13. Princess Esemeray #2
A charming smile took over Captain Rutherford’s face, his heavy gaze lingering on Aria. “I wanted to check on the princess, and…you.”
“She will be okay. Thank you for handling him.”
“Argus will be punished for falling asleep during his duties.” Captain Rutherford nodded firmly. “And you don’t have to worry about the prince coming around here anymore.” He asked in a soft voice, “Should I notify the king?”
Aria turned, meeting Esemeray’s gaze. “It is up to her.”
Esemeray knew her parents wouldn’t believe her. Knew it was frowned upon for men to be in a lady’s room unattended. It would only cause backlash to herself. She shook her head.
Aria faced the captain. “Can we keep this between us?”
Tristen nodded, his voice was rough. “I also came back to say goodnight.”
Esemeray’s stomach fluttered as she watched them stare at each other.
Tristen reached for her hand, rubbing circles with his thumb before leaning over and pressing a kiss against her knuckles.
He stared deep into her eyes, letting his lips linger.
Esemeray looked away, the moment too intimate.
The door clicked shut, and a sharp, drawn-out breath filled the room.
Esemeray met Aria’s glossed gaze, breaking the heavy silence. “Do I want to know?”
Aria shook her head. “It’s nothing.” She motioned to the bed. “Let’s tuck you in.”
It didn’t look like nothing. But Esemeray didn’t ask, not as she climbed into her sheets, and allowed Aria to cover her with the blanket.
She needed to ask Aria about Colette and her father, but she was far too distraught to continue speaking.
She’d ask tomorrow. She was ready to fall asleep and forget this night ever happened.
Moonlight beamed down, illuminating the thick forest, cloaked in snow.
A distant howling sounded from all directions and seemed to close in with every passing second.
Esemeray ran as fast as she could, trying to hide from the thing that was chasing her.
Her heart pounded as she tucked herself into the hollow of a tree trunk.
“Esemeray!” Elora’s voice thundered through the dark.
Esemeray spun around, bracing her hands on the cold bark. Panic surged through her. “Elora? Elora! Where are you?”
Howls soon morphed to snarling. Esemeray gasped, retreating into the trunk as a white wolf emerged.
It stared deep into her eyes, flashing its glistening canines, sharp as razors.
It lunged. Jaw clamped around her leg, teeth piercing flesh, the wolf dragged her back into the forest, trailing a river of blood.
Esemeray screamed, the edges of her vision blurring.
The pain was unbearable. Suddenly, cold hands wrapped around her, pulling her away from the carnage.
The wolf vanished, and she stared down at her leg, bewildered. No wounds. No pain.
She turned to face whoever had just saved her, and her entire world stopped.
Her wavy golden hair and sapphire eyes shimmered beneath the moonlight.
“Elora?” Esemeray breathed.
Elora’s face fell, her eyes darting around the forest like she was scared of something. “Esemeray, save me. Save me!” Elora screamed. Fire erupted, engulfing her body. The snow hissed as the flames climbed higher, skin melting from her bones. She blinked, and Elora was nothing but ash.
“Wake up!” A familiar voice begged.
Esemeray’s eyes flew open, her breathing uneven. She cried in relief as she noticed her room, her bed, her body drenched in sweat. Then she cried for another reason entirely. Elora, in reach just moments ago, was gone.
Aria was in front of her, bunching a white hand towel. “Are you alright? You were screaming.” Her voice was laced with panic.
Esemeray swallowed hard. Emptiness lingered in her chest, the hollow mirrored in her mind. Hearing Elora’s voice…it sounded…real.
Real.
“It has been a very long time since you had a nightmare,” Aria stated, dabbing Esemeray’s forehead with the cold rag.
“I saw her.” Esemeray’s voice cracked. “I saw Elora.”
Aria reeled the towel back and scanned Esemeray’s chest. “Where is your necklace?” Her voice shook, the towel trembling in her hands.
“I…lost it.” Esemeray’s fingers grazed her bare chest, her eyes growing wide. “What happened to my clothes?” Esemeray sat up, wrapping the thick comforter around her.
Aria grabbed Esemeray’s hand, the candlelight dancing over her beautiful face. “I don’t know if you remember, but when you shift, your clothes vanish.” Shock laced her tone, “You must have shifted in your dream since you are not wearing your necklace.”
Esemeray was stunned into silence
“You knew?” she whispered.
Aria nodded. “I did.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“It is not my place to say.” She offered a small knowing smile. “I knew the risks. Assumed them for your protection.”
“How did you know?” Esemeray asked, eyes still bulging.
Aria’s lips tightened. “I’ve always known.” Her features softened as she reached for Esemeray’s other hand. “You will need to learn to control your power in the meantime.”
Esemeray blinked. She said it like it was easy, like controlling it was as simple as learning how to write. “But how?”
Aria’s shoulders slouched, her eyes falling to the comforter. “I know someone who can help, but he is far from here.”
“Who?” Esemeray asked.
“Torin Rey…my friend.” Aria’s eyes twinkled. “He’s very special to me.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “He is just like you. Like Elora.”
Esemeray could tell Torin was more than a friend from the way Aria’s breath faltered when she spoke his name, with how the wrinkles around her eyes softened. Maybe Aria didn’t fancy Rutherford as much as she was letting on.
Esemeray didn’t mention it; she just asked, “Torin can shift?”
A glow bloomed across Aria’s cheeks. “He can do much more than that, but yes, shifting is one of his many gifts.”
“Do I have other gifts?”
Aria went silent for a moment, then said, “I do not know…there are some gifts that arise when we least expect them to.” There was something like fear burning in Aria’s gaze.
“If there are more people like me, why does my mother treat me like I am sick?”
Aria’s hold tightened. “Because people like her do not understand our world. This Kingdom does not understand how—” Her eyes filled with tears. “Your father would have you killed if he knew about you and Elora.”
Esemeray knew that. It was the cold, hard truth of her father. He loathed magic and all who possessed it. She always wondered if the gods simply punished him when her mother bore twins who both embodied magic.
“Are you gifted like me?” Esemeray asked, “Is that how you knew?” She studied Aria’s reaction carefully.
Aria’s eyes flickered in the dark. “I…am not.”
The way her gaze shifted was least convincing.
Aria patted the bed as she stood. “Get some rest. I’ll watch you closely in case it happens again.”
Esemeray nodded, lying back down with a sigh. She slipped a hand beneath her pillow, fingers curling around the crumpled ball Riggs made her—Dazzle.
An overwhelming pressure stirred deep inside of her, one question ringing through her mind.
Where is Elora?