Her eyes are sad, her shoulders dropping. “As I said, no excuses. I could have spoken up so many times, and I didn’t out of fear. It was the wrong decision and impactedeverything.” The weight of the last word is heavy between us. “Once the storms started I didn’t speak up. I didn’t fight for you. Just because you were gone didn’t change Gaia’s plans and she made that clear. I will take whatever punishment you and the king decide. I deserve it. ”
I take in her words and realization dawns on me.
Just because Nova is gone…
How could we have missed this? I know why the storms are starting back up in Varethriel.
Chapter
Forty-Three
NISSA
The last time I was carried through the doors of the dark castle that looms over us my life had changed in so many different ways. Cillian has explained what happened that night and everything they did to help Ophe and me. I owe Aiden and his team, Hazel specifically, a debt of gratitude. Hopefully what we came for will suffice as a thank you.
We are led past the council room that we met in previously and are welcomed into a study that has a large sitting area carved from rhyolite rock in front of a warm, natural fae fire. Aiden is leaned back with his ankle over his knee, showing off more tattoos that creep up his exposed ankle.
Hazel and Enzo are seated in surrounding chairs. Enzo stands, looking behind us as we enter. Hazel remains sitting, smiling up at us politely.
Cillian grips Enzo’s forearms in greeting and moves casually to sit on a couch for two across from Aiden. Caspien would have baulked at the fact that Aiden and Hazel didn’t stand, but Cillian is unfazed.
We have spoken at great lengths about this meeting and how we want to present ourselves. How we want to address Varethiel's current problem with the storms starting again.Another example of a stark difference from how Caspien would have handled things.
“What do we owe this pleasure?” Aiden’s tone is even but tinged with suspicion. I can’t blame him, his history with the Vaylor family would have me cautious too.
I speak up, my back straight and hands entwined in my lap, “Well, first, I wanted to thank all of you.” I look between the three of them. I catch Aiden's eyes moving up and down my body intently. “Catch” is probably the wrong word, because he isn’t hiding it or trying to be subtle. But like before, it doesn’t feel sexual, it feels… protective, like he’s checking for any injuries that remain.
“I’m glad to see you doing so well,” Hazel says in her melodic voice, smiling at me. “The poison from the blade is powerful.”
It seems sincere. I return her smile. “Thanks to all of you. Without your assistance in finding me, the medical help and”—I focus this on Hazel—“helping enchant the sirilis, it all could have been a lot harder—a lotworse.”
“Right, well, anything else?” Aiden begins to stand, dismissing us.
I almost laugh at his impatience. He seems to not like wasting time. Or maybe he’s just tired of dealing with the Vaylors.
“Actually yes,” Cillian replies.
Aiden lets out a long breath before sitting back down. Hazel looks amused, but Enzo returns the uneasy look.
“We’re aware that the storms seem to be starting here again. Since we believe we’ve discovered their cause, we think we have a way to stop them here as well.” Cillian pauses.
“And what is that?” Aiden asks, seemingly bored with the line of conversation.
“We’ve discovered a prophecy that was hidden—” Cillian begins.
“Right, the mirrored princesses. What of it?” Aiden asks calmly. I had suspected he knew when we thought he was involved in Nova’s death but the confirmation uproots me.
“You knew?” I blurt out. “But you never reached out to me, tried to connect with me. Bring me back. Well, not until…”
Cillian’s hand wraps around mine, protectively. As if he feels like Aiden still has some type of right to me, even though the Goddess clearly madeusmates.
He shrugs a shoulder. “I had no desire to make you my queen. I can rule without taking some female hostage?—”
Hazel snorts a laugh, and we all turn towards her.
“As my queen,” he finishes as he glares at her.
“Sorry.” She laughs again, putting her hands up.
