Page 45 of A Monarch's Fall

“Don’t worry, General, you’re following orders,” I reassured. He was my favourite general after all.

“And one day I hope to follow yours, until then, I’m at your father’s mercy,” he replied apologetically.

It seemed that so was I.

Rylan had returned me to Borealis while I lay paralysed, trapped in fever-fuelled dreams of loss and grief.

Father had provided the best care possible, a healer at my side always, and he had provided me with unfettered access to Dennis Aqua, not that the enchanter had proven of any use.

I had sent Rylan to retrieve Ana, the Syngeneia witch, who had tracked down my pet once before, and I would have had her do it again, only to learn that Ana had not returned to Syngeneia when she left Sanguis Academy. The witch was missing. I could only conclude that she was likely involved in Percy’s abduction in some way. At the very least, it gave me hope that Percy was less likely to be treated poorly with her friend around.

The castle felt like a show, and I was a starring character. All eyes would be on me in the coming days and weeks, I had House Ardens' interests to represent alone as Adamantia and Sasha were forced to stay back to handle the repairs of Ardens Estate, the fallout of the attack and relationships with Ardens’ councillors.

I was like a pinned bug in the castle. Examined. I couldn’t risk bringing another Syngeneia witch to me. Ana would have been a stretch, but one that could have been explained away as being close to my pet and perhaps able to aid me. If I were to bring in another Syngeneia witch, unconnected to Percy, how long before some shrewd observer connected the pieces and came to the conclusion that Percy was my soul match? What danger would she and I be in then, if word of her bond to me reached The New Foundation? No, I had to use other means to locate her.

A wave of nausea washed coldly over me as I made my way to my father’s wing, a remnant of the venom poisoning, Lady Sana had assured it would pass within the next few days as my body returned to its natural homeostasis, yet only my father, the incompetent Dennis Aqua, and my personal guards knew of my soul match, and given my struggle to consume blood in Percy’s absence I feared my health and strength may not return.

Now was a time for strategic and well-planned moves; everyone at the conference was playing for power, to keep it, to gain it. I played for a future that included my pet.

Chapter ten

Secrets and Lies.

Percy Flores

Mable turned to me, her mouth moving but all I could hear was my own heart beating loudly inside my ears, like ocean waves, like Poseidon was calling on me… or warning me.

“Sorry?” I said.

She pushed the door further open and smiled reassuringly.

“There’s nothing to fear. Come inside,” she said as she stepped aside to allow me in.

Behind her, the first thing I saw was a pale, light-blue-washed wall and a large potted blue star juniper, with its evergreen needles a deeper, warmer blue. The colours were warm yet cool, somehow perfect for winter, and stepping forward into the mansion as Mable held her arm out welcomingly didn’t feel like entering, but like stepping further into the forest.

Inside, I was greeted by a surprisingly small entrance foyer. I had become too accustomed to grand entrances, with large,majestic staircases. But the entrance was small, no staircase in sight, just a room, with three dark wooden doors and pale-blue-washed walls. The windows on either side of the entrance door allowed dim winter light to flood the room, and it was surprisingly bright. The potted blue star juniper was accompanied by potted light pink astilbes, their feathery leaves and colour a perfect contrast to the walls and blue star juniper. The space was a contrast of cold and warm; a dream-like invitation.

I turned as the door behind me was closed.

“Are you ready to come home?” Mable asked me.

“I don’t know where home is anymore,” I answered.

Was I home on my knees tending to my garden with the song of waves washing ashore, or at the feet of my soul match with my name, leaving her lips like a siren’s call?

“Poor child,” Mable said softly, her hand resting at the base of my back and guiding me towards the door at my right. “Home is with the coven,” she told me.

“You’re an enchantress,” I said.

Mable had to denounce the Flores coven to join the Enchanters Guild. She had abandoned Flores, as Flores had abandoned me.

I turned to see her nodding.

“We are Flores. We are not like the others. We are not restricted by man-made borders, we are the land,” she told me as if it were some type of answer, an explanation as to why she was here now.

“Who is Persephone?” I asked, feeling more tired than frustrated as Mable led me through a door into a corridor. My leg was injured, I was slow, I felt weak, I felt lost, disoriented, and like a part of myself was missing without Selene.

Mable smiled, and it reminded me of when we first met.