“My mate.” Her gaze falls to the floor as she takes a breath. Her fingers grip the front of her dress.
“You lost your mate?” I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I’ve heard that it’s worse than… well… anything. Humans don’t have mates, so I don’t really understand.”
She nods, looking over at me. “My mate was my greatest love. My other half. He was a part of me. And now that part is gone.”
“How did he die? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Isolde shakes her head. “Earik was on the front lines when the rebels retaliated at the start of the war.”
“You’re talking about when Wilder was sent to the prison?”
While both realms have battled creatures from the Well since the Collision, the start of the Realm War is marked by the battle where Wilder fell. There were battles before that, the most notable being the siege of Tempest. But the death of Queen Delayna and King Erdem, along with Wilder’s imprisonment, is when the war was declared.
She nods. “The realms were initially at peace after the Collision, helping each other survive. Until a century ago, when magic began to wear thin. The Arch to Sarrow closed first, and that made Lyrichia anxious. We were still trading with the Mortal Realm, but there were disagreements with the use of the realm’s resources.”
“Vaelier didn’t want to continue to help the humans?” Myfingers clench because why would they? Vaelier only cares about themselves.
“I don’t know the details, just that tensions increased until the realm war broke out.”
“Does Lyrichia still have access to the Mortal Realm?”
Isolde shakes her head. “Not as far as I know. There is not enough magic in the Mortal Realm for the Arch to be viable anymore.”
Any hope that I might someday lead my village home fades.
“Ever since the battle between Wilder and the king, we’ve been at war, which is different in Rohldova than it is here. Here, there’s enough distance to pretend the war doesn’t exist at all. There are no creatures from the Well tearing apart villages while they sleep. There are no rebels lurking in the shadows. That’s why Earik made me promise to come to the palace if anything should happen to him. He knew my affinity could be useful to the royal family, even if it served no purpose in battle. When he died, I wanted to fall beside him. But our village was gone—he was gone—my promise was all I had left.”
A promise in her heart that can’t be seen by anyone but her. It’s something I understand as I cling to the silent hope that I can find the strength to change the tide in all this.
A knock comes at the door, and Isolde’s back straightens. She forces a tight smile, although all the light has left her eyes.
Her skirt rustles in the silent room as she crosses to open the door, and I glance out the window, even if there is nothing to look at with the glamour masking my ability to see through.
“Your Majesty.” Isolde bows deeply and doesn’t rise.
I turn to see King Malachi in the hallway, flanked by guards at either side. Today, he’s adorned in black and gold, which makes the sparkling blue orb around his neck stand out even more.
He doesn’t smile at me, simply waits for me to join him in the hallway. Only once I do does Isolde stand to close the door.
“I prefer you in a dress.” He scans my outfit, taking my hand and placing it on his arm as he starts to walk.
I don’t know why his comment bothers me, but it doesn’t matter to me what he prefers, especially when I’m training. Does he actually expect me to fight in a sheer dress when it comes time to help him save his kingdom?
“I heard you stayed at the dinner gathering late last night.” The king brushes the back of my hand, and my skin prickles.
Forcing a smile, I glance up at him. “I wasn’t tired when you left.”
His gaze darkens, telling me maybe I should have held my tongue. He didn’t have his guards drag me away last night when he left, but maybe he expected me to do that on my own. Hazel and Selia never stay when he isn’t in attendance. Does he expect that of me as well?
“It’s interesting company you keep, Elorie. Spending time with the guards who are beneath you. Holding free conversation with your maid.”
“They’re my friends.” My chest tightens as he continues to pull me down the hallway.
“Are you also friends with the Crown that wishes to see us destroyed?”
We pause at the doorway to the courtyard. When it swings open, I see Wilder already standing near Greer, waiting. He’s shirtless today, which makes my throat tight. Why can’t he wear more clothes and not be so gods damn distracting?
Sweat creates a sheen on his solid chest like he’s already been training. Runes cover his back and arms, trailing slightly up his neck and peeking over the back of his hands. They decorate his chest, but his abdominals are bare, sculpted muscle.
