Page 6 of A Royal’s Soul (Soul Match #3)

Persephone Flores

I grabbed hold of Selene’s wrist.

“Stop,” I said, my voice weaker than I had anticipated, but I cleared my throat and continued. “What’s going on, Selene? You can’t just demand that we and everyone else leave the Academy without explanation. Why are you so scared?” I asked, my voice growing stronger as I gathered myself.

“Is it not obvious?” she asked in return, opening her palm and taking my face in her hand.

“No! No, it’s not obvious! So tell me,” I replied, trying desperately to control my frustration. I wasn’t sure if I was trembling from an overdose of fear and adrenaline or if it was a natural reaction to how cold I physically felt. My winter coat was useless.

“Damn, Percy, I knew you were a little innocent, but really, you can’t think of any reason why your vampire should be concerned for your safety?”

I turned at Heidi’s arrival. She stood in the hallway at the top of the stairs landing, which led to our rooms open door.

“Heidi, what are you doing here?” Selene growled out, releasing me from her hold, and I stumbled back, gripping the arm of the sofa once again for support, aware that my breaths were laboured—like I’d spent the night at sea during a storm in an old boat, trying not to sink, without a moment of peace from one catastrophe to the next.

“Stupid questions all around, then. Firstly, I’m here because—why wouldn’t I be? The confirmation of Percy’s novel ability and your little show with that crow, which you didn’t even tell me about,”—Heidi held her hand to her chest in mock hurt— “is all anyone can talk about. Of course, in such circumstances, I would come to the aid of my friends—"

“I do not require your assistance,” Selene interjected. Heidi's response was to raise one eyebrow in a really, now? type of gesture. What was Heidi doing? Did she not know the danger she was in? I tried to give Heidi a look that I hoped conveyed that now wasn’t the time for her personal brand of personality.

‘How tame is our beloved bloodsucker right now?’ Heidi asked me telepathically. That was when I noticed that she had not made any effort to approach us.

‘Looks like she’s guarding you pretty well,’ she continued, and I was aware of how Selene stood half-turned towards me, blocking me from Heidi’s view.

‘She attacked Rylan…after calling for him,’ I told her. ‘It’s not safe. What is going on, Heidi? What novel ability? You said my magic was Flores?’

Heidi’s mention of the confirmation of my novel ability simply reinforced that Selene was correct—Heidi had indeed lied to President Minerva about my magic the previous day. The death I wielded was new, and not some lesser-known ability of Flores.

“Enough of your silent conversations!” Selene hissed, her voice dangerously low.

“Sorry, Selene, I was just inquiring on the probability that I might find myself exsanguinated if I were to approach,” Heidi replied nonchalantly, somehow acknowledging the danger while remaining unfazed by it at the same time.

My heart jumped into my throat. Heidi wasn’t a vampire like Rylan—she could be seriously injured, so easily, if Selene lost control again.

“You are permitted,” Selene ground out. It wasn’t a particularly reassuring response.

“Well, with an invitation like that , I’m simply filled with comfort,” Heidi replied, waving her hand dismissively as she began to walk towards us.

I couldn’t help but smile, ever so slightly amused by her antics despite the situation. Heidi being—well, Heidi—in a situation that felt so tense and critical, lessened the tension in my stomach.

I felt safer with her being here. Not that I thought Selene would hurt me. Well, I hoped she wouldn’t—or at least, I wanted to believe she wouldn’t.

But after the test in the grove, I couldn’t be sure. Yet Heidi was wiser—she was part of the noble class. She and Selene often whispered and giggled like schoolgirls, and she knew how to handle herself around others in a way that seemed to de-escalate most situations.

Heidi was smart, and she hid it well.

Selene growled, but Heidi paid it no mind. “Why are you here?” Selene asked again.

“As I was saying before you interrupted with the ridiculous notion that you didn’t need any help, I’m here because news like this travels fast. You may not require my assistance, but Percy does,” Heidi answered.

“I do?” I asked, confused.

“I can protect my pet,” Selene answered, almost defensively, as she turned more fully towards Heidi.

