Chapter Forty
Avari
Strong hands helped me stand straight before encompassing us in velvety night. A moment later we ended up in the estate’s upstairs corridor.
‘Which one is it, menace?’ Isaac asked while the world spun furiously in my head. Why was he asking me? I couldn’t tell where anything was. Everything was one big smudge.
‘Tha… there,’ I managed, while chills wreaked havoc through my body. This was the last time I had a drink. Seriously.
We entered my dim bedroom, and he helped tuck me in. ‘Aren’t you a lighthead? Who would have thought?’ he chuckled while removing a strand of hair that got stuck in my eyelashes.
I let anger show in my expression, which only humoured him more. ‘What are you mad at me for?’
‘Ittt’s your fault,’ my voice dipped, and the words sounded weird. Isaac’s eyebrow quirked before he kneeled next to my bed.
‘Pardon me, but I’ve never seen anyone get this bladdered with four drinks.’ He ran his soft fingers along my arm, and the sensation felt heavenly.
Ticklish and soothing, he knew what he was doing. I closed my eyes, savouring the calmness.
‘Are you feeling sick at all?’ he asked quietly, softly scratching the skin of my forearm. I stayed quiet, savouring the soft touch. ‘I need to know.’
I attempted to shake my head. ‘No, just nauseous. I’m fine.’
The combat professor, who recently started feeling more like a friend, stayed longer than anticipated until, at some point, I closed my eyes and allowed the silence to drag me away.
Willow and I walked through the Ortensian palace, her delicate, golden crown embellishing the platinum blonde of her hair, making her look regal and established.
The place radiated warmth and the court dwellers… smiled. They didn’t cower or bow excessively, awaiting orders; they just greeted her and went about their day.
And plants… they covered every corner; potted trees, colourful bushes and flowers spread along the walls and in the corners that once looked dull.
And the sound of… swaying trees? Impossible. I rushed to the window; the whole coastline was covered in a lush tropical forest. Palms, ferns, banana trees. The sea remained calm, not like the vicious water I was used to.
What had happened here?
Willow stood behind me as I gasped at the sight before me. ‘The house will be there.’ She pointed her finger at the little empty area by the sandy beach. ‘We’ll probably have the foundation down by summer.’
‘House?’
The little area between her eyebrows creased as she looked at me, annoyed. ‘Yeah, the house. Were you even listening the last half hour?’
‘Well, I’m a little absent-minded lately,’ I tried to justify my confusion.
‘Obviously Alec doesn’t find the whole castle-living thing very up his alley, so we’re going to build a mansion that won’t differ much from the castle but will stop him moaning,’ she rattled off in one breath. ‘All caught up. Try to keep up.’
The words remained harsh, but she seemed almost… nice? Did she want me here? What was going on?
‘I love the forest; the area looks more serene now.’
Willow beamed at my praise. ‘The Earth King used his weird powers to charge up the ground not too long ago. As a gesture of goodwill, he said.’
‘Good will?’ I asked.
‘One of my councilwomen is his mate, apparently. It sucks for him really because she claimed she wouldn’t choose him unless I approved.
I don’t even know the guy, so how can I?
’ she asked, visibly irked. ‘Anyway, so he started showing up more and more. Your brother goes all territorial macho fae male every single time. It’s exhausting. ’
I laughed. She described him well. ‘Why would he? It’s not like the king wants you.’
‘Explain that to him and tell me how it goes.’ She sighed. ‘So he’s been blessing the land, dropping off seedlings for some rare plants and all sorts. It’s cute really.’
‘Are you going to approve of her going to him then?’
Willow smirked. ‘She asked me not to until she decides if she wants to go.’
I opened my eyes, and I was back in my room. What kind of vivid dream was that? My skin tickled; there was a man sat by my bed, facing away and holding my hand.
Just before I jumped out, the familiar smell calmed me down. Thank Gods, it wasn’t some creep like Miriam had once mentioned. I didn’t want a stalker.
I cleared my throat.
Nothing.
Again. This time he moved. ‘Did you have a good nap there, Isaac?’
The hand that covered mine now rubbed his slightly swollen eyelids. ‘You’re awake.’
‘It would appear so. How bloody drunk did you get me?’ I accused him. ‘I’ve had some seriously peculiar dreams.’
The naughty smile he rocked made me shiver.
‘I’ve lost such an opportunity. Why don’t you let me join in on the fun next time?’
Silly dream traveller. ‘Privacy is a foreign concept to you, right?’ I laughed. ‘It was a dream involving my sister–’
‘Whoa.’ He raised his hands and backed off, taunting me. ‘I didn’t take you for that kind of freak. But then again, your dragon does call you sexually peculiar.’
