Page 15 of A Royal’s Soul (Soul Match #3)

Persephone Flores

We entered the dining room again. Sasha smiled as we entered, and the four councillors who had spent the night from the meeting yesterday stood and bowed their heads respectfully to Selene.

The table was laden with food and glasses of blood. The councillors’ eyes were on me—I could feel them. Quick glances my way. A man and a woman gave each other a look with a slight smile, and I turned my eyes to my feet as we walked to the table, avoiding eye contact with anyone, hoping desperately that I didn’t look as embarrassed as I felt.

Selene did not reach to pull my chair out, and I was momentarily confused and reached for myself, but she gave a quick and light tap to my wrist and I stopped myself.

She pulled out her own chair.

“Good morning, councillors. I trust that everyone had a good night’s sleep?” she said as she took her seat at the head of the table.

I thought that she expected me to stand behind her—perhaps she would pull me into her lap—but instead, she looked pointedly at me and then the floor at the side of her chair. With the nod of her chin, I realised what she was asking of me.

She wanted me to kneel at her feet, on the floor, like a dog.

I wasn’t opposed to kneeling for her. I had done so many times before, but each of those times had been privately.

I went to speak, to protest, but stopped myself. She watched my internal struggle and smiled, pleased—recognising the moment I had given up.

I got to my knees, and her hand landed briefly on my head. It felt like praise.

“I have to say I found sleep rather difficult, knowing that the maze had been active,” a woman said, and I knew it had to be the older red-haired woman who’d shared a knowing smile with the other councillors that had shamed me.

“Yes, I agree. It was alarming, but it did not disturb my sleep,” another man said.

“What was the cause of the commotion?” the woman asked again.

“Lady of Aquilae, I am disappointed to hear of your poor sleep,” Selene replied coldly. “The maze was active briefly, and yet it shook your nerves so severely that you could not sleep.”

I heard the mocking in her tone—as I was sure everyone had.

“No, no, it wasn’t nerves that kept me awake, but curiosity,” Lady Aquilae replied, and laughed a little awkwardly.

Selene hummed.

“The maze spat out a foolish boy. A servant who entered the maze due to a dare of all things,” Selene said. It was a lie—I knew—but I wondered why she was lying to the councillors.

“Why would a servant of Ardens be foolish enough to enter the maze?” Lady Aquilae asked, suspiciously.

“The maze had been dormant for many years, close to a generation at least. There are some now entering their adulthood who have begun to believe the maze and its powers were just a myth. We recently took in a new cohort of servants, following the retirement of some of our most loyal and longstanding Ardens Estate servants. Unfortunately, it seems each new generation puts the maze to the test,” Sasha answered.

“I hope his idiocy was removed from the gene pool before he had a chance to procreate,” Lady Aquilae answered.

Rude.

If it had been an accident—young people believing the maze to be a myth—it would be a tragedy, not a death that was deserved.

My knees began to go numb on the hard wood flooring, and I shifted my position, ignoring the talk of the table while I tried to subtly move myself into a more comfortable position.

Would Selene be upset if I sat crossed-legged? Would the others at the table think it rude or disrespectful towards her?

I heard a clearing of a throat and looked up to see Sasha glancing my way with a small smile.

The acknowledgement felt unwelcome. I didn’t want to be acknowledged in my current position. I think that was the point that Selene wanted to make. I wasn’t to bring attention to myself in front of the councillors.

I looked away pointedly from Sasha, hoping she would understand.

“When will your tour begin?” Fotis asked.

“Yes, I’d like to know when you will be arriving in Aquilae, so that we can prepare adequately for your arrival,” Lady Aquilae said.

“Have you not received the schedule?” Selene asked, and I felt a strange tension in my shoulders—a dropping motion of my stomach.

I looked up at Selene from my position on the floor and took notice of the stiffness of her neck, the way her jaw tenses slightly. Was she worried?

Was I feeling her feelings again?