“I do not doubt that physically, there are few who could provide better protection for our dear Percy, and politically—you have great power, more than most—but you are not a witch. We both understand the potential fallout of Percy’s new gift . Percy will need an ally such as myself to advocate on her behalf among the covens. The situation is complicated by Percy being of Flores—the only coven without land or any real leadership—who are so few in number that most of the kingdom have never met a Flores witch. Not to mention, Percy has been estranged from her coven since birth. You may not like to admit it, but Percy needs me. I can provide protection that you cannot,” Heidi stated, and my head swirled.

What had I done? What would this cold death that I wielded bring upon me?

The magic felt wrong to use—the inverse of everything I’d ever known. And through Selene’s fearful behaviour and Heidi’s words, I felt as if some terrible, impending doom had been cast upon me.

My arms shook against my own weight as I leaned more heavily against the arm of the sofa.

“Can someone please tell me why it feels like the world is ending?” I asked, frustrated.

“Seriously?” Heidi asked.

“By Poseidon, if I don’t get an answer soon, I’m going to—to—" I began, the frustration of having everything I had come to know come crashing down was overwhelming. I felt close to cracking. Alone. Cut off.

“To what? What is my little flower witch going to do?” Selene asked softly, her eyes dimming, losing their supernatural glow. Heidi’s words seemed to speak to the more rational part of her, and I watched as sense returned to her. I felt embarrassment wash over me, suddenly, unexpectedly.

“I’d put money on ‘cry’,” Heidi said quietly, mockingly.

“Shut up!” I said, my voice faltering. The heat behind my eyes, threatening tears, only mocked me further.

“Shh, pet, there is no need to be upset,” Selene soothed, placing her hand on my shoulder. My arms almost gave out, and Selene moved swiftly, gripping me under my arms and moving me to sit on the sofa.

“Someone, please explain what is happening. I’m clearly stupid. So explain it to me because I’m the only one that doesn’t seem to know what’s happening,” I begged, my body heavy, sinking into the sofa.

“You might be the most dangerous witch to ever exist,” Heidi said.

“What?” I asked, trying not to laugh. I was currently struggling to keep my own head raised; I wasn’t exactly the picture of strength and power.

“I know—surprised everyone,” she continued, unhindered.

“What?” I asked again, my heart beating faster in my chest. I wasn’t dangerous. I didn’t want to be dangerous.

“Your ability, pet. Death in such a form has not been produced by any sole witch or coven. Syngeneia, arguably, are the only others to possess such power, but even their magic has a limit, and a single witch could not perform such a feat as you have shown—certainly not a halfling. Such capabilities have only ever manifested through inter-coven magic. You have exhibited a completely novel ability. Novel magical abilities are extraordinarily rare. There have been no new abilities reported in the last two centuries. The nature of your ability places it in the highest category of witchcraft—warfare,” Selene explained, and I could only blink in response. Me? Warfare?

“You’re a danger to the status quo now, Percy. Flores aren’t meant to have such power. They’ve always been secretive, and news of your magic will fuel distrust within the community,” Heidi continued.

“And others will seek to control such magic for themselves,” Selene added.

“Or destroy it,” Heidi continued, and I turned to see her give Selene a look of challenge. “Do not hide the truth from her, Selene. Percy’s head will very soon have a price placed upon it—if there is not a bounty already.”

“I will keep her safe,” Selene replied, an edge returning to her voice.

“Safe from whom? What bounty?” I asked, feeling dizzy, lying my head back against the sofa, picturing the ginger from my garden in my mind and how some ginger tea could help my nausea.

“Everyone will want something from you now, Percy, to use you or end you, and most concerningly, it will be difficult to distinguish between the two,” Heidi answered.

“You’re frightening her unnecessarily,” Selene warned with a growl. She stood in front of me, once again blocking me from view.

“And you were filling her with rainbows and sunshine while you lost your mind not ten minutes ago?” Heidi challenged, and Selene responded with a deeper and louder growl, “At least I’m giving her the truth,” Heidi finished.

“I think I need to lie down,” I said.

“There’s no time for an existential crisis. Selene’s idea to whisk you away is best for now. Discredit Sanguis Academy as thoroughly as possible and slow the spread of information—keep the truthfulness of everything questionable, as much as possible until the Royal Conference confirms it all,” Heidi said.