‘Sexually challenged, actually.’ The way he picked me apart was refreshing. It was so light-hearted; it made me forget about my problems. ‘I dreamt of peace between my sister and me. It was… lovely.’
Something gentle sparked in his eyes. In two long strides, he was by my bed and taking a seat on the edge.
‘Are things difficult between you two?’
‘That’s an understatement. But my whole life I had this perception of her... an image of an entitled princess living her life the way she wants, no matter the consequences. It helped me hate her.’
‘Did your perception change?’ he asked softly, and I paused. ‘People change, Ava. Maybe you’re only seeing the other side of her because she wouldn’t allow it earlier?’
‘No, I think I just didn’t want to see it earlier.’ My throat grew tighter, and I swallowed through the uncomfortable feeling. ‘It was easier to ignore and judge than face the fact she struggled with our mother. Just like I did.’
Isaac sighed before wrapping his hand around mine.
‘Your past doesn’t define you. If you’d like a relationship with your sister, you have to fight for it. Do you think she’d like you in her life?’
‘I don’t think so. She doesn’t like me very much; she thinks I’m a whiny idiot with a victim-complex.’
He stilled. ‘She said that?’
I thought back to many of our arguments. ‘I might have called her a raging whore, bringing shame on our family back then.’
The man before me let out a quiet rumble of amusement before covering his face with his hands. He looked as if he didn’t expect such harshness from me. ‘I mean… did you really think that?’
‘I think I was fifteen, and she had a new guy every week.’ Warmth spread down my neck. ‘I might have been a little jealous honestly.’
‘Of what?’
This was getting deep. And embarrassing. ‘Male attention, I guess.’
Slouching a little in my direction, he looked surprised. ‘That’s not the kind of attention you’d like anyway.’
‘How do you know?’ I chuckled. ‘I was a lonely teenager.’
He smiled sadly. Something in his demeanour shifted.
‘A night of passion doesn’t chase the loneliness away.’ His bright eyes dimmed. ‘It triples in the morning when you’re left alone and realise that the person you just shared yourself with doesn’t care if you live or die.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered, feeling his pain. ‘You’ll find the one destined for you. I’m sure.’
He looked away, toward the cracked window. The curtains swayed lightly as he used his power to push them aside.
‘It’s a lovely day out, don’t spend it in your bed. And eat something hearty.’ Standing swiftly, he winked at me. ‘It’ll help chase the hangover away.’
‘Thanks, Isaac.’ I couldn’t help noticing that the pain he spoke of lingered somewhere behind his kind gaze, buried deep inside and quietly eating away at him.
Shadows chased around him on the floor.
‘Are you free in three days?’ he asked, preparing to leave. ‘We need to improve that shape of yours.’
‘Gods, thanks,’ I blurted, crossing my arms. What the hell was he trying to do? I already knew I wasn’t as pretty as most faelings.
‘Build some muscle, I mean.’ He laughed before looking at his watch. ‘My classes start soon; I’ll see you in three days. Take care of yourself, Ava.’
‘You too.’
He was gone. And just as he disappeared, Miriam burst in, accusation plain on her tired face as she stood in the doorway with one hand on her hip, as though I’d done something wrong.
‘Tell me you did not just spend the night with the Isaac fucking Veludo.’
My hand wandered to my forehead while I questioned the sanity of those around me. ‘How exactly would my spending the night with Isaac matter to you?’
'Um, hello, Ava? He is literally one of the scariest males I know. I suppose that might be the appeal?’ she questioned, though it sounded rhetorical.
She left me speechless. It took a moment to get my bearings.
‘Didn’t you warn me to stay away from him?’
The mattress creaked as she jumped on it and lay next to me. ‘I mean, the man doesn’t seem his usual self around you so it’s a little different.’
Okay…
‘How so?’
‘Just less all grrr and more aww,’ she said like it was supposed to mean something to me.
‘Erm… alright.’ My eyes rolled. ‘We didn’t spend the night together; he’s after his mate, Miriam.’
She snorted, looking for something in my expression. When she eventually gave up, she looked even more confused. ‘That’s why he stayed overnight in your room? To discuss his desire to find a mate?’
The little nagger wouldn’t relent, so I indulged her. ‘No. I got drunk, so he brought me back and probably felt the need to stay to make sure I was fine. Alcohol does terrible things to me.’
‘Join the club. The things I’ve done when I was tipsy…’ Shivers ran through her body as she suddenly went rigid.
