Page 73 of Eluvonia
“I was so worried you wouldn’t believe me,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “I know our friendship is… tentative.”
I roll my eyes, groaning in frustration. “Tentative, my ass,” I snap, crossing my arms. “You may be a Fae, but besides Declan, you’ve become a permanent fixture in my life. My life would be… empty without you in it.” The words spill out before I can stop them, raw and unpolished. Honesty has never been my strong suit, but there’s no room for anything less now.
Declan glances at me, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips before he turns back to Aeris. “I already told my father I refuse to marry anyone but you,” he says with a wink, his voice lighter, trying to ease the tension.
Aeris’s lips twitch into a watery smile as she rolls her eyes. “Dragons,” she mutters, her voice trembling with both humor and emotion. “Always so dramatic.”
I let the corner of my mouth lift in a smirk. “Do you know how this happened, Aer?” I ask, my tone dropping back into seriousness.
Her expression hardens, and her fingers tighten aroundthe bars. “Shura and Seraveille,” she spits, venom lacing her words. “I don’t know how they did it, but they’re behind this. I know it.”
Ice floods my veins at the names. My hands curl into fists at my sides. This is my fault. They did this because of me, because I embarrassed Seraveille and showed how important Aeris was to me.Dammit.
Declan’s voice pulls me back. “We’ll figure it out and free you from this place,” he promises, his words steady and confident. He brushes his thumbs over her knuckles through the bars.
Aeris nods, her expression softening. “I trust you. Both of you,” she says, her gaze meeting mine. For a moment, there’s something unspoken between us. I nod back, and she gives me a faint smile in return.
We linger, none of us truly ready to say goodbye. The air feels heavier, thick with unspoken words and the quiet ache of parting.
“I’ll be back soon,” I say, my voice softer than I intend. “We both will.”
A sad smile flickers across her face, one that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’d better,” she murmurs, though there’s no real bite to it.
As we step away, hesitation claws at my chest. The urge to stay, to push back against the inevitability of leaving, is almost overwhelming. But I force myself to move, even as the unease settles deep in my bones.The guard’s nervous gaze follows us as we ascend the stairs. Once we’re above ground, the air feels lighter, but not by much.
I veer to the right, my strides long and purposeful. Declan matches my pace easily, his brow furrowed. “Where are yougoing?” he asks, though I suspect he already knows.
“The wing Seraveille is staying in,” I reply, my tone clipped.
Declan sighs, running a hand through his hair. “She won’t admit to it.”
“I know,” I say, my jaw tightening. “But maybe she’ll accidentally say something that’ll give us a clue.”
His lips twitch into a small smile. “And if she doesn’t?”
I glance at him, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at my lips. “Then I’ll make her.”
The polished marble of Seraveille’s private wing gleams under the soft glow of chandeliers, As we make our way to her doors. Declan is half a step behind me, matching my pace, his expression a mask of calm that doesn’t fool me. His jaw is too tight, his eyes too sharp. He’s as ready for a fight as I am.
My shadows twist and coil around the room, creeping along the walls and pooling near my feet as if they sense my fury. The air thickens with their presence, dark tendrils snaking toward Seraveille as I storm inside. I don’t bother knocking. My hand slams against the ornate double doors, throwing them open with a resounding crack that echoes through the opulent sitting room.
Seraveille looks up from her chaise lounge, a goblet of something undoubtedly expensive dangling from her fingers. Her honeyed smile spreads instantly, too wide, too perfect.
“Kaida,” she purrs, setting the goblet down with deliberate slowness. “What a surprise. And Prince Declan, too. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Cut the theatrics,” I snap, striding into the room. Declan follows, his posture tense, eyes scanning every corner like a predator sizing up the battlefield. The shadow’s coil tighter, responding to my anger, licking at the edges of the room likeliving things. “We know you’re behind this.”
Her brows lift in feigned confusion, and she presses a hand to her chest. “Behind what? You’ll have to be more specific, darling.”
“Aeris,” Declan says, his voice low and sharp. “You had her thrown in the dungeon. Don’t bother denying it.”
Seraveille tilts her head, her brown hair cascading over one shoulder like a waterfall. “Aeris? Oh, you mean your little Fae slave?” She sighs, her expression shifting to one of exaggerated sympathy. “I was so sorry to hear about her… predicament. Such a shame. But you can’t possibly think I had anything to do with it.”
I cross my arms, glaring at her. “Spare me the act. We know you and Shura are involved. Whatever you did, you’re going to undo it.”
She rises from the chaise with fluid grace, the fabric of her gown whispering against the floor as she moves closer. Too close. My shadows react instinctively, rising like a dark tide between us. She hesitates, her perfect smile faltering for a fraction of a second before it returns.
“Kaida, darling,” she says, her voice as smooth as silk. “You wound me. Why would I ever want to harm your… pet?”
