Chapter 16
After rising this morning, we quickly loaded up the horses and set off for Alvonia. Rydian walks—or travels the Veil—the rest of the way. I’m thankful for the reprieve, leaving me to sit with everything that’s happened over the last few days as my trust wavers between realms.
Bjorn continues his leisurely pace now that we’re only a few miles outside the city, the ride going by quickly. Ren and Ezra remain a few miles behind me, having slowed after a while.
There’s currently too much going on in my head, happening at a pace I can’t keep up with.
My chest tightens as my thoughts settle on what’s been revealed, a sense of overwhelm quick to follow.
Both realms seem to pull me in, and I hate the fact that I feel at odds with it—that I don’t know what direction to go in.
My eyes close on an inhale, and I breathe in the crisp mountain air. Yet I find myself stuck on my memories.
Or the ones I don’t have, at least.
What relationships do I have that are real? What hasn’t been stolen from me? And who can I trust? It’s becoming harder to see past the blurred lines.
A sinking feeling settles in my stomach, something close to the loss of air in my lungs.
As if I’m drowning in a depthless lake with no bottom in sight and no way to push up.
Especially now with the thought of me being a princess to a realm I know nothing of.
That thought alone causes a shudder to run through me.
Finally riding into Alvonia, we’re only a few minutes from the castle when Ezra and Ren ride up on either side of me. The sun shines bright as midday settles across the mountains, leaving us to shrug off our cloaks. Ezra lays it across his lap, rolling his sleeves up his well-muscled forearms.
“The king sent a message,” Ren says. “He wants us to meet in the throne room after our arrival to update him on the mission as soon as we get in.”
“And he sent word to you?” My brows knit.
If he did, it would be by a leaf message, and I didn’t notice it. Realizing this turns my stomach to stone. It’s hard to believe the king would communicate through Ren and not through the original person sent to kill our target—me. Or even Ezra since he was placed in command.
Ren was only supposed to accompany us to stay updated on the mission, and the fact that he’s in communication with the king at all raises my suspicion. Realization prickles my skin—Ivy was keeping an eye on the wrong person for messages. I glance at him to my right, eyes narrowing.
“Does that bother you?” Ren smirks, resting his forearm on the pommel of his saddle.
“Why would that bother me?” I purr, fluttering my lashes with a smirk—cold sarcasm.
He chuckles to himself. Black hair ruffles in the breeze as he scans the road in front of us, watching a few mothers cross the street with their children being tugged behind them. The wind carries his scent of cedar and leather, forcing my nose to scrunch. Why does he smell good?
“Oh, I don’t know. You seem to have this thought about yourself that you’re more important than you are,” he mocks, giving me a noticeable once-over with a disgusted sneer on his face.
A tight smile lines my mouth as I ignore him, too exhausted to care. I blink and give him a hardened, flat stare.
“We need to stop.” Rydian appears in my mind, but I don’t startle this time. The tingle between my eyes has begun to feel normal. “We need to meet up with Ivy at the Painted Bird and create a plan for the next few days.”
“No. I’m not stopping, and we already have a plan. I’ll see you in a few days,” I say, gripping the Veil coin.
A low growl reverberates across my mind. Hearing him growl in frustration would have normally sent a chill down my spine but right now, I don’t really care.
The outskirts of Alvonia come into view, oak trees and the castle alive in the distance.
Hitting the gravel path at a quick pace with a kick from my boot, I feel Rydian’s connection fade, realizing that he must have not followed me out of the city.
I’m slightly reprieved, hoping he decides to use the Painted Bird for himself—let off some steam.
The thought immediately sends an unwelcome pang through my chest. I clench my fists at the thought of him enjoying someone else’s company. The mere idea of him touching someone has me biting my tongue.
It’s none of my business, I remind myself, forcing my hands to loosen on the reins. It’s not like I care. Not really.
We travel at a quick canter, eager to arrive at the castle, but I can’t help the way my stomach tightens in knots at the thought of our upcoming approach.
Being at the castle with King Elion sets me on edge. If they were to find out that I know something is going on behind closed doors, they would either kill me or take my memories again.
But I still have my doubts.
It’s something I need to see for myself to believe, but at this moment, I don’t think the king will kill me. Not if he’s spent his time wiping my memories. I must be an important part of his revenge against Aurelia if he’s using me to kill off the Shadovar.
We finally slow the horses at the edge of the castle, making our way inside the gates as we ride further toward the throne room.
A headache forms, and I rub my temples, my wrist aching with the movement. My emotions seemed to have caused my body to throw itself into a turmoil, leaving me to take a deep breath. I soothe the inside of my wrist, hoping to ease the pain, but I catch Ren staring at me.
“What?” I say a little too harshly. He quickly flicks his gaze away, not saying a word as he trots ahead on the path. Wise choice.
Finally arriving outside the throne room, I dismount, following Ezra and Ren inside. The musk from the stone corridor fills my nose as we enter, reminding me of a damp cave. Light streams in from the windows, the massive floor shining in beams from the afternoon sun.
