Chapter 20 Tide Changes
TIDE CHANGES
Mathilda’s arms flex as she heaves the armoire upright, and Mina crouches to pick up the splinters of wood from the door.
“What’re you guys doing?” I ask, taking in the disarray.
“You didn’t expect to clean all of this up by yourself, did you?” Mina asks, twirling a particularly long splinter of wood between her fingers.
“Honestly, I didn’t think it would be this bad.”
I look around at the shambles that was once such a grand room. The duvet is in ribbons on the floor, and the clothes and shoes are strewn about everywhere. Entire drawers from the bedside tables have been thrown against the walls.
Evander whistles from the doorway behind me. “This certainly sends a message.”
The girls nod their agreement as I pull Evander inside the room and shut the door behind him. I eye Mina, but Mathilda reads my mind.
“She agrees with us.” Mina looks up at Mathilda, then knowingly nods at me.
“I didn’t say anything to Odessa, but I get the idea that they still think I’m here to stop these things from happening,” I say to the group.
Evander slumps on the bed, his wings transforming into tattoos down his arms.
“Did she say anything about the incident with Julius?” He squeezes his hands into fists, and the action is more menacing than I’ve ever seen him.
I huff. “She said she was relieved that it healed, but that was it. She didn’t seem to care too much.”
Mathilda and Evander nod, but Mina speaks up, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. But I heard it’s like he’s out to get you or something.”
“It’s beginning to feel that way. Maybe he doesn’t want me to take Odessa’s place?
” I pick up a strip of fabric that was ripped from the curtains.
“But she seems more than happy to relinquish the title, so I don’t know.
” We’re all quiet for a beat, trying to think it through.
“She said she wanted me to have a guard, but I was worried about someone tracking my movements and conversations, so I declined,” I tell them.
“That was probably for the best, but a guard wouldn’t be a horrible idea,” Evander trails off. His jaw ticks. The smooth skin visibly ripples with the movement. “I’ll ask Lachlan to divide shifts with me.”
The idea of Lachlan following me around or standing guard outside my room, especially after his comments in the temple, has me completely on edge.
“Absolutely not,” I say quickly.
Evander raises his hands in surrender, his eyes growing large.
Mathilda whispers, “You know she’s mad at him, you idiot.”
I roll my eyes. Evander pales, and his lips press together.
A knock on the door halts my response. “Your Highness, we’ve been sent to clean your room and bring up new furniture.
” A male voice calls from the hallway outside my shut door.
I shoot a glance at Evander, and he strides over to the door and swings it open.
Two massive warriors in black leathers are standing there, baskets in hand.
I move to stand at Evander’s side. They stare at us, their expressions cautiously blank, but there’s something off about them.
“Thank you,” I say to them, flashing my best smile. “We’ll just step out so you two can get to work.”
The men don’t seem surprised to see our group, but they don’t appear happy about it either, as we file into the hallway.
The guards continue staring at us and make no movement to enter my room.
But when booted footsteps echo from down the hall, courtesy of Lachlan stalking our way, the men scurry inside.
His face is twisted with rage, and his large wings flare wide, taking up most of the hallway. He intercepts us and stops in our path, crossing his arms.
“How bad is it?”
Evander shakes his head. “It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely a message.”
Waves of anger roll off Lachlan, and there’s something so menacing about him that it sends shivers down my spine. I’m starting to get a better idea of the warrior he actually is.
Before, it was difficult to picture him as anything but my happy-go-lucky best friend, but now, with the way he looks like a wrathful god, I see how he climbed the ranks to become captain. But it’s when his eyes flick to mine, and softness enters his gaze, that warmth pools low in my belly.
“Are ye alright?” he murmurs.
Our friends find anywhere else to look than us, and I stare down at my feet before bringing my eyes to his concerned gaze.
“I’m okay,” I whisper.
He reaches out a hand as if to stroke my cheek, but then quickly drops it before nodding and stalking past us.
We spend the remainder of the day walking around the grounds and assessing the damage from the storm before Mina and Mathilda have to check on their districts.
Evander and I are left standing on the path between the training grounds and the terrace.
“I need to fill Lachlan in on the rest of the damage. Are you okay to head back by yourself?” he asks, eyeing the Great Hall behind me.
