The final hours of the night stretch into pondering over his words, creepier than my experience in the Room of Reflections.
Ayrene slips in with the first sun rays, balancing a tray loaded with fresh bread, cheese, fruits, and berry jam in her thin hands.
“Good morning, m’lady Talysse,” she chirps. “Slept badly, didn’t you? All of us had a restless night.”
My hand, holding a warm slice of bread generously spread with jam, freezes.
“What do you mean?” Was everyone affected by the magical mist?
“The prince lost his mind last night and executed two of the lords,” she declares solemnly, pulling the drapes and letting the sun in. I drop the bread and cover my mouth with my hands. “He said that they’ve attacked a guest under his roof, ignored his orders, and interfered with the Elders’ will. Their heads are on spikes in the Southern courtyard,” she adds morbidly. “People said they died slowly, and I was listening to their screams in the servants’ wing.”
“Who were they?” The food turns to sand in my mouth. Those two idiots didn’t deserve such a harsh fate. Or did they? Do self-centered monsters who raise their hand at a woman deserve mercy? Would I be kinder to Tayna’s new suitor if he harms her?
“Lord Haeddyn and his cousin, m’lady Talysse. Did you meet them last night?”
I bark out a cough.
“So, it is true then! They hurt you, and the prince killed them! This is so romantic—” She bats her eyelashes. Living in this cruel court has clearly messed up the poor girl’s idea of romance. And right and wrong, too.
“There’s nothing romantic about people dying, Ayrene.” My appetite is suddenly gone. Dealing swift and cruel justice is something one could expect from an Unseelie, but to do it with such ferocity is another thing.
“How did they wrong you?” the girl asks, her tone slightly defensive.
I open my mouth, but the door flying open stops me. Aeidas stands in the doorframe, shadows pooling at his feet, the sting of his angry magic biting my skin. Ayrene curtsies and hurriedly leaves.
Elders, he looks so smug. His silver hair is tied up on his nape, his jade gaze merrily sparkling. He’s still wearing the silk attire from last night, but his sleeves are rolled up, and I cannot miss the telling crimson sprinkles on his forearms and his collar.
“You killed them—” I breathe.
“I made sure they will never disrespect or harm anyone,” Aeidas explains calmly. “I want you to feel…safe while you’re here. Safe when I’m close, Talysse.”
“You cannot kill them just because they tried to…whatever they tried to do. I had the situation perfectly under control. And I’ve had far worse experiences in Tenebris back alleys.”
He pulls the chair near the fireplace with a growl.
“Tell me more of these…experiences. All these vermin deserve to be gutted. Do you remember their faces?”
I bark out a laugh, but my jaw drops, realizing that he’s been dead serious.
“Aeidas, we’re in the Trials.” The notion of the bitter truth sobers him up. He cannot avenge me because I’d be dead soon. Or he would be if I’m lucky enough.
“You had a visitor last night?” he snarls, pointing at the two glasses, still half full with that terribly strong brandy.
“It was Gale. He…came to tell me that I can rely on him.” I keep my night visit to that horrible Room of Reflections to myself. Don’t want to send the prince on a murder spree, searching for the culprit behind my spellbound walk last night, the one pressing me with those questions.
A vein appears on his regal forehead. “Are you afraid of me, Talysse?” he suddenly asks, his fingers digging into the armrests of the chair.
How to explain to the Unseelie Prince without sounding preposterous that I am not afraid of anything that could harm me physically? I died that day when the sling broke my parents’ necks, and some bitter, relentless version of me still continues breathing, fighting, and shielding Tayna from the cruel world. Protecting the few I love is what’s driving me, not the usual self-preservation instinct, so—
“I am not, Aeidas.” It sounds sincere.
“Very well.” The tense line of his shoulders smoothens. “Because I want to show you something,” he adds and looks away, “something that’s…important to me. Will you be ready in an hour?”
“Yes,” I breathe, stunned by the way he rakes his fingers through his hair and heads to the door in wide strides. The Unseelie Prince has just invited me to spend time with him, and…looks nervous about it?
Suddenly, it’s hard to remember why I hate him. I have to open my black book of painful memories to remind myself that this is the Fae who ruined my life. This is the Fae who’d end it if given the chance.
And just like Gale said, he might be the most dangerous thing of these Trials.
