CHAPTER XXIII #8
Eventually Barnes and Lord Daniel announce their leave just before the moons hit apex in the night.
They mumble something about having training in the morning with the soldiers and that they still have to head down the Southern Staircase.
We all bid them good night and notice the dwindling drinks on the table, agreeing to have one final round before also parting ways.
My gaze drifts back to Stormfall still in front of Desmond, my body leaning farther into Keane and smiling at his brother and the Bird of Ash together.
Watching him now reminds me of how hard it was to sit and not think of Elena’s conversation from earlier, especially when it’s been looming in the back of my mind all day.
But those thoughts push forward now as my gaze rests on Storm from across the table, unable to ignore the Ancient he represents.
He’s in love with you…
The words burn deep in my bones as I shift slightly against Keane. Stormfall glances back at me almost instantly, his yellow eyes resting heavily on mine.
Do I tell Keane?
Do I tell him what Elena told me so openly, taking me by surprise?
Yes.
Of course.
I will tell him everything.
I will tell him what I now know about my parents and about my life in Etter, how they fought there.
I will tell him about Elena’s words and how she described the village and the horrors that were committed there, truly not comprehending how hovels, shacks or slums can exist anywhere within Disce.
I’ll even tell him of the other words she mentioned, words that now send me into a small sense of nervous curiosity, not understanding how or why the Ancient could feel that way.
“It’s Elena,” Keane grimaces softly, looking down at me from his side, “isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I release a deep breath. And no.
How does he do that?
“How…?” I ask as my brows furrow, holding his gaze.
How does he know what clouds my mind right now?
Keane smiles softly and leans off his chair, “your eyes, Alexis. They always give you away.”
I frown and feel him tightening his grip around my shoulder, pulling me closer.
“Come here, trouble,” he kisses the top of my hair, “remove it from your mind. We can talk about it later tonight.”
I sigh and lean into his shoulder with a nod, resting my head against his chest.
He’s right.
I need to remove my thoughts from the Ancient right now, need to push back everything Elena said so that I can focus on what’s happening right in front of me. Tonight, at the last moment of our perfect dinner, is not the place to be thinking of them.
But I can’t.
I can’t stop my thoughts from roaming to Hirovale, to the tall and alluding Ancient who has watched me at my most intimate moments and graces me with his presence whenever he deems. He’s always been too casual with me, too at ease with himself and his interactions with me.
Why?
Because he’s in love with you.
The words burn again, this time more forcefully.
No.
How can he be?
It wouldn’t even make sense.
I barely feel like I know him, so how can he think he knows me?
No.
Elena is wrong.
If Hirovale is in love, then I truly believe it’s from what I can give him. He wants to remake the Old World, and he knows he can’t do that without me.
But I still feel the pull of those words deep in my soul, the force of them rocking my heart in confusion. I want clarity. Want to know why he set his sights on me. He’s always been so casual when he commands my direction, as if knowing it’s only going to go in one way.
I don’t realize I’m standing in my chair now, my heart pounding in my chest as I pin Stormfall with a glare.
Take me to him, Storm.
The Bird of Ash extends his wings immediately without even looking at me, pushing himself off the table as I hastily make an excuse to the group in goodbye.
I avoid Keane’s gaze and the rest of the curious glances around me, all of them stuck in confusion as they watch me swiftly walk through the café.
I nearly begin to run down the stairs, gripping the railing as I swing my body around the last step and back down the path to the main road.
Keane’s location summoning pushes against me hard, gripping at my chest, but I just look around for Stormfall and sprint towards him heading to the park.
My heart pounds in my run, knowing that Keane is right behind me.
Let me have a few words with him, first, I cry to Storm ahead, running faster towards the Bird of Ash.
Stormfall’s yellow eyes meet mine before he extends his wings and soars deeper into the park, gliding down a small walking path.
I continue to sprint heavily behind him, watching him soar to a tall tree before he turns his head sharply and looks down the path beyond.
The air is thick there, moving along the cobblestone trail quickly, so I deliberately hasten my steps towards it until I feel the cool air wrap around my heated body in comfort.
“You couldn’t let it be, Alex…”
His calm voice booms forward in the night, surrounding me from all directions as I stop in my tracks.