Silence stretched, and I was starting to get worried as she pleaded, ‘I have to tell you something and I hope you’ll try to understand things from our perspective.’
Gods.
‘What happened?’
Deep breaths. Something wasn’t right.
Miriam’s gaze dropped to her interlocked hands as she rolled her fingers in self-soothing motions. ‘That murder you two investigated wasn’t the only one. The same thing happened in some other town in Fogoya and in three spots in the Air Kingdom.’
My mind went blank.
‘Like an organised attack?’ I straightened. ‘Why didn’t you tell me when we got back from Bergville?’
Miriam’s hand rubbed my thigh to placate me. ‘Ava, we’re all a little worried about you.’
‘What?’ I demanded. ‘What are you talking about?’
Her forehead creased. ‘You don’t look very healthy. And your king said you lost a bit of weight again. You have so much on your plate at the moment… Please don’t be angry at us. It was a temporary lapse of judgement because we all care–’
‘You’re keeping something from me.’
She sighed. ‘Michael and I visited each of the sights since you two found the dagger and a crystal; we hoped to find clues too.’
‘Did something happen there?’ I urged her, unwilling to bear the tension any longer. ‘Just spit it out.’
‘There was a child there.’ Miriam’s beautiful crimson eyes kept turning darker. ‘Cloaked and sitting in a corner of a little house in the forest.’
‘A child?’ Shivers ran down my spine. ‘What was a child doing there?’
She nodded. ‘That’s exactly what we need to figure out, Ava. I arranged for the child to stay with me so I can extract information from her dreams. It’s also safer here because of how secluded the Isles are.’
That didn’t stop my mother, but I knew the situation was different.
‘So… you’ll take care of that child?’
‘Yes, I don’t want a small child imprisoned like Michael had planned.’ Anger flashed in her swirling eyes. ‘Even your mate thought his cautious approach was too far-fetched with a literal kid.’
‘Okay, I get it.’ Life was getting out of hand. ‘There are ways to make sure witches have a hard time tracking the kid even if they somehow make it here. I’ll help you.’
A sob escaped her.
‘Miriam, what’s happening?’ I asked, pulling her into my arms. The hug did nothing to calm her. Her tears continued to flow freely.
It felt like ages before she finally stopped, and even then she remained in my arms for a while as my mind raced, searching for a way to help her.
Our gazes locked before her eyes turned glossy and she looked away.
‘Luke broke off the engagement last night,’ she said after a moment of silence.
I was speechless. ‘Why would he do that?’
‘He accused me of wanting to play house with Michael and made me choose between taking care of this child and him. I didn’t want to, so he said he was done.’
The more I learnt, the less I understood. ‘What’s Michael got to do with anything?’
She cleared her throat. ‘They only agreed to let me take the child if he can come too. Allegedly to make sure the kid isn’t up to something evil. He's a delusional prick and destroyed my relationship.’
Oh, oh.
‘Miriam, I know Michael can be a little… annoying and confrontational, but I think he means well. We really don’t know who this child is.’
‘I can literally use shadows to petrify a person if they mean me harm,’ she snapped.
Gods help me.
‘Okay. Good to know.’
‘Shit. I’m sorry.’ She wiped her eyes, smudging mascara everywhere. ‘I don’t mean to take my anger out on you. I’ll go.’
I caught her hand.
‘No, don’t go.’ I used my sleeve to wipe her tear-stained cheeks.
‘What I’m saying isn’t that you can’t protect yourself or anyone else.
You’re perhaps the most capable woman I know when it comes to handling something like this.
I only mean that it doesn’t hurt to have someone like Michael, who deals with spies and mercenaries all the time.
He’ll know what to look for in situations where force alone won’t get us anywhere. ’
She stilled. ‘I didn’t look at it that way.’
‘Of course you didn’t. It’s a difficult situation, and you don’t particularly like him, do you?’
The crimson of her eyes returned, and I nearly gasped with relief. ‘No, it’s not that. He just likes to push my buttons.’
‘He’s just like that,’ I said, smiling even though I knew she wasn’t telling me the whole story.
This level of dislike didn’t happen overnight or for a silly reason like his petulant sense of humour. But she was entitled to have her secrets, and perhaps she didn’t know the answer to my question yet.
‘Will the child and Michael be staying here in the estate too?’
‘I was planning on that, unless you mind? I know dad won’t care.’
I shook my head. ‘Why don’t we prepare rooms for them? It’ll give us something to do and take our minds off things.’
‘Sure. I’ll spread nails under his bedsheet.’ She smirked. ‘Let’s go.’
Okay. Note to self: don’t mess with Miriam.