Chapter 13 Ariana
ARIANA
Ilay in a luxuriously enormous bed in the room provided for me. My hand absentmindedly found Shay and ran over her fur. Last night she found me just before I fell asleep, pawing at the door. It was a relief having her return without problems, my little tether to home, my little spy.
Light seeped in through the three massive windows in the room, a beam of it hitting Shay’s face, causing her to squint as she observed me.
“Did you have fun exploring?” I asked, and she raised her head, allowing me access to scratch under her chin. Shay’s eyes closed as she leaned her face into my hand, enjoying the moment.
In those quiet moments, I found glimmers of peace, but it never lasted. My thoughts always drifted to Erik and held, torturing me with fears of the unknown.
I will always recognize you. My heart stopped with the memory of that declaration.
I will find you and bring you back. My heart restarted.
I clung to those promises with desperation that bordered madness. Terrified of the chance that there might be a future where I never saw him again. The thought alone sent a sharp ache through my chest, a hollow pain nothing soothed.
I missed him. All of him. Not just the comfort of his arms, where I felt safest, but the way he ignited something untamable inside me.
I missed his voice, the low growl that rumbled in his chest when he was angered or provoked.
I even missed his insufferable need for control. The very thing I loved to defy.
And now, without him, I was adrift in the silence, haunted by the echoes of his touch, his voice—and what we still might be. If only given the chance.
Shay’s attention shifted abruptly, looking at the door to my room.
In an instant, she jumped from the bed, her ears perked and eyes trained.
Startled, I stood, looking toward the door just moments before a knock sounded against the wood.
Quickly grabbing a robe, I made my way towards the second knock.
I opened the door and found a petite girl with short curly hair and large brown eyes standing on the other side, a tape measure in her hand.
She quickly dipped her head before turning to me once more with an enormous smile on her face. “Hi, I hope I didn’t wake you. I’m here to get some measurements. But I can come back later if that would be better?”
Her teeth were not sharp, neither were her ears. Bavadrin?
“No. Now is fine,” I said, moving aside to allow her entrance.
She stepped inside without hesitation, even as she glanced at Shay. “Cool wolf!” The girl bent down, holding out her hand for Shay to examine before running it along the wolf’s neck.
“You are not afraid?” I asked, surprised by her lack of caution.
“If she was going to harm me, then a magnificent creature like this one would be something to fear. But the wolf is not giving off any signs that she wants to hurt me.” The girl reached out then, brushing her fingers over Shay’s cheek. “You’re a sweet little alpha, aren’t you?”
My body tensed. “How do you know she is an alpha?”
Brown eyes flickered to me, and Shay simply tilted her head while still viewing the stranger.
“The wolf is giving off the emotional signature of an alpha,” she answered before rising to her feet. “And you are strangely suddenly giving off a nervous energy.”
“Excuse me?” I asked through clenched teeth. Tension shot through me.
This girl is a threat.
Her mouth opened to respond before snapping shut.
She held up her hands. “Oh no, you’re upset.
I am so sorry! I know better than to always read emotions, but I was just so curious about you and couldn’t help myself.
I’ll do better, never again. Not without permission.
” Suddenly she was the one nervous, shifting from one foot to the other.
She stilled, only to bow. Deeply. Casting her eyes to the floor, and holding there even as she said, “Please don’t tell Clause. ”
“What are you?” I asked. One sharp glance at Shay and the wolf moved to stand at my side.
“I can read emotions. It’s part of my conjuring.
I can also kind of influence emotions, but that can be a bit more tricky.
.. I promise to try to not look into your feelings uninvited again.
Sometimes it sort of just happens.” The girl was nearly rambling.
Still bent at the waste and staring the ground.
“Stand up.” I waited for her to right herself before asking, “What’s your name?”
“Olive.” She lowered her gaze to the floor in submission, waiting for direction. The girl seemed nice, though was that really who she was or a mask she wore? Her gift could certainly be dangerous if we stood on opposite sides.
“It’s fine, Olive. You just startled me, and I am afraid I have been a bit on edge since arriving.
Much of everything here is new to me. I’m also not used to being around so many who conjure and are so open about their gifts.
” I walked to the window and further pushed the drapes out of the way to lighten the space more.
