Ariiaya
“I know you despise the shade, but pink suits you.”
Elijah leant against the doorframe of the library where she had found cover from the overwhelming brightness of the palace grounds they had been obliged to tour. Their tour guide, the far from sunny Roarke Serling, looked like he would rather play with a pack of rabid wolves than lead their group around the meticulously kept lavender and rose bushes. The scent of flowers had become overpowering, and on top of her worry for what trial Elijah would be put through in the next few hours, Arii found her mind in a spin that left her with the beginnings of a headache. Shortly after Roarke announced they would be attending a celebration in the form of a fancy ball, Arii had retreated.
So, she had sought respite in the only place that she knew could take those worries away – if only for a short time.
The library.
She found a medium sized tome with a deep purple cover that had caught her eye on the shelf immediately as she entered the space, drifting under the high arched ceilings depicting illustrations of swirling vines and blood red roses. Unlike the library in Viridya, this one was closed in with a few small windows. Lanterns scattered about the room lent more light, casting gold upon the spiral oak staircase in the centre. It led up to a second floor with an impressive handrail expertly forged in dark steel, following the twirl of the stairs.
Arii nestled on a plush green settee by a window overlooking the city below and began to immerse herself in an unexpectedly juicy story about a young woman who had eyes on the prince, when Elijah’s deep voice had pulled her from the pages.
“Go ahead, laugh, everyone else did.” Arii sighed, snapping the book shut.
He approached, casting his eyes over the neatly stocked shelves nearby. “I never though you to care for the opinions of others, Arii, especially one so immaterial.” He ran his fingers over the spines, before coming to a halt a few paces from where she sat.
He was right, and she knew it. Normally she did not care for things as insignificant as the colour of her dress and what others may think of her. Really, she could not give a rats’ damn what others thought, but for some reason her mind was a slowly sinking whirlpool of darkness and doubt lately.
Feeling her insides begin to churn, she groped for another train of conversation, “Your tour with Kadec went well?”
Elijah recapped his discussion with Kadec, and Arii could not help the slow widening of her eyes. “The dragons? They’re not really extinct?”
“If what he says is truth, yes, but I have yet to see any proof.”
“That proof may just show itself at the ball tonight.”
“Wouldn’t that be something – a party with a dragon,” he mused.
Arii giggled but hushed the sound with the tips of her fingers.
Elijah ran his fingers over a few more old books, his expression distant. “There is something strange about the Prince that I just can’t put my finger on.”
“Well, if what we have seen in our adventure so far is any indication, expect the unexpected,” Arii said as Elijah slid his hands into the pockets of his pants. She surveyed him, noting his drawn brows and clenched jaw. Her tone dropped a notch as she whispered, “That was a lot to take in. Are you alright?”
His eyes met hers and softened. “It was, but it’s imperative that I learn as much as possible. Besides, having you to discuss it with makes me feel slightly better about it.”
The closer she got to Elijah, the more fearful she was becoming. It was all on her though, for she did not think she was truly worthy of him. Seeing him now, dressed impeccably and as close to royalty as she had ever seen him, caused doubt to shiver against her inner Fae beast.
For the first time in her life she was fearful of getting hurt.
It had entered her mind shortly after their time in Colkirk and had weighed upon her like a grey cloud ever since. She had not voiced her anxiety to anyone else, and especially not Elijah. She feared his reaction… no, she feared her own reaction to what she had to do.
She had to put distance between them.
Whatever trial Kadec was going to put him through, Arii was sure that she could no longer be a distraction. She could see the change in Elijah as the days passed. She could see he was slowly coming around to the fact that he could make a difference in the battle ahead, and that he had the opportunity to bring about true change and a brighter future to so many lives. Upon taking back his birthright, he would unite their land once more, of that she was absolutely sure. She would not forfeit her role or the aid she could offer him, but she knew she must step back from what was emotionally forming between them – for his own sake.
