Page 47 of Eclipse of Fate
Perhaps it’s his cocky demeanor that shielded me from seeing the truth. My eyes blinded by my hate for someone who only reminded me of the worst day of my life at the time. My uncle was never cocky, at least not from what I ever witnessed. Something close to regret settles over me, as I look down at the cousin I never knew was of my blood and the animosity I’ve carried for him instead. I hope that Declan can forgive me.
“Can you wake him up?” I ask, looking from him to where she stands, “Does the elixir have a neutralizer?” Ginny hovers at the door, shifting on her feet, uneasy at my presence.
“Yes, sire,” she nods before shuffling into the room with her head down. She quickly begins rummaging through cabinets along the far wall. Vials and bowls clatter as she brings them out and begins mixing. Before long, she’s finished and striding to where I stand, staring down at Alaric.
Pressing a small jar with a glimmering gold liquid to his lips, she holds his mouth closed until he swallows the lot of it. He immediately starts coughing. Wrenching upright in a fit of hacking and wheezing, his hands grasp at his throat, and his eyes snap open,locking on me. He’s quicker than I thought he would be. He jerks his hand out, cinching it around my wrist, and his magic crashes into me before I can even think twice about ripping my hand back and out of his reach.
My knees buckle, and I feel the skin split as I land on them at his bedside. Crippling agony has its claws digging into my brain. My breath is stolen from my lungs, and I hear a frantic rush of words around me, but I can't tell who is speaking or what they are saying through the pain.
Alaric releases his hold on my wrist, and I slump to the ground on my hands and knees. Both of us are panting hard, and when Ginny approaches, I wave off her attempt to help me stand. I lift my chin to Alaric, where he has his gaze pinned to me with a cocky smirk on his face, and I laugh.
“I deserve that, I suppose. You have the Ravendene spite. I’ll give you that.”
“Fuck off.” His voice is only a rasp. The damage to his voice from the day prior is still as present as the deep bruising wrapped around his neck. Ginny comes back into the room a moment later with a steaming mug. She eyes me wearily before coming to a stop in front of Alaric and handing him the mug. He thanks her, and she starts gently rubbing a salve on his neck. The rose scent of the room is now stronger as she applies the floral healing balm.
“Shit, why is that burning me?” Alaric flinches away from her outstretched hand.
“I had to make you a stronger formula. It’s the Phoenix embers. The burn will dissipate. Stop squirming.” She chastises him like a child, and it has me chuckling at his expense. He narrows his eyes as he allows the healer to fuss over him. As she finishes, she tells him to take it easy for at least a few more hours before she stands,gives a quick nod, then moves to leave us to have our long awaited conversation.
I stop the door with my hand before she closes it, though. “Do not speak of what you just witnessed. We are done using magic against each other and will only be talking. No need to worry, anyone. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, sire.” She says with a bow. I let the door click shut and turn to face Alaric once again. The look on his face is more respectable than most would have, being faced with the wrath of a dark king who also just attempted to kill him the day prior. Another trait from the Ravendene line, no doubt.
“Well…. You going to finish what you started?”
“Don’t insult me, Alaric. I would never kill a man who lies in bed, weak, and unable to defend himself.” He scoffs at my words, rolling his eyes and sinking into the pillow behind him.
“So what is it then? If you’re not going to kill me? You can’t send me away. I’m sworn to the queen as her shield. I will not abandon my queen.”
“Careful Alaric. I said I would not kill you. I didn't say I wouldn't rip a few fingers off for your fucking mouth.” Grabbing the back of the wood chair that sits pushed against the wall, I pull it to me. Spinning it around, so I sit on it backward I drape my arm over the back as I eye him.
“You didn’t tell Raelleeverythingabout that night.” Regret simmers under my skin at his accusation. I know I should have told her everything. I don’t know what stopped me then, but I plan to unveil every secret I hold to her eventually. When we have time and aren’t running against a war that is inevitable with Cano and Eleonora.
