Page 90 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“None of the body parts belong to the Maiden of Arawynn,” he says in a single breath before we reach Rhianelle.
Her friend is not among the dead here.
I silently thank the seven devils for that. Hopefully that will bring some comfort to my little fawn.
“We need to leave now,” Tall One tells her and she merely nods without emotion. Nel is staring into the distant, wide-eyed as her knight fetches her to her room. I follow their heels silently.
The guy is explaining the extensive detail of her security, the measures they have taken to keep the city and its people safe, but I’m not sure Rhianelle is listening. Her posture and her eyes appear so wrong that I fear something inside her has broken.
“I’ll be right outside if you need me,” Tall One tells her the moment we reach her bedchamber.
“Please go home and get some rest, Darstan. I’m all right,” she says, still keeping up a brave front to convince him.
Her longest serving knight exchanges a look with me.
She is not all right,he seems to say.
I nod curtly to him, giving the guy a cue that I’m well aware of it. He leaves us reluctantly, his brows wrinkling in a deep frown. I shut the door behind us and focus on her.
Rhianelle has her back turned from me as she removes every jewelry and adornment, placing them carefully on the dressing table out of habit.
“I need to use the washroom for a while,” she says, moving silently across the room like a lifeless wraith. She leaves the door open, but I know it’s not an invitation. The girl knows I’m anxious and wants to give me some assurance. She’s still thinking of others in this terrible time.
My attention bounces back to her the moment she reenters the room. It takes her longer to prepare herself for bed tonight. Once she is done dressing, she simply settles on the bed as quiet as a mouse. Her ears droop and her eyes glisten as she lowers her gaze to the floor, too shaken up to speak. That look utterly guts me from where I stand, and I finally approach her.
“Nel…” I begin, kneeling on the floor in front of her.
I gather her hands into mine, squeezing them to remind her I’m here.
There’s no need to hide from me.
Slowly, Rhianelle’s calm High Elf mask cracks. Her soft eyelids flutter, sending the tears down her smooth cheek. She has been holding them since the rites.
I let her cry her little heart out.
“I’m a terrible person,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “Every time I checked those bodies earlier, I was glad none of them were Blaire’s.”
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the relief she felt, but I know Rhianelle’s mind operates differently from mine.
I should comfort her, tell her that her friend is going to be all right, but there is no guarantee of that. I hold my tongue for fear of saying the wrong thing.
“It’s starting, Svenn,” she mutters, her lips trembling. “This is it. We’re going to war.”
I hear the defeat in her voice.
I care little for elven politics. But I keep listening because I care for her.
“Tell me, what can I do for you?” I ask. Her wellbeing is the only thing keeping me from going ballistic.
She forces a faint smile for me. “You can stop worrying for me. I’ll be better in the morning.”
Nel wipes her remaining tears and slides underneath the blanket. I tuck her gently, making sure she’s comfortable and warm.
“Night… Svenn,” she mutters, curling up on her side. As always, the girl leaves a space for me. She knows I’ll climb into the bed later.
“Goodnight, Rhianelle.”
Unlike most nights when she sneakily stays awake while closing her eyes just to snuggle with me, sleep claims her fast tonight. I keep kneeling at her side long after her breathing evens out.