Arii swallowed, steeling her nerves as she laid the book on a table nearby and stood, beads twinkling against one another on the heavy fabric of her rose pink dress as she stepped towards him.
“We… need to talk.”
She could see his spine stiffen, and the thin veil of unease settle upon his face that signalled he knew he was not going to like what she had to say.
So, she cut straight to it, feeling no reason to further delay the pain that was to come.
“This – us – cannot continue. What is happening between us, I mean.” She cringed internally but hardened her stance as she waved a hand between them. “If the Fates taught me one thing, it is that caring for something – or someone – can compromise a mission. Our predicament is no different. If you do not care, then no one can use that emotion as leverage against you.”
“You believe Kadec would use our relationship as leverage?”
“I have no doubt he will use it as leverage. Courtiers and nobles thrive on gossip and scandal – this place is no different, and if I have heard correctly – it is possibly the worst.”
“We could just step back while under the eyes of others, for a time. I’m sure we can do that for a few days.”
“No…” She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “I do not mean just now, but for the foreseeable future. You’re going to be King, Elijah. What has happened between us up until now has been merely a bit of fun, nothing more. I care not beyond that.”
“Fun?” He blinked, before his expression softened, “I know that’s not true. You care, and no matter how vehemently you deny it, you care about every single person who has joined us and if they return home alive. Is this about Gunner? He knew the risks when he decided to make the journey with us, you cannot blame yourself for his death.”
She blanched, because she absolutely felt responsible for the pirate’s death.
Elijah continued, “I can see what you are doing, Arii. What of the moments we have shared? Do you not feel that undeniable pull, the fire?”
“Those moments were severe lapses in judgement,” she swiped a hand through the air, her throat burning. “Lapses that never should have happened. I am not good for you.”
They were inches apart now, so close she could smell his heady scent of sandalwood and pine. She had once believed it a soap he used, but now she knew it was undeniably him. The part of him that was irrevocably Fae. Even now, as they stared at one another, tension wavering thick in the air, she could not deny how much she wanted him… how much that primal, wild Fae side of her wanted him.
“But you are good for me. You are incredible, Ariiaya.”
She shook her head, images of unseeing eyes and pools of blood from countless lives she had taken shuddering behind her eyes. Reminding her. Always reminding her. “No… No, I’m not.”
Her expression had him closing the distance. “Why do you do that?” he whispered, almost painfully.
She started. “Do what?”
“Put yourself down, doubt yourself, withdraw when someone gives you a compliment.”
Arii swallowed, throat working. “Because I am undeserving of anyone’s kind words or praise.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because a few good deeds does not erase years of being a shit person.”
“Your past is the past, what you do now and in the future is what matters, Arii.” A pause. “And you are not a shit person.”
She closed the last slither of distance between them, face twisting as she said, “How many of the people I killed in the name of the gods could have been innocent? How many deserved a chance at retribution for their actions, had I just set them on the right path instead? Petty crimes… one bad choice… I didn’t give any of them a chance!”
“You were doing your duty–”
“Duty? I and countless others killed innocents amongst those who were evil, all under the guise of duty.”
She signalled quotation marks over her head with the word duty. “When truly it was all a manipulation.”
“Be that as it may, you were only doing what you believed was right at the time. You knew no different.”
She could not help but wonder if his words not only spread over her past, but his as well. For many years he had served the family that had killed his own, but had known no different. What unspeakable things had he done in the name of duty?
As if he read her thoughts, Elijah said, “You speak as though it is only your hands that are stained with blood. The past thrust upon you was out of your control, Arii. As was mine. Nothing can change that now.” He gently took her hand, running his thumb over her flickering pulse. She felt gooseflesh rise along her arms, and soon enough, those little butterflies in her stomach took flight. When he spoke again it was soft, his eyes on their linked hands. “Your world has been tipped on its axis, just like mine has. We find ourselves in uncertain times, with an uncertain future. But the one thing that has kept me on a steady path is you.”