“My plans precisely,” Selene concurred, as if it had been obvious that those were her intentions from the start. “And how do you propose to help?” she questioned Heidi.

“I will return to my House and speak with my grandmother. Coactus have always allied ourselves with Borealis, but perhaps such an alliance is not as strong as it once was?” Heidi asked, tilting her head in a way that communicated something privately between herself and Selene.

“Perhaps not,” Selene agreed. “Ardens are a strong ally, comprising the entire northwest.”

“I don’t mean to disrespect you, friend, but can you hold Ardens and what was Vouna together? There was much trouble brewing in the North before this summer’s fiasco,” Heidi asked.

Selene turned her gaze away from Heidi and to me, her jaw tensed, as she swallowed. “Yes, I am certain I can join and hold the lands. It might be chaotic for a time, but manufactured chaos is better than its wild cousin.”

“And much more useful,” Heidi nodded in agreement.

“We will return to Ardens, and you to Coactus. Give your Lady Coactus my well wishes,” Selene said, ending the conversation. Heidi nodded, signalling that the conversation over.

“Goodbye, Selene.” Heidi hesitated, half-turning towards the door before turning back and rolling on the balls of her heels for a moment.

“Just get it over with,” Selene snapped, looking back and down at me before stepping aside.

Heidi smiled and lunged forward, wrapping Selene in a hug and kissing her cheek. Selene was rigidly still, and I held my breath, a fleeting feeling of panic. Heidi was a madwoman. She quickly released Selene and turned her affections towards me, bending down to hug me.

‘Flower girl is a title given by the people of the land, Percy. Sometimes, the common people choose their own,’ Heidi said through her power before releasing me and waving as she made her way down the hall to the staircase.

“Did she say anything to you?” Selene asked once Heidi was gone, and her rigid stance relaxing only fractionally, “Telepathically,” she explained at my blank look.

“Only to question if it was safe to be around you,” I answered, unsure why I had lied. There was just something about Heidi’s parting words that seemed private and secretive; they were only for me. I wasn’t sure of their meaning and purpose, but it felt like a strangely important message. And I couldn’t be sure if Selene was truly trustworthy, not after what had happened. She might have been afraid, she might have thought she was acting to protect me, but her choice to have President Minerva test me felt like an unforgivably betrayal.

Selene took my hand, entwining our fingers.

“We shall not be returning here, my dear. Do you wish to say goodbye to your garden?” she asked as she pulled me up from the sofa.

“Do you think someone will take over its care?” I asked in return.

“I suspect not for some time,” she replied.

“I think I’d rather not see it again,” I answered, swallowing a sad lump in my throat. The rooftop garden was more than a garden. It was a gift from Selene, my Princess; it felt like ours, and I felt a grief at its loss that I did not feel for my garden at my father’s home. Its memory seemed tainted now. Before, it was a private space for only us—safe—until Selene allowed the Academy guard to invade it.

Selene nodded and did not ask my permission before scooping me up into her arms. I was weak and past protesting. She was strong, and I didn’t think I had much more walking in me.

I was cold and she was warm as she cradled me tenderly. I pressed my face against the heat of her neck as she carried me from the mansion.

Part of me felt like I was giving in when I should have continued to fight. Another part of me welcomed feeling safe in Selene’s arms again.

I wanted so desperately to be connected to her. Wasn’t that why I was so upset that she was blocking our connection with enchantments? I wanted to be close to her; I wanted to know what she felt and thought.

To be kept at such a frightening distance—to the point that I questioned whether I could trust her—made my heart ache.

The car was waiting for us when we exited the mansion. Selene placed me inside, closed the door, and entered through the opposite side before swiftly pulled me across the backseat towards her as she leaned forward and closed the divider between us and the driver.

Once again, I gave in and allowed myself to lean against her—to be held firmly to her.

President Minerva stood like a sentinel at the gates, watching as a line of vehicles waited for the Sanguis Academy gates to open. Her features were neutral, but I found it intimidating that she had come out to watch all the Borealis and Ardens noble and servant students leave.

