Page 42

Chapter

Forty-One

A fter eating a quick dinner in her room—alone, since Merrick hadn’t returned from wherever he’d taken off to—Lessia walked around the castle searching for the rumored library hidden within its towers.

She’d promised herself she’d learn more about Ellow’s politics, and where better to start than the history books?

Of course, she knew the gist of everything that happened during and since the war, but she’d never truly applied herself to understanding the shift in Ellow’s dynamics that happened because of the war and its aftermath.

After taking the wrong spiral staircase—twice—she finally found a guard who showed her up to the empty library.

Stepping over the threshold, she glanced around in wonder at the seven levels of the curved tower, each lined with thousands of books. Beautifully carved handrails adorned the stairs up to each level, each one telling its own story of the different creatures living in realms outside Havlands.

She trailed her finger over one with sea wyverns and water serpents, wondering if the creatures still swam the waters beyond the horizon like in the children’s stories her mother had told her or if they’d disappeared, as many of the other magical creatures had centuries ago.

After too many wars between the Fae, shifters, and humans, either against each other or between their own races, all other creatures had left, not wishing to be caught up in the power struggles.

Shaking her head, she went to the third floor, where a wooden sign indicated the history books were kept.

While the shifters were long gone, humans and Fae seemed to have learned little, still engaging in spying and mistrust.

A large table stood in the middle of the half-moon room, six comfortable chairs set around it, and she cautiously placed the lantern she’d carried down on top of it.

Making sure the glass was secured—so she didn’t risk burning down the entire place—she walked along the shelves, picking up a book here and there.

When she couldn’t carry more, Lessia brought them back to the table, sorted them in the order she wanted to read them, and got comfortable.

The first book outlined how the Fae had chosen Vastala as their home, the humans Ellow, and the shifters Korina.

The Fae had wanted the island closest to the next realm, where another lineage of Fae lived—where they’d migrated from.

The humans had wanted the land with the most space, and the thousands of islands that made up Ellow suited them.

Already outcasts back then, the shifters were content with Korina, the most secluded island, with cliffs as high as the clouds skirting the whole island.

The book didn’t explain how the shifters traveled in and out of their island, but since they could change their human form to anyone they wanted, animal and human and Fae alike, Lessia guessed they’d shifted into something with wings and flown in.

The next book she picked up depicted the war, how the shifter ruler convinced the human royals that the Fae were plotting to take over their lands—that their population had outgrown Vastala and wanted to claim all Havlands for themselves.

The humans sent out covert ships to take down Fae ones, with the goal of destroying their entire fleet before they could take over Ellow.

The Fae didn’t respond kindly.

King Rioner’s father sent out his water wielders to drown hundreds of human ships as revenge.

The human king retaliated by bringing over his entire army to Vastala, targeting innocent families, children, and whoever they came across.

That prompted King Rioner’s father to send out every offensive magic wielder, the fire wielders spearing the operation and burning down most of the fields, forests, and towns in Ellow.

Only Asker remained relatively unharmed because most of the fleet and guards were brought back to protect the royal family and the nobles who left their people and islands to fend for themselves.

Thousands upon thousands perished, and in the end, even King Rioner’s father was captured and brutally murdered.

It wasn’t until a lowly fisherman overheard the shifter ruler urging the human king to take out all Vastala and approached King Rioner, who’d just inherited the throne, that humans and Fae realized they’d been misled.

The shifter ruler had wanted all Havlands for himself and his people, and he was patiently waiting for the humans and Fae to destroy each other before he made his move.

Instead, they joined forces, hunting down every single shifter and killing them until no more remained in Havlands.

More humans and Fae died, and the book depicted how thousands of bodies floated across the Eiatis Sea, staining its crystal surface crimson.

There had been so few survivors to rebuild the lands that humans and Fae had no choice but to collaborate—share the resources of their lands—to persist.

“That’s a lot of books.”

Lessia looked up to find Loche leaning his hands on one of the chairs opposite her.

She’d been so engrossed in reading she hadn’t even heard him approach.

Closing the book, she eyed him. “What are you doing here?”

Loche dragged out the wooden chair and sat down, resting his elbows on the table and leaning his head in his hands as he eyed her right back.

“I am here a lot. I find reading soothing after a long day. I tend to prefer the fictional works, though. Those look quite boring.” He waved toward the thick leather-bound history books before her.

Lessia narrowed her eyes. “Seriously, Loche. I don’t have time for your games. I know what you’re trying to do.”

Tongue darting out to wet his lips, Loche leaned forward. “And what am I trying to do?”

She refused to let her eyes follow his tongue as it slid over his exposed teeth, clenching her hands into fists by her side. “You’re trying to seduce me into telling you all my secrets. ”

Lessia wasn’t sure what she had expected, but Loche breaking out in a loud, real laugh wasn’t it.

His entire face lit up, eyes sparking like gray diamonds, and his curved mouth made him look even more handsome than he usually did.

Scowling, she patiently waited for him to catch his breath, refusing to let her own lips curl when he gulped for air.

When he finally calmed, she glared at him. “What’s so funny?”

Loche shook his head, the smile still brightening his dark features. “Zaddock said the same thing about you.”

A frown formed between her brows. “That I was seducing you ?”

Loche winked at her. “Your reputation precedes you, darling. But don’t worry, I set him straight. I am confident it’s one of the masks you wear, especially after your friend’s little show for Zaddock. I can’t wait to learn what you’re hiding behind it.”

Swallowing, she shot him an icy stare. “And what makes you so confident you’re right?”

He lazily leaned back in his chair. “You’re too innocent. You blush just at the mention of something between us. I haven’t seen you approach a single man, not even that guard of yours that all the women in council were fanning over—even with his Fae heritage.”

Loche’s eyes trailed over her face as he nodded to himself. “You’re too caring to be taking every man in Ellow who glances your way to bed. A woman like you wants to be loved, deeply and without constraint, by someone who knows the true you and adores you all the same.”

Heart racing, she forced herself to draw a breath and raise an unbothered brow. “I am not innocent, Loche. And I don’t want or need love.”

“Your mask is slipping, little liar. You may have done bad things, but you’re not a bad person. I know how to read people, and while you’re still hiding something from me, I know you’re good. And you crave love more than anything, I think.”

Heart pounding more rapidly than it should in this stupid library, Lessia made to leave but stilled when Loche raised his hands.

“Don’t let me stop you from your research.” He picked a book from the pile. “I’ll be here reading, but I won’t bother you anymore. The castle isn’t safe, if you haven’t heard.”

Shaking her head, she waited for him to say something else, but Loche only made himself comfortable in the chair and glued his eyes to the book. Lessia stared at him, but when he remained quiet, she picked up the book she’d started on and began reading again.

They stayed like that for the next few hours until Lessia rubbed her blurry eyes, a yawn shattering the quiet rustling of pages.

Loche immediately shot up to help her put the books back in place and, without a word, followed her back to her room.