Page 8

Annalise

C yrus is leaving the estate, and he isn’t taking me with him. I don’t know whether to feel relieved or wary of this news. Regardless, it puts an uneasy feeling in my gut. Leaving me here means I am completely under Felix’s charge. Felix is a beast who has let it be known how much he dislikes me. And I’m sure Dimitri has already relayed everything I did and said to him across the sea. I don’t claim to understand the relationship between Dimitri and Felix, but I know Felix won’t take kindly to my harsh words.

My head throbs as I make my way down the estate’s steps. I flinch as the sunlight hits me, intensifying my discomfort, but I am grateful for the fresh air, which eases the intensity of the ache.

Last night, Cyrus sent me away without touching me as he claimed he would. And now, by some miracle, he has decided to leave, which will give me more time away from him and his wrath. I shift my gaze over the front of the estate, where only a handful of beasts seem to be departing with their king. Most of them fiddle with the saddles on their horses and fill their satchels as they await Cyrus’s order. Cyrus stands as well by his horse, speaking to Felix. I immediately notice that Dimitri is nowhere to be found, which is unusual, considering Dimitri is always nearby when Felix is around. Even as we arrived at the estate, the servants all greeted Dimitri with familiarity and respect, meaning he is someone important enough to be present when the king departs.

Cyrus’s eyes slip past Felix to land on me as I approach, but he doesn’t smile, placing me on alert. He only watches me as I approach. Felix glances at me briefly, his demeanor visibly shifting as he moves to speak to other beasts. But I don’t miss the look of irritation he gives as he steps past me.

I lower my gaze, bowing to Cyrus in greeting.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” I murmur.

I tense when I feel Cyrus’s palm against my forehead.

“You seem shaken this morning,” he says, eyeing me.

A smirk forms on his lips.

“I guess giving you so much wine without tiring you out afterward was not the best idea,” he chuckles to himself, turning away from me to secure his saddle.

I take the moment to study him. His arms flex as he pulls at the straps, his white hair pulled into a topknot. He is dressed in royal attire, meaning he isn’t leaving on a whim. Something important must have happened that requires the attention of the king.

“I will be gone for a few weeks, depending on how long this matter takes. During that time, Felix’s word is law. I will not tolerate you disobeying him in my absence. Do you understand?” he asks, facing me.

I nod.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Cyrus’s finger dips under my chin, and he lifts my gaze to meet his. The center of his eye slightly sharpens as he studies me, and I know he is threatening me in more ways than one.

“I mean it, Annalise,” he says.

I want to respond, but I can’t—not with him this close, this suffocating. I slowly nod my head, my breath trembling from fear and Cyrus notices. He smiles, pleased with himself, before releasing me. His gaze shifts behind me, and his smile widens as someone else approaches. I turn to see a servant walking toward us with Ciel in her arms.

His wide eyes are focused on the both of us, a smile forming on his lips when he sees me standing next to Cyrus. He immediately begins reaching for me, his moans audible as she approaches. My heart beats wildly in my chest, my fingers aching to give in to holding him… he’s so close. But I fight it. I clasp my hands in front of me, dropping my gaze.

Cyrus laughs next to me, placing his hand on the small of my back.

“Very good, Annalise.” He gently pushes me forward. “Go on.”

My eyes widen at what this means, and I immediately reach for my son. His warmth envelopes me as I hold him in my arms again, placing my fingers over his head and back as I inhale the innocent scent that is him. I suddenly feel at ease, my mind clearing of any stresses I felt coming out here. Even when Cyrus steps in close to us, placing his hand along Ciel’s back. I look up at him in shock to see Cyrus smiling at Ciel as he places a soft kiss on the top of his head. Ciel seems content with his father’s presence, a squeal of pleasure leaving his lips as his father gives him attention.

“I will return,” he says, looking into Ciel’s eyes. To my utter shock, Ciel seems to comprehend fully what it is his father is saying, his eyes intensely focused on him.

Cyrus takes in my shock, his smile turning cruel. “I told you, there are things you do not know.”

He turns away, mounting his horse before looking down at me while pulling the reigns tight.

“Felix will explain to you how often you shall see him while I am away. Remember what I said. If you are good upon my return… I may reward you,” he says. I watch in complete shock, my brain moving to do as I am supposed to.

“Thank you, Your Ma—“

“Do not thank me.” Cyrus doesn’t give me a chance to respond as he steers his horse to the front, his gaze focusing on Felix.

“Remember what we talked about,” he says,

Felix nods his head, placing his fist over his heart as he bows to Cyrus. Finally, Cyrus takes off with the other beasts in tow, leaving me alone at Felix’s estate. I watch him as he rides up the drive, exiting the gate until I can no longer see him, the sound of the breeze and cicadas filling the air.

