Page 21 of Beyond the Darkness

A soft knock tapped on her door, pulling her attention away from applying the dark liner to her lash line. The knock wasn’t one she recognized. Since nobody barged in, she knew it couldn’t be a guard. She slowly cracked the door open to see the small figure standing before her. The dark hair and green eyes were easily recognizable. “Rosette?” Aerilyn questioned as she studied the girl, trying to understand why she was there. “I need help doing my hair and I didn’t want to ask the maids for help. I wanted to have my hair pretty like yours,” the child had a smile on her pink lips. “You’re coming to dinner?” She felt a wave of confusion, not knowing why Azazel would allow her around his enemies. “Az said I can eat dinner with you all tonight as long as I don’t tell your friends who I am,” she clapped her hands in excitement. Seeing the smile on the girl’s face was enough to take some anxiety away from her. “Does Az know you’re here now?” She raised her brow, giving Rose an accusing look. She giggled and shook her head no. “Please help me. I want to look pretty like you and I don’t have anyone to do my hair,” she pouted, giving her the same look she had the previous night.

Aerilyn sighed and nodded her head once. “Let me get my dress on and we can go get you ready. Does that sound like a deal?” She motioned for the girl to come into her room before turning to her wardrobe. Marianna had brought her a sleek tight red dress that sparkled in the light. She’d never seen a fabric that beautiful before. It was breathtaking. She heard Rose’s footsteps behind her as she followed Aerilyn into the room. She didn’t waste time stepping into the washroom with the dress to change. The gown fit her body perfectly, hugging each of her curves. It felt like the dress had been made for her.

When she exited the bathroom, she heard a small gasp from the child. “You look like a princess,” she whispered, rushing over to Aerilyn as she touched the fabric with her small hands. The comment made her feel warm inside. The child waspure in every sense. She didn’t want anyone to ever ruin that. It made her feel slightly protective over the little girl. “You’re the princess here. Now let’s go get that hair fixed up,” she tapped the girl’s nose delicately before taking her hand to go to Rose’s room. The palace hallways were full of people rushing about to prepare for the dinner. The thought of it being her last was enough to make her want to hurl her guts up.

Several workers passed by them without a second glance while a few stared at them with a horrified expression. The enemy and their princess walked hand in hand. Something they probably hadn’t expected to see. She knew it wouldn’t be long before Azazel found out about the two being together. She tried not to pay any mind to the attention as they slipped into Rose’s room. She felt the same level of warm comfort from the space as she entered. It was unexplainable. It felt like a home that she’d never had. Rose picked up her hairbrush and handed it to Aerilyn before she sat on the small stool before her vanity.

Aerilyn’s mother used to do her hair when she was the same size as Rose. Being around the child made her miss her mother more than she ever realized. She slowly ran the brush through the dark hair, careful to avoid tugging on it. Once every knot was out of it, she set the brush down on the counter. She took the top layer of the hair, splitting it in half to make a twisted crown of hair on the top of her head. Aerilyn took her time to pin each strand of hair into place.

“Aerilyn?” Azazel’s voice made her gaze snap to his. Their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror and she could see the anger in his expression. “Azazel,” his name fell off her tongue in a soft whisper. “Az! Aerilyn is making me pretty like her,” Rose called out to him, a smile still glued to her face. “I see that… You look beautiful, Rosie,” he approached them slowly, his eyes staying on Aerilyn’s. She finished placing the final pin, letting a few strands around her face fall out. “Go get your dress on fordinner,” Aerilyn tapped Rose’s shoulder gently, wanting to get a moment alone with Azazel to try to explain. She stood and ran to the washroom to change, leaving an awkward silence in the room.

“Azazel, let me explain-” she began before he held his hand up to silence her. “I haven’t seen her smile like that in a long time. You bring something out of her. I don’t want to know how you ended up in our wing of the palace, but I have a feeling it was her doing,” his expression softened as she turned around to face him. “Are you letting her come to dinner?” Aerilyn tilted her head as she looked up at the man. “I am. She asked and I can’t deny her what can bring her any sort of happiness,” he ran a hand over his face as he let out a small sigh. “I’ll watch out for her in any way that I can. I won’t tell them who she is, I promise,” she tried her best to reassure him of what she could. “I expect nothing less. She’s going to act like my head guard’s daughter. I don’t need your friends to know anything about her. If you care for her at all, you’ll keep your mouth shut,” he warned, but there was only warmth in his tone. It was odd to see his gentleness every time he was around his sister. Marianna’s words repeated in her mind as a reminder that the king wasn’t as bad as he seemed. The maid had told her that she’d change her mind about Azazel being a monster and she was slowly understanding why. She’d never be able to forgive him for what they put her through, but she could see why some people did appreciate their king.

