Chapter 50
Elariya
“When the Darkness Learned My Heart”
Dear Future Me,
My life has seemed to take an interesting turn for the best.
Grandmother always said things have a way of happening that you least expect, and every now and again, life surprises you in the most interesting of ways.
Nothing like that has ever happened to me. Until now.
No matter how many times I told myself to beware of the Fae prince, I never listened.
Not because I’m foolhardy and love getting myself in trouble.
But because he makes me foolhardy for him and he’s the kind of trouble that will make a girl lose her mind. And her heart.
Last night, I gave him my virginity, then I gave myself to him over and over again.
I gave Wolfe Nightblade all of me.
The freedom made me lose my mind, but in the best of ways.
The best thing was that I chose him. No one forced me to be with him through some contract. Or out of duty.
I chose to be with him. And my gods, did he choose me.
Those moments will always be imprinted on my soul, no matter what happens or what may take him away from me.
Now the only thing that scares me is time—what little I have.
How could it be possible that I’ve found someone in this big, wide world who makes me feel like this:
Like I’m everything.
Like I’m important.
Like all my dreams could come true.
Like I could lose myself in love to my Hades.
But in ten days’ time, I won’t remember him.
How cruel is fate?
It’s still never been kind to me.
But at least I know that although I’ll forget, nothing will change the fact that all these things happened.
I lived them. I experienced them. I experienced him.
When my mind forgets, I want my heart to remember.
I’ve decided that if I get the chance to be with him again, I’m going to live.
I’m going to live my life for the next ten days, and I won’t worry about anything. Not about my family, my curse, or my father. Nothing at all. If we don’t find a spell to track down the ring, all those things will still be there next month.
For now, I just want to savor the time I have left with Wolfe.
The message I leave today is this:
Do not beware of the Fae prince.
Don’t even try it.
That feeling you get when you’re with him is real.
Wolfe Nightblade holds the keys to your heart.
With a wistful sigh, I set my quill down, closed my journal, and gazed out to the soft waves gracing the sandy shoreline of the beach. The weather was chilly, but I loved the coolness of the air on my skin. It helped balance the myriad of thoughts racing through my mind.
I’d gotten back from Hyxian an hour ago and came out here, hoping to get some clarity as I updated my journal. I wanted to do my update while my mind was fresh and I was still caught up in the elation of last night.
That journal entry was the one I’d waited for so eagerly for years. Now it was there, and my future self would know that I’d found that special guy who’d managed to break down my walls.
When I woke this morning alone in Wolfe’s bed, I didn’t even have time to think about last night because I had to get ready to leave.
Garrick took me to Hyxian today because Arielle hadn’t returned. The moment he said she was with Bastian, my spirits lifted and I hoped she got the dream date she’d planned with him.
It was perhaps a good thing she wasn’t around. I’d been little more than a zombie all day, present in body but my mind elsewhere. Arielle would undoubtedly ask me about Wolfe and last night, and I didn’t know what I could say.
Was he even mine to talk about?
Wolfe told me I’d be his forever and he wouldn’t let me go, but I had to keep an open mind.
He was supposed to marry the princess of Thalyrius. The perfect, beautiful Princess Seraphina. Despite what happened last night, that was still a possibility.
Wolfe didn’t want to talk about it when I tried to bring it up. It was understandable. I didn’t want to talk about it, either, but worry was eating me alive.
Now I wondered when we’d see each other again.
There were so many important things to worry about, but here I was, being selfish again, wondering what would become of us.
A shimmer of silver light a few feet away caught my eye. I straightened, every nerve suddenly alert. The air itself seemed to fracture, rippling like disturbed water before expanding outward in impossible waves. Magic crackled against my skin as reality tore open.
Then they materialized from the rift: Arielle and Bastian, their bodies entwined with desperate hunger, mouths fused in a kiss that looked more like claiming than affection.
Arielle’s fingers were buried in Bastian’s dark hair while he gripped her waist with bruising intensity, as if she might vanish back into the Void if he loosened his hold.
My mouth fell open, but I dared not make a sound. It looked like Arielle got the night she’d wanted after all.
The two were completely oblivious to me. It was only when a rough wave crashed against the rocks near them that they pulled apart.
Arielle was about to say something to Bastian but froze and looked right at me, mortification on her face.
Bastian followed her gaze and looked just as thrown as she did. He released her and stepped away.
I waved at them and held back a smile but failed miserably. I’d only known them for a short time, but they were the kind of couple you rooted for.
“I’ll see you later,” Bastian muttered to Arielle.
She looked back at him, about to answer, but then threw herself back in his arms and kissed him instead.
As usual, I admired her confidence.
Arielle pulled away and gave Bastian a little wave. He smiled back at her, dipped his head at me, then faded in a shimmer of silver light. I guessed he must have portaled because of the color; phasing was different. It didn’t leave any echoes of your magic behind.
Arielle whirled around and rushed over to me, her cheeks bright against her platinum hair.
“Gods be good, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know anyone was going to be here.” She laughed.
I set my journal down and stood to join her. “It’s fine. It was great to see you two. I take it last night went well.”
Her entire face turned red. “It did, but let’s talk about you.” She nodded with enthusiasm. “Are you okay? I saw you leaving with Wolfe last night.”
I gasped. If she’d seen us, she knew our exit wasn’t that much different from the entrance she’d made with Bastian just now. “You saw us?”
She laughed out loud. “Don’t worry. I was the only one who saw you locking lips with the Fae prince mere minutes after his uncle announced his engagement to the ice bitch princess of the west.”
I released the breath I was holding. “Oh Gods.”