“No,” Lady Aquilae answered.

“Gravewick has not received any schedule either,” the man beside Lady Aquilae said.

“Neither has Cliffwind,” Fotis added.

Selene nodded.

“I apologise, and I will look into the cause of the delay in the sending of my schedule to the relevant councillors. Please be assured that you will receive notice before my arrival,” Selene reassured.

“Notice now would be appreciated,” Lady Aquilae said, and I thought her tone was rude.

“And I would appreciate if you would remember your place and who you speak to,” Selene replied. Her voice was calm, but I could only imagine the anger in her eyes as I felt a slight burn in my chest.

“And yet I am afraid I do not know who I speak with. Do I speak to the Marchioness of Ardens, or a Princess of Borealis? Which title do you operate under? Marchioness is a title of equals, one who helms the councillors of the north of the kingdom—a role which you seem unequipped for. Perhaps you are better placed with your original title, where less is demanded of you,” Lady Aquilae said.

Selene’s chair fell with a clatter to the ground beside me. I was momentarily confused, and I got to my feet in panic to find Selene. Sasha wrapped her arm around my shoulders.

“Do not attempt to interfere,” she warned.

Selene had knocked Lady Aquilae from her seat. I didn’t see the strike, but I heard the deafening whack.

Lady Aquilae was, for a moment it seemed, shocked—before she was on her feet.

Some madness must have overcome her as she threw herself at Selene.

Selene sidestepped and grabbed the woman by the back of her arms, slamming her down against the table with so much force all the glasses and plates jumped and the table groaned and cracked.

“A new councillor will be found for Aquilae—not from your line,” Selene said.

“You can’t do that! I was elected by the people!” Lady Aquilae screamed, her face pressed against the table.

“You’re great-great-grandfather, Thomlinson, was elected, and your family have held onto the title through power gained from your ownership and control of land. I will take back that land,” Selene hissed above her. “As for you—the maze,” she announced.

There was an audible gasp from those at the table.

Lady Aquilae stopped struggling, only to being her struggle anew with vigour.

“Rylan!” Selene called, and the head of her personal guard appeared as if he had been waiting just out of sight—and maybe he was.

It was odd that I hadn’t seen him since our arrival. It had only been a few days, and I had been distracted by my new surroundings, but it was no excuse to notice the absence of my favourite guard.

“Yes, Ma’am?” he asked, taking a formal pose beside Selene, his head bowed and his hands clasped behind his back.

“Have the former Lady of Aquilae taken to the entrance of the maze.”

I watched Rylan’s face lose colour and his eyebrows raise but he did not comment.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, and turned to motion for others of the Borealis guard to enter, one of whom was the new guard who had protected me at the academy.

“Seize the former Lady of Aquilae,” he instructed, and the new guard stepped forward first, taking hold of one of the woman’s arms.

Selene released her, stepping back.

The guard pulled Lady Aquilae up from the table, and another guard stepped forward to take her other arm—but just before he did so, Lady Aquilae threw her head back, hitting the new guard in the nose.

He released his hold of her arm, and stumbled back, his hand flew to his nose, red trickling between his fingers.

Lady Aquilae turned swiftly and kicked out at the other guard, who jumped back, narrowly avoiding a vicious kick to the stomach.

In the small space Lady Aquilae had made, she tried to run from the dining room.

Surprisingly, she was foiled in her attempts to flee not by Rylan, who moved to capture her, but by the well-placed foot of Fotis.

Lady Aquilae tripped and fell to her hands and knees.

Rylan was quick to grab her, and the two other guards followed immediately, taking hold of her again.

Lady Aquilae struggled impressively, hissing, her fangs descended—she even spat at the new guard.

She was wrangled under control, being carried out, off the ground, with Rylan and the new guard holding her arms and the other guard lifting and restraining her kicking legs.

“You’ll pay for this! Borealis scum! You aren’t Ardens—you’ll never be Ardens,” she screamed as she was carried away.