“Do I look as pretty as Aerilyn?” Rose’s soft voice stopped their conversation. She stood in the doorway of the washroom wearing a fluffy purple gown. “You and Aerilyn are equally stunning, Rosie,” Azazel grinned, grabbing the child’s hips to lift her off the ground. He twirled her around once before setting her back down. His words struck Aerilyn. Stunning. She had assumed he’d found her anything but attractive. The smallcompliment made her stomach whirl with butterflies. She hated that she reacted at all. “Just like a princess,” Aerilyn tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she watched the two siblings. “We can both be the princesses tonight,” Rose rushed to Aerilyn, grabbing her hand.

Chapter Thirty

Everett

Everett felt like he was being put on display when the maid dressed him up in a suit. The feeling reminded him of the way his father would keep him beside his throne like a prized possession. He was always discarded and rarely acknowledged as the heir to the throne. When he entered the dining hall filled with Korth’s court, he felt the same way. The dirty looks that they all threw his way made him straighten his posture. He was used to the hatred, but it never failed to creep its way into his mind. He flashed a charming smile at them as he found a seat at the table. He leaned back in the chair, putting his arrogant mask on his face. He heard the whispers between them and forced himself to ignore them. His eyes only flicked towards the door in hopes of Aerilyn walking through the door.

If the woman hadn’t been with him in the situation, he would’ve lost his mind at that point. He refused to give in to the chaos when she was at his side. He only hoped to escape once thetrial was over. He wished he could find a way to get away with Aerilyn to keep her safe from what was to come. He knew she could defend herself, but neither of them knew what Azazel had up his sleeve. They had been separated for the first trial and he only prayed it wouldn’t happen again for the last one.

The doors swung open and his posture straightened, his attention refocusing to the entrance of the dining hall. Blaise and Brinley entered the room with their arms linked to each other. They both scanned the room before Blaise’s eyes met Everett’s and he gave him a small nod in acknowledgement. The two approached him and found seats at the table across from him, leaving the spot to his left open for Aerilyn. “Where’s Aeri?” Brinley questioned as she noticed the empty chair at his side. “I’m not sure, she wasn’t in her room when I checked. I assumed she was already here,” Everett pressed his lips together as the thought evoked anxiety in him. He tried to remind himself to trust her to be able to defend herself. She would hate that he treated her like glass. She was the type of woman who wanted to fend for herself and he tried his best to respect that.

The entire room began to stand, all of their attention directed to the door. He exchanged a look with his companions before they all slowly stood. The doors were held open by two guards, revealing Aerilyn standing with a small child’s hand in hers. She looked stunning. Her white hair stood out brightly against the deep red dress that showed the shape of her body. It made his gut clench at the sight. She looked like an angel sent from Hell to ruin them all. He let his eyes fall on the child with dark hair, clinging to Aerilyn in a way that showed they knew each other. Aerilyn smiled at the room before her, but Everett could tell that the smile wasn’t genuine. She moved across the room gracefully as she found the seat at Evertt’s side, the small girl taking the seat on the other side of her.

“You’re a goddess, darling,” Everett took her hand, placing a kiss against her knuckles. The room began to clap as the king entered, the shining black crown standing out against his hair. His arrogance made Everett want to smash his face in. He was charming with his people, but Everett knew that mask all too well. The king found his seat at the head of the table, motioning for everyone to sit. “You’re a flirt, prince,” she shot back at him as she bit her lower lip. It made him want to kiss her mouth more than anything. The little girl tapped Aerilyn’s shoulder to get her attention. Aerilyn turned to look at the small girl as she whispered into her ear. Aerilyn let out a small laugh and nodded her head at the child. He pulled out the chair beside him for Aerilyn to sit and she took the seat with a smile on her lips. She pulled out the chair beside her and let the small child sit close to her side.

