Page 35 of Fated Unkindness
“I don’t think I did mention my last name, and I don’t think we have met before… However, I know I have been here before. I recognized the castle, but I don’t believe I ever came within its walls. I came to Loema with my mother once before she passed away. My last name is Apus. Daughter of Lilith and Ezra Apus.” Raelle finishes, and my face drops, eyes widening in recognition. I don’t think I ever heard her speak her parents' names. Lilith. I turn my gaze to Maki, and I see it on his face too, as his thoughts catch up to mine.
“I see,” Maki says, turning toward the door. “Naza,” Maki calls out, and the handmaid enters through the double doors of the library on silent feet. I know what he is thinking before he even says it.
“Raelle, if you don’t mind, I would like a word alone with my cousin. I will join you as soon as I'm done. It won't take long at all.” She nods hesitantly, looking at Maki, then back to me.
“Would you please show Miss Raelle back to her chambers so she can retire for the night?” Maki asks.
“Thank you, Naza. I would appreciate the guidance. I would get lost in this castle without your aid; this place is massive.” Naza’s lips curve up at the corners as she gestures to the door, dipping her chin. Raelle stops before leaving the library, placing her hand on the door, then cranes her neck, looking over her shoulder. Her eyes seek mine, a silent promise passing through the space between us. I don’t like leaving her alone, but this conversation betweenMaki and I is needed. If what I believe I just put together is true, it changes everything. For her, for me, for all of Aldramani.
The door to the library shuts with a heavy snap, and as it does, I sink into the other armchair, legs wide. I rest my elbows on my knees, running my hand down my face.
“Lilith?” I question. Maki leans forward, matching my level, and tilts his head to look at me.
“If it's true, it can only mean one thing, Dax. Lilith Apus didn’t have a daughter of her own blood. You and I both know that.” He leans to the side table between us, reaching for the whiskey decanter there, nixing the glass and drinking a measure from the bottle, then hands it to me. I know what it means, but with everything that has happened to Raelle recently and knowing she is about to ascend…. I don’t know how I’m going to tell her that there is no way the woman she knows as her mother is not related to her by blood. Also, the family she thinks is her own is not. If what we suspect is true…
“The Prophecy— Maki, the last of the fallen…” My words trail off as I think over the prophecy. It makes more sense now if this is true. And it must be true, considering all we already know of the prophecy, it makes sense. The talk of the moon, the fallen rising again?
“She is our queen, and she has no idea,” Maki says, eyebrows high, as he falls back in the chair. He shakes his head as he looks at me. “Your mate is to be the Queen, Dax…The Queen of the Kingdom.”
“This information can’t leave this room. I need to find the right time to tell Raelle. I need to make certain that we are not mistaken. We must think about all she has been through recently and howthis may affect her. Maki, she has yet to ascend.” I rake my hand through my hair. “ If she is the last of her line, theroyalline. You felt her power already— when she ascends…” I shake my head. She has to have time to prepare herself for that. She thinks she is going to come into the power of the parents she's known her whole life. They were powerful, no doubt, but nothing will match the royal lineage. “Do you think Cano knows? It doesn’t explain taking Ella or Trent...”
Maki shakes his head and takes a deep breath, blowing out his cheeks. “I’m sorry, cousin. I don’t know the answer to that. Throughout any of our discussions, he never let any plans to take the entire kingdom be privy information. I agree; this cannot leave this room. You can decide when to disclose the revelation we have uncovered to her, but cousin, I suggest it is soon. If Cano is out there plotting a war, it is best for us and the kingdom that she knows and accepts her new reality. Not to mention the fact that she needs to prepare for her ascension.” He ambles over to the library doors, but before he leaves, he pivots, facing me. “ Fate has brought you two together, cousin. You are meant to be king.” He dips his chin and leaves me with that.
The gravity of that statement hits me like an anvil. I was just coming to terms with knowing that I had a mate. I barely accepted that I would have tofinallyassume the Lordship of Ravendene. This—this is… I am not worthy of such a thing. No one is going to want to follow me. A king that’s been in the shadows of a monster all the years I have. Only because I was too caught up in my own self-pity to take responsibility. As I walk through the halls I’ve visited every summer of my childhood, I think of how differentthings could have been for all of us had the kingdom not fallen. The amount of pain we would all be spared.
