by N. C. Hayes
“I’m so sorry—”
“I can’t tell you how glad I was to be wrong.” He pressed a kiss to the back of my neck. I remained silent while Aydan continued to wash me, running a cloth over my limbs and revealing that many spots I’d assumed were covered in filth were actually bruises. Aydan sighed, and the air grew heavy with his anger.
“Do you often bathe your advisors?” I joked, hoping to cut the tension.
A pause, and then Aydan replied, “Only the ones I intend on making my queen.”
I swallowed and bit the inside of my cheek. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.” He stood and found a towel before lifting me from the tub and wrapping me in it. Once I was balanced on my feet, he summoned a robe, which he helped me slip on and secure around my waist with the belt. He led me to bed by my hands and sat beside me there, angled so our knees brushed. “I’m sure there are a million more appropriate times for me to do this, but I love you—more than anything. I’ve known it since I was still called the Wayward Prince. All I’ve wanted for a long time now is to spend the rest of my life with you.” My mind raced with echoes of Solandis’s warnings, the unrest that would follow if I remained by Aydan’s side. I thought of all the ways I’d failed him, all the mistakes I had made. And yet, I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more.
“Aydan, I—I don’t. I mean, of course I—I don’t know what to say—” I stammered. Wrong. This was coming out wrong. Of course I wanted—
“There’s no need to answer right this second. I shouldn’t have brought it up, I’m sorry.” He kissed me, and when I pulled away, I glanced at the clock on the wall, then swore under my breath.
“What’s wrong?” Aydan chuckled as I sprung to my feet. When I swayed, his amusement turned to concern and he offered me a hand to steady myself.
“I need to go see Lyra,” I said carefully. His expression didn’t sour as I thought it might. “Where do you think Kenna took her?”
“If they came here, probably your old bedroom. Hannele’s still has all her things in it,” he explained. “Although, I’m interested to know how that’s working out. Catchfly hasn’t let anyone in that room since you left. Elise has been sending food and water in there blindly.” My heart fluttered. Oh Catchfly, you bitch.
Aydan helped me dress. My movements were labored enough that even the simplest of dresses would have required assistance. It felt strange to be wearing something clean; the sparring leathers had become like a second skin in the last weeks, and now the simple cotton of my favorite gray dress felt like the height of luxury. He’d tied my hair back in a simple braid, saving me from the labor of reaching back and doing it myself, and I gripped his offered arm. He effuged us to the top of the stairs, where we found Kenna sitting on the floor of the corridor with her back to the wall.
“Standing guard, Ken?” Aydan asked. The seer grunted.
“Your teacher is in there,” she said to me, pointing to the door to my old bedroom.
“Her name is Lyra,” I reminded her. “She’s put herself at great risk to come here with me.”
“I know. And I know there was no other choice but finding one of them, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Kenna rose to her feet, groaning as she did so. She looked me over and let out a low whistle. “Those bastards really did a number on you, didn’t they?” I brought my hand to my face, where even the slightest touch felt like dragging glass over my skin.
“Just one of them, really,” I replied, and Aydan tensed beside me. “He had his men do most of the dirty work, but it was on his orders.” Kenna’s face hardened, and the faraway look in her eyes told me she was attempting to see what had happened, though I knew she could not. After a moment, she gave up, bid us farewell, and bounded down the stairs to disappear elsewhere in the house.
I wasted no time and reached forward to knock.
“Yes?”
I pushed on the door and found Lyra sitting politely on the foot of what used to be my bed, with Catchfly perched next to her. The fat gray cat sprinted to my feet. I crouched to scoop her into my arms, and scratched her ears while she purred deeply. “I missed you so much,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I had to go.”
“Your abilities are more developed than I thought, Lady Redfern,” Lyra said, now standing with her hands folded in front of her. I didn’t bother correcting her on my name. “It is quite unusual that an untrained witch would have acquired a familiar.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, cradling Catchfly like a baby.