Selene straighten the cuffs of her jumper and turned to the two remaining councillors, Sasha and me. She nodded in acknowledgement to Fotis, who smiled, pleased with himself.

“I thought I had already witnessed the most exciting thing Ardens Estate had to offer with the display of your pet this morning,” said the councillor from Gravewick.

I was sure I blushed at least ten different shades.

“It seems I was wrong. An execution by means of the enchanted maze hasn’t taken place since my father’s father’s lifetime,”

“No, it hasn’t,” Sasha agreed.

She gave Selene a look that felt almost beseeching, like she was silently asking Selene if she was sure.

“Let’s go watch the show,” Selene stated, and followed Rylan and the others out of the dining room.

“I have to admit that I am a little scared,” Fotis said as he stepped beside Sasha and myself. “I’ve never seen an execution,” he admitted. “It’s not something we do in Cliffwind. I mean—we once exiled a man, terrible man, beat his wife and the kids he did. I still felt bad. There was a cold snap, and there isn’t another town or village for at least two days’ walk, and that’s in good weather. Travellers found his body frozen a few weeks later,” he rambled with nerves.

“There’s nothing to fear!” the Gravewick councillor said. “How your little nowhere, barely-a-village settlement got the status of township and a councillor of Ardens, I’ll never understand. You aren’t made of what it takes to rule in these mountains.”

“I’m doing just fine, thanks very much,” Fotis replied, his face becoming red.

“I agree,” Selene stated, as she took a coat from the hook and handed it me. “Fotis of Cliffwind has kept good relations with the surrounding villages of the northern mountain ranges. His district is the least of my concerns,” she said in a reprimanding tone that made Fotis puff up with pride and the Gravewick councillor’s cheeks turn a purplish colour as her looked away.

I put a coat on, and Selene took my hand entwining our fingers.

“I do not wish for you to witness this,” she told me quietly—but all could hear her.

“Then perhaps you should reconsider reinstating the use of the maze as punishment, niece,” Sasha said bravely.

Selene’s features became stern as she turned to Sasha.

“A hanging wouldn’t send the message I desire,” was all she replied, and she led me by the hand and out towards the maze.

We walked down stone steps towards the maze—so steep and old if it weren’t for Selene’s hand in mine, I’m sure I would have tumbled to the bottom.

In the light of the day the maze didn’t look anything special. It sat in a crater, like a pit had been dug into the land to accommodate it, allowing viewing from above.

Rylan and the guards held a still hissing and screaming Lady Aquilae at the entrance.

“For challenging my authority as Marchioness of Ardens, your titles, land, and life are forfeit. Do you have any last words?” Selene stated loudly, but all at the small gathering would surely hear her clearly if she had spoken quieter.

“Enjoy your head while you still have it,” Lady Aquilae screamed.

Selene nodded and Rylan and the guards threw Lady Aquilae into the entrance of the maze.

Lady Aquilae landed with a bounce and was quick to her feet, running back towards the entrance to escape the maze.

Selene pushed me behind her as the ground shook violently and a wall rose from the earth, blocking the entrance and locking Lady Aquilae inside the maze.

The maze shook with a thundering whollop, and Lady Aquilae could be heard screaming and beating her fists against the wall.

“What now?” The councillor of Gravewick asked, his voice a little shaky. The ground continued to shake momentarily before it quieted to something like a rumble.

“Now you tell your peers of what happened. I will send Ardens guardsmen to Aquilae to take the land and hold it until a vote for the new councillor is complete,” Selene replied.

“Yes, Marchioness,” he replied. “Am I free to begin my journey home?” he asked.

“Go,” Selene replied tiredly, and he turned hurriedly, running up the steps.

“I should make my leave too, Marchioness,” Fotis said. “It’s a long journey for me. “Do you know when you’ll be in Cliffwind?” he asked.

