Chapter 17

Asober mood surrounded our group as we made our way back to the palace. I was thankful for Orlandia, who had noticed the change in atmosphere and proceeded to ramble about the differences between the Arlom and Marlyst Kingdoms.

I knew I should have been listening. After all, gaining information on Marlyst was what Eliasson wanted. But I couldn’t seem to pay attention to her. Not when it was solely focused on what happened in that cave.

That kiss.

I shuddered in desire as I recalled the feel of his lips on mine. His hands exploring me. The burning sensation under my ear where my Royal Mark lay.

Eliasson and I had shared plenty of intimate moments. But I had never felt the burning hum of power I experienced when I merely touched Xylan. I thought back on these times, him kissing my hand, the high five we had exchanged when Mer conceded to being team Runaile, our thighs touching in the cave. Every time we touched, the feeling became stronger and stronger. It was an overwhelming pull to be near him. I’d never felt anything like it.

Maybe it was worth paying Qynthia a visit. Surely her scribes would have books on the Royal Marks and on connections like this. Maybe somewhere in that big old library there would be an answer to the strange sensations I was feeling. There had to be something, somewhere in Fyriane’s history where this had occurred.

When we’d eventually arrived at the palace, I acted on autopilot as I handed the stable hand my horse. I threw out an, ‘I’ll see you at dinner,’ to the twins before scurrying off. My focus was set on creating as much distance between myself and the Marlyst King as possible.

My daze lasted into the evening. I managed to put on a front during dinner with the other royals, excusing myself to return to my quarters at the earliest opportunity. When Eliasson gave me a weird look, I smiled as I joked, ‘Maybe I’m not immune to hangovers like I thought.’ His face filled with compassion and he gently told me to get some rest. I didn’t need any further prompting and made a beeline back to my quarters, squashing down the guilt of my infidelity. Once there, I sighed in relief at hanging up my Queenly duties for the night.

I may not have the means just yet to find out what my Royal Mark’s reaction to Xylan was, or why it was occurring, but I did have the book with the story of Wystia and Merlot, and that was a tale I wanted to dive into right now.

Crossing my legs, I found a comfortable position on my bed before calling the book to me. It instantly landed in my hand. Skimming through the titles of the pages, I tried to pinpoint where I’d left off. Finding it, I trailed my fingers across the title, The Royal Forum, and was welcomed by the book’s familiar pull.

‘A hundred years? Don’t you think that’s an unreasonable demand? There’s only so many children a woman can bear in that timeframe,’ Wystia exclaimed in disbelief, staring at the four figures sitting across the round table. Merlot sat to her side, running his hand up and down her thigh reassuringly.

‘Wystia, you would do well to remember the reason you were brought into this world, and you will fulfil your duties,’ the man straight across from her replied sternly, his tipped ears twitching in irritation. His emerald eyes would have been beautiful if not for their harsh depths. They were starkly contrasted with his flawlessly pale skin.

‘But Dad –’ Wystia started.

‘It is Strahn to you,’ he snapped. ‘I am your sire and there is nothing more to it. You should be thankful that the Svaxlyn joined forces to even secure your position as the rulers of Fyriane. If I had it my way, I would have left you to your own devices to prove yourselves as fit for royalty.’

Wystia visibly flinched, his words striking a chord in her.

‘Strahn, is that necessary? Show her a little kindness at least. Whether you like it or not, she is your daughter.’ The woman to his left implored him with her midnight blue eyes, while her fingers curled around his in an attempt to pacify him.

Strahn pulled his hand away from hers, snapping, ‘Areeya, I succumbed to your charms once. Don’t expect it to happen again.’ The man shook himself like he was trying to get a hold of his emotions. Despite his words, his actions revealed he wasn’t as unaffected by Areeya as he claimed to be.

‘And for once in your life you were a pleasure to be around,’ Areeya murmured, as her permanently pink cheeks turned a shade darker.

Wystia’s nose scrunched up in disgust as she muttered a ‘gross’ that elicited chuckles from the other man and woman in the room.