Felix turns away, making his way towards me, his gaze narrowed as he takes me in. Out of instinct, I hold Ciel closer to me upon his approach until he is standing over me.

“I’m sure Cyrus has already explained to you the situation you are now in. Until he returns, you are under my charge.” His gaze shifts to Ciel as he continues. “You have been allowed to see your son on the days Cyrus has deemed appropriate. The other days, he will be raised by his own, understanding the ways of our race and his culture,” he says

I watch Felix in shock, his words not making sense.

“But he’s not even one—“

Felix cuts me off with a laugh.

“This is why leaving with that child in your belly was a foolish thing to do. Cyrus seems to think you have high intelligence, but I cannot see it. Do not think you have gained his mercy just yet. The gift of holding your son did not come without consequence. I do hope you remember that,” he growls.

The servants next to me bow as Felix walks away, but I continue to watch him in shock as he makes his way into the estate, rage pouring from his every being at the sight of me being reunited with my son.

I decide to spend the rest of my day in the garden with Ciel. It’s the only way I can think to get away from Felix’s watchful rage and clear my head. His words are a mystery to me.

Was he referring to Ciel when he said there were consequences?

I look down at him as he plays with a flower in his hand. His eyes are bright and filled with knowledge that most children at his age don’t seem to have. He takes in information and watches the world around him with keen interest. When I was in the village, I would help new mothers with their babies when the time came. I even helped deliver some. I never remembered their children being so… conscious.

Even though he can’t speak, Ciel seems to be understanding of the world around him which makes me wonder if what Cyrus said is true. If I had raised him across the sea, how would he have killed the entire continent? Even now, as I look at him, I can’t imagine him being evil. He is a gentle, quiet baby. The only difficulty I had with him was his birth.

“What do they know about you that I don’t?” I murmur as I ruffle his hair.

Only last night, Cyrus told me that he wouldn’t let me near Ciel and that he was going to make me suffer. If it was a test, I failed it miserably. Why would he suddenly change his mind the morning of his departure? He still seems to be his cruel self, except in the one instance he interacted with Ciel. It was a part of him I didn’t know existed.

I suck in a deep breath pulling another flower up for Ciel to play with.

“He’s beautiful.”

I tense, turning to see a beast coming toward me from the direction of the estate. I’ve never seen her before but she’s beautiful in a mature way. She’s tall and slender, her uniform hugging her body flatteringly. Her light brown hair is pulled away in a low bun with stray curls that tickle the smooth planes of her face. Her dark eyes watch me without an ounce of malice as she approaches, and I feel a wave of sadness wash over me.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

I gently reach for Ciel.

“Is it time already?” I ask.

Her expression morphs into shock before a laugh leaves her lips.

“No, I am not one of the beasts that will be raising the prince. I am a friend of Dimitri’s,” she says softly.

My eyes widen slightly. I don’t know whether to feel anger or sadness at her presence. She kneels in the grass in front of me, studying me intensely. Her dark blue gaze roams over my face, lingering on my eyes and lips. Her presence is eerie as she looks at me. Almost as if she isn’t fully present.

“I just had to see you for myself. I didn’t believe Dimitri when he spoke of you. I thought he was overexaggerating—blinded by his love for you. But I see now why the king is so obsessed. You are stunning,” she says.

A blush forms across her cheeks as she looks at me.

“Dimitri spoke of me?” I ask.

She nods her head.

“All the time when he first arrived here. You were his drive,” she says with a sad smile.

“He always went on and on about how he was supposed to protect you,” she chuckles as if it’s the funniest thing in the world.

“He even told me that you were engaged the day the king destroyed your village. And now here you are, doting over the king’s son,” she says.

Her gaze slightly narrows, but she keeps the charming smile on her lips.

“Why are you here?” I ask in confusion.

“I told you I only wanted to see you for myself. He’s always so determined to protect you, even if it isn’t in the way he wants,” she says.

I let out a bitter chuckle, looking at Ciel.

“He has a strange way of showing it. He hunted me down and led the king to me. He doesn’t—“

“You left.”

I look up in shock. Her tone is vicious, her charm all but gone.

“You didn’t protect him in that camp. You don’t know what he went through with Felix for you.” Her gaze drifts to Ciel, and she once again gets that dreamy look on her face.

“You just don’t know,” she whispers.

After a moment, she seems to recall something, her expression shifting.

“I apologize for disturbing you and the little prince. I must get back to my duties.” She stands above me, a light laugh leaving her lips before she makes her way back to the estate, leaving me alone to once again decipher someone’s cryptic words to me.