Selene smiled. “Within two weeks,” she answered. “I am beginning the tour early. Please keep this knowledge to yourself.”

“Certainly, of course, my lips are sealed,” he said, nodding. “Within two weeks… and are you going to be spending the night?” he asked.

“I should think so,” Selene replied.

“I’ll get the guest rooms ready for you then. We only have one inn and it’s not fit for royalty. Not that my house is either, mind, but it’s better than the inn—if you don’t mind. There’s the barn too—not for you of course—I mean if your people are too many for the inn. I’m sure those with space to spare would also offer up a bed,” he said.

“Your hospitality will be welcomed, Fotis of Cliffwind, I assure you. I do not require much,” Selene replied. “You should be on your way,” she continued. “It is a long journey.”

“Yes! And I need to get back and start preparing. The children have already begun making welcoming banners. Will you have time to visit the local school? Some are very excited to meet you,” he asked.

I smiled. I liked the thought that there were people who didn’t fear Selene—those who expected goodness from her and were excited to meet her.

“Of course,” Selene replied.

“Amazing! Okay, I’ll head back and prepare to leave. Thank you for your hospitality, Marchioness, and it was a pleasure meeting you and Percy,” he bowed his head to me.

“Bye, Fotis. I can’t wait to see Cliffwind. And I’ll help as much as I can when I’m there,” I promised.

He smiled and bowed once again to Selene before heading up the steps following the Gravewick councillor.

“What have you done?” Sasha asked, once Fotis was long out of sight and Rylan and the others had begun to depart.

“Taken care of a threat to my authority and sent a message that any such challenges will be met with the penalty of death,” Selene replied.

Sasha stepped towards her, her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed.

“The maze has not been used as a means of execution for a century! For a reason! It’s not safe!” she said angrily.

Selene didn’t reply.

“What if it grows and threatens the foundations of the mansion?” Sasha asked.

“Grows?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“The maze is like a living thing. When fed it occasionally grows. It’s said that it was once half the size and the walls merely a few feet tall,” Selene explained.

I looked at the walls of the maze—at least a house in height—and from above it looked like it took up at least as much space as the mansion did.

“What you did was beyond foolish—all because you were challenged,” Sasha continued angrily.

“I was not simply challenged,” Selene countered. “My ability to rule was questioned. It’s one thing to challenge my claim to my titles—it’s another entirely to challenge my ability. One can be overlooked. I am not naive enough to think that there are not those displeased with my taking of Ardens and Vouna. I expect as much. But to question my ability to lead, to hold the office and titles that I do—that is dangerous. Such thinking can spread quickly, and if the common man begins to think the same, soon a rebellion is afoot.”

“I don’t like what you did here today, Selene,” Sasha said.

“You do not have to like what I do, dear aunt. You simply have to accept it,” Selene replied.

Clapping interrupted their conversation, and we turned to see Adamantia making her way down the steps towards us.

“Well, you’ve been here but two nights and already you’ve fed the maze,” she said. “I trust this was a one-off?” she asked.

“I hope so,” Selene replied. “It served its purpose.”

“And what purpose was that?” Adamantia asked.

“Firstly, the woman was clearly terrified of it, and it added a psychological terror over and above that of impending death. Secondly, I desired to see how the maze worked,” Selene explained.

“When it swallowed Lady Aquilae, the ground shook and rumbled in a similar way to when it spat out the shifter last night. Why then were there no reports of activity from the maze before last night? How did someone enter the maze without there being any noticeable disruption?” she questioned.

Adamantia was silent and looked at the maze thoughtfully for a moment.

“Perhaps he entered willingly and simply got lost?” she suggested.

“Only one that didn’t know of the nature of the maze would enter willingly. And even so, what purpose would entering the maze serve?” Selene questioned.

“I truly can’t think of any,” Adamantia replied.

“There are too many unanswered questions,” Selene sighed. “And where were you? You didn’t come to breakfast?”