She felt her stomach dip painfully as she inhaled the air they shared. Elijah’s eyes lifted, and she could not look away as his free hand moved to caress her cheek. Her breath held as his thumb dashed across the bow of her lips, and she watched as his steel eyes darkened.
“You need to stay away from me…” she managed in a rasp.
“What if I don’t want to stay away,” he murmured, lips inches from her own. “What if I cannot stay away.” Heat snapped between them, a brush of his lips against hers, and she could not help the small sound that escaped her as his hand splayed on the small of her back, pressing her closer. Against his solid, now wholly familiar, muscled form. Her hands gripped the soft material of his tunic as Elijah rasped, “You fill my veins with fire, in which I will gladly burn.”
As tears burned the back of her eyes, she inhaled sharply and whispered the only thing she could think of in that moment. Forcing herself from his hold, she stepped back.
“I don’t want to be with you, Elijah.”
Each word burned her throat and tore at her heart as they passed her lips, earning her a feeling she had never felt before.
Heartbreak.
His arms fell to his sides, and she glanced away before she could see the flicker of agony in his eyes. “Arii,” he began.
“I will see you at the ball…” A shuddered breath stung her dry throat, but her voice was devoid of emotion as she whispered, “Goodnight.”
She spun, escaping the room before he could protest further.
Before he could see the tears that she finally allowed to fall.
Elijah
The large room was awash with the haze of sweet incense, thick heady scents of herbs, food and perfume. Castle Ayrith employees slid about, serving guests as they quickly filled the ballroom. A woman sat to one side, fingers dancing over an ornately carved wooden harp, the sound beautiful and beguiling. Accompanying her was a man playing softly on violin while she sang a low, haunting tune.
Wine glasses clinked, music danced in the filmy air over the hushed voices and breathy laughs of the crowd. The walls and table settings burst with spring flowers and lush greenery, against a kaleidoscope of colours worn by the guests.
There were so many flickering candles that Elijah was surprised a fire had not broken out. Silver and gold woven candelabras adorned the tables and walls while three large chandeliers filled with candles cast a spectacle of light over the glittering room. Courtiers helped themselves to cigarillos and pipes, adding to the sweet haze lingering above their heads.
There was a feeling of intimacy in the room despite its grand size, the cadence of the violin rising in the air. People danced and touched, standing close and speaking excitedly. He saw many similarities to parties he had overseen countless times before. Wealth dripped from the attendees, and Kadec had spared no expense on everything on offer to them.
Part of him felt anger at the flaunting of such riches when just across the border, people in the north were starving. Kadec was not to blame for that though, he reminded himself.
Standing atop the dais with Kadec and a couple of his royal advisors, Elijah viewed the rapidly-filling ballroom. Like every other area he had seen in the castle, this room showed that Kadec was indeed well endowed in the finance department.
Lining the walls were long tables, covered in expensive white cloth and strewn with platters of roasted meats, fruits, vegetables and greens. A particularly large pig lay upon a silver platter, an apple in its roasted maw, haloed by beds of salads and exotic fruits. Carved wooden stands displayed delicate baked goods and sweets. He spied some strange little purple fruits chopped in half, packed with black seeds in gloopy yellow juice.
“Passionfruit, have you not seen them before?” said Kadec, noting Elijah’s interest.
He had not, but that wasn’t what caught his attention.
Their colour reminded him of a certain female with hypnotic purple eyes. Elijah shook his head, keeping his face relatively expressionless save for a small tilt of his lips.
As tempting as the food was, he could not seem to drum up an appetite since his talk with Arii. She was distancing herself, claiming she was not right for him. But he knew what her true motives were. She did not want to hold him back when it came to his ascension of the throne.
They had known each other for a few months now, and during that time he had come to know the subtle signs of her tells – when she was happy or sad, anxious or angry. There was a look in her eyes, like twin windows into her soul, that gave her away, and when she claimed she did not want to be with him, he saw the lie. He saw it in her eyes, heard it in the tiny waver in her voice, smelled it upon her skin.