“Who’s this?” Everett questioned as he looked between the two. “I’m Rose,” she held her small hand out toward him. “I’m Everett. Your dress is very pretty,” he shook her hand as he tried to give a kind compliment to the girl. “Rose here is the captain of the guard’s daughter. She needed help doing her hair so we spent some time together,” Aerilyn tried to explain, but he knew she wasn’t giving the full story. She gave him a look to tell him that she’d explain later. “Aerilyn is a princess and I wanted to look as pretty as her,” the girl let out giggles that made Everett smile a bit. He didn’t understand the full story, but he couldn’t help but admire the way Aerilyn was with the child.

The little girl was looking around the room with wide eyes, taking in everything around her. The fact a child was invited to the dinner was enough to say that they should be safe for once. Azazel was a cruel man, but he didn’t think the guy would go as far as hurting a child. Or so he hoped.

The group felt smaller without Bastian, but they all tried not to think about the lack of their friend. In an unfortunatefucked up way, the death brought them together. It made them realize that they were all in danger as long as they were within the walls of that palace.

It didn’t take long for the food to be placed in front of them, everyone digging in without a word. Everett made sure the woman beside him filled her plate before he made any attempts to touch it for himself. He had begun to care more for Aerilyn’s well-being than his own and that terrified him. They all ate in silence, knowing what the next day was going to bring. The tension in the air was palpable as if he could reach out and cut it with a knife. He could feel the burn of Azazel’s constant gaze throughout the meal. He knew the king was waiting for his death, possibly even planning it as he took each bite of his meal. Everett couldn’t bring himself to even look at the man, keeping his focus on his companions. The only thing that mattered to him was getting Aerilyn out of the third trial, so be it if he lost himself in the process.

The garden was the first peaceful place Everett had seen in the kingdom. The comfort of the blooming flowers was unexplainable. He could tell from the look on Aerilyn’s face that she felt the same way. She had spent her life caring for plants, it had been her safe place. The night sky was a stark contrast to the brightness below. The stars overhead twinkled, mimicking the speed of Everett’s heartbeat that sped up within his chest. The garden wasn’t large, but it held more plants than he could even begin to count. He didn’t know the names of many of the flowers that varied from red to purple, every color of the rainbowbeing represented. Small lights lit the gravel path that led to the center of the garden where a large fountain sat. The large pillar of the fountain rose twice the height of Everett and only seemed to grow the closer they got. He grasped onto her hand tight as they moved to the edge of the fountain.

“You know if you make a wish to a fountain, it comes true,” his voice was soft, his eyes moving to her. “Where did you learn that?” She tilted her head in confusion as she examined the fountain. “It was a myth that they used to say centuries ago,” he shrugged, unsure of how he remembered such a small thing. “Well then, we should make a wish,” she grinned as she sat on the edge, her eyes fluttering shut as her lips began to silently move. He watched her as she made her wish, loving the expressions she made. He sat down beside her and pulled her body against his as he delicately stroked her hair. “What happens if we live tomorrow? If we make it through this, what are we going to do?” Her voice was quiet, the worry in it making his chest ache. He hated seeing her like this. He wanted to take away every negative thing on her mind. “I’m not sure, darling. We’ll find a way to get home. I’m the heir to the throne, I can’t give up on my people. As much as I adore my brother, he isn’t prepared for being king,” he didn’t look away from her, trying to provide her with any comfort possible. “We will survive this, Aeri. I will do whatever I can to keep you safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he slid his palm over her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin delicately.

“Everett, what happens when we return? When you take over the throne… you can’t be with someone like me,” the girl’s voice shook, her eyes growing watery on the verge of tears. Everett felt his heart shatter at those words. “I can’t make you take a crown. I know that’s a huge responsibility that you may not want to be a part of, but I don’t want to spend my life with anyone else. I can’t imagine that. I don’t care what anyone elsethinks of you. You’re beautiful inside and out. You’ve lit up my world and given me a reason to smile. You’d make the perfect queen, Aerilyn,” his words stood genuine. His father may not be happy to crown a girl who came from the slums. He had always pushed Everett to marry a woman from a wealthy family that would bring a union between his family and another well-known family name. He couldn’t read Aerilyn. She seemed deep in a thought that carried her far away from that moment. He placed his other hand on her face, cradling her soft skin in both palms. “I refuse to lose you, my love. I will do anything to keep you,” he whispered, searching her eyes for some sort of answer.

