Chapter 38 #2
I looked down at my filthy, wind-whipped skin, matted hair, and oversized shirt with my long skirt underneath. I probably looked homeless—and smelled unpleasant too—not exactly appropriate for a dinner with the Viscount and Viscountess of Ashenport.
I looked closely at Titus’s even breaths. They seemed deeper than before, easing something tight in my chest. Titus trusted Antonias, so I guess that meant I could too.
“That would be lovely.” I replied.
After a bath, a power nap, and a change of clothes., I made my way back to the infirmary. The estate was laid out in a simple, practical design, so finding my way around was easy enough. I checked on Titus, still covered in fresh fish skins. His breathing was less rattled. He looked so peaceful.
I brushed the strand of hair that had gotten caught on his long thick lashes and studied his mangled face, half covered in fish skin.
“To be saved by you is a mercy I did not earn, but it is a devotion I will carry to the grave, I love you, Danny," I whispered, unsure if he could hear me.
I kissed his good hand and quietly left the room. I wandered around the estate until I ended up in the courtyard garden in the middle of the square-shaped property, where I found Antonias. He awkwardly greeted, “Well, you look a lot better with clothes on...eh …I mean… I just—”
I chuckled. “It’s ok, I know what you mean, I look normal, and after what I went through, normal feels good.” I said, smirking.
He let out an exasperated breath. “Yes, normal, forgive me for wording that so poorly.”
“Of course,” I laughed, then continued, “I never thanked you for saving me, us, yesterday,—but aren’t you worried that someone may have spotted you burning the Temple down and you will be reprimanded for it, the Holy Guards will burn you alive for what you did.” I said, concerned.
“Not to worry Amarilies looks like every other semi common yellow dragon in the kingdom, and my tawny saddle isn’t visible from the ground at the height we were at, it blends too much into her scales.
—Nobody saw us. According to my father’s missives that have already arrived, the official preliminary report is,…
you, the High Lord and the council, and Aurelius all died by a suspected rogue dragon attack, and that I have fled into hiding for the time being for protection in case of a targeted attack while General Cercies and his captains further investigate the incident. ”
Relief flooded my chest at the confirmation that Cercies made it out before the Temple came down. Stringing my thoughts together, I asked, “So… it’s all over then, the council is gone and the Temple doesn’t have control over the Kingdom of Flames laws anymore?”
He sighed. “There is still much to figure out, like I said Lord Titus surviving was not a part of the plan, if he lives, he will be instrumental in what’s to come.”
Confused, I asked, “What’s to come?”
He smiled and looked down at his feet with his hands in the pockets of his formal attire. “All will be explained at dinner; come I will escort you; it’s nearly time.”
Antonias walked me up the stairs into the lavish estate where two doorkeepers opened the heavy doors adorned in decorative iron swirls, revealing an opulent foyer and formal dining room.
A different group of attendants swung open the glass French doors leading into the dining room, where the Viscount and Viscountess were already in their seats.
Antonias bowed and I tried my best, but failed miserably, at a wobbly curtsy.
The Fire Fae couple stood from their seats and eagerly greeted us.
His mother scurried to him; he met her halfway and they collided into a loving embrace. He hugged his mother so tightly her toes hovered above the ground.
“Antonias, my beautiful son, so wonderful to see you!” She exclaimed in a shaky voice.
“Your mother has cursed me every day that you have been gone for getting you a seat on the council.” A gruff male voice taunted.
“Oh, mother go easy on the old male, or he will be completely bald before soon.” Antonias replied teasingly.
“Yes, we all know dear Antonias is the favorite.” A shrewd female voice said from behind.
In walked a beautiful young blonde Fire Fae in her late teens, or early twenties, dressed in a lavish full gown of sparkling blues.
“Good to see you too Alina.” He replied to the young female.
She smiled lovingly and replied, “I’m glad you’re home big brother, since you left mother and father have been paying much closer attention to my social life and I don’t quite like the intrusion.”
The family shared a laugh while Alina hugged her brother. Antonias went to shake his father’s hand, to which he took and then pulled him into his chest for a big bear hug.
I stood in the background and watched as this loving family reunited, and a rush of emotions rolled through me—jealousy, happiness, sadness, and hope. This seemingly ordinary moment in so many people’s lives was something I never had: a family.
Absorbed in the happiness of reuniting with his family, Antonias suddenly recalled my presence and formally introduced me: "This is Lady Delilah from the human realm and chosen mate of Lord Titus."