Her words were untrue, he felt it in his heart – in his soul. He had been ready to go to war for her, for he knew it would not simply be a battle; but she had fled the library while shock still rattled through his bones.
For the remainder of the evening, he had fought against the overwhelming need to stalk to her rooms and show her just how much he wanted her, thrones and kings be damned.
But he hadn’t. He had seen the look in her eyes just before she fled his touch, and it spoke volumes.
So, he gave her space, even though it tormented him inside. Tormented the beast howling in the confines of his chest.
Elijah had lived in a royal setting for his entire life, and he knew the protocol and social expectations when it came to unions in a royal family – in particular a king. It would be demanded quickly of him to marry and sire heirs, and to strengthen the Herington line once more. He really did not wish to think right now about that particular burden of being a king, and pushed it into the darkest part of his mind.
His attention shifted back to Kadec, who did not seem to notice his guest’s wavering attention.
“A particularly skilled grape grower in the lower town had a bizarre thought one day to mix the juices of a passionfruit with his already popular dry wine. Now, passion wine is the signature drop of the west! Here, you must try some.”
Elijah accepted the glass thrust into his hands, but the enthusiasm radiating from the Prince did not change his sombre mood. The man’s flawless brown skin dimpled with his wide smile, yet Elijah could see a glint of cunning in his green eyes. Every move Elijah made, every word he uttered, every person he was to speak to tonight would be watched and analysed, and that thought set him on edge.
He had been dressed to impress in a fine tunic of deep blue silk, covered with a black vest and coat embroidered with silver thread. Upon reflection in the mirror before he had headed down to the party, he swore the design resembled a dragon, open jaws and spread wings meticulously hidden amongst weaving vines and roses. He felt strange in such fine, polished attire, so used to the weight of armour and leather. He had refused to be without a weapon though, and thankfully Kadec had agreed. Who knew who could be lurking in the shadows, even at a party such as this?
The sword nestled at his hip, pommel just peeking from beneath his coat. Even now, he found old habits rise as his palm hovered within easy, subtle reach of the weapon. Standing upon the dais, overlooking the ball, Elijah felt a sad sense of déjà vu. Countless times had he stood back, watching from the shadows as Lorch entertained guests. He would have put his life on the line without a thought to protect him, and even now Elijah was sure he still would. There was a void in his gut that churned every time he thought of his friend… his brother.
The difference now was that the guests’ eyes sought him out, assessed him, gazed upon him with awe, curiosity – and mild distrust. He could see it as plain as day on each courtier who looked his way, chatting to others in swift whispers while hardly breaking their stares.
The crystal flute tingled against his fingertips, and he sucked in a swift breath in an attempt to subdue the magic sizzling along his nerve endings. Seemingly unbeknownst to his discomfort, Kadec clinked his glass against Elijah’s before moving to the middle of the dais. Steeling his spine and breathing deeply again, Elijah joined him.
As he did, he saw her.
Ariiaya.
She stepped into the room alongside Nemesis and Krepth, her chin high, her strides elegant. Her hair was swept up on one side, pinned with a glittering silver hairpiece, the remainder loose and draped over her shoulder, honey tipped ends styled into perfect, lightly curled waves. Her bright purple eyes were lined with kohl and a hint of dark powder on her eyelids. The dessert-hued dress she had worn earlier was gone, replaced with a gown the colour of deep amethyst, hugging her curves and falling to the floor like liquid. The sleeveless bodice hugged her tight, complementing the light olive of her skin. As she moved, he saw the material shimmer, as if the night sky had been pulled into making the enchanting fabric. It wasn’t until his eyes lifted from her gown and back to her beautiful face that Elijah realised he had been holding his breath.
Their gazes met briefly, and she was first to break away, turning to join her friends who had gathered nearby.