“That’s none ofyourconcern. I need you to tell me what you saw that night. Something Raelle said, coupled with what Miles said before he died, has me wondering if perhaps I was actually not to blame for what happened…” I ask and he rolls his eyes then shrugs.
“Well, I didn’t see a lot…Shadows and all, ya know?” His eyebrows shoot to his hairline as he shakes his head, blowing out an exaggerated breath. “You know, that was my first night off in nearly a year after joining the regime. The only reason I was there was because I felt my magic pulling me. Something about Soren creeping around the estate just set me on edge.” He swallows, and his face scrunches up as though it pains him, so I lean over and push the glass of water on the table toward him.
Alaric drinks it slowly before continuing. “I overheard him on multiple occasions beating the shit out of Cano, you know?” Violence that Soren tended to deliver to my best friend. I was aware that it had been happening for years. There was nothing I could do about it as a child. Even with the many times I told my father about it. He wouldn't step in to stop him; said it wasn’t his place to tell someone else how to parent their own children, just as it wasn’t anyone else's place to tell him or Ma how to raise us. By the time I was older and could have stepped in myself, Cano wasn’t the same person anymore. He started changing, but by the time that Soren died? He was not the Cano I chose as my best friend at all.
“Unfortunately, I’m aware.” My jaw twitches as I admit it and think about all that I’m aware of. Come to think of it, I doubt many people actually know the real Cano at all.
“Yea, well, this particular night he was going on and on about an heir. I thought at first that he was talking about Cano being his heir, but when he kept going—it was clear he was speaking of a female. Then he said that the heir was going to be visitingsoon. It sounded like they had a plan to do something. My magic went haywire whenever I got close to Soren. Something felt off about him on a good day, but the night of the accident… I followed him because I thought it was strange that he dismissed everyone who was on duty near the Ravendene estate. Then the argument between your father and Soren happened when I was just outside. I didn't see much of anything with all the shadow magic, but the smell was unnatural and considering I was just nearly strangled to death by your shadows… I can say for certain that you are not responsible for the magic that killed your parents. My opinion? It was Soren Croix.”
Why would Soren do this, though, and then disappear for years? He and my father fought all the time, but it never became physical. They knew about Raelle, that I was certain. She didn't come that year, though. From what I remember being told, she had only ever come to Ravendene a few times when she was just a girl. Too young for me to really remember. It makes sense, though. The pungent scent of decay and dark magic filled the air when Cano was wielding his shadows. They weren't like mine.
My eyes drift to the fireplace, and my brows pull down as my thoughts swirl around in my head. Anger seems to build, raging within me like the flames I watch. I think Alaric is fuckingright. And after seeing him with my own godsdamned eyes not but mere weeks ago, I know it has to be true. I need to find out what his plan has to do with Raelle, and I need to find a way to kill him for good this time. There will be no coming back from death when I’m done with him. He and Cano are both already dead to me.
“There is something else.” I turn to face Alaric once again and he’s moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “The day of the battle… I saw a little girl.” He swallows, and I immediately know what he’sgoing to say without the words even passing his lips. “I think it’s the same magic that killed her.”
Melani.
“Get up and get dressed. Me, you, Kait, and Raelle are going on a mission to Castenelle. You have only a few hours to prepare. I suggest you make good use of it.” I leave the room with my heart pounding. The anger in my veins threatens to burst into flame as I storm through the castle. I need to speak with my brother before we leave. I have to explain about last night. I guess I need to face the fact that my kid brother isn’t the kid I know him to be anymore. He deserves to know what I’ve been hiding, the secrets I’ve lived with since our parents died, and what I think I’ve just figured out about their deaths.
Chapter forty
There is a clusterof guards huddled together in front of the library doors, snickering and leaning into the wood. They don’t even notice my approach. I stand there, tapping my toe, waiting for at least one of them in the gaggle of men to take notice, but when I hear what they are so distracted by, I suck in a sharp breath. They all turn abruptly. Each of their faces a multitude of red hues, struck with embarrassment.
“The Moon Raven rises, my Luna queen.” The one nearest to me mutters before dropping to one knee. The rest follow suit.