“I’m just joking. Well… not really, but you get what I mean.” She chuckled. “The point is, no one else saw you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Even though you told me you wanted to be on your own, I felt bad about what happened, so I went after you. Thankfully, Wolfe beat me to it. I got there just as you two were portaling away.” She brought her hands together and beamed back at me.
“Please, for the love of the gods, tell me you two got together.”
It was my turn to go red. “Um…”
“Blessed Mother, you did get together.” She clapped her hands together in delight.
“Yes,” I answered sheepishly, only giving an answer because she’d seen me kissing Wolfe.
She squealed and pulled me back down to sit on the sand. “This is the best news ever.”
“Even better than yours?”
“I think it’s on par.”
We both laughed, but as the sound died away, something heavier settled between us, a weight that made the air feel thick with unspoken words.
“How are you feeling about being with Wolfe?” she asked, her expression warm and hopeful.
“He was my… first.”
Her eyes rounded. “Oh, my.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “Then it’s even more special.”
“Yes. It is.” I nodded slowly. “My memory predicament made me promise myself that my first time would be with someone special to me. Someone worth remembering even though I’d never remember.”
“Oh, Elariya. I’m so happy you got that moment.”
“Me too. But now, I’m not really sure what will happen next. He left before I woke up, and I haven’t seen him since.”
“Don’t worry about that. He could have needed to be anywhere. Or maybe he even went to see Dreynthor. I’ve never seen Wolfe look more furious than last night. Knowing Wolfe, he would have wanted to sort things out straightaway.”
“But maybe he still has to marry the princess.” The thought lodged like a splinter in my chest.
Arielle shook her head. “I’ve never known Wolfe to do anything he was forced to do. But Bastian told me the whole marriage idea was put forward to contain the rebellion. Thalyrius controls the main sea routes for trade. The plan was to scare them into submission.”
“That sounds serious.” And like something Wolfe might have to do.
“It is, and it’s a clever way to control him. Dreynthor gets to stake a claim on another kingdom’s legacy. While marriage wouldn’t make Wolfe king of Thalyrius when their ruler dies, the alliance would benefit all Nightblades. Especially Dreynthor and his heirs.” Her mouth twisted in disgust.
“No wonder he was so horrid to me.” Dreynthor’s awful words still scraped at my pride. In his eyes, I was just a whore threatening his plans.
“Don’t worry about that asshole.” Arielle spoke firmly. “And don’t let him spoil last night for you. Wolfe will defy his uncle at every turn, but even he knows when duty calls. My heart tells me he wouldn’t have gone after you if he planned to go through with the marriage. So, try not to worry.”
Although I nodded, fear still pricked at me. “I’ll try.”
“I'm sure you'll see him later.”
“I hope so.”
A gentle smile brightened her face. “Something tells me you will. You have to let me know what happens.”
I smiled back at her. “You know I will. Thank you for… listening to me and being such a good friend.”
Her eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her features before melting into something warmer. I realized the word 'friend' had caught her completely off guard. For a moment, she looked almost vulnerable, and her eyes glistened as if she might cry.
“Friend,” she repeated quietly, testing the word like it was something precious she was afraid to break.
A flush crept up her neck, and when she smiled this time, it was radiant.
The kind of smile that transformed her entire face.
“You are my friend, too. I don’t have many girlfriends.
The ones you met at Hyxian were more like acquaintances.
It’s partly because of my advanced powers, but mostly because I’m part of Wolfe’s Veythral.
It’s been great getting to know you. You’re the most genuine person I’ve met in a long time. ”
“Same here.” I sighed, then I realized how much time we’d spent talking about me. “Gods, I’m sorry. I’ve been talking your ear off about my problems. Some friend I am.”
Arielle shook her head and laughed. “No, you have not talked my ear off.”
“You’re too kind.” I tsked and chuckled. “Now, please tell me what happened between you and Bastian. You guys made quite an entrance.”
Her entire face lit with joy. “He followed me when I went looking for you. Imagine my surprise when he held up a bottle of wine and invited me to go to the very place I was going to take him. When we got there, he kissed me, and then we didn’t stop.”
I smiled at her, feeling genuinely excited. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. It feels like a dream come true. Now, all we need to do is sort out everything else.” She released a ragged sigh. “I can’t help but think that finding the ring will open the doors to all the things we want.”
“Yeah. It sure could.”
“Have you decided yet where you’re going to live?” Mischief lit up her eyes.
I smirked. “What do you mean, Arielle?”
“You’re not going back to the mortal lands, are you?” As she looked at me, she seemed to see straight through to my heart, and the question felt like it was really about who I wanted to be and the life I’d always wanted.
“No.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “How did you know that’s what I wanted?”
“I knew from the first time we met.”
“How? Things were so different then.”
“Your heart yearned to be where it always belonged. I knew from the moment we got here that you’d have a very difficult time leaving. I guess, though, that maybe Wolfe is one more reason to stay. That’s if he gives you a choice. He’d be a fool to let you go.”
Her words settled over me, warming my heart.
I was about to say something more, but a tingle rippled through my chest, sharp enough to steal my breath.
Then it moved through me, whispering desire through my soul.
The sensation compelled me to look back toward the manor.
When I did, I knew he was there. Wolfe was there. And he wanted me to go to him.
What I was feeling was him. Not just magic. His essence. It was like a touch ghosting over my entire being. The scent of cedar and storms still tangled in my hair came to my mind, and the memory of his kisses graced my lips. My body, marked in ways only I knew, yearned for him.
I glanced back at Arielle, who was already smiling at me.
“Go,” she said, seeming to figure out what was happening.
“How did you—”
“People who want to be together always know where the other one is.”
I smiled at that, my pulse quickening. Days ago, Wolfe told me I’d figure out how to find him. I just did. Desire had become my compass.
And gods, I was ready to lose myself in him again. No matter the cost.