Chapter 37
I’ve been trembling since I woke up an hour ago, clenching my fists as the quiet, frozen forest greets me with an icy breeze. But the tremors consume me. She told me they would eventually go away and that I just need to rest, but I can’t get them to stop. I don’t even know what to think.
Perhaps coming here was a mistake.
I should be back at the castle by now, having been gone two days longer than I originally planned. Yet here I am, turning to wave goodbye before the sun fully rises.
And although I feel sick to my stomach, I close my eyes and visualize my next step. Veiling to different locations has become easier and easier over the last two weeks, the wave of nausea non-existent except for now. Yet the sickness I feel now has nothing to do with the Veil.
In an instant, I’m back at the castle and in my room. I breathe a quiet sigh of relief, entering the familiar space just past my door, but I’m exhausted. My head pounds, feeling as though every part of my body is aching.
Looking across the room, I see Ire perched outside, the window cracked open. My stomach drops, and I hope that Rydian isn’t looking for me. I told him I was on a mission for the next few days.
I still have a day left.
“Good morning, Ire. Do you have something for me?” I ask casually, draping my cloak across one of the settees, fully expecting him to answer.
“I don’t think he does.” Ren’s voice resonates behind me, and I whirl to face him. “Considering I’ve already spoken with him.”
He stands cloaked in the shadows near the door, casually leaning with a foot braced against the wall, hidden from sight as the sun hasn’t quite lit up my room yet.
His large form fills the space, the chamber feeling smaller than usual.
He pushes himself off the wall and steps forward, the scruff on his face cut close to the skin, highlighting the hard line of his jaw.
His gray eyes come into view as he strides forward, his boots hardly making a sound. He’s eerily silent.
“What do you want? Why are you in my room?” I snap, suddenly flustered as he gives me a slow, lazy once-over.
“Where were you?” His tone is sharp and accusatory, but I casually cross my arms in an attempt to hide the trembling that refuses to subside.
“I was with Rydian.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he says quietly.
“I’m not lying.”
He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes. “Do you forget who trained you? I know when you’re lying, Isa. I know more about you than I probably care to.” His words drip with irritation, though he steps closer. “But that’s not how I know—I just saw Rydian yesterday, and you weren’t there.”
My hands clench against me as the shaking persists, and I can’t help the breath that catches in my throat.
“What did you say to him?” I ask.
He crosses his arms, posture casual but unrelenting as he studies me. “You first. Now, where were you?”
I step back in an attempt to put space between us only to hit the bedpost behind me. Then my chest tightens, eyes closing as I will my thoughts to steady. My eyes finally open, but my face heats and the trembling in my hands has become obvious with how his gaze flicks down.
“I can’t tell you,” I say quietly.
He growls in frustration, pacing before he stops, his expression shifting with understanding, clenching his jaw. “You found something, didn’t you?”
“It was nothing,” I mutter, glancing out the window. Ire remains perched on the roof, no doubt memorizing every word exchanged between us.
“It wasn’t nothing. You’re pale and shaking. What was it?”
“I said it was nothing.” I grind out the words, refusing to meet his gaze. It’s not something I can discuss, not with him… or anyone.
He presses, stepping forward. “Does it have anything to do with how you can speak to animals? The last time I checked, Shadovar couldn’t communicate with them. Only the Aetheri can. If you’re from Aurelia, you should be—”
“Drop it, Ren. I won’t tell you.” My head snaps to him as he comes eerily close to figuring out what I suspected weeks ago. And I realize that whatever he discussed with Ire, it somehow revealed my ability to speak to animals. “Please, I just… can’t. Now what did you tell Rydian?”
Ren eyes me for a moment, clenching his jaw, and then perches himself on the top of the settee behind him before sighing.
“I was looking for you and went to the brothel yesterday. Then Rydian mentioned your mission, but I knew I didn’t give you anything.
I realized you weren’t there and that he probably didn’t know where you were either.
I just told him that I wanted to schedule a time to walk the castle after inspecting the map again. ”
My breath catches as I realize that he didn’t say anything about not giving me a mission even though he had no idea where I went. Why didn’t he say anything?
“Okay.” I breathe a sigh of relief, rubbing my eyes. “But why are you here?”