The other woman’s gaze turned to Wystia, her tangerine eyes filled with sympathy. ‘I agree with Wystia. One hundred years is not a reasonable timeframe for us to start claiming our dues. We would be setting ourselves up for failure and find ourselves right back in the situation we are in now.’

‘What is your alternative suggestion then?’ Strahn spat condescendingly.

‘The alternative Thais is suggesting, if I may?’ The final man threw a questioning look at Thais, and received a nod to continue. ‘An extended timeframe. Perhaps three hundred years? That would give the people of Fyriane an opportunity to procreate extensively. You need to remember that magic is new to the continent, Strahn. Wystia and Merlot need time to train and hone their people’s abilities before we start demanding things. Honestly, this was an experiment for all of us. We don’t even know the extent of the powers that will emerge. Only time will tell.’

Wystia and Merlot glanced at each other nervously and remained silent. Strahn quietly contemplated his words. Apparently, he only showed the courtesy of listening to men and not women.

‘Two hundred years,’ Strahn said finally.

‘Two hundred and fifty,’ the man countered.

‘Two hundred and twenty-five. And that is final, Kryol.’ Strahn’s voice dropped menacingly.

‘Are you sure it’s final?’ Kryol flashed him a toothy grin, revealing extended canines. ‘You know I could always make you.’

Small fire balls lit up in Strahn’s hands as his stare locked on Kryol’s. ‘Let’s see how far you get little blood sucker.’

‘Alright, that’s enough of that,’ Areeya said, frustrated and ending their testosterone-fuelled battle by throwing water into both men’s faces.

Strahn shook the water out of his hair, sending a scathing look towards Areeya that she met with an unapologetic stare.

‘Damn nymphs,’ he fumed.

‘The same damn nymph that brought you to your knees,’ Areeya crooned. ‘You know where to find me when you decide to drop this domineering act you love playing so much.’ The nymph smirked, pleased with herself as Strahn’s hands become ghostly white as he clenched the table, causing it to splinter.

Releasing the table before he broke it, he returned his attention to Merlot and Wystia, Strahn warned, ‘Two hundred and twenty-five years. And you can count on me knocking on your door the minute this timeframe has lapsed. Don’t let me down.’ He turned away from them in dismissal.

Not wanting to stay a moment longer, Wystia leant over to kiss Areeya on the cheek while Merlot did the same with Thais, whispering, ‘See you soon, Mum’. He turned towards Kryol who pulled him into a hug.

‘Love you son. Don’t be a stranger,’ Kryol whispered, before pulling away.

Wystia grabbed Merlot’s hand, teleporting them away from the room and back to a place that looked like a palace, but was an unrecognisable one.

‘That was a mess. Your parents are so much nicer than mine,’ Wystia said, throwing fire balls into the garden, one after another, letting out her frustration and regenerating the flowers there as she hit them.

‘In all fairness, it was better than I expected, Tia. You know how your father can be. And your mother tries her best given the circumstances. Although I’m not sure winding up Strahn was the best move.’ Merlot circled his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly into his chest, producing an audible sigh from Wystia.

She snuggled further into his chest, the contact calming her down instantly. ‘What are we going to do, Merlot? We can’t let our children fall prey to their agenda. We just can’t. It’s not fair for them to suffer for it,’ she whispered.

‘We’ll think of something,’ he promised. ‘But for now, I can hear our children wanting us. We’ve been gone longer than expected.’

She huffed out a laugh. ‘Salistya has Arlom in a headlock again. I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately. I wish she could play nice like the twins. And I wish Arlom would stand up to her a bit more.’

‘She’ll learn. But you know what older siblings are like, they go through this stage. Arlom’s the baby. He’ll find his voice eventually.’ He ran his nose up the side of her neck, nuzzling the mark underneath her ear.

Wystia hummed, enjoying the contact. ‘I hope it’s just a phase. If not, I fear for what his future may hold,’ she whispered.