“The cat has made itself known to me as your familiar. Her attachment to you is a deep soul-bond. She will remain with you in this form for the entirety of your natural life.” I looked down at the cat, who had begun to drool.
“If you say so,” I said, setting Catchfly on the floor.
“She will be of use to you,” she assured me. I realized Aydan was still standing beside me.
“Lyra, this is my . . . betrothed. King Aydan of Medeisia.” Aydan tensed for just a second upon hearing my answer to his proposal. He wrapped his arm around my waist, and by the way he held on to me I knew he was refraining from kissing me there in front of our guest. Instead, he nodded at the witch in greeting. Lyra curtsied before him.
“Your Majesty,” she said.
“Lady Lyra, I thank you for your services thus far. You have saved Princess Hannele and Lady Shaye, and thus the future queen of this nation. The Crown is in your debt.”
“No need,” Lyra replied. “Simply uphold your end of our bargain.”
“Of course,” Aydan replied with a bow of his head. “If there is anything you require to begin your lessons with Shaye—”
“I will need access to an herb garden, as well as a library. Preferably one that will contain whatever knowledge Medeisians have on the art of witchcraft. My understanding is that such information is hard to come by in your kingdom, but anything helps.”
“Those things can certainly be arranged,” I confirmed. “When shall we begin?”
“I will require some time to set up an appropriate room for our lessons—and you need time to heal and rebuild your strength. Perhaps a few months, before we start your journey.”
“And how long should we expect your company?” Aydan asked.
“Tradition states that a witch’s training is complete after a year and a day of study.”
“Very well,” he said. “Anything you need, it shall be yours. Thank you, again, for the great risk you have taken.”
“I think you’ll find my vision is quite similar to yours, Your Majesty,” said the witch. “I believe we will be strong allies.” She turned her attention to me. “If you think you’ll need it during the healing process, continue taking your sleep tonic for now. But I would like you to stop using it by the time your training begins.” I nodded, suddenly exhausted.
“I would ask why, but I think I’d rather go take a dose and get some real rest,” I said. Lyra smirked.
We bid one another farewell, and when Aydan and I moved to leave the room, Catchfly remained at my heels. Before the door, shut Lyra called out: “Oh, just one more thing.” She approached the door and poked her head out. “Please tell your groundskeepers not to kill any snakes this week. My own familiar will be on his way.”
“Noted,” said Aydan, bowing his head once more. Lyra mirrored the action and shut the door herself. He took my hand and effuged us to the sitting room while Catchfly bounded down the stairs to join us.
“Well?” I said with a shrug. “What do you think?”
“I think she’s . . . nice. If a bit abrupt.”
“You once told me you had never heard of a witch with good intentions,” I reminded him, thinking to that first night in Ayzelle. “Does that opinion still hold true?”
“With so few words exchanged, my love, I really can’t say. But I can see she has taken an incredible risk in coming here, and for that I am grateful.” His hand rested gently on my cheek. “Do you want to talk about what happened to you?” Ayd
an’s thumb brushed over a bruise there. Despite the ache, I didn’t flinch.
“I will, someday,” I told him. “But for now I think I’d like to just go to sleep. I feel like I’ve been awake for weeks—” I stopped when the door opened and knew in an instant that I would not be sleeping just yet.
The look on Alastair’s face when his eyes met mine from the doorway was that of pure relief. Injuries be damned, I crossed the room as quickly as I could and all but leapt into the general’s arms, wrapping my own around his neck and burying my face in his armored shoulder.
“I came as soon as I heard you were here,” he said. “Where’s Hannele?”
“She’s at the Hazelwren Estate,” Aydan replied from a few feet away. Al set me on my feet before moving to hug Aydan as well. “She’s going to be all right.”
“Why Hazelwren?”
“It was the closest place with a healer that my new teacher could effuge us to,” I said. His eyes widened slightly.
“So you were successful?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Aydan. “Congratulations, you live next door to a witch.” He pointed up the stairs. Al inhaled sharply and then huffed a small laugh.
