Page 59 of Terragnata and the Heir of the Earth

As I walked back to my room, a numbness descended over me. I was too stunned by what I had just seen and the significance of it all to feel any real emotion. The image of Fayzien asleep in Cas’s bed was one I’d not soon forget, but also one I hadnofucking clue what to do with. The mixture of the unexpected revelation on Cas’s love life combined with the pain of Ezren leaving was a dull ache in my body I knew would throb for a long time.

I collapsed in my bed and stared at the ceiling of my canopy. When sleep eventually claimed me, I slept dreamlessly.

The sun streamedthrough parted drapes the next morning, but instead of Olea bustling around my room, Cas’s head peaked out over the armchair in front of the fireplace. I shut my eyes and pulled the covers above my head. The philandering Fae heard me stir and parted the bed curtains, sitting down next to me.

“I know you’re awake in there.” I moaned in response, and he drew back the duvet. “Good morningmi karus. Tired today, are we? Did you get up to any midnight mischief last night?” he asked, his tone lighter than expected.

I knew he wasn’t referring to my visit to his chambers, but I said anyway, “I was thinking about it, but the lucky lad ended up already having his hands—and his bed—full.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t mean that. As you may or may not know, Ezren escaped last night.”

I rolled over, facing my back to him. “Ezren’s whereabouts are not of my concern,” I grumbled.

“Ah, I see then. Well, the one that freed him may be of concern to you. For freeing a traitor, under Viri law, is punishable by death.”

“Hmm. Well, did the guards see who did it?”

“Apparently, they did not.”

“How unusual. What a mystery.”

Cas chuckled again. I turned towards him, my head still lying on the pillow.

“What’s got you so cheery this morning, then?” I demanded. “I can’t imagine it’s the time in the sack with that murdering bastard.”

My insult didn’t land. “I just forgot how feisty you are, Terra. Regardless of everything that’s happened, I am truly glad to have you back,” he said, his eyes glittering.

The image of Fayzien naked in Cas’s bed flashed in my mind, curdling my empty stomach. I sat up, bringing my face closer to his. “Why him, Cas? He’s a monster. He murdered my family in cold blood; he violated me. He sank a ship full of Fae and Witch kind who were just trying to protect me. He should pay with hislifefor what he’s done. How can you be intimate with someone like that?” My guts twisted at the thought, acid bubbling up my throat.

He snorted. “Well, for one, I hardly call what Fayzien and I do intimacy. Secondly, I’ve known him for a long time. He came to Valfalla as the Nebbiolon emissary after your disappearance. He opened my eyes to a new world—a world that has helped medeal with some of the uglier sides I’d developed since losing you. I never trusted him; he worked for your mother, for the gods’ sake. But he’s not as evil as you might think.”

I gaped at him, not knowing if I should press further onwhenFayzien’s lessons began. Cas had only been thirteen when I was taken.

The thought almost made me lose what little remained in my stomach.

“The fact that Fayzien began to broaden your sexual horizons—when you were still achild—is not at all a reason I shouldn’t kill him,” I spat.

Cas rolled his eyes. “I’ll have you know, I was a consenting age when those lessons started. And regarding his violation of you—I have punished him greatly. I guarantee he will never do it again. If it’s his life you think he owes, well, that’s not up to you. Do not take revenge into your own hands, Terra. Murdering another in Viribrum, no matter your quarrel, no matter if you are aNebbiolon princess, is also punishable by death. Anyway, as for his killing of those humans or Jana’s collaborators, I don’t know if you can really blame him. He likely just followed orders from the Rexi.”

I bristled at the way he saidthose humans.“What do you mean? How couldshehave ordered him to kill my human family? She would’ve had to have known…” I trailed off.

She would’ve had to have known I was alive.

“Cas,” I breathed, “Jana made it sound like Fayzien kidnapped me and killed Viturius of his own volition, because he was threatened by my existence or something. But he did it under orders, didn’t he?”

He exhaled through clenched teeth. “I believe so, yes.”

“Why?” I whispered, fear blooming in my chest.Why would my birthmother have my birthfather killed… and me hidden?

“I’m still working on that,mi karus. It took me long enough just tofindyou; it will take me a while to figure out the evil Witch queen’s master plan,” he said, attempting to inject humor into his tone. “And I can only push Fayzien to reveal so much at a time.”

His joke did little to penetrate my focus. “You sent Jana and the others, didn’t you?” I asked, remembering histhat was never part of the dealcomment about Ezren. The pieces started to form a picture.

“I did. I couldn’t leave Valfalla without raising suspicions with Darlan—he’d long forbade me from continuing to search for you. He was convinced you were lost forever and that I’d go mad if I didn’t stop looking. But we’d finally found a solid lead, so I sent Jana and whatever rebel regiments she’d been operating with to get you. She was a good friend of your father, and I had grown to know her after his death. She, too, had suspected there was more to what happened than the bullshit ‘Drakkarian Witch kidnapping’ story your mother sold to Darlan and our kingdom.”

“Why did Jana lie to me then? She said my mother had died when I was young and never mentioned my title. She kept my memories about who you were hidden.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. “I may have given her too much liberty—I was so desperate to get you back. I told her to do whatever it took to persuade you to go with her. It’s possible that she thought bringing everything back would be too overwhelming for you. I have questioned her, of course, and that’s the story she tells.”

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