But not before he saw a flash of longing and pain cross her face.
When Elijah’s attention returned to the prince, Kadec’s eyes were on him, brows raised ever so slightly.
Elijah internally kicked himself at his slip. To cover it up, he lifted his glass in a small salute, which thankfully Kadec took as a sign to begin their introductions. The Prince’s smile was wide as he threw his hands out, gesturing to the full room below. The music eased and conversation paused as the Prince addressed his audience.
“My esteemed guests! Welcome to Ayrith! Please join me in a warm welcome to a very special guest tonight, for I have no doubt you have all heard the rumours. Yes, Eliverus Herington – the Prince who was lost – is lost no more.” Kadec moved into a sweeping bow, which was mirrored by all of the people below. “Please drink, eat and converse, for our long-lost ally has much to catch up on. Make him welcome. Tonight, my home is yours!”
No sooner had he finished his speech, the music began anew, slightly more upbeat than before. Elijah couldn’t deny the tingle of nerves he felt along his skin, his senses high in preparation for whatever Kadec was going to test him on, and his gut feeling was that it was going to be far more complicated than just talking to a few councilmen and pretty courtiers. There was a gleam in the Prince’s eyes that hinted at power, and Elijah had to ensure he had his wits about him.
So, he nursed the wine for the time being, smiling with as much friendliness as he could muster as a small group of courtiers approached him. The women batted their eyelashes and the men sized him up, their eyes taking in every little detail from his hair to his shoes. He knew they were seeking out signs of weakness, or any titbit of gossip that they could take away from this night.
Kadec tilted his head towards a small sea of colourful dresses, the wearers fidgeting and eager faces bright. “Time to mingle, Your Highness.”
Elijah swallowed, forced a small smile and followed Kadec’s lead.
Ariiaya
“Arii, Nem! You both look absolutely incredible!” breathed Tikkani, fingering the soft silk of Nem’s midnight dress. “Gods, it looks like you’re draped in the night sky!”
Quinn bumped his hip against Tikkani’s. “You look just as beautiful, Tikk,” he said with a smile, causing the young woman to sigh and lace her fingers with his.
Arii’s eyes skipped across each of her friends. Nem was dressed in a gown the colour of raven’s wings with tiny beads glittering in the fabric, and indeed it looked like a night sky full of stars. Tikkani was in silver, her brown hair pulled into an elaborate bun accentuating her high cheekbones and uptilted, golden eyes. Her skin was clean of the grime of travel, cheeks tinged with pink. She looked the happiest that Arii had seen her in weeks. Quinn was polished in a dark grey suit, silver embroidered sleeves. He held out his arm to Tikkani, bowing slightly as he said, “Care to dance, m’lady?”
Tikkani practically swooned, throwing Arii a grin over her shoulder as they headed to the dancefloor.
Arii couldn’t help a smile in response.
“Ah young love,” sighed Krepth, watching in their wake. Arii leaned her hip against the heavy table, popping a grape in her mouth as she eyed her oldest friend. He wore a suit of deep, dark green, stitched with a shiny green thread. His hair had even been brushed, the inky strands clean and shiny. Deliberately loosening her limbs, Arii plastered on a fake smile to hide the turmoil of pain she felt inside after seeing Elijah atop the dais, looking like pure royalty.
“Speaking of love…” purred the Shifter.
Krepth’s words had her halting a second grape between her teeth.
“Are we truly to start this again? Right now?” She could not mask the bite in her words. Trust Krepth to rouse her short-leashed temper.
Nem shifted in her peripheral vision, “I have to take Arii’s side on this one, Krepth. Shut your trap.”
“Are we all going to ignore the way he looked at her just moments ago? Even I felt the temperature of the room rise a few degrees.”
Arii glared. “Do you have a fucking death wish tonight? I don’t think Kadec would take kindly to a murder on his dancefloor.”
“Krepth…” Nem warned.