“I’m very proud of you,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“How was Nautia?” I asked.
“It—er, well, it was—wonderful,” he stammered slightly. “I’ll prepare a report for each of you and leave them in Aydan’s study.”
“Thank you.” Aydan took my hand. “You need to get some rest.” I heard Alastair agree with him before we effuged back to the bedroom, where he gave me a dose of my tincture and tucked me under the blankets. Catchfly scratched to be let in and he opened the door. She jumped up and curled in next to me, purring against my body while Aydan sat beside me on the edge of the bed.
“I’m going to check in on Hannele and arrange for a healer to come see you in the morning,” he said softly as I felt my eyes begin to close. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“Thank Reyna for me as well,” I said. “I left without saying anything.”
“I will.” Aydan kissed me again and effuged away, leaving me to submerge myself in darkness.
Chapter Forty-Seven
For the next few days, I was ordered to take things slowly. Several healers Priamos recommended came to see me the morning following my return, and all determined there was nothing to be done but rest. I’d set myself back further by using the last of my fire on Deimos. Now I could barely produce a single spark, whether I tried or not. The healers told me my magic would return as my physical strength recovered.
Aydan was reluctant to leave my side but, given the nature of my disappearance, needed to meet with the councils to explain where his Chief Advisor had been for almost two months. The Cabinet had all voted to continue keeping my abilities a secret from the extended councils for now, so Aydan and Gerridan fed them a story:
I had received a letter that warned of a plot against the king. Hannele and I rushed to meet with the supposed informant, only to be kidnapped by an unknown assailant and held captive until we were rescued by Lyra—a mortal, and the newest member of the king’s household.
The councils believed the story with ease, especially once Gerridan altered their moods to be less skeptical. Lyra would remain under our protection for as long as necessary, and once I regained my strength, she would teach me to control and wield the witchcraft in my veins.
Aydan also took these council meetings as an opportunity to announce our engagement, which had come as a surprise to everyone, including Gerridan, who was of course both thrilled and disappointed that he had not predicted we would get engaged ten minutes after reuniting. Aydan told me later that, while Priamos looked delighted, he couldn’t tell whose face was more shocked—Solandis’s or Lord Declan’s. Both, however, offered congratulations to Aydan and well-wishes to me, their future queen.
“Anointed queen,” Aydan corrected himself as he filled me in on the meeting.
“I would be more than happy just being your consort, you know,” I told him while I sat resting in bed. My copy of Enchanted, Enchanting lay face down on my lap while Aydan sat beside me.
“I know,” he said, “but I told you a long time ago that if I was smart, I would accept nothing less than an anointed queen. I’ll need you by my side to ensure I keep making smart decisions.” I huffed a laugh. For now, at least, the thought of ruling by Aydan’s side did not frighten me.
“Your Majesty . . . my lady?” Elise said from the doorway. Aydan turned his attention to her. “Lord Gerridan and Princess Hannele have arrived.” Aydan thanked her and stood to help me from the bed. When Elise and Isolde had come to tend to me after I returned, Isolde had held back tears, telling me how worried she’d been. Elise simply looked me over, embraced me briefly, and announced that she would run me a bath. I had not yet been to visit Zale and Tory in the kitchens but was told they sent their love.
Aydan helped me to the sitting room, where Alastair and Kenna were already greeting Hannele, who clung to Gerridan. No announcements had been made, but none were necessary. The night we had returned, Aydan told me, Gerridan came home and immediately began moving all of her belongings to his bedroom, now theirs to share.
Hannele saw me over Alastair’s shoulder as she hugged him, and a broad smile spread across her face. Slowly, I approached and wrapped her in my arms. When we pulled away, she looked into my eyes and said with deepest sincerity: “You look like shit.” I laughed.
“You’ve had better days yourself, princess.” We both were gaunt, still healing from our injuries, and waiting for our abilities to return to us.
“I told you he wouldn’t fire you.” Hannele smirked. I rolled my eyes.