“Show yourself, Hiro.”
I bend over to catch my breath and look out into the darkness.
Hirovale steps onto the path tall and proud, clad in his deep grey tunic that has no sleeves.
The top accentuates his lean and toned arms that move at his sides, even moreso when he lifts his black wrist in front of him and the thick air of the park rises higher around the two of us.
His hair falls gracefully over his face, black and waving, resting on his shoulders perfectly as he turns his body straight onto the path to greet me.
His smile is small, definitely amused, but his eyes…
Ancients, those eyes.
They want to hold mine so fiercely that I have to look away.
Hiro takes another step forward and raises his hands again as my gaze falls back on the black bands circling his wrist. I feel his power move around me as his hands aim higher, enclosing the park completely in his heavy air.
I shiver at the power of him, feeling it in my bones, and watch as he steps towards me in pure confidence.
“Don’t, Hiro,” I frown, not appreciating that he’s hidden the two of us from Keane.
Hirovale grins back at me, eyes dancing across my face, “but I thought you wanted to have a few words with me first, Alex?”
I glare at his laughing eyes.
We can have words, but why do you have to do this? I flip my hand to the white surrounding us.
Hirovale grins, “because I also need to have a few words with you before we are graced by your King.”
I sigh at the Ancient and nod, unsure where to start. He keeps his strong gaze on me, those golden eyes turning curious as he takes a casual step forward.
“Were you surprised when Elena told you?”
“Immensely,” I nod again, that’s why I’m here.
“Why?” he inquires, eyes darting across my face in curiosity.
Why was I surprised?
The Ancient nods.
“Because I don’t much care for you,” I reply, “you know this.”
“You will,” he laughs quietly.
“You keep saying that,” I huff and pin him with a glare, “what do you know?”
Hirovale stops in his walk, his features softening and reminding me of the first night I met him in Fumagalli. He holds a look of friendly resignation, watching me as a young man would when looking at a long lost friend.
“Softening and young?” Hiro shakes his head, flicking his hand again as the air below my boots moves swiftly up my calves, “you always forget who I am, Alex.”
I gasp and look down at the swirls wrapping up my legs, feeling the power of his summoning pushing into me as it holds my lower body captive harder than it ever has before. Hirovale takes another step forward and stares at my immobile legs, a small grin spreading across his lips.
“Stop this, Hirovale,” I scowl.
Hirovale brings his golden gaze back to mine and tightens the air around my thighs, making me gasp again.
I push against his mist with my full being, expelling my anger and the claim he thinks he always has over me.
My thighs move just slightly in response before they’re pulled and constrained again.
“You have to want it, Alexis,” he holds my gaze steadily, “truly want to expel the hold I have over you.”
“I do want it,” I glare back at the Ancient, watching as he stops to stand within an arm’s reach of me.
“Not right now,” he grins.
My eyes widen in realization. “You’re testing me.”
“Preparing you,” he corrects, “now expel me, Alex. Take all of your hatred for me and push it back against the summoning.”
I wish I could, but all I find under my anger is that deep part of me that still yearns for clarity. I calm almost instantly and sigh back at the Ancient with a little sadness in my eyes, letting my tense body relax to him and his power.
“I don’t hate you, Hirovale,” I tell him quietly, watching as his golden eyes hold mine in surprise, “I do hate that you think you can casually claim me, as your champion and as your Human Reborn. I also hate that you think you can just stroll into my life and make demands of me. You barely know me enough to demand that. But I do not hate you.”
“I’ve known you longer than you’ve known yourself, Alexis,” the Ancient replies softly.
He holds my gaze for a long moment and then releases me from his summoning without any movement of his hands. I take a sharp inhale of breath and feel his power run down my legs before it settles back on the path around our feet.
I immediately push into my gut, sending my want and need to Keane.
“Your King will come,” Hirovale looks at me with acknowledgement, “but not until we continue our own words first.”
“And will you repeat them to him?” I ask, holding the Ancient’s gaze as I feel Keane’s summoning grip my chest in return, his curiousness hard and angry.
“Do you want me to?” Hirovale asks.
He lifts his brows in genuine question and takes another small step forward. Keane releases me suddenly as I turn to the clouded park around us, searching for him through the thick air.