Before entering the room I'm sharing with Raelle, I stop and stare at the intricately carved wood door. I press my forehead against the cool wood, and I take a deep breath that feels ragged. Blowing it out, I decide I’m not going to dwell in the past. What’s done is done; I cannot change that. I can, however, decide how I handle this information. Raelle needs to know… and soon. But tonight there will be no talking about it. In the morning, we will speak with Trent and go from there. Perhaps we can even get confirmation from the seer contact I have here too.
The sound of the lock clicking and the door swinging open causes me to snap out of the stirring of my mind.
“What are you doing standing out here for so long? I sensed your arrival. I’ve been waiting for you. I want to know how your discussion with your cousin was.” Her words come out rushed. She was worried.
I don’t want to lie to her. I can’t, but now is not the time for this conversation. I walk into the room and close the door behind me, stalking to where she stands. Wrapping one arm behind her lower back, I pull her flush to my body and tilt my head down, capturing her lips with mine. “Not tonight, love. Tonight, I just want to hold you while we sleep.” I kiss the corner of her mouth. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day as well, and we need not worry about it tonight.” I continue to brush my lips along the skin just below her jaw causing her to writhe in my arms. “ Tonight,” I whisper into her skin, “we are just mates enjoying the presence of one another and the thin slice of peace we can get, knowing at least one, if notall, the people we care about are safe and taken care of.” I tell her as I trail kisses down the length of her neck.
Her lips curl up into a smile, lighting my heart on fire and reminding me of the day we met. I knew then, and I still know now. Raelle is either going to make me or break me.
Chapter thirty-four
Traveling the short distanceto the center of Ravendene with Cano wasn’t as bad as I expected. Having someone to have even half a conversation with made the time go by faster. Unfortunately, I was not able to get much information from him. From his mouth or his head. While I noticed Cano is smart, he has a very single-track mind, and his thoughts hardly stray from what his objective is at the time.
As we arrive at the border, the guards stomp up to us. They demand the reasoning behind our coming to Ravendene since the market isn't for two more days, but when their sights catch on Cano, they snap to attention. He hops down, barking orders at them. They clamor about allowing the carriage to pass.
“This is Flynn; he will accompany you to where you will stay for your time here in Ravendene.” The guard nods to Cano, then hoists himself into the seat at my side, which Cano just vacated. Iwasn’t quite ready to leave Cano’s side yet. I was hoping for more of an opportunity to read him once we arrived, because perhaps in his comfort of home, his thoughts or those around him could slip me some information I could use to find Raelle.
“Wait.” I twist as I lay my hand on the guard's arm. He pulls back on the reins, so the horse stops once again. “Cano,” I call out, and his head tilts to the side as his eyes flicker between mine. “Will I see you again? Before I return home?” I asked.
“Already miss me, beautiful?” He smirks and looks at those around us, arrogantly wiggling his eyebrows.
“You wish,” I reply dryly.
“Tomorrow, I will send Flynn here.” He pats a blonde guard who sits next to me on the chest. “To retrieve you for breakfast in the morning. My treat to you, as part of my thank you for your family's aid.”
“Lucky me…” I deadpan and Flynn coughs, which I believe was him stifling a laugh, then he nods to Cano and ticks at the horse to get us moving again.
The inn sits in the heart of the large city. The limestone building rises three stories high and is steepled at its center. It's magnificent. My lips part in awe as we approach. The windows along the top story are arched with a point matching the shape of the building and spire reaching to the sky. I normally stay in the market vendor tents at the edge of town when I come here. The horse slows as we come to the covered port. Upon stopping, the guard, Flynn, drops from the carriage. Mud splatters up, covering his boots, as he lands on the wet earth. Turning, he offers me his gloved hand, which I accept as I follow him to the cobblestone ground at the entrance. I purposefully leap a little further, not to repeatthe muddy show of the guard. We are greeted by the host of the inn, who claps at a young boy, and he comes running to grab my belongings. The host is a large woman with fire-red hair and a pudgy and kind face with freckles dotting most of it. She smiles wide at me, and I return the gesture.
“And who do we have the pleasure of housing tonight? I didn’t expect another guest to be arriving so late. The name is Annalynn.” She steps forward, grasping my shoulder and pulling me to her. I gasp as she does, and before I know it, she places a kiss on each of my cheeks.
“Um, my name is Ambriel. Thank—thank you for accommodating me at the last minute.” I stutter, my lips forming a thin line as I press them together.
