Page 28 of The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

SILAS

I had never truly cried in front of anyone since I was a little boy. It felt pathetic. My father certainly didn’t enjoy the sight—he would call me weak for it. But I couldn’t hold it in any longer, not after losing the only other person I had a close relationship with. I wept into her chest, and Lena held me, running her hand through my hair and murmuring over and over that she loved me. I was comforted by her soft whispers and her heavenly scent, a mixture of eucalyptus and spearmint.

She was the best thing to ever happen to me.

I didn’t much believe in fate. With all those years trapped in this castle, I assumed life would always feel bleak and empty. And then I found her my first day outside the walls. Like destiny was demanding us to be together.

Mother had liked her a lot, too. Who couldn’t ?

Once my breathing began to steady and the tears lessened, I drew back to look up at Lena, whose own face crumpled. I never wanted her to look like that again as long as I lived. I pulled myself together and sat up.

“Do you want to talk about it? Do you know what happened?” she asked gently.

I sniffed, then pulled her back against my chest. “We know who did it. Mother’s aide, Amatta.” I sighed through my nose. “I’ve known her since I was a little boy. It just doesn’t make sense. Then again, I must not have known her very well…” My mind flashed back to all the signs I potentially missed before snapping back to the present moment. “I should’ve sensed something was off. Should’ve done something.”

“This is not your burden, Silas. This isn’t your fault.”

“Father claims she is a witch…”

I felt Lena tense against me. She’s scared of them. Rightfully so. But I would never let one near her. Ever.

“What makes him think that?” she asked quietly.

“I guess he walked in on it right after it happened. Magic radiated from her palms. He said he was able to contain her before the guards whisked her away to a cell. I guess she put up a decent fight. But thankfully, no one else got hurt.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek.

“What do you think her motive was?”

“No idea. Mother was the most honorable person in the entire castle. Even when it came to witches, she was reluctant to throw them out of our kingdom. Her kindness…her ability to see good in people who didn't deserve it…that was her weakness. And now she is gone.”

“Your mother was a wonderful person.” She stroked my chest, and I resisted the urge to cry at hearing her say “was” when talking about Mother. “You…you aren’t in danger, are you?”

“I don’t know…”

“There has to be a way to ensure you’re safe,” she demanded.

“I’m more worried about you sneaking up here.” I pinched her cheek playfully with a smile I knew didn’t meet my eyes. “Mother should’ve been the only one who knew about you…but still. If Amatta was working with anyone, perhaps they’ve been watching the castle, and—”

She was visibly tense but forced a smile for me. “Please, don’t worry about me. You have too much to worry about to fret over a peasant girl.” She pinched my cheek back. I gazed into her golden-green eyes, and my eyes trailed down to her full lips.

Gods, she is so beautiful.

“You mean everything to me, Lena. One day, you will rule this kingdom with me. I will always worry about you.”

Her smile faded, and she stroked my cheek. “It’s a lovely dream,” she murmured. “But not reality, Quill.” Her lip quivered, and she buried her face in my chest once more.

I didn’t have the energy to convince her, but I knew she would be my queen, my wife, my equal—the latter being true already, even if she or no one else in the kingdom saw it.

I stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, inhaling her scent again. I let out a hum. “Have I ever told you how lovely you smell?”

She let out a soft laugh. “Only a thousand times,” she teased. She leaned up and brushed her lips against mine. “I don’t ever want to leave,” she mumbled, then sat up, her copper curls falling gracefully on her breasts. What a sight it was. “But I have to,” she continued, leaning down and planting a soft kiss on my lips. I ran my hand through her silky hair and dragged her down, and she let out a giggle. “No more tonight, I’m afraid, Your Highness.”

I groaned with a smirk, and she lifted off the bed and began dressing. The moonlight accentuated her stunning figure. Her wide hips, her perfect ass, her breasts. She was a masterpiece. How could she think she was anything less than spectacular? It had always been beyond me.

“What are you gawking at?” She grinned, but she already knew the answer. I left the bed and walked over to her, and her eyes widened as she looked between my legs.

“You see what you do to me?” I teased, but I sauntered to my dresser instead of claiming her again and slipped on loungewear bottoms.

“Shame.” She smiled bashfully as she fastened her pants and threw on her bra and shirt.

I walked over to her and pulled her into an embrace. I knew that the second she left, grief would consume me once more. “Thank you for checking on me, Flower,” I murmured. “Thank you for caring.”

“No thanks needed.” She squeezed me tight. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.”

We stood silently for a while, lost in each other’s arms. When Lena finally pulled away, I began to feel the lump in my throat forming.

“I wanted to give you something…” I began. A crease formed between Lena’s eyebrows, and I stepped over to my nightstand. I opened the top drawer and retrieved my mother’s favorite necklace. The silver piece had five blue sapphires surrounded by halos of diamonds.

When I held it up to show Lena, she gasped.

“Silas…”

“I want you to have it. Please, Lena.” I motioned for her to turn around, and she hesitantly obeyed. I lifted the necklace over her head and clasped it behind her neck, the gems hanging just below her collarbones.

She turned to me, brushing her fingertips over to sapphires. It looked perfect on her. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, then met my gaze with teary eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt."

Her lip trembled. “Thank you, Silas. I am honored to have it.”

I pulled her into an embrace once more. It took great effort not to break down again. “I am honored to have you .”

We slowly made our way to my balcony door. I held it open for her as she stepped outside.

“Please, please be careful,” I begged.

“Always.” She went on her tiptoes and gave me one last peck before she went off into the distance. I watched until she was no longer in view and stepped back into my room.

All my emotions crashed into me once more, and I did everything to hold in my sob until I was face-first into my pillow.

My mother, my poor mother. Mercilessly killed like it was nothing. Like she was nothing. Like her death wouldn’t affect so many people. Affect me.

I hated Amatta. It was the first genuine, deep hatred I had ever felt, next to those brutes that threatened to hurt Lena or the one that I had to put down in front of that tavern. I enjoyed ending them, just like I would enjoy ending Amatta.

She must pay.