Page 55 of Unseen Eye (Aetherian Chronicles #1)

“Not like you have any better ideas,” Izzy counters, her eyes on the layout of Astermiri. Thanks to some of her sources, she managed to secure the castle’s layout, most of which I already knew.

“I understand that,” Cal continues, “but if this goes sideways, it’s going to be a fucking mess.”

“Hence why we need to make sure it doesn’t,” Izzy says, “now shut up and study.”

Theo’s rune affinity has come in handy. He created a set of runes that, when placed on two identical rocks, let us hear each other when carried. Magic is pretty cool.

The biggest risk in this whole plan? Me.

If Garet manages to get inside my head tomorrow, everything falls apart.

We tossed around the idea of me skipping the meeting, but that would only make things worse—too suspicious.

So, it’s simple: I can’t be alone with him, and under no circumstances can I let him touch me.

We don’t know exactly how his powers work, but we’re not taking any chances.

We spend the rest of the night going over the plan, tweaking every scenario, mapping out each location.

Only when we’ve picked it apart from every angle do we finally call it a night.

The morning of, I change into a fancy tunic and leathers, stashing away a more practical pair for later.

I barely slept last night, replaying everything that could go wrong and dreading the thought of seeing Garet.

“You’ll be great,” Cal says, placing a kiss on my cheek as I finish pinning back my hair.

Adorned in all black, he looks like he does any other day, surprisingly calm despite the heist we’re trying to pull off.

“How can you be so calm?” I finally ask as I fidget with my sleeves on our way to the castle.

He shrugs. “Believe it or not, this isn’t the stupidest thing I’ve done.”

“Why do I find that all too easy to believe?” I add with a smile.

We arrive at the castle moments before Lyda, the Queen of Skorda, arrives with a handful of advisers.

“What do you think of the queen?” I ask Cal quietly.

“Skorda has always tried to stay neutral, avoiding sides,” he explains. “But when they do choose, they always choose the less violent option. The gnomes are generally peaceful, and Lyda is a fair and just queen. But even she knows there’s no staying neutral forever.”

During introductions, Lyda gives me a knowing look, glancing between Cal and me. As she walks away, I mutter, “Is it that fucking obvious?” earning a small chuckle from Cal.

The throne room is now adorned with tables and refreshments, and it’s not long before Baron and Garet arrive.

Baron is dressed as regally as ever in a deep-blue velvet doublet with intricate silver embroidery, a polished silver crown resting on his perfectly styled hair.

His cold, piercing green eyes survey the room with an air of superiority.

My fists clench at the thought of him wanting Cal’s mother dead.

Cold, heartless bastard.

Garet trails behind him, his eyes finding mine the moment he enters. I’m standing between Cal and Izzy. Both wear their casual masks of indifference. As refreshments are served, Garet wastes no time walking up to me.

“Eva,” he begins, his voice hesitant, his eyes flickering nervously between my companions before returning to me. “Can we talk? Alone?”

Despite knowing this was coming, his audacity still stuns me.

I straighten, not bothering to hide my coldness.

“Why, Garet?” I challenge, my voice as sharp as a blade.

“Planning to mess with my mind and make me forgive you? Hate to break it to you, but that’s not happening.

I may have been dumb enough to listen to you once, but those days are over. ”

“Harsh,” Izzy mutters, holding back a laugh.

Garet’s frustration is evident. “So what,” he counters, “you suddenly trust everything these people say now?” He gestures to Izzy and Cal. “I thought you were smarter than that. Did you suddenly forget the monster this guy is?” He points to Cal.

Oh, he knows how to make my blood boil. “These people and that monster,” I spit, my voice hardening as the anger burns hotter, “have been more honest with me than you’ve ever been.

They treat me like a person—not some pawn to manipulate.

So maybe take a good look in the mirror before you so casually call Cal a monster. ”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize my mistake. “Cal?” Garet echoes in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He throws his hands up in the air. “Come on, Eva. I’m getting you out of here.”

Cal steps forward, but before he can react, I do what I’ve been itching to do since learning the truth—I punch Garet square in the face, just like Theo taught me, putting all my weight into it. His hand shoots to his cheek, his face flushing crimson.

“That’s my girl,” Theo mutters, while Izzy chuckles. Cal, still wearing his cold facade, allows a smirk to play at his lips.