“Is this an okay area for the measurements?” I asked, pointing to a well-lit open spot in the room.
“It’s perfect.” The girl came to me, unraveled her tape measure, and got to work moving around me. Her steps were airy and light, her smile warm. She seemed pleased with having something to focus on.
“If you don’t mind me asking, where were you born?” I hoped the question sounded casual enough.
“I was born here. The Sidhe lands are my home. But I suppose that is not what you are searching for.” She paused, her gaze meeting mine. “My parents are Bavadrin, born and raised in your land.” She then turned back to her work.
Heat ran through me. I drew in a deep breath, willing to keep my emotions as neutral as possible. “How did they wind up here?”
“How does anyone wind up here?” She mumbled before saying, “It’s not important.”
My jaw clenched. “It is to me.”
The girl glanced over her shoulder at Shay, who sat in the center of the room watching us. “My parents don’t talk about it.” She turned back to me. “It’s best not to ask certain questions.” It sounded a lot like a warning.
“What happens if I ask those questions, anyway?”
Her brown eyes held mine for a moment, as if deliberating how to answer. “To you? Perhaps nothing. To someone like me, nothing good.”
“Are you afraid of Clause?”
She snorted softly. “Is anyone ever not afraid of a King?”
“My people do not fear me,” I said.
Olive’s lips curved into a smile. “Yes, they do. All fear leaders, even the kind ones. They may not fear you unjustly harming them, but they will then fear disappointing you. Either way, fear is fear. Trust me, I know how people feel.” She stood, stepping away from me.
“All done. Now, regarding a dress, any likes, or dislikes?”
“Anything but black,” I answered with a shrug.
Olive arched a brow. “You don’t wish to match the King?”
“Considering I don’t even really want to be here... No.”
Her face lit up. “You really want to give me creative control, minus a single color?”
“Why not? If I hate it, then I am sure I could just wear one of my dresses from home.”
Olive’s eyes gleamed. “I swear to you, it will be the finest thing you have ever worn. I am the best of the best around here, with design and garment creation.” Her pride was clear with the certainty she spoke with.
“I have no doubts.” I offered her a small smile.
The girl dipped her head and moved to exit the room.
My voice stopped her just before she opened the door. “May I ask you something else?”
She turned, smile falling from her lips. Her gaze held mine, and I did not know if she was reading my emotions despite her promise not to. “You are free to ask whatever you wish.”
“There is a Lysian here by the name of Iona. Do you know where I can find her?”
Olive glanced around the room as if making sure no one else was around. “I’m sorry. I do not.” There was something she was not telling me.
I closed the distance between us, reaching for her arm. “Please. If you can help me.”
“I will help you however I can, but not with this.”
I withdrew my hand. “Has Clause harmed her?”
“She...” Olive hesitated before shaking her head. “No. He hasn’t.” She sighed before swallowing as though her throat was suddenly dry. “Listen, if you came here just for her, then you shouldn’t have wasted your time.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Trust me, she is not suffering as much as you imagine. She is not the polite little princess she once was. Actually, I doubt she was ever polite or much of a princess.” I could have sworn something like disgust flickered behind her eyes.
“Why will you not tell me where she is?”
“Because if the King wanted you to know, then you already would. And if he chooses to keep that from you, then I do not desire to go against his wishes.”
I lowered my voice and asked my last question. “If I granted the people here freedom, would they return to where they came from? Do you people want to be free?”
She shrugged. “What is freedom? I doubt it truly exists. We all live in one form of prison or another. Yet not all prisons are terrible. The Sidhe land is where I grew up. It is all I know.” Her gaze flickered to the wolf and back to me.
“I would caution you against this kind of talk. Clause favors you, but if you wish to keep the liberties he has granted you, then you should be careful with what you share and ask of people.”
I nodded, and with that, our conversation ended. The girl showed herself out and left me standing in my room, staring at the closed door. With a sigh, I turned to Shay. “Well, I guess it’s time for me to get ready to share yet another meal with this wretch of a King.”
Shay growled lowly, as if agreeing.
Again, I sat before him.
Again, his eyes observed me while I endured it.
The servants filled the table between us with far too much food for two people. Eggs, meat, bread, cheeses, and fruits covered the space. I placed some bread and cheese on my plate, along with berries.