Her brows rose in surprise at his passionate words. She understood, feeling the same about her music. She smiled and glanced up at him, “You’re quite the interesting male.”
He smirked, eyes cutting to her. “You think I’m interesting?”
“I just –” Gods, he was making her fumble her words. “I just have never met a male who talks the way you do. The males I’ve had in my life are quite the opposite.”
They reached the top of the stairs and walked onto the next floor, feeling the draw to continue forward. She realized they were headed towards the council chambers. Airess’ stomach bubbled, dreading what they might walk into.
“And have you had many males in your life?” Taryn asked, cutting through her thoughts. His urgent tone was not one she understood, an emotion flashing in his eyes she couldn’t decipher.
“No,” She laughed bitterly, and left it at that. Airess didn’t feel like talking about her past and lack of experience. Why did he care?
Taryn changed the subject. “Where are we going?”
They stopped before a door and Airess stared, feeling the pull of the dreamworld lurch through her. She knew he felt it too as he took a hesitant step forward, his brows creased in confusion.
“It wants us to go in there.” She supplied, wrapping herself with her arms and took a step forward. “Follow me. We can walk right through.”
She took another step forward and passed through the wooden door, her dreamform flashing. After a moment, Taryn followed behind her, his silver light in her peripheral. They entered the large chamber. In the center was a table grand enough to seat twelve. The room was draped with royal blue, from the velvet curtains to the ornately patterned rug. A few chairs sat to the side in front of a fireplace. Through the windows beyond, Airess could tell it was light outside. Whatever time period they were appearing in, it was daytime.
The door burst open behind them so suddenly, Airess startled. In came Arzhel, his brows creased in a cruel expression. He held Airess by the arm, his grip tight. Taryn and Airess’ dreamforms flashed as a younger version of Arzhel and Airess entered the room and passed through them. Yes, she knew this memory well. It had happened only a year ago, and she hated that she was about to relive it. Hated that Taryn would see.
“Leave us,” Arzhel commanded his guards that stood in the doorway. The guard nodded and closed the door, sending a visceral shock through Airess’ dreamform. Her golden glow dimmed, her heart rate increasing at what was to come.
Arzhel thrust Airess away from him, sending her stumbling into the conference table. Her physical form caught herself from falling, bracing her hands on the table. She turned around and faced Arzhel, holding his stare.
Even in her dreamform, Airess felt the taut energy radiating off Arzhel. In the corner of her eye, Taryn watched silently next to her, lips in a grim line, jaw clenched.
Leave it to the Gods-damned dreamworld to put some of her worst memories on display for a male she had only just met.
“You’ve lived here for a very long time,” Arzhel said, looking at Airess with beady eyes and folded arms. “And yet you’ve always managed to keep to yourself. Always so shy. Granted, I never attempted to know you. I never cared to. You showed little promise of power, and I half expected my mother to cast you out on the streets–admittedly, where you truly belong.
“But for some odd reason, she has kept you here. Locked you in your rooms, making sure you are treated like the proper Lady of a nobleman. A shame it was all for nothing. Your power turned out to be mere parlor tricks. Imagine my surprise when I am still expected to take the hand of a weldless invalid. You turned out to be a failure, just like the rest of the Haeleth’s.”
Airess watched her physical body tense in the memory. This was the conversation that led to her breaking point. Her ruination of her facade.
“Unlike my mother, I am onto your little games,” Arzhel stepped closer to Airess, causing her physical body to flinch. “I think you do have power beyond conjuring a little golden orb. I think you’re a liar. I think you’re doing everything you can to avoid this marriage, and that makes me angry. Do you want me to be angry?” Arzhel asked with a scoff. “You are my property. If you don’t show it soon, I will force it out of you.”
Airess knew what was coming, remembering the simmering rage at the comment on her family name.
“Do not speak on my family’s name,” she snapped, standing tall in front of him.
Arzhel’s eyes flashed with rage, nostrils flared. He took a calm step forward, grabbing her by the arm once again.
“You dare to speak to your prince this way?” Arzhel spat, then let out an evil laugh, “Ungrateful bitch. Any woman in this court would do anything to be in your shoes.”
“Then let them,” Airess seethed through clenched teeth. “I have no interest in marrying you. You’re a weak, small male and I –
The sound of Arzhel’s hand connecting against her cheek cut off her words. It was a hard slap, leaving behind an angry red mark and a split cheekbone.
A deep growl rumbled in Taryn’s chest, and Airess forced herself to keep watching. She felt like stone, her dreamform unmoving. She couldn’t meet Taryn’s eyes, not now. Not after this.
“The next time you speak out of turn, I will be sure you suffer the consequences.” Arzhel commanded. “Do you understand?”
The door opened behind them, incoming Princess Morana. She peeked her head in, eyes narrowing on Arzhel. This was right after Morana had given birth to Allia, yet she had intervened that day anyway.
“Airess, the queen requests your presence in your chambers.” Morana said, her tone even. Airess’ physical form let out a shaky breath, nodding in acknowledgement before striding out of the room as quickly as she could. Airess remembered how the queen never did come to her room that day. Looking back on this memory in retrospect, did Morana lie to save her?
The princess entered the room, chin up as she said, “What the hell is wrong with you? She is to be your queen.”
