander of the Winds, General to the Second Ray of the Grian Army and Governor of Ventus Bluff and her cliffs…
” Beralt straightened a little taller in his chair, self-assurance radiating off him in sickening waves at his official title.
“Pray tell… why the fuck you are here after you’ve so graciously told us to die by our own hands?
Give or take a few more words than that. ”
So their meeting must not have gone well after we left.
Beralt’s face dropped and he rolled his eyes. “Ever the diplomat, I see.”
“Get to the point,” Aurora snapped.
“I want a truce,” Beralt said between his teeth.
That piqued all of our interests and we all leaned forward, eager to hear more.
“Go on.” Aurora waved her hand toward him.
“You said Vovias is dead. He was the one who convinced me that your rule was corrupt and you needed to be pushed out. Well, I still want the land we agreed on—”
“Maybe,” Aurora cut in.
Beralt continued. “I’ll grant you the army.”
“My army,” Aurora snipped in annoyance.
“If you get her to agree to work with me in finding a solution to our borders.”
“Who?” Aurora and Ophelia said at the same time.
“Simret. Get her to agree that the Dolock River that divides our territories is just that, a divider, and is not fully on her lands.”
Ophelia shook her head, seemingly trying to wrap her mind around his statement. “Lady Simret’s alive?” Aurora looked at her in confusion before turning her attention back to Beralt.
My eyes flew to Fyom and I saw waves of emotions—relief, joy, and sadness—flicker across his strong features.
Beralt raised an eyebrow. “Of course she’s alive. I saw her a few weeks ago.”