“Hah, calm down, little Fury. Lighten up, make small talk and drink wine. I’m going to go keep an eye on our Prince and see what kind of dirt I can dish up. I do love a good party.” His smile was lupine as he threw Nem a wink, before disappearing into the crowd.
Arii exhaled, swiping a glass of wine from a passing server and throwing it back with far too much enthusiasm. When she stifled a cough with the back of her hand, Nem said gently, “Will you be alright tonight?”
Shortly after Arii had fled the library, she ran into Nem, who – to Arii’s embarrassment – had seen the tears as they flowed down her cheeks and blotted her ghastly pink gown. She had attempted to hide them with swift swipes of her hands and fingers, but that was no use, with the bond they shared. Before Arii could protest, the silver-haired Fae had led her back to Arii’s rooms, where Arii repeated what she had said to Elijah.
As she had a few hours ago, Nem repeated the words now, her intense, unblinking gaze never wavering, “You’re wrong, you know.”
“Nem, please…”
“It pains me, and your friends, to see you torment yourself like this when we can all plainly see what has been growing between you two over the last few weeks.”
Arii kept her eyes on the flurry of dancing bodies on the polished marble dancefloor. “I’m doing what is best for him… for us both.”
“You’re stronger together than you are apart.” Nem threw back.
Arii rounded on her friend, voice hushed and laced with anguish. “And when this is all over, when he ascends the throne and becomes King, what then? He cannot be with an assassin, there is no future with someone born of dregs and not of noble birth. You know royal protocols. I’m saving us both a whole lot of future hurt.”
Nem met her stare with one of her own, unflinching and calm. “I feel Elijah would bend all the rules to be with you. You yourself advocate for him to bring about change, and I’m sure that could also translate into being with the one who makes you happy above any royal protocol.”
Arii huffed, crossing her arms and casting her eye over Luc and Emerson, who danced nearby. Their faces were lit with happiness, their affection on full display without a care for who could be watching. Arii had never been one to wish for a relationship like that in the past, but she was finding a shift in perspective on many things since allowing her emotions to take hold.
“Be that as it may, I cannot imagine myself as Queen. I’m not cut out for the duties it entails.”
“A Queen acts with the land’s best interests in mind. Is that not what you have been doing this entire time?” Nem pointed out, her eyes finally breaking away to search amongst the crowd. “Personally, I think you would make an astounding Queen.”
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Arii murmured, “Gods help me, is no one on my side? I’m going to get another drink.” Slipping away from the table, she slid along the outskirts of the party.
Her eyes, of their own accord, sought the floor for Elijah. She would keep her word and maintain a distance, but that did not mean she would let her guard fall. She would be naive to think that danger could not touch them here. Not everyone in this glittering throne room could be happy about the return of the true King of the north.
Elijah stood a few paces down from the dais, conversing with two immaculately dressed courtiers, a young woman and a man. Judging by the jewels draped around their necks and rings glinting on their fingers, Arii assumed them to be nobles, no doubt. The woman, much younger than the man, smiled and swept her gaze low as he gestured towards her. The woman fluttered her lashes, and it was then that Arii realised what was happening.
The man was introducing his daughter in hopes of sparking a union.
She knew that this was going to happen. Now with the return of the King, she had to expect that noblemen would be offering up their daughters in the hope they might catch his eye and seal their future with the prospect of marriage.
The thought of Elijah marrying someone else had a sick feeling welling in her stomach, and the feeling turned to nausea when he offered the girl a tentative smile and the crook of his arm.
As if sensing her attention, Elijah’s eyes lifted and locked with hers.
She couldn’t look away.
Suddenly an arm looped with hers, and she was pulled onto the dance floor as the music rose in tempo.
“Come, dance!” said a voice, lost upon the sudden beat of drums mixed with violins.
