Heir of Stardust and Secrets (Mythic Spark #1)

35. An Undeserving Target

Chapter 35

An Undeserving Target

B lissful quiet greeted me upