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Chapter Forty-One: Rhea

Elora huffs a breath while setting another stack of gathered books onto the desk, shaking the tiered tray of cookies. When I questioned the tray with a raised brow, she had lamented that, “It isn’t a proper book club meeting without treats and drinks!” I am not complaining though, as the cookies are some of the most divine I have ever tasted.

“I can’t believe you’ve never had chocolate chip cookies before,” she says, dotting the corners of her mouth with a white napkin after taking a bite of the sweet. “They are the most basic ones.”

I find Elora easy to talk with, her demeanor one that makes up for the lull in conversation that sometimes occurs in my presence. I don’t want to lie to her, but I know that for my safety—and Nox’s too—I can’t tell anyone the truth of where I come from. Of who is likely still searching for me and willing to do whatever it takes to get me back.

“I was very sheltered growing up. This is the first time I’ve had tea too.”

“ What? ” Elora’s voice echoes out into the quiet library, making Rayna sigh in exasperation as her gaze meets ours over the top of her book.

“Libraries are to be enjoyed in silence, you two. If you must talk, then do so quietly .” The wrinkles around her eyes deepen as she squints them at us. I’m fairly convinced the only person she actually likes is Nox.

“Sorry,” we both murmur at the same time.

“What are your parents like?” Elora asks, taking a not-so-delicate gulp of tea.

I suppose I don’t have to lie to her about this at least. “I didn’t know them. They died after I was born,” I say quietly, taking a quick sip of tea. Elora’s less refined drinking makes me not as anxious about my own, though my fingers tighten around the mug when the memory of my uncle bringing tea to the tower flashes briefly in my mind.

“Oh, Rhea. I’m so sorry. My parents drive me absolutely crazy, but I don’t know what I would do without them.” We sit in amiable silence for a moment before Elora perks up in her chair. “What is your family name? You said you’re from Santor, right?”

Nox and I had discussed changing my last name in an overabundance of caution. Nothing official, just a name that I could tell anyone who asked. Since my lying skills are unrefined and terrible, I chose one that I am already familiar with. “Yes, and it’s Selene.”

Elora quickly scribbles something on a sheet of paper attached to her leather-bound notepad before she rips it out and then stuffs it into the drawer of the desk. Leaning back in her chair, her gray eyes swirl with mischief before she blinks it away and a playful smile curls her lips.

“So, I have to ask, what’s it like dating Prince Nox? It’s been quite the gossip since he announced he’s officially courting someone. There are quite a few wallowing ladies now that he’s unavailable.” My cheeks heat at her question as I do my best to feign nonchalance with a small shrug and a bite of cookie. I may be inexperienced, but I’m not blind. I had caught both sexes ogling Nox on our few excursions out. “Oh, come on, Rhea! You have to give me something. You are dating a prince! Your story is like a fairytale come to life!” She emphasizes her point by lifting the top book from her stack on the desk and waving it in front of my face.

I laugh and grab the book from her, pretending to read its cover as I trace my finger along its silver-embossed edges. “What do you want to know?”

“ Everything! Anything. When was your first kiss? Is he a good kisser? He looks like he’d be a very good kisser,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows as she leans forward.

“He… is a very good kisser,” I answer before immediately hiding my face with the book.

Elora cackles quietly, so as not to draw another reprimand from Rayna. “I knew he would be. You can’t look that good and not be. Though good looks do run in the entire family. Have you seen the king?” She fans her face with her hand as she looks off into the distance wistfully.

“He looks like an older version of Nox.”

When her gaze comes back to my questioning one, she smirks. “Exactly.” My laugh is loud before I cover my mouth, avoiding Rayna’s stare burning into the side of my face. “What? I like older men. Anyway, let’s talk about The Assassin and The Queen. Which chapter was your favorite?”

Glad for the subject change, I share my thoughts on the latest book I had read at her recommendation. The afternoon passes quickly as we chat and clear out the cookies and tea. Talking to Elora comes easily, her bubbly personality balancing out my own quieter one. I take a look at the stack of books she pulled for me, my fingers running over the spine of the last one.

“What is this?” I ask, tapping the red leather spine with the words The Mage Kingdom: Life Before The War Of Five Kingdoms .

“ That is one of my favorite history books,” she trills. At the look on my face, she holds a placating hand out in front of her. “I know, I know. You said you don’t like history books, but this one is less about boring facts and more about personal accounts. It was written the year directly following the casting of the Spell and compares what life was like before and after the war.”

“Besides the kingdoms not being separated, was life so different then?” I ask, remembering the details in the history tome I read with Bella all those months ago.

“Yes and no. Most of the daily stuff was the same, except you might walk into a tavern and be met with mages, fae, and mortals. Especially here in Galdr. It is fascinating to read about. There are even firsthand accounts of people who had family members living with them one minute and then gone the next after the Spell was cast.”

“How did it happen?”

Elora leans forward, her elbows resting on the desk. “While not overly common, there were beings who fell in love from different kingdoms. Their offspring would then have been born with only one of their parents’ magical traits. Like in my family, if you go back to right before the war, one of my ancestors married a mortal. Their child was born without mage magic of any kind. When the Spell went up, both the child and their father disappeared. Weeks later, a letter arrived to my mage ancestor from her husband. The father and child were now bound to the Mortal Kingdom. When it was revealed that mages could pass through the Spell without repercussion, she was left to choose joining them and abandoning everyone and everything she knew, or staying. She chose the former, sneaking out before the king at the time declared that mages should not do such a thing.”

I suppose I didn’t think about how the Spell could have separated families in this way. “So you have family in the Mortal Kingdom, then?” I ask.

Elora nods. “Not that I’ll ever know them.”

“Besides your parents, do you have any other family?”

She shakes her head, her fingers twirling one of the magical pens that are always spelled to work in her hand. “Nope, it’s just the three of us.” Her brow creases as a look of longing crosses her face. “I think about it sometimes. How nice it might be to find more family. How there could be a distant cousin my age somewhere in the Mortal Kingdom.”

I always assumed that I felt so alone and incomplete because I never knew my parents and never had the opportunity to be able to form any friendships. Yet Elora had those freedoms, and still, she seems as hungry for those connections as I am.

“Have you ever gone dancing at a tavern?” she asks abruptly, changing the subject. When I shake my head, her eyes widen in surprise. “We must go together, then! The cider mead at my favorite tavern is delicious , and we can dance to a live band!”

“I don’t know what cider mead is, but yes, I would like that.” My chuckle at the renewed look of shock on her face is interrupted when my magic rushes up from my abdomen as if answering to a beacon. I grip onto the dragon pendant, my brows drawing together in confusion, but a moment later, Nox rounds a bookshelf, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black trousers. His eyes meet mine, and I have to actively focus on breathing as I watch him near. Is it possible that he’s gotten more muscular? Somehow more handsome?

“You guys are adorable,” Elora whispers, causing me to break eye contact with Nox to look her way. “You should tell him to grow his hair out like his father’s.” My hand flies to my mouth as Nox reaches the desk.

“Should I be offended that the two of you are laughing right as I arrive?” he asks, bending down to kiss the top of my head.

“Not at all, Your Highness. Rhea has said nothing but good things about you,” Elora croons, giving me a quick wink before standing and sliding the stack of books towards Nox.

His eyebrow draws up as he looks at me. “Merely good? I guess I’ll have to try harder.”

I think I might be imagining the seduction that flows off his tongue when he speaks, but a quick glance at Elora’s widening smile tells me I’m not.

“I’ll see you soon?” she asks as Nox grabs the books.

“Yes,” I confirm, giving her a small wave and turning to walk out at Nox’s side. He glances down at me, his gaze lingering on my mouth as we walk. “What is it?” My fingers trace over my lips, assuming I must have remnants of the cookies on them.

“It’s just good to see you smiling, Sunshine.”

I kiss his arm before wrapping my hand around it, giving the muscles there a little squeeze. “Was your visit with the council alright?”

Nox heaves out an exaggerated exhale. “They are eager to see me returning to my heir apparent duties. I have a feeling these meetings are only going to increase in frequency. There have been some disturbances that my father is growing more concerned over in some towns bordering the Fae Kingdom.” His brows draw together, like he can see whatever those disturbances are off in the distance. Clearing his throat, he blinks the look away and catches my gaze with his. “I’m sorry, Rhea. I truly hoped that I would be eased back into these things so that I would have more time to properly show you around.”

“I understand.”

Nox smiles as his eyes trace over me before he leans down to kiss the side of my head.

“Do we have any other plans for today? Or can I dive into one of these books,” I question, looking eagerly at a green leather-bound book in the middle of the pile that Elora spent fifteen minutes raving about.

“About that,” he drawls, using his back to push open the door to the palace library. We turn to the right, walking down a hallway lined with large paintings on both sides. He opens his mouth to continue when a different voice echoes from farther down.

“Hello, Blondie. I heard you are ready to train.”

The training grounds are teeming with magic so thick that it’s hard to concentrate. The open field filled with thick blades of dark green grass, rolling hills and valleys and small ponds and mud pits dotted throughout, looks as if the finger of a large deity pushed the forest out of the way to make this spot. Trees line the oval-shaped perimeter, the canopied forest left in darkness compared to how brightly the unfiltered sun casts its rays over the open ground. It’s beautiful in an unexpected way, and I was grateful when Nox and Cassius didn’t bring attention to the audible gasp I made when we first arrived.

On the walk here, Cassius was all jokes and teasing energy as he recounted stories from his and Nox’s youth. I wasn’t sure if I had ever laughed as hard as I did when he told me about the time they drunkenly bet each other that they could catch a thrown dagger mid-air. Nox ended up slicing his palm deeply, and Cassius had bumped the dagger from its flight path only for the tip of it to slice into the skin at his temple. He had been too drunk to realize it and passed out before healing the wound, so a faint scar now permanently memorialized that night. The teasing mood is gone now though, Cassius’ face instead set seriously from where he watches me a few feet away.

Nox’s foot taps the inside of my ankle, encouraging me to widen my stance. “Good, Sunshine. Now, keep your knees bent so you have the ability to pivot and move at any moment.” His hands rest on my shoulders, slowly sliding down my arms. “Keep these muscles relaxed and lift your guard like I showed you.”

I, pathetically, am already huffing, my body coated in sweat under my new training clothes. I had thought Nox might choose to skip training for physical movement of a different kind when he first saw me in them, but after forcing himself to look away from me as he mumbled something under his breath, he turned back around, quickly braided my long hair, and stiffly led us out of his room. Cassius met us at the bottom of the stairs, whistling at me before breaking out into laughter at whatever look was on Nox’s face.

Nox walks in front of me, assessing my form thoroughly, like if I fail, the blame will fall to him. “These first few weeks will be about building up your muscle and stamina and learning the different defensive and offensive positions we call Forms. After that—”

“Nox? Nox, is that you?” a female voice shouts from behind as two silhouettes crest a small hill and begin making their way towards us. Their features become more distinguishable as they near, the golden light of the sun making the woman’s dark blonde hair glow, her pretty strands braided into a coronet around her head. She wears training clothes like my own—a white form-fitting, short-sleeved top over body-hugging black leggings. Matching black boots go up her calves as well. The man next to her is near Cassius’ height with short brown hair and a training outfit of all black, similar to Nox’s.

“It is you. Welcome home.” She throws her arms around Nox’s neck, barreling into his body so hard that he’s forced to take a step back as they laugh.

“Hey, Haylee. It’s good to see you,” he responds, reciprocating her hug.

Haylee . The faintest sensation of bitter cold seeps out of the hold I keep on my magic, strong enough to be felt even with the pendant on. Stupid envious magic , I curse internally, trying to tamp it back down. I cannot feel jealous when there is nothing to be jealous about. Yet, even with those rational thoughts floating in my mind, they are denied the ability to take root when Haylee drags her hand slowly down Nox’s arm, her fingers curling around his bicep.

“Your magic is flaring, Blondie. Take a deep breath,” Cassius whispers from my side, a gentle hand coming to rest on my shoulder.

I follow his instructions, my ears ringing as Haylee and Nox talk. Get yourself under control.

“Daje, glad to see you out and about. Done wallowing now?” The man that came with Haylee looks at Cassius, his deep blue eyes flickering as his lips narrow into a flat line. “Daje here is in love with Nox’s sister,” Cassius adds on for my benefit.

“Cass,” Daje warns, his tawny skin growing pink at his cheeks. Cassius shrugs, his hand sliding off of my shoulder when he feels me take a deeper breath. Daje’s eyes bounce from me to Cassius and back again before he extends his hand out in front of me. “I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Daje.”

“I’m Rhea. It’s nice to meet you.”

His hand is warm around mine, his grasp firm as he gives me a tight-lipped smile. His gaze then goes over my shoulder and up, his hand releasing mine right as Nox rests his own on my back.

“Rhea, I want you to meet Haylee. Haylee, this is Rhea.” She steps up next to Daje, my head tilting back so I can meet her gaze.

“Ah, so this is the woman who has stolen our prince’s heart. A feat no one else can claim if rumors are to be believed.”

Daje and Cassius chuckle, but I stiffen at that term— stolen . As if Nox did not return my affections and instead was forced to be with me.

“She can’t steal what is laid at her feet.”

I turn back to look at Nox, my chest flooding with relief at him voicing thoughts similar to my own. Without regard to the small gathering around us, he leans down to kiss me, and everything settles at his touch—the ringing in my ears, the magic writhing beneath my skin, my rapidly beating heart. All answering swiftly to his claiming display. When we break apart, Nox’s eyes speak promises of what will come later once we’re alone in his room.

“Well, I’m not sure I’ll ever get that image out of my mind,” Cassius teases with a scowl.

My eyes can’t help but draw back to Haylee, expecting to see confusion or perhaps even anger given her earlier comment. But her face looks serene. As if the attitude I thought was there earlier was imagined.

“You act as if we haven’t all had to live through your many public displays with your various lovers,” Nox replies, his arm wrapping around my waist.

“Nox missed the spring of Bastian. You both might as well have shared a single shirt for how often you were fused together,” Daje chimes in, crossing his muscular arms over his chest.

“Then there was screaming Sorina,” Haylee recounts smoothly, causing Cassius to shudder.

“Why was she screaming Sorina?” Nox asks.

“Because if they weren’t fighting, they were fucking, or close to it, in very public places,” she replies, giving Cassius a pointed look.

He shrugs, clasping his hands behind his back. “I suppose you should be glad you weren’t here for that one, Nox. She would have tried to convince you to have a threesome with us.” He pauses, looking me over as his lip curls up. “A foursome, actually. Not saying I would necessarily have been opposed to that—”

“You would fuck anything that welcomed it,” Daje cuts in as Nox’s hand flexes on my hip.

Cassius chuckles, sending a wink in his direction. “Except you.”

“Then it is good that I don’t fucking welcome it.”

I listen quietly as the group continues playfully arguing with each other, my body leaning back against Nox’s in comfort. They laugh and talk with the familiarity of friends who have known one another for ages. I’d be remiss not to admit to myself that I’m jealous of that—of the bonds they’ve formed and the history they have. Even with Nox and Cassius including me in the conversation, I doubt I will ever have the ease that they do while speaking with each other.

After a while, Daje and Haylee say goodbye, and Cassius and Nox go back to introducing me to fighting stances and defensive maneuvers. By the time the sun begins to set, my leg muscles are completely useless. When I express how sore I am, Nox places his hands on my thighs, the feel of his magic sinking into me immediately easing my pain.

“You know I can heal myself,” I remind him.

He shrugs before wrapping his arm around me. “Any chance I have to take care of you, I will take.”

We part ways with Cassius as we walk back to the palace, and my gaze wanders to the thickly wooded forest, the greens and blues of the leaves around and above us never ceasing to cause a wondrous feeling to bloom inside of me. I lean in closer to Nox, my arm going around his waist. He has felt like home to me for a while, but this is the first moment that the Mage Kingdom feels like it could be home for me too. Like I truly can have a future full of the things I missed out on living in that tower.