Page 126 of Cursed Dreams
Elara nodded slowly, and for a moment, she simply studied Thalia with those violet, discerning eyes. “When word reached me of your… association with Lord Vaelith, I allowed myself to believe it was an unfortunate but harmless entanglement. You are both adults, and your personal lives are not mine to control.”
Thalia’s pulse thundered in her ears. A wave of shame rose in her chest.
“But what happened this afternoon,” Elara continued, her voice softening but not easing, “was public. It was disrespectful and unprofessional. You argued with him, noshoutedat him, outside the hospital wing. In front of your professors. Your peers. The patients.”
Thalia’s eyes burned. “High Priestess, I—”
“And then,” Elara said, cutting gently but firmly across her, “youstruckhim.”
The room spun. Thalia gripped the edge of her seat, trying to breathe, trying to speak,to explain—but Elara lifted a hand to quiet her.
“Do not mistake me, dear. I am not unsympathetic. I have always seen great promise in you. You are bright, intuitive, gifted. But your actions, whatever their cause, have left me no choice.”
“No,” Thalia whispered, but the word was barely air. Her stomach dropped into freefall.
“We cannot have violence in our halls,” Elara said. “We cannot allow discord to fester among our students. And we cannot risk further disruption from your... entanglement.”
The word cut sharper than it should have. Thalia blinked, stunned.Entanglement?Is that what they thought this was?
Elara looked pained. “You will leave the temple tomorrow. Your classes have been suspended indefinitely. You are to return home at first light.”
Thalia’s world crumbled inward.
“But, please, High Priestess—” Her voice broke, the words tumbling out. “This is all I’ve ever wanted. I’ve worked so hard, I’ve done everything, my whole life, I’ve—”
Elara stood. “I am sorry, Thalia. I truly am. But the decision is final.”
Thalia sat frozen in the chair, the air thick and choking around her. Her mind reeled.No. This couldn’t be happening.Not now... Not after everything. The High Priestess’s words echoingthrough the hollow space in her chest where her heart once occupied.
Leave.
Suspended.
Tomorrow.
It didn’t feel real. Her hands trembled in her lap. Her heart ached, no,burned asthough something inside her was caving in.
“I—I understand,” she whispered, her voice brittle.
Elara’s expression remained calm, measured. “I know this is difficult. But I hope, in time, you’ll understand why—”
“Ihadto stop him.”
The words tumbled out before Thalia could stop them. She sat up straighter, voice shaking, her eyes brimming with hot tears. “He wasn’t just angry, he was, he wasfurious. He grabbed me. And Ihadto stop him. I know you think this is just a lovers’ spat but it’s not. It’snot thatat all.”
Elara’s brows drew together. “Thalia, I’m trying to give you a graceful way forward—”
“No.” Her voice cracked. “No more pretending. You need toknowwho he is.”
The tears came fast now, slipping down her cheeks unchecked. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words. She’d held this in for so long. Too long.
“Vaelith isn’t who you think he is. He’s not just some important noble here to help at the temple. He’s, he’s dragon fae. From the war.” Her words sounded crazy, she knew it, but she had to warn her. She had nothing left to lose.
Elara blinked, her face carefully blank.
Thalia pushed on, desperation rising in her voice. “I didn’t believe it either at first. But Ifeltit. I saw it in his magic. Hiseyes. And he told me. When we were fighting. When I said I would free the prince.”
Elara tilted her head slightly. “What prince?”