Sasha huffed, and Adamantia looked a little embarrassed.

“I was having a drink. From one of my sources,” she admitted.

This surprised Selene—I felt it, like a sizzle at the top of my head.

“You have sources, outside of Sasha?” she questioned.

“I’d prefer if the two of you didn’t discuss such things in my presence. Yes, my wife has other sources. Leave it at that please,” Sasha interrupted.

“This obviously displeases you,” Selene stated.

“I will respect my wife’s wishes and not discuss it further. However, if you are looking for another source, let me know and I will introduce you to the servants most amenable to a bite,” Adamantia offered.

Selene nodded.

“Thank you,” she replied.

I turned to her, offended. I knew I wasn’t hiding my feelings—I couldn’t, though I did try.

I didn’t want her biting anyone but me. Why would she even entertain such an offer? I was the best source she had ever had. I made her bloodhigh. She didn’t need anyone but me.

Adamantia led Sasha away, and soon it was only Selene and I.

The cold was biting at my face and I wanted to head back into the warmth myself.

“I know it is cold,” she said. “We will head inside soon. I want to observe the maze a little longer.”

“I can feel you,” I told her.

She turned to me with a look of concern.

“How much can you feel?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” I shrugged. “Not everything, not all the time. But I keep feeling physical sensations that aren’t mine,” I explained.

“Provide an example,” she commanded.

“Like, you were surprised just now. That Adamantia has other sources,” I told her. “It felt like a tingling, fizzle at the top of my head.”

Selene nodded, pensively.

“I will call for the enchanter, the moment we are back in Borealis,” she promised.

“Is it really so bad if I feel your emotions? I mean—it’s meant to be that way, isn’t it?” I asked.

“I do not wish for my every reaction, every emotion, to be shared with you,” she replied.

“But why not? Do you not want to feel me?” I asked her.

She frowned.

“I’m not challenging you or being disrespectful,” I told her quickly.

She sighed.

“I know you’re not,” she said, and tugged me closer to her. “Some parts of ourselves are meant to remain separate. I do not want you to lose yourself in me. I want you to remain you. If you experienced everything that I did, the way I did—and I you—where would you end and I begin?” she asked.

“I want to bleed into you,” I told her.

I wanted to be one. To be whole. With her. It felt natural to me.

She smiled devilishly.

“You can bleed into me—for me, pet,” she smirked, and drew me in closer.

I smacked her arm playfully.

“Stop it. You know what I meant,” I told her. “But are you hungry?” I asked, worrying after Adamantia’s offer. Would she find a new source? Would blood bags stop being enough between feedings?

She hummed in the affirmative.

“You can have me,” I told her. It had been days. I was ready to give more blood.

“Are you offering because you worry that if you don’t, I will take up with one of Adamantia’s blood whores?” she asked.

I looked away.

Why did she have such a habit of voicing my worries?

“You need not worry,” she said, taking my chin and tilting my face upwards.

She leaned down to kiss me, but her head snapped in the direction of the maze.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I can hear her screaming. It’s so very faint,” she said, with a small, intrigued smile.

“Perhaps it’s part of the maze’s enchantments—to block sound,” I suggested.

“Yes, it must be,” she agreed. “This maze… I admit, fascinates me. Inter-coven magic always has. The legends of what it can produce were always my favourite cautionary tales as a child. It’s almost a shame that it is outlawed. So much potential. Yet that much power in any hands always becomes deadly.”

“Will you tell me some of those stories?” I asked her.

“Certainly, pet,” she replied.

“I think you should kiss me now—like you were going to before you got distracted with death screams,” I said, and a part of me acknowledged that it wasn’t that long ago that I would have been disgusted to say such a sentence.

Yet here I was, asking for a kiss, on the same spot where I had watched a woman be thrown to her death.

I was changing. And I didn’t know if it was for the better.

I remembered the black death of my new magic, and I wondered if it was connected.