“Ardens is further northwest than Vouna, pet. The journey is long. We will travel to House Aqua and then switch from vehicle to train. We should arrive in just over a day,” Selene explained, pulling me closer to her while the gates to Sanguis Academy opened to allow us to exit.

“Why are we going to House Ardens and not home to Borealis?” I asked her. It was confusing. Why had she chosen to take us to House Ardens? I understood that she was Marchioness of Ardens now, but surely the King's Castle was the safest place for us? Who would attempt to attack us within the Borealis homeland? And why had Heidi suggested that Borealis might not be an ally to House Coactus anymore? Why had Selene agreed?

“I had planned a tour of the consolidated lands of House Ardens this winter. I must show myself as an active Marchioness, present and ready to quell any distress within my new territories or to beat down any who might challenge my claim to the title. Given the current circumstances, I believe it best to begin the tour early,” she explained, but she looked away from me as she spoke, and it felt like she was keeping something from me.

“I still don’t understand. Isn’t the castle safer?” I continued, probing for more information. While Selene seemed to have control of herself, what I had witnessed, the way she behaved, almost out of control with fear—still affected me. I was nervous, and my magical output had left me weak and vulnerable. There was clearly more than just my new ability at play in her decision to take us to Ardens, and the conversation with Heidi about whether Borealis was still an ally of Coactus was suspicious. What was she keeping from me?

The frustration made me want to pull my hair, and she still hadn’t given any expiation as to why she had allowed the Academy guard to attack Ana and me.

“And what of Ana?” I continued. “What will happen to her? Will she be safe?” I questioned, feeling guilty that I hadn’t considered Ana’s safety earlier. “She’ll be the only witch at Sanguis Academy, and she’s my best friend—everyone knows that. You and Heidi said I was in danger; what if she’s in danger too?”

“Ana has been proven innocent of inter-coven witchcraft. It is the decision of House Syngeneia whether to recall their servant or not,” Selene replied. I didn’t like her response or how she ignored most of my concerns.

“That’s not helpful at all,” I replied, hating how petulant I sounded.

“I will send word to Heidi and ask that she do what she can to have Ana returned to her House, but the autumn break will begin in a couple of weeks anyway, and I doubt her House will send her back to the Academy after the break,” Selene suggested, clearly tired of my concern for my friend.

“It doesn’t feel good enough,” I said, daring to pull away from her. I knew it was less than two weeks before the autumn break, but I couldn’t stand the thought of Ana being alone for that period of time. What had President Minerva put her through? I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t. The guilt was already eating at me. I was bad luck to anyone who knew me. Just being my friend was dangerous. Then I remembered Mhari and that fact that House Maria remained at Sanguis Academy, and my anxiety settled a little. Mhari had found me at Ana’s request; maybe Ana wouldn’t be so alone? I hoped that Mhari would be a friend to Ana—a better friend than I was. I didn’t know when I would be allowed to speak with or see her again. Ana’s comment that Selene protected her interests from the previous day eerily entered my mind.

“Do not pout like that,” Selene said, and I turned my head away from her in frustration; Ana was important. In response, Selene gripped my jaw and turned my head towards her. “It’s distracting,” she said and leaned forward to kiss me. I tried to pull away, but her grip on my jaw wouldn’t let me, and I was far too exhausted.

Selene paused, her silver eyes locking with mine. “Do not pull away from me. I know I was harsh before. It was necessary. Not everything is under my control,” she told me.

“But I am,” I answered, a combination of anger and devastation swirling within me. Everything had broken in one afternoon.

“Yes,” she replied. Her grip on my jaw intensified when I raised my arms and tried to push her away.

“Stop it,” I told her.

“You are mine. Mine,” she growled. “Mine to provide for and mine to protect. No matter the cost, I will pay the price,” she snarled. Her eyes glowing bright, and I should have been fearful after everything that had happened that day, but I saw the quiver of her lips and I would have sworn the desperation I felt wasn’t my own—or at least not entirely.

The realisation that Selene was truly concerned for me began to drown out the internal noise of her betrayal. I closed my eyes, trying to gather my senses—trying to fight against my own desire. I should not give in to her so easily, not without explanation, certainly not without some sort of guarantee that no such thing would happen again. But such reassurances were not forthcoming.