“About that,” Aydan chimed from beside me. I raised my brows.
“Oh?” I said. “Have I been removed from my position?”
“This should be good,” Kenna murmured behind me. Alastair shushed her.
“Well, technically . . .”
“Keep talking, Aydan darling, I think I saw a flame on her fingertips.” Gerridan grinned wickedly. I scowled at him.
“The anointed queen is its own position,” Aydan finally said. “The Cabinet answers to the Crown. You cannot be your own Chief Advisor.” Oh.
“Fair enough.” I laughed. “I need to heal and start my lessons with Lyra anyway.” Gerridan chuckled, enjoying the exchange.
“And I hope you won’t mind, my love, that I’ve already selected our next Chief Advisor, effective immediately,” said Aydan, turning toward our mischievous blond emissary. “Gerridan, I would be honored if you took the position.”
The color drained from his face. “You’re serious?”
“Very. Congratulations, Lord Advisor.” Gerridan shook Aydan extended hand, and the men grinned at one another. So did Hannele and I, though she was beginning to sway on her feet a bit, which Gerridan noticed right away.
“You should get to bed,” he told her. She didn’t argue, and allowed him to grip her hand and effuged them both to their bedroom.
“You should be getting back to bed too,” Alastair noted from across the room.
“I’m fine,” I started to lie before Aydan cut me off.
“No, he’s right. The healers said no more than a few minutes at a time.” I sighed and he effuged us back to bed once I’d waved goodbye to Kenna and Al.
Aydan helped me back under the covers, then crawled in himself. “It’s midafternoon.” I laughed. “Don’t you have some meeting to attend?”
“Maybe.” He pulled me in snugly. “This is much more urgent.”
“Of course it is.” I chuckled.
“Being close to my queen is the most important, urgent task I can fathom,” he said, kissing the back of my neck.
“I’m not your queen yet,” I joked, curling my body against his while he stroked my hair, and I felt myself starting to drift.
“No, you always have been.”
~
My eyes darted open as I stood
in darkness again, Lord Ronan’s study in the distance. I approached, the curiosity overwhelming me. When I stepped inside, Ronan wasn’t alone. Brina was there.
“This is where you . . . do it?” she asked, holding her arms across her body.
“Yes.” Ronan’s voice was hoarse. He glanced up in my direction, and I knew he saw me.
“Why?” she asked. “What on earth—”
“There are people. Here. With plots against Zathryan. They’ve utilized this knowledge already, in secret. Now they bide their time, waiting to strike—”
“Then why not tell the king? Why not tell the crown princess, the council—?”
“There is . . . so much to explain.”
“I’m not sure I want to hear it,” Brina said softly. She turned for the door.
“Brina, darling, please—”
“Your secret is safe with me, Ronan. But be careful. Please.” She left.
Ronan sighed and ran his hands over his face, then over his long auburn hair. He looked no older than Aydan, until you looked deeper into his eyes and saw the weight of eight hundred years pressing upon them.
“She’ll be okay,” I offered gently after a few minutes of silence.
“Maybe it’s better like this,” he replied with a glance to the door. “I don’t want her caught up in my mess.”
“Making things work between sorcerers and mortals is difficult.”
“I’m not worried about that, I just—” He chewed his cheek. I waited. Ronan looked me square in the face. “I think I need your help.”
My eyes flew open and I sat up straight, gasping for air and clutching at my chest. In an instant, Aydan was sitting up beside me, wrapping his arms around me, reminding me of where I was. There were no flames, no wind, no ice tonight. No defenses that my body and magic could muster to protect against an invisible threat. Just me, and Aydan, and the dread in my stomach at my father’s words, which still rang in my ears. Was any of it real?
As my breath settled, I listened to Catchfly’s loud purr from the foot of the bed. I took comfort in knowing that my family filled the house, and I knew as I buried my face into Aydan’s chest while he laid us back down upon the bed, that I was safe here. For now, I was home.
