Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
CILLIAN
Iwoke up before daybreak to finalize my plan.
I’m rarely included in the council meetings with Varethiel.
I was surprised last night when Caspien agreed I should join today’s visit there.
This is my chance to learn more about how their elemental lands are faring and to view firsthand the politics of their kingdom with the other species cohabitating.
And then there is the issue of Aiden’s possible involvement with Nova’s death.
Nissa won’t be happy that I’m looking into things without her. That can’t be helped. I need to make sure she isn’t putting herself at risk. If Varethiel killed Nova, then Nissa could be a target as well.
I don’t believe Aiden would go after Nissa with the royal family and the Guardians there, but if it was him, he somehow convinced Nova to leave security. And she knew better.
Nissa. I run my hand over my face and through my hair, groaning. I’ve ignored her for a week but images from that day still haunt my dreams.
What was I thinking?
I have never put anything over the wellbeing of the Fae, and I cannot start now.
Especially with something so important. I’m not a youngling daydreaming about being mated to my best friend anymore.
She is the princess now, and we haven’t been friends in a long time. I don’t know why I can’t stay away.
The last thing this world needs is a whole different set of issues from me getting too close to her again. I don’t know how I even stopped yesterday. Her floral scent in my nose, her soft whimper against my skin.
And my magic… it has never felt as powerful as it did in that moment, barely a breath from her lips. Even in Aquaria, when I was able to use my magic for the first time it wasn’t like that. Not like it was with Nissa…
My cock hardens at the thought of the look on her face when I realized she would surrender herself to me if I pushed. How I almost lost full control of my body with the surge of power pulsing between us.
The sensation shocked me to my core, my magic completely erratic. Was it a glimpse into how it will be once our magic comes of age? If so, it’s going to take a lot of willpower to learn to control it.
I breath the wind in deeply and refocus. Caspien was uncharacteristically quick to agree to my request to join today’s visit, so I need to use that to my benefit.
I wait until the last minute to join the group. My shocked eyes find Nissa, surrounded by Guardians. She shifts her feet, uneasy. Caspien is off to the side with our mother in tense conversation.
I hang back, taking everything in. The security force is going over plans. Earth and wind travel is unpredictable. It’s safest if everyone stays together. Each Earth and Wind Fae is paired with another Water or Fire Fae.
As if she feels my eyes on her, Nissa turns to look in my direction.
Her shoulders drop slightly, and she offers a quick smile.
I keep my expression neutral as I continue to kick myself for everything I whispered in her ear.
She shouldn’t be here. Or relieved to see me—no matter how much my magic and my cock like it.
My eyes jump to my twin to see if he is watching her too, but Caspien seems too amused by whatever our mother is lecturing him about to notice.
Niko walks up and slaps me on the back. I note the dark circles under his eyes have improved in the past few weeks.
After all the whispering about him after Nova was killed, he’s taking it in stride.
There is no question in my mind that she would still be here if she’d notified the Lord Commander of the Guardians, or the Guardians stationed outside of her home that she was going somewhere.
But my family doesn't seem to care that Nova appeared to have a literal death wish that day by sneaking out.
“I heard you and the princess were joining us today.” Niko pulls me aside, giving me a conspiratorial look along with a quick grin.
“What’s that look for?” I question before glancing back towards Nissa.
A low chuckle. “She’ll be mistwalking with you to Varethiel.”
“What the hell?” I hiss, not bothering to feign ignorance. “She needs to be with your strongest Guardian. Hell, take her yourself.” I fight to keep my voice low. I want to strangle him.
“You know I can’t be paired with anyone, especially the Princess. Breezewalking is too unpredictable to have her with me. Plus, I have no interest in dealing with a prince of Castara wanting to murder me when I touch her.” His tone is amused, a side of him only those closest to Niko get to see.
But he’s right—every muscle in my body tenses at the thought of her in anyone else’s arms. “Forget me. You need to help keep her safe from Aiden.”
Niko is the only Fae who knows I care about Nissa.
At Beltane a few years ago, being around her for two days had me going out of my skin.
One too many elemental experiences, and I tried to talk to her, but she kept avoiding me.
Afterward, I ranted about her and the weekend to Niko.
Now that she’s supposed to marry Caspien, he keeps reminding me of that.
“Nothing will happen to her on a short trip to the Varethiel,” he says. “And I won’t leave her side once we’re there. Especially with your concerns.” He isn’t laughing any more, and the haunted look has returned to his eyes.
I roll my shoulders and let some of the tension fall off, knowing I can trust him.
“I haven’t been able to find any evidence to support Caspien’s theory about Aiden,” he continues, “but I’ll be on the lookout today. If it wasn’t the humans, whoever did it had immense power to make it look that way.”
I nod, clapping him on the back. I follow Niko to the group at the center of the entry way. My mother and brother have also joined the team and both of their eyes snap to me when the assignments are read aloud. I do my best to seem unaffected as Nissa also looks between Niko and me.
Taking the last deep breath, I do my best to prepare myself for her touch.