“Look at me,” she commanded.

“No,” I protested.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because if I look at you, I’ll give in,” I admitted.

“Give in?” she questioned softly.

I nodded. “I shouldn’t,” I said. “Give in,” I clarified, as if confirming to myself what I was trying not to do.

“But you want to,” she stated, and I could picture her smug grin. It angered me so much that I opened my eyes to see the offending grin and confirm the source of my anger.

But what I found was that Selene wasn’t looking at me. Her face was turned away, her jaw tense—another quiver.

“Why can’t you just admit when you’re wrong?” I asked, frustrated, and reached out to turn her head towards me.

She allowed me to move her, and when our eyes met, I saw nothing smug in her expression—no anger and no domineering demands.

My anger faded, and I leaned forward, pressing my lips against hers.

The kiss began slowly; a soft bite to my lip instructed me to allow her entrance, and I parted my lips for her.

The taste of Selene was warm like spring—something unique, something addictive.

I welcomed the deepened kiss, the battle I knew I would lose.

Her hand on my jaw held me in place as though I might still pull away. The steady pressure was a comfort.

I leaned into the kiss, into her tightening embrace around my waist. Poseidon! Kissing Selene was like swimming during a lightning storm—wild, with the risk of being electrified.

The soft moan she gifted me was like a siren’s call, and I was willing to drown for her kiss as I found myself climbing, clumsily, on top of her. My movements were slow, my body drained, but Selene helped me straddle her lap.

“Selene,” I whispered as her lips left mine and found my neck. I inhaled sharply when she bit down hard at the crook of my neck.

“Yes, pet?” she asked, switching to the opposite side of my neck and continuing her ministrations. My breathing became erratic, my hips ground down slowly against her, and I could feel my underwear becoming damp.

Her warm breath engulfed my ear, and I shivered in pleasure rather than from of the cold, releasing a moan of my own.

“Careful, darling, the divider between us and the driver is closed, but you don’t want him to hear you, do you?” she whispered against my ear and nibbled on my earlobe, sending pleasant tingling sensations down my neck.

Her hand cupped me through my trousers, and I whined low, grinding myself against her as urgently as I could manage.

Selene laughed. “Maybe you do want to be heard, hmm?” she questioned, and the feminine hum of her voice —the teasing—unexpectedly produced a gush of wetness.

“You’re so wet, you’re going to ruin your trousers; everyone will see the damp patch at your crotch,” she said tauntingly, and somehow it simultaneously embraced and turned me on further, creating more wetness.

“Stop,” I whined, my eyes closed against the pleasure, my hips grinding harder against her hand. I pressed my head against her shoulder as I moved slowly against her, breathing hard.

“I’m hardly doing anything, pet. You climbed atop me and began to take your own pleasure,” she told me.

I halted my grinding as if only just aware of myself.

What was I doing? How, after everything, was I still so needy, so wanting of her, that I could forget what had taken place not an hour previously?

This wasn’t the time or the place, and—

“Don’t you dare stop,” Selene warned, interrupting my internal struggle. Her free hand guided my hips to keep grinding, and her hand between my legs pressed firmer against my clit.

My slow rhythm returned. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me.

Thankfully, Selene suppressed a further groan by returning her lips to mine in a dominating kiss, eerily similar to the last time she had silenced me with her lips. But now, I pressed myself against her and opened my mouth for her.

I wasn’t sure how long she helped my weak body grind tiredly against her. Her lips only leaving mine to allow me to breathe, but there was something necessary about the act.

Something necessary about taking and being given. Something necessary about the physical closeness we were sharing. We needed it. I needed it.

She bit my lip with such harshness that I tasted the metallic tang of my own blood, and I came undone.

“Ouch,” I complained when she released my lip with a smirk and licked her lips in a way that made me take hold of her face for another passionate kiss.

After, I fell near enough limp against her. Pleasure had blinded me to my exhaustion for a time, but I was entirely spent.

Selene did not move me from her. She simply adjusted me to a more comfortable position and held me.