“Oh my Gods, it’s amazing. Professor Gerry knows so much, especially about our history. Did you know Eniferium Priestesses were real? Can you believe it? I always thought it was a myth, but they died out over two thousand years ago. Mobitus’s magical warriors were all strong, powerful women, could you imagine?”
It was wonderful to see her so animated, and apparently, this infatuation with Mobitus’s Priestesses wasn’t a passing fancy. Though she’d never mentioned it to me in all our time in Toreshire. Even when I’d told her the bedtime stories we’d all heard as children, striking tales of the magic warrior priestesses who worshipped the Taker of Death above the other Gods. They believed he was the most powerful among them, and because of this, the priestesses’ magic was often associated with death and darkness. A warning to children to listen to their parents lest they fall prey to the Taker himself.
“And the other students? Are they nice?”
Her face fell a little at my question, and I tugged her to a stop. If they hurt her, I would have something to say about it.According to everyone in the kingdom, I was about to be Queen Consort, I would use that to protect my sister if I had to.
“They all grew up together. Most of them are engaged to each other and have been since they were born. I’m new and they don’t know me.” She forced a smile and steered us back down the path. “It’s fine, though, Harkin has been keeping me company.”
“I’ll talk to them.”
She waved her hand, brushing me off. “It’s fine, Lia, I told you I can take care of myself.”
I nodded but decided I would talk to Wista, see about these other students and if they were causing issues.
We reached a large glass building, the plants inside still green and blooming. “This is my favorite place in the garden,” Eleanor said, pushing through the door.
A variety of scents assaulted me as we walked inside, rose and freesia, jasmine and primrose, but through it all, the unmistakable scent of purloe. I searched the space, finding the vine climbing a trestle in the corner covered in the large purple flowers.
Shade followed us in, but Pierce held Nathanial back.
“They’re fine in there,” Pierce grunted, nodding my way when I flashed him a grateful smile. The door closed behind us, and Shade stood in front of it, blocking the entrance if our guards changed their minds.
I was drawn to the purloe vine, and Eleanor followed me to it, quiet until we were far enough away from Shade to have some privacy.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” she demanded.
Right. Straight to the point, and with the king’s words on my mind all night, I hadn’t thought of a plausible excuse. “There’s nothing to tell. You heard the king, we’re getting married.”
Eleanor snorted and crossed her arms. “You don’t want to get married. Ever. That’s why you turned down Ergo two years ago.”
I grimaced. Ergo had been insistent, if not a bit pushy. He liked the challenge I offered since I had grown a bit of a reputation as someone unlikeable who refused to wed. I had enjoyed his company for a while, an escape from my responsibilities. When I wouldn’t give in or put out, he moved on. Last I heard, he had baby number two on the way.
“Maybe I changed my mind.” I shrugged, angling my body away from my sister, instead facing the plants that couldn’t read the lies on my face.
“For King Terym?” Incredulity dripped from every word, and I internally flinched. She knew me better than anyone. “What about Shade?”
I glanced to the doorway. He stood with his arms folded across his chest, but his eyes were zeroed in on me, and heat rose to my cheeks.
Eleanor pointed a finger at me, smirking. “That right there. That’s how I know something else is going on. Why won’t you tell me?”
It was no surprise she had caught on, seen what Shade did to me, the feelings I tried to shove aside every day. I had to smother them. Hide them away because I couldn’t act on them, not if I wanted to keep Eleanor safe. She needed to stop pushing me on this. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“I don’t understand, why are you doing this?” Her brow furrowed and frustration filled her eyes. Her pushing had every thought and feeling I squashed over the past week rising to the surface.
The injustice. The unfairness.
Despite trying to find a way out, I couldn’t stop the bitterness swirling inside me. “Just drop it, Eleanor.”
Why was it me? Why had the Gods chosen me to open the cave and be given these magic wishes. Terym wouldn’t be forcing our marriage otherwise. We wouldn’t even be here.
Even as I thought the words, I regretted them. If I hadn’t been chosen, I would’ve never met Shade or known his touch and the way it made me come alive.
“But why?” she asked, and every single overwhelming feeling spilled over. I couldn’t take it anymore. The questions. The responsibility.
Everything.
I exploded, turning to face her in a storm. “To protect us! To protect you!”