Three sets of amber eyes looked to me in wide-eyed curiosity.
“So, it is true, you are a mortal…” The Viscountess said with a look of bewilderment across her face.
“Come have a seat Lady Delilah, you are our honored guest.” His father said.
I scooped the bulk of my periwinkle skirts to sit into the upholstered dining chair.
Fire sprites had laid out a spread of seafood and pasta that looked and smelled amazing.
I waited for them to do the prayer I had seen Titus do so many times with his fist over his heart, but they didn’t.
They didn’t pray here—not like in Embris.
Instead, they immediately took to their silverware and began eating.
I cleared my throat to break the ice. “Your city is lovely, when I woke up on Amarilies, I wasn’t sure I was in the Kingdom of Flame anymore.”
The family exchanged glances and chuckled in their throats. “Thank you,—Yes the seaside region is different from the rest of the kingdom in more ways than one.” His father said ambiguously.
“The way the sea fills the streets…almost reminds me of…” I stopped and held my tongue, not knowing if comparing their city to that of their enemy’s capital would be an insult.
“Coralis Falls?! Have you been? My niece is an archivist there, absolutely gorgeous city—Stunning really!” His mother cut me off.
Her niece? She couldn’t mean Saraswati. She was a Water Fae, and to what Titus had told me, the Fae in Nevaehun only mated with their own elemental kind.
“Your niece? Saraswati?” I asked delicately.
All three sets of amber eyes lit up in my direction. “Why yes! You know of her?”
“Yes, we met, she’s...um…an acquaintance of Titus’s—, we were seeking information on the human realm, and he thought she could help.” I explained, providing just enough information.
“What a small realm!!” His mother said with delight in her voice.
Forks and knives clanked and the quiet lull fell once again. I cleared my throat and asked, “what kind of dragon is that out front, the sculpture in the fountain, I’ve never seen one like that before?”
They exchanged a knowing glance, and something in the room tightened—subtle, but noticeable. The air felt…thicker with secrets.
I looked down at my plate to twirl some pasta onto my three-pronged fork. When I looked up, the air escaped my lungs in utter disbelief and shock.
The Viscountess who had seemed like a typical Fire Fae female with her blonde hair, amber eyes, and golden skin, had completely transformed. Her eyes were now a lilac purple, her gold skin pale with patches of shimmering purple scales, and she had beautiful lilac-tinted translucent butterfly wings.
I dropped my fork, eyes widened and mouth agape. “Tis a water dragon my dear.” She replied.
I scanned the faces around the table, and Antonias and Alina both had lilac eyes instead of the traditional burning amber, but otherwise still seemed to be Fire Fae. The Viscount’s appearance stayed the same.
“You’re a Water Fae?” I asked bewildered and confused. “Yes, my dear, I keep a glamour as do our children so I trust that you can keep our secret?” She asked kindly as her wings fluttered.
“Half breeds are often killed as infants by the Holy Guard for having what they deem impure and weaker blood, so, it is imperative to all of our safety you do not reveal my mate’s or children’s identity.” The viscount said.
I gulped. I felt both honored and confused they would share such a dangerous secret with me. Who was I to them?
“You can trust me, I’ve come to realize I rather dislike most Fire Fae.” I replied. “No offence,” I added quickly, looking at the others around the table.
The family laughed and I relaxed, letting out a tense breath. “To that we all can agree,” the Viscount chuckled amusingly. “Forgive me for asking…but I thought the different elements of Fae couldn’t reproduce?”
Alina scoffed. “That’s dragons, not Fae!”
“Alina! Mind your tongue, she is not from our world!” The Viscountess scolded.
The Viscount’s scowl on his face softened as he shifted his attention from his daughter to me. “She is correct, Fae shouldn’t by law, in this kingdom it is an offense punishable by public burning at the stake, but we certainly can cross genetics, dragons, however, cannot.”
“What if I told you, I knew a dragon that was half water and half fire.” I replied.
Antonias’s lilac eyes widened and he quickly asked, “are you talking about Aurelius’s dragon?—but…the beast breathes fire, I’ve seen it with my own eyes— I was told her coloring was just an anomaly, something that went wrong in her shell perhaps.”
“I think that’s what Aurelius wanted everyone to believe, but he himself told me he found her near this region, and she was indeed a half breed, half yellow fire dragon and half water dragon.” I replied.
“You said you knew a dragon…is she? —” Alina asked.