The room spun, faces blurring until all she saw was him. It was like the world around her did not wish to be in focus, cruelly drawing all her attention onto the one person she was determined to stay away from. The entire time his eyes were on her, grey and shuttered with storm clouds.
Finally her dance partner caught her attention and she seized the moment of reprieve. She wordlessly thanked her unknown saviour with a squeeze of her fingers but she could not remain amongst the rabble of bodies any longer. It was too hot and too many people around her. She took a breath, but it wasn’t enough.
The air was too thick, suffocating her.
Unable to stand it anymore, Arii turned and broke from the floor, slipping between partygoers on the sidelines and dashing towards a balcony and the cool evening air. Flustered and not as agile as normal, she dodged a woman in a spinning frock of yellow, causing her to thump right into a solid chest.
“Sorry,” she murmured, making to move around the man. A hand found her bicep, fingers warm as they halted her retreat.
“Finding some air? Allow me to join you.”
Her eyes darted to the long, strong fingers, pale as moonlight, then up to the face of the man who had pulled her on to the dancefloor. Any other time she would be rudely declining the offer from the stranger, but his strange, foreign accent had her pausing. It had a strange lilt, musical and clear that gave Arii the impression of high education – and birth in a land far from their own. It was not unpleasant… charming, actually.
She studied his equally foreign attire with narrowed eyes. Dressed in black, his suit was tailored in a way she had never seen before. The coat hugged his lean frame, dipping in at his waist before lightly flaring into what she thought resembled a swallow’s tail. The material was smooth, the stitching clean and crisp, silver buttons trailing a neat line down his tunic, and pinned on his breast was a house crest, one Arii did not recognise. It was a serpent, curled into a figure eight as it consumed its own tail. It was simple and far plainer than the other suits dancing around the room, but it was elegant and masculine.
When her eyes met his, she was greeted with crooked smile on a devastatingly handsome face. Eyes the colour of a clear blue sky, framed by thick lashes, slightly full lips tinged with pink, skin so flawless he probably spent no time in the sun. His hair was dark, short, with a small blonde streak through his fringe.
Strange, strange indeed.
She had a feeling this man had broken many hearts in his short lifetime.
The stranger took her hesitation as an invitation, nimbly passing her to open a nearby door. “After you,” he said with a flourish.
She needed a distraction, so she took it. Passing by him, Arii headed into the slightly cooler evening air, inhaling a long breath.
The beautiful stranger sidled up beside her, leaning casually on the balustrade and casting his attention over the sprawling city below. Then, he looked at her, his voice smooth as silk, that peculiar accent gracing every syllable of his eloquent speech. “I must admit, the overpowering smell of sage and cigarillo smoke would wear upon the dullest of senses, but upon that of a Fae? It must be torture.”
She eyed him suspiciously, “What makes you think I am a Fae? I could be of elf heritage.”
The man tilted his head, striking eyes assessing. It was then she noticed that they were not the same shade. The right featured a slither of green in the iris, like a little island in a lake. There was a strange air about him, one that should have set her on edge but only piqued her curiosity.
He shrugged. “I suppose so, but you have an air about you that screams that you could defeat me in a fight in seconds flat. That’s the impression I get from most Fae females.”
Hedging, she said, “Your accent is… peculiar. You are not from Fythnar.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Absolutely.” She paused, turning to press her back against the stone, fingers twirling one of the soft green leaves that draped the railing as part of the floral decorations. She had to admit, this man was providing her whirlwind mind a brief reprieve, for which she was grateful. Her chin lifted as she said, “Where are you from? And perhaps slightly more important, who are you?”
“Do you truly care as to who I am or where I’m from, or do your attentions lie with the future King of the realm?”
She felt her lips quiver with the start of a snarl, but before she could spit acid at the stranger’s attractive face, he chuckled, “I’m Nocturne. But my friends and family call me Noct.”
“Well, Nocturne.” She drew out the name as if it tasted like soil on her tongue, “I would refrain from speaking on things you know nothing about.”