We arrive just below the dais where King Elion sits, Theron to his right. The king’s white hair is slicked back, arms resting on either side of him as he strokes the throne. He doesn’t look angry, but he doesn’t look happy either. Almost annoyed.
“Your Majesty,” we say, bowing in unison.
“Isa, what’s the update?” he questions, amber eyes swiveling to me, and my stomach dips.
“We tracked our target to Sylvanor and quickly found him on the third night from a local lead. He was just outside of the town when Ren showed up and helped me finish the job. It was swift,” I say, dipping my chin.
Ren’s eyes flare as he glances my way as if he can’t believe I acknowledged his presence that night. But I need the king to know that I wasn’t alone, as long as Ren keeps to himself about what he thinks went on at the Silver Lily and Helga’s son.
I don’t think the king cares about how I finished the job, but if he thinks fraternizing was the reason I failed my mission, he may think otherwise. And I can’t risk it.
With my face forward, I mask my features—a king’s assassin trying to finish her mission. That’s all.
“How did you dispose of him?” Elion asks.
“I buried him myself, just outside of Sylvanor, so we were not searched for after,” I say.
“Ren, is this true?” he asks, stroking his beard.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Ren says.
“Where was Ezra during this?” Elion shifts his attention to Ezra, who nervously shuffles his feet.
“I was following a trail when the target was found. Ren beat me to the scene,” Ezra explains.
The king grunts his understanding, looking out one of the windows before facing us again. A silent moment passes as he holds our gazes, as if he’s thinking.
“Ren can clearly follow through on missions nicely,” Elion says finally.
I refrain from furrowing my brows, stilling my features into neutrality, but my eyes flick to Ren.
Elion continues, “With this mission now complete, I’m placing Ren as captain of the Veiled Brotherhood.
I need someone to give out targets for me as I am becoming quite busy with other…
pressing matters. Matters that require my full attention, and with Ren being one of our most skilled and knowledgeable in the Brotherhood, he’s the best fit for the job.
Ren will ensure that the Brotherhood remains swift and silent in their duties, and I expect no less than absolute obedience in his command. Any who question him, question me.”
Is this a joke? Most skilled? Now I know it’s a joke.
With a brief glance at the king, I half expect him to huff a laugh at his own words. But it doesn’t come, and I realize that he’s serious, because he’s always serious.
Captain of the Veiled Brotherhood?
Ren bows at the waist to King Elion, acknowledging his new position with a smug half smile on his face. Then he makes eye contact with me. A chill scurries down my spine at the look in his eyes, something unspoken shining beneath them.
Then my stomach sinks at the realization that finding my mother and the Siphon just became much harder.
After exiting the throne room with more questions, I’m striding back to my chambers, itching to bathe and sleep. Not getting any rest the last few days is finally catching up to me, deciding to process Ren becoming captain after I do that. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.
I turn the corner to my arched entryway, running into what feels like an invisible brick wall.
“Fates!” I rub my face, frantically soothing the pain. Rydian must be patiently waiting for my return in the middle of the doorway. How does he know where my chambers are?
Just then, he steps out of the Veil right in front of me and blocks the only entrance to my stairs. In a panic, I glance over my shoulder, ensuring no one has spotted him right outside the castle walls.
“What are you doing? I think you broke my nose.”
“Invite me in so we can start our search in the castle,” he says.
I sigh, barely containing my exasperation as I step around him.
His large frame fills the entryway, the space suddenly feeling smaller.
He slowly turns to follow my movement, blue eyes tracking me like a predator.
I’m already positioning myself with my back to the doorway, taking one large step inside the stairwell.
A thin smile spreads across my face.
“Invite you in?” My voice feigns sincerity. “Not yet.”
My grin widens at the thought of him slamming into the barrier, briefly lifting my mood. I lean back against the stone banister, fully aware that he can’t take another step closer.
“Good luck with the invite. I’ll be in my room, bathing and sleeping—alone,” I pointedly add, letting the word linger between us as I tilt my head to the side, dropping my voice.
“We already have a plan. Let’s meet in Alvonia in a few days.
I’ll come find you. How does that sound?
” My tone is light, but my patience is thinning as my exhaustion settles in.
All I want is a few hours to myself—away from him and his demands. His presence gets under my skin, and my feelings toward him confuse me, especially with how my body responds. Something I’m not sure I want at the moment.
“Isa.” His voice drops, and I catch the way his eyes narrow, dark and smoldering. I pull out the Veil coin and toss it to him, knowing that if I’m caught with one, someone is bound to ask questions. He catches it mid-air.
For a moment, his expression darkens, a flicker of frustration crossing his features as he clenches his jaw. If he weren’t cut off at the entrance, I’m certain he would’ve crossed the space in a heartbeat.
Without waiting for a response, I stride up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. His smoldering gaze burns into my back the whole way up, but I let him stew.
I need a bath, and more importantly, I need space.