Chapter 24
Theron
When Theron next opened his eyes, it was not to the Loom, as he’d expected, but to the queen’s chambers.
Aurora slept curled up at his side. The scents and sounds of the capital floated through the window, along with the bright light of a noon-time sun.
Was this real? Or had stories of the Loom been wrong all along?
Theron almost decided it might be worthwhile to investigate except he was so bloody exhausted, and so very comfortable, and his wife was sleeping peacefully at his side.
He supposed it didn’t matter where he was, as long as she was there.
“Your Majesty?” Nireus asked in a hushed whisper, stepping forward as quietly as a mouse.
Theron blinked at his spear bearer’s haggard appearance.
“I don’t suppose this means we’re all dead, does it?”
“No, Your Majesty, you’re very much alive, thank the Triad…
No, thanks to Princess Aurora. She raced to the palace, warning of a coup just as the traitors raised their blades against us.
Along with the avatar, she battled her way to your quarters and was instrumental in keeping you alive long enough for the healers to save you, at great cost to herself. ”
Which meant she’d taxed herself, pushing past her magical limits to save him.
“Has a healer seen to her?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How badly was she hurt?”
“By the time the healers were confident they wouldn’t lose you the moment she released her magic, Her Highness was coughing up blood.”
Foolish, stubborn, beautiful woman. Theron tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. It twitched at his touch, and she buried herself further into his side.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“A day and a half.”
“And Aurora?”
“The same.”
“And the traitors, have you caught them all?”
“Those who survived the attack on the palace are sitting in the dungeons. Polydorus’ efforts have yielded the names of others who fled the capital and are now being pursued.
The families of the conspirators have been apprehended and are being brought to the capital for trial.
He has insisted that one of the healers be trained as a poison taster for the future. ”
Theron didn’t like it, but given the recent coup attempt, he couldn’t afford to be so unprepared.
What if, instead of him, the next attack targeted Aurora?
Under normal circumstances, though gruelling, he could survive most poisons.
But his wife was not a healer who’d been trained to survive such tactics.
It begged the question of why Lady Ino had used poison at all.
Had she known that his magic had been suppressed?
It seemed both his palace and the temple of Passion were lousy with spies.
“Who knows that Aurora saved my life?”
“Word spread fairly quickly, much to Polydorus’ chagrin.”
Because that knowledge would paint a target on her back. To kill the king, kill his oracle, who had most likely foreseen his death and moved to prevent it.
“This cannot happen again, Nireus, do you understand me?”
He bowed deeply.
“I have failed you, Your Majesty. If you took my life now, I would have nothing to say in my defence.”
As if he needed even fewer people he could trust. Theron rolled his eyes.
“Work with Polydorus to root out the rest of the traitors. Were any of the noble hostages working with Lady Ino?”
“A few.”
“Kill them—publicly. And ensure their families face the same fate.”
“As you wish.”
Theron sighed.
“Is the avatar still in the capital?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He could feel Aurora stirring beside him. Theron put his hand on her shoulder, caressing her soft skin with his thumb.
“Hire him as Aurora’s personal bodyguard for now. If he balks, tell him I will give both him and Epicasta Aurean citizenship and a permanent place in the palace.”
“Your Majesty, forgive me for questioning you, but wouldn’t that spark war with Viridis?”
Aurora tensed at his side. She must be fully awake now.
“Which is why Epicasta will refuse it, but it is not her I wish to win over, is it?”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
“You may leave now.”
When he was gone, Aurora breathed deep and stretched, covering her mouth as she yawned.
“Really? Scheming the moment you wake up?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“I have few people I can fully trust. Hyllus is among them. And besides, if you’re going to be my queen, it would do for you to have people you trust by your side.”
She shook her head.
“Hyllus has other duties as the avatar.”
“Which are tied to killing Drakon, the same as you. And correct me if I’m wrong, but the position of avatar is temporary. Once his mission is over, what then? Who will protect him from Flora’s wrath?”
She pursed her lips. He couldn’t help chuckling.
“I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing. In my time, the avatar was training to be one of Fae’s bodyguards,” she admitted.
“Truly? Then it must be fate.”
She rolled her eyes. “Epicasta will protest.”
“You think so?”