“I was worried.”
“Well, don’t be. I’m fine.” Though I feel anything but fine at the moment. He only scoffs, shaking his head as if in disbelief.
“I brought you this.” He leans forward, handing me a white envelope—a mission. My brows pinch in confusion. “So you don’t have to lie to him.”
“Oh,” I mutter, guilt gripping me. “What’s the mission?”
“Well, there’s no killing. You just have to steal documents from Ekrin Highcrest.”
My head snaps up at the duke of Alvonia’s name. “Ekrin, why?”
“There’s suspected treason. King Elion wants to make sure Ekrin is obeying the law.
The documents could possibly contain evidence of that and must remain sealed so he knows they haven’t been tampered with.
The location of the documents should be in the orders.
He’s offered to throw in extra money for the trouble. ”
I huff, gripping the envelope. Elion has never offered more money for any mission. It’s either you get it done or get beaten, so whatever he wants to find out now must be important—yet my thoughts land on what I saw on Elion’s desk a couple weeks ago. I raise my head to the sound of Ren standing.
“Thank you,” I mutter. “For doing that. I just—”
“Don’t,” he interrupts. “You’re right, I don’t need to know. The less I know, the better. But whatever you’re planning—because I know you will eventually—just make sure it’s good and don’t get yourself killed over it.” All I can do is nod.
Not only did he not say anything, he gave me a mission so that I don’t feel like I have to lie to Rydian. He gave me an alibi. And now he trusts me enough to go along with a plan I haven’t even created yet.
A knot settles in the pit of my stomach when a knock sounds at the door and I frown, shooting Ren a wary glance. Who’s outside? Ren nods in its direction, silently encouraging me to answer it.
In an instant, I cross the threshold and crack the door open, finding Ezra fully dressed for training.
“Hey, are you ready?” he asks, eyes bright and eager, clearly rested. I almost groan. I need sleep.
I completely forgot about meeting with him. We planned on training when he got back from his most recent mission, but that isn’t supposed to be until tomorrow, giving me extra time with Milena if I needed it. He’s a day early.
I’ve somehow managed to calm the shaking enough to give him a soft smile, composing myself. “Yes, but I got a mission today so I can’t go hunting like we wanted to. We can train though.” I chuckle. Not that I mind.
“Oh, okay. Well, get dressed, and I’ll wait out here then.” He gives me a once-over, noting how I’m not dressed to train.
I chuckle again and shut the door, expecting to find Ren waiting on the settee, but I return to an empty room, the middle window slightly ajar from his departure.
“He’s busy,” the guard growls, standing outside King Elion’s archives. “You can wait just like everyone else.”
After rising this morning, I was met with Theron at my door, summoned by King Elion to meet in his archives. My stomach dropped, but I know it isn’t for anything other than the documents I stole last night. He’s eager to see what I have, and hopefully we’re only meeting in his archives for privacy.
I glance to my left as the second guard widens his stance, clinking the armor he wears. I almost laugh at his confidence, as if he could hurt me. But I know that Elion has some of the best fighters and that includes his guards.
I have no doubt he would be an interesting opponent to fight. One hand rests on the hilt of my short sword, itching to reach for it, while the stolen documents from Ekrin Highcrest are held firmly in the other. My gaze flicks back to the mouthy guard on my left, giving him an icy grin.
“Is swinging that sword all you’re good at, or are you compensating for something else?” I ask casually, darting my gaze to the lower half of his body.
He’s on me in an instant, but not before I have my dagger pointed at his throat, forcing him to halt with a sneer on his face. The other guard inches forward a step.
“Try it,” I murmur. His hot, putrid breath hits my face, and it takes everything in me not to wince from the smell.
“Honestly, your fighting skills might be good, but I think your breath would kill anyone before they even got to you.” The guard grunts as I twist my face in disgust. The archive doors open.
“Isa.” Ezra walks out.
I straighten, flicking my gaze to Ezra, who’s armed to the teeth and wearing a thick dark gray cloak, his hair windblown.
“Were you summoned too?” I ask, flinging my dagger back into its position at my waist, stepping away from the guard who’s returned to the edge of the door.