“I think I could settle for a palace.”

Everett couldn’t help but chuckle, a smile tugging at his lips. The small girl returned his smile, reassuring him of the mutual feelings. “I will make sure it’s suitable for my queen,” he teased, pressing his forehead against hers. Their breath tangled together, the closeness warming his skin everywhere. Every time he touched her, he felt like the world fell into place. Everything was how it was supposed to be. He slid one hand down to the back of her neck, pulling her face to his as his lips brushed hers slowly. She tasted sweeter than any dessert and it was addicting. He waited until he felt her lips move along with his own before he crashed his mouth into hers. He felt her hands press against his chest, knowing she felt his heart pounding beneath the surface. The only thing that separated her skin from his was the thin material of the button-up dress shirt. His hand on the back of her neck slowly lowered down the length of her spine. He felt the way she shivered under the touch, only encouraging him to move further.

The slit in her dress that ran up to her hip exposed her bare thigh to him, tempting the man more than ever. As he moved his hand up her bare thigh, she gasped causing her lips to part. The sound ran to his core, making every nerve in his bodylight on fire. He took advantage of her parted lips, dipping his tongue into the space. He waited until he felt her tongue meet his, the clash of the muscles making his grip on her tighten. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could contain himself around her.

“Aerilyn, if you keep touching me like this I won’t be able to control myself.”

“Take me back to our room,” she looked up at him, her eyes wrecking him. He didn’t have to debate her words, quickly scooping her up into his arms. She squealed, the sound so perfectly adorable that it made him chuckle. He carried her against his chest to the room that they’d been sharing since she had been attacked. He didn’t set her down as he kicked the door shut behind them. He turned, pinning her body up against the back of the door with a force that he hadn’t meant. Everett’s hands slid down the curves of her hips, trying to memorize every inch of her. The dress she wore left too much fabric between them. His fingers slid under each strap, tugging them down her shoulders. Her eyes lifted to his and he felt like he would break under the look of her gray eyes. He felt her hands press to his chest, her fingers fumbling as they began to unbutton his dress shirt.

Everett pressed himself further between her thighs, feeling her legs lock around his waist. She continued to undo the buttons as he rubbed his hips against hers, feeling himself growing hard as another small gasp escaped her. Her sounds were even more beautiful than an entire symphony. He had never felt so much need for someone else. It was enough to consume him entirely. He slowly set her down, grasping both of her hands in his as he led her towards the bed. He didn’t stop until the back of his knees met the edge of the mattress. He slowly sat down, wrapping his arms around her. His fingersfound the laces of her dress, slowly untying them as he loosened the tight corset that held her dress on.

Aerilyn helped him, pulling the gown down until it fell to the floor. She didn’t meet his eyes as she stepped out of it, kicking it to the side. He studied every inch of her, his heart racing in his chest. She stood before him in only panties, her arms wrapping around her figure. He quickly grabbed her wrists and forced them to her sides. “I want to look at my pretty girl,” he frowned as he studied her. She only squirmed under his gaze. He loved watching her, clothed or not. “You’re so perfect,” he whispered before kissing her stomach. He trailed the kisses up her chest until his mouth found her lips once more. He kissed her as if the world didn’t exist, getting lost in the way she tasted.

“I’ve never done this,” she mumbled against his lips, causing him to pull away slightly. He cupped her cheeks so that she was forced to meet his eyes. “Do you want this?” He questioned, searching her gaze for answers. She nodded her head as if she were afraid to say the words. “I need to hear you say it,” his tone came out a bit more stern than he’d intended. He refused to make her do something she wasn’t ready for. Nobody had touched her, she was still pure. That meant she was giving a part of herself to him and he refused to take that if she wasn’t all the way in. “I want it. I want you, Everett. Please,” her bottom lip shook slightly as she spoke. He could tell she was afraid, but he couldn’t blame her.

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