“I seem to have hit a nerve. Forgive me.” Noct’s words seemed sincere, yet that annoyingly sinful, half notched smirk remained. His flirtatious and carefree demeanour reminded her of Krepth, as did his dark hair and bright eyes. Perhaps he was a long-lost cousin from another land.
“I should honestly have learned from the last time I pissed off a Fae,” Noct added, piquing her interest though she did not let it show.
Arii tilted her head and let her eyes shut against a pleasant breeze. “The fact you are still breathing says you did not try hard enough.”
He chuckled, and the sound was a curious caress across her senses.
“You’re such strong folk, but I’ve got to say – when it comes to matters of the heart, you can be wildly unpredictable. Well, that is what Kadec thinks, at least.”
Arii stiffened. “Excuse me?”
Noct sipped from his wine glass, stretching the silence between them to the point that she began to feel pain. “He believes your Herington Prince to be a slave to his emotions, thus perhaps making him unfit to rule.”
The way this man spoke, it was as if he knew Kadec like a close friend. She assumed he was human, judging by his rounded ears, yet there was still something bizarre about him that she could not quite put her finger on. His gaze was cool, calculating, assessing – hinting at high intelligence. He was insanely attractive, but his earlier words rang true – a little fact she would most certainly not disclose to him, lest his ego inflate further than it already seemed to be. He smelled of rosewood – spicy with a mixture of floral notes and woody facets with inflections of cedar wood. She could not help but feel like a mouse under the hungry eyes of a cat as those calculating eyes slipped down to her lips.
She rolled her shoulders and feigned calm, straightening and casting her eye back over the perfect stranger. “Thank you for the company, but I should be returning.” A feeling of anxious dread fluttered down her spine, a feeling that told her that the trial was just about to begin. No matter where they stood in their relationship, Arii swore she would still support Elijah through whatever was thrown at him. Noct’s eyes glittered as he straightened from his lean, and she saw he was the same height as Elijah.
She had to find him, and quickly.
Noct moved to subtly stop her retreat. “I’m afraid where he resides now is somewhere you cannot follow, Violet Assassin. He must do this alone.”
She had not mentioned a hint of her intentions, leading her to suspect Noct was a spy for Kadec.
The man’s move was not subtle enough, for she had noticed.
She moved swiftly, dipping and retrieving the dagger strapped to her thigh. She struck, aiming her weapon at his stomach. As quick as the movement was, it was not quick enough. Noct jerked with a swiftness that belied his smooth appearance, twisting to catch her arm in a trained hold. Arii snarled, spearing her free hand towards his face with a second piece of steel clasped in her fist. He dodged, and she sliced at empty air. She swept out a foot to take him down, but the man moved like a dancer – casting himself backwards into a flip.
Cursing, she shot forward, daggers flying.
All it earned her was a wide smile that caused irrational irritation to flare.
“Were you sent out here by Kadec to preoccupy me?” she yelled, narrowly missing his cheek. “Stop fucking moving so I can kill you.”
Noct barked a laugh. “Could it not have been because I was a little bored, and was simply curious about you?” He ducked another narrow slash. “The party was lacking… excitement. This is much better!”
“You’re excited right now?”
“And mildly aroused, yes.”
She made a sound of disgust at his grin, as if he took her death threat as a sign of endearment. She dropped her dagger and jerked forward, throwing a palm out and summoning her magic. It flew to her call, coalescing as purple fire and flickering between her fingers. Had they been in a normal situation, she may have just found this man appealing and maybe she could have even liked him enough to engage in the banter. But they were not in a normal situation.
Before she could throw her magic straight in his face, Noct made a complicated sign with his fingers just over her shoulder, whispering, “Apologies, Princess.”
All she saw was a flash of blue light, illuminating his handsome face, his hair thrown back as a violent gust of wind picked up from behind her. Before she could turn to see the cause, she felt something pulling her back.
Then she was falling.