“I think she…she cares about Viridis. If she wants to be the next Viridian queen, then she’ll need Hyllus at her side.”
“Hmm.” He pulled her closer. “Just as I need you by mine.”
The expression she shot him was tormented. Tears glistened in her eyes and then fell down her cheeks. It shocked him into letting her go.
“Aurora?”
“I…I can’t, Theron.”
He blinked in confusion as his heart filled with dread.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t be your queen. I’m sorry.”
And yet he could see her pain. Feel her clutching at him as if she couldn’t bear the thought of letting go. Why would she deny herself a life at his side?
“Can you tell me why?”
She bit her trembling lip and looked away.
Was it the coup attempt? If so, he could hardly blame her.
Just because he’d become inured to people trying to kill him didn’t mean she was.
Though he hadn’t chosen his path to kingship, he’d long been steeped in bloody court intrigues.
Apparently, even as a princess’ confidant, his little fairy had been well protected.
He supposed, should he ever get the chance, he should thank Princess Fae for that mercy.
“I’m losing my mind,” she whispered. “I’ve been hallucinating. I don’t know how much longer I have until I can’t…”
Until she couldn’t tell hallucination from reality. Until her mind broke. It was as if Lady Ino had plunged another dagger into his gut. His breath left him on a ragged exhalation. No, not his wife. Not Aurora.
“Aurora, look at me.”
She turned up her face, eyes red and expression wretched.
“I will not lose you to this, do you understand? I will heal your mind, I vow it.”
“Madness has never been cured, even in my time, Theron.”
“Then we will change history.”
But she didn’t appear convinced of his conviction.
“I worked so hard to convince you I’m not mad, only for this to happen. I feel like Fate is laughing at me for thinking I had years yet before I had to worry.”
His brows pinched in guilt. And instead of feeling safe coming to him at the first sign of trouble, she’d shouldered this burden alone. He couldn’t blame her, after what he’d done and how he’d treated her.
“Why don’t you explain these hallucinations to me?”
She searched his eyes. He could only hope she found the safety there she was seeking.
Triad, what he wouldn’t give to go back in time and shake himself.
She should have been able to look upon him and know he would never hurt her.
He should have been a better man—a better person.
He never should have betrayed her trust.
“The first time it happened was when I sat on the throne. I heard a heartbeat as loud as thunder. Then again the day you performed the rite. I looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself with that crown, and the heartbeat that wasn’t mine was so loud it drowned out what the attendants were saying.
The last time was the morning you were poisoned.
I had a nightmare and the sensations I felt in the dream remained when I woke, until I stepped into the garden.
Now that I think on it, perhaps that wasn’t the first time after all,” she said, brows furrowing.
“Go on,” he said gently, though his heart raced. It couldn’t be, could it?
“When I turned back time in the marketplace, I felt something pressing against my magic. I knew if I didn’t push harder, the structure would collapse shortly after. It felt big and angry and unfathomably old. But perhaps that was the first time, and I simply didn’t realize it.”
And just like that, his dread fell away.
She’d felt the spirits.
Truly felt them, their anger, their grudge.
“And what became of it?”
“Eventually it…quieted. Like a roar that fades into a whisper.”
It was the same feeling he felt when he toured the cities and towns of Aureum.
It’s what he’d been feeling since that damned spire had blighted his lands.
The grudge of the spirits. It was something only the monarchs and clerics of the elder gods felt.
If Aurora had felt it too, that meant Aureum had chosen her, the same as it had chosen him.
“I don’t think you’re going mad, Aurora.”
“That’s what H—someone else said too, but how can you know for sure?”
“Who else did you tell?”
“I can’t say.”
Hyllus most likely then. Who else would she trust? At least he wasn’t the type to go running his mouth. But where would he have learned such things? Epicasta perhaps, if she were a true crown princess.
“And did they give you a reason?” he asked, playing along.
“No, but they said something was reaching for me. I…I’m scared, Theron.”
“Don’t be frightened, Aurora. I promise, you’re not going mad.”
“Then what?”
He smiled.
“You’re being called.”
“Called? By what?” she asked, eyes haunted.
“The elder gods. Aureum calls for its queen. The dragon’s heart beats in your ears, beckoning you. I heard the same many years ago.”