Page 68 of Binding Fate

Melinda gave Alzerion this grimace and then turned back to her, smiling just as before. “What he means is that I know all about you, your highness. I must say that I’m pleased to meet you. But I should be going. I only stopped by to see if Alzerion would be here. This is his thinking spot.”

“Oh, I didn’t know,” said Aironell. Melinda let go of Aironell and stepped back.

Alzerion turned toward Aironell. “I’ll be right back.” Before she could say anything, he was already by Melinda.

She wanted to know what they were saying.Maybe if I, just do it once? What harm could there be?Aironell calmed her mind and placed both hands in front of her. Her fingers danced in the air as she muttered, amplio sonus. Then she tilted her head to the side and cupped around her ear. In an instant she could hear their voices like they were right beside her.

“Mother, come on. You know nothing was going on.”

“Oh, do I? Alzerion, that did not look like nothing.”

Aironell focused her eyes on them to glean the full extent of their exchange. She saw Alzerion run his hand through his hair.

“Mother, I know my place, alright?”

“That is so not what I mean?” Her eyes softened as she patted his back. “I want to see you happy, I do. I’m just worried.”

He stepped back. “You don’t need to be.” His gaze lowered at his shuffling feet.

“Promise?”

Aironell could sense Melinda’s genuine concern, but why?What did she think would happen?She continued to listen. She wanted—no, needed to know more. Alzerion, glanced back at Aironell. She smiled. She hoped that she didn’t look as guilty as she felt, in that moment. Alzerion smirked and turned back to his mother.

“Alzerion,” Melinda’s voice wasn’t bubbly. It sounded firm. “I need you to promise. You can’t possibly think that anything could come from this, do you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. The king and queen respect me, so maybe—"

“Alzerion this is what I mean by not getting carried away.”

“Got it.” There was this sharpness to his voice, that she had never heard before. “I’m just the help, right?”

“My sweet son, don’t say that. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Didn’t you?” Alzerion placed his hands on his hip and took a few steps away. “Mother, I should get back. I don’t want her to think we are talking about her.”

Melinda moved around to his front and hugged him. “Just take care of yourself… and your heart.” She pulled away. “I’ve always wanted you to be with someone, I just don’t want to see you get heart-broken over someone that might end up in an arranged marriage.”

“I know.”With that Melinda ambled down the lane of rose bushes and was out of sight.

Aironell bit her lower lip and turned away. She had to play it cool when he got over here. She sat down under that beautiful silver-purple weeping willow, breathing slowly.

Alzerion joined her and sat down beside her. “I’m sorry about that.” His gaze lingered on the grass.

“Alzerion, don’t be. She seemed sweet.”

He didn’t look at her. “Sweet? No, it was kind of humiliating.” He gripped the nape of his neck.

Aironell felt this weight in her chest. She fiddled with her necklace, whilst her eyes never moved from Alzerion. “How come you never mentioned your mom?”

“It never came up.” He was there but it was like he wasn’t. His voice sounded like someone she didn’t even recognize.

“Alzerion, is something wrong?” He finally looked up. He locked eyes on hers and he shook his head. Aironell stood with arms crossed. “So, because your mother never came up you didn’t mention her and now you’re ignoring me?”

“Aironell, it’s not—”

“No. That’s not a good enough reason.” She turned away and stormed off.

She felt his firm grip on her elbow, pulling her back as he spun her around. Then he pulled her in. They were face-to-face. His eyes looked distant and pained. She realized his mother’s words must have hurt him. She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in his chest and stay there.

---