Twenty-One #3
“Mateo told me that you weren’t the one to… accept my father’s deal. If that is true, when did you take the place of Adrian, and why?” I began.
Zathrian’s posture stiffened. “When I took his place, you were already there. I think you were there for about a year or so before I became him and took his place.” He paused, carefully articulating his words.
“I didn’t have a choice. There were political tensions between the Mortal Realm and Wisteria…
and when we thought we had things resolved, Adrian, the real Adrian, was found dead.
Not far from the Wall. It was too risky to just move his body.
If we did, the Mortals would blame us for a death we did not cause…
and cruel or not, he deserved a proper burial so he could go to the Realm of the Passed. ”
My eyes widened.
“So when he was found, the High Lords came together. We had to do something, and quickly, because we were running out of time. Time here is not the same as it is in the Mortal Realm. If the Mortals found him and thought it was us, it could have caused a war. One in which none of us wished to fight. We have all lost so much already… When the Wall went up in the first place, Mateo lost his parents. I lost my father. So many others lost loved ones, too. Not just in our Realms but in the Mortal Realm. I—we—we didn’t want that.
” He paused, exhaling slowly. “I was outvoted, and due to me having the most similar features to Adrian, it would be easier for me to use my magic long-term to slightly alter my appearance to the Mortals. All I had to do was change my ears. I was voted to take his place until we could sort things out and figure out what to do.” His lip quivered.
“And then Gelia died, and I walked in on what I thought was…” He paused.
“I thought you killed Gelia and Samael tried to stop you,” Zathrian admitted.
I shook my head. “I would never. I loved Gelia, she was the only friend I ever had.”
Zathrian nodded, tears in his eyes. “I know, I know. I couldn’t take it anymore, how I missed home, and losing her, and… you.”
Me?
“And so, I made it seem that Prince Adrian chose to explore the surrounding seas while he mourned his sister. To buy us time to figure out what to do, and then I saw you.” Zathrian’s posture loosened.
I wasn’t sure what to say at first.
“It must have been hard, being away from home for so long,” I whispered.
He nodded. “Yes, it was. I missed home a lot, and I missed being me.”
My eyes drifted from his. Zathrian reached for me, cupping my chin and lifting my eyes back to his.
“I never wanted to be cruel. I never wanted to hurt you. I thought that peeling potatoes wouldn’t be as bad of a punishment in comparison to the things Adrian used to do to you. And others.” Zathrian’s voice broke.
“Zathrian,” I exhaled. “I’m not mad at you anymore.”
Zathrian nodded hesitantly. “I really never wanted to hurt you or anyone, but I couldn’t allow myself to let anyone suspect that I wasn’t him. There was too much at risk.”
I nodded in understanding. He was only trying to protect his Realm, his people, himself.
“I’m sorry, Aerilyn, for what I had to do,” Zathrian professed.
Heat rose on my cheeks, not expecting those words to come from him. I can’t remember the last time someone apologized to me, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“With all of my heart and all that I am, I promise you.” Zathrian pulled his hand away from mine.
“I—” I wouldn’t admit it, but I didn’t want him to let go.
“I will do everything I can to protect you, to make up for the pain I’ve caused and the hurt in your heart.
There is not a day that goes by that I am not riddled with guilt over the things I had to do as Adrian.
You didn’t deserve it, you never did.” His hand shifted from my chin to my cheek, cupping it. His thumb brushed against my freckles.
Zathrian leaned forward, briefly resting his forehead against mine with his eyes closed. Closing my eyes alongside him, I said nothing. Comforted by the warmth of his touch. I believed him. The corners of my lips lifted into a soft smile.
He was being honest, and for that, I wanted to thank him.
I had no words, not now. I still wondered what happened in the meeting room without me, who Deus truly was, why it called me the Bringer of Peace, and how I supposedly knew it.
The prophecy, my abilities, all of it. And while I should have asked Zathrian those things, I was too tired.
The answers he had given me thus far were enough to settle my racing mind.
“I do think you need rest. You look tired,” Zathrian whispered, pulling away enough to look down at me.
“Will you stay? Until I fall asleep?” I asked.
He nodded, tucking me under the covers. “Yeah, I’ll stay. I’ll make sure you dream sweet dreams tonight. Goodnight, Aerilyn,” he whispered.
“Goodnight, Zathrian,” I whispered back mid-yawn. Closing my eyes, sleep found me easily. Zathrian was right. I did dream sweet dreams. Dreams of Shepherd’s pie and playing with the nine-tailed foxes Mateo and Nevan found all those weeks ago.