“What the fuck? Was that really necessary?” Garet stammers, wiping his face, his voice edged with anger and disbelief.

“You know what? Whatever. You want to know what I was going to tell you? Here it is.” He pauses, as if weighing his next words carefully.

“Despite what you may think of me, I never once touched your memories. Did I change Nessa’s and Finn’s?

Yes. The merchant I claimed to be my father? Absolutely. But never yours.”

“And why such a noble act?” Cal asks dryly. “You’re telling me you never tried to touch her mind?”

Garet fidgets for a moment, his discomfort evident, before answering, “I did try, but I couldn’t touch anything. She was shielded—something was blocking me out.”

“What the fuck?” Izzy says, her disbelief palpable. “Why should we believe you?”

“You don’t have to, but it’s the truth,” Garet insists, locking eyes with me, his gaze pleading. “I tried several times. Even now, at this moment, I can’t access her mind.”

My mouth drops open in shock. So he doesn’t have to touch me for his affinity to work... “What do you mean shielded?” I whisper.

“It means,” Garet begins, his voice suddenly serious, “that something or someone is protecting your memories. Or,” he hesitates, looking uncomfortable, “someone beat me to it, manipulated them so much that they’re untouchable now.”

Doubt swirls in my mind. Could he be telling the truth? What does he gain by lying now? However, I can’t shake the feeling of being violated.

Garet gives me a sad smile before stepping back. “Think what you want, but I’m not completely the villain you paint me to be.” With that, he turns around and walks away.

“What the absolute fuck was that?” Theo exclaims, still staring at Garet’s retreating figure.

“I don’t know,” I admit, my brain still processing everything. You’d think by now nothing would catch me off guard like this, but sadly, the punches keep coming.

“He loves you, you know,” Izzy says, earning a look from both Cal and me.

“How do you know?” I ask, skepticism creeping into my voice.

“I’ve seen that look before,” she replies simply, shooting Cal a knowing glance before walking away.

“Garet doesn’t love me,” I say, more to myself than anyone else. “He’s too selfish and has his own agenda. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Sometimes it doesn’t have to make sense to love somebody,” Theo says, his tone lightening. “Nice punch, by the way. You did me proud.” He walks toward Izzy, leaving Cal and me alone.

For the first time since this confrontation started, I look at Cal. His eyes are a raging storm, still locked in an angry glare at where Garet stood, but there’s something else there too. Jealousy?

“You can’t actually be jealous of him, can you?” I ask, unable to resist.

Cal breaks his glare and looks at me. “Izzy’s right. He does love you.”

“Who cares if he loves me?” I exclaim, the frustration spilling over. “I certainly don’t. It doesn’t mean shit to me.” Wanting to shift the mood, I add, “Sorry I blew it by calling you Cal, by the way.”

This finally makes him smile. “Darling, don’t ever apologize for that,” he says, giving my hand a quick squeeze.

“You really need to quit calling me that,” I mutter, trying to ignore the warmth spreading in my chest.

“What was that?” Cal laughs, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I could call you another nickname. How about ‘evil’ or ‘princess’? Or maybe ‘evil princess’?” He raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself.

“Forget I said anything,” I grumble, turning back to watch the crowd.

Not long after, one of Drystan’s guards slips in and whispers something to him. My heart kicks into overdrive.

It’s go time.

Without missing a beat, Drystan strides toward us and says, “Get out of here.” I barely register the slight tremor in my hands as we dart down the hallways until we rejoin Theo and Izzy.

A quick change into something more practical, and we’re out the back door, racing across the fields within minutes.

“Grab on,” Cal says, taking my hand before blinking us away, Izzy and Theo right behind.

We land in the forest beside the castle in Astermiri.

The familiar scent of pine needles and damp earth floods my senses, grounding me for a moment.

I pause, catching my breath from the blink, and take in the surroundings.

It’s impossible not to picture the battle that raged here just over a month ago.

Cal was right—they’re rebuilding. The stone walls are slowly rising.

Scaffolding clings to large sections of the castle, while piles of stone and timber lie in wait.

The air hums with the rhythmic clanging of hammers and the sharp whir of saws, a jarring contrast to the hushed stillness of the forest.