“I was. I didn’t get the chance to update him yesterday.” His gaze drops to my hands, and then he raises a single brow. “Documents?”
“Isa!” Elion calls out.
“I have to go—he’s been waiting for these. Let’s train later,” I get out and Ezra nods, watching me enter the archives.
My pulse races, and Elion’s yellow eyes stare back at me as I approach, stopping just shy of his desk. I hold my composure with a lift of my chin, leaning in to hand him the documents.
“Your Majesty.” I bow.
“It would be wise of you not to keep me waiting. What do you have for me?” Elion asks.
“The documents you requested. This is what I found last night, still sealed like ordered.”
“Good. Did he notice you?”
“No,” I say curtly. “I did eavesdrop on his conversation with a male named Kon. They mentioned something about meeting in a few weeks, though I’m not sure who he is, but he seemed important to Ekrin. I stole the documents shortly after they finished up.”
He looks off, clearly lost in thought, and then eyes me from across the desk, the silence stretching for a beat.
“You did well,” he says, and I realize that this must have been a test somehow.
It takes everything in me to keep my expression neutral, my hands lightly clasped behind my back.
My stomach flutters at the unexpected praise, throwing me off because that’s as close to a compliment as I’ll ever get from King Elion.
“You are the only female in the brotherhood, are you not?” he asks, his tone firm.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I reply, wondering where this is going.
“There are some…” He trails off, stroking his white beard while casually leaning back. “Perks to that. I’ll be throwing a ball at the castle next week and need you to attend as a guest.”
A guest? What kind of guest and what does he mean by perks?
Perks for him or for me? It’s hard to decipher the meaning as I’ve never attended as a guest before.
Usually when I go to one of King Elion’s balls, I’m attending as another guard.
He likes to increase his security when festivals or balls are held, typically around the perimeter to eavesdrop.
To watch the dukes and duchesses of Elderheim, but no one seems to notice us.
“As Sensa Blackwyth. You’ll be going as one of the Blackwyths’ long-lost nieces, and since they are so far from Alvonia, no one would question your appearance.
All of Elderheim’s high-ranking citizens will be there for our yearly Aurorafest. It will be the perfect excuse to attend since none of them have any familiarity with you. ”
“And what of the Blackwyths?” I ask.
“The Blackwyths will not be attending. You will be able to do what you can that night because I need you to get close to Ekrin Highcrest. I need more information from him regarding the rumor that’s been floating around.
A rumor that he’s been sympathizing with the Shadovar, and I need to confirm whether or not that’s true.
I want you to do it for me,” he says, and I mask my shock.
Kiev and Selphira Blackwyth are the duke and duchess of Eldryn.
Last I heard, they haven’t been attending any of the balls given they’re so far north, making it hard to travel due to the rocky and snowy terrain.
King Elion hasn’t seemed to mind though, but now I can understand why, especially if he wants me going as one of their nieces. A niece I know doesn’t exist.
Elion eyes me cautiously, as if watching to see how I’ll respond to this new mission. A mission directly given to me by the king himself. Although alarming, I remain steady as an icy grin begins to form at the corners of my mouth.
“I’m always happy to serve you, Your Majesty. How shall I dress?” I ask.
His expression remains the same, but I catch a gleam of amusement in his eyes before he answers.
“I’ll send you to Karina the day of. The ball is in six days.
You’ll hear more about your mission from Captain Demaris,” he says dismissively, but as I begin to bow, he leans forward.
The air suddenly thickens, his gaze locking on to mine, forcing me to straighten.
His voice goes low in warning. “I’ve spent years perfecting my guards and making sure they are loyal to me—their training is just as important as yours.
It would be unfortunate if your sharp tongue was found on the wrong end of one of their blades.
Count this as your only warning from me.
I’d hate to lose someone so… skilled, and I hope you’re wise enough to avoid that mistake again. ”
He must have either seen or heard me outside his archives with a knife to his guard’s throat. My mouth goes dry, but I nod firmly. “Of course. I apologize, Your Majesty. It won’t happen again. I’ll be ready in six days.” I bow, and he waves a hand in dismissal, then rips open the documents.
My stomach flutters as I exit, breathing a quiet sigh of relief for the catastrophe I just avoided.
But now I have a new mission.