I know he’s hesitant to leave me alone, but I am not going with him to track down Lachlan. The sky is dark blue, and the puffy clouds are a buttery shade of pink from the setting sun.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you later.” I wave over my shoulder and turn on my heel.
My stomach growls, so I head for the dining hall. I missed lunch during our ride up the mountain, and I’m starting to suffer the effects.
Odessa and Julius are seated together at the high table. I almost turn around, but Odessa’s eyes stab me from across the dining hall.
“Helena, darling, come and eat with us,” she calls out to me. Her mood swings are starting to grate on my nerves.
I make my way to their table and see Julius give her a scathing look.
“I don’t want to intrude,” I offer, as he aims his glare my way.
“Nonsense,” she says, smiling at us both. “We’re family.”
As I sit, she snaps her fingers, and a servant I don’t recognize races my way with a plate of food. The smell of the food usually makes my mouth water, but for some reason, my appetite vanishes.
It could be that the fish on my plate still has eyes or that the berries have an iridescent sheen.
Instead of grabbing my fork and digging in, out of instinct, I grab my medallion.
It’s cold. The frigid temperature almost burns my fingertips, and I drop it quickly.
I’m beginning to wonder what magic my necklace still possesses.
It’s as if it’s been guiding me.
Odessa notices my hesitation. “Do you not like fish?” She watches me intently.
“Not really,” I reply sheepishly, biting my lip.
“Well, that’s all there is to eat tonight, princess.” Julius sneers.
He’s baiting me. Odessa doesn’t even throw a glance his way, but pouts at me.
“No worries.” I push away from the table. “I’ll just grab something in town. Have a good night.” I walk swiftly away from the table.
My pulse slows with each step I put between them.
But then Odessa calls, “Helena, dear.” I halt, turning back towards them. “I’ll be joining you again for training. We never had an opportunity to spar.”
I turn and wave nonchalantly over my shoulder. “See you tomorrow then!”
I’ve got to get out of here.
I can’t seem to find any of my friends after I leave the dining hall to go with me into the city, so I settle on retiring for the night. But my stomach protests with a loud growl. I turn on my heel and decide to check the kitchen for myself.
The sweet-faced young girl who usually serves me is slicing up some bread when I enter the stifling hot kitchen. Her knife clatters to the woodwork top as she sees me and drops into a curtsy.
“Your majesty,” she squeaks out.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt; please continue.”
She stands and moves back to the work table, but her eyes linger on me awkwardly as I stand in the doorway.
“Actually, do you mind if I have a slice of that?” I motion to the bread.
“Not at all, Your Majesty. Would you like some cheese and grapes as well?” she asks, wiping her hands on her apron.
Julius’ comment about no other food flashes in my mind. So he lied. Big surprise there.
“That would be amazing,” I reply. She grabs some grapes from a basket and some cheese from a large medieval-looking ice box before placing it all on a copper plate and handing it to me.
“Thank you so much,” I say around the mouthful of bread I crammed into my mouth. She stands there, shifting from foot to foot, watching me. “I’ll, uh, just eat this in my room,” I mutter.
Her face relaxes, and she nods before heading back to work. I munch on my pilfered snacks, thankful that my good manners won over at least one of the staff.
I nudge my bedroom door open with my elbow and peer around the doorframe. Perhaps I’m being a bit paranoid. I don’t think Odessa or Julius would kill me, but it’s becoming apparent that Julius, at least, does not want me here.
Birthright or not.
My room has lost some of its sparkle and isn’t quite the sanctuary it was before.
The new armoire isn’t as large, so all my clothes are squeezed tightly together on the racks. I dig through it, trying to find my sleep clothes, which are shoved into the far back corner. The duvet is no longer a soft white either, but a sickly beige color. It looks ancient and smells musty.
After bathing and getting ready for bed, I slip under the sheets.
I want to scream at the feel of the scratchy linens against my bare skin. Exhaustion slides over me, and a shiver wracks my body. I roll on my side to get comfortable, but it’s a difficult task.
They’ve replaced my mattress, too, and the new one is riddled with lumps. I sigh to myself, trying to think of an appropriate way to bring this up with Odessa without seeming ungrateful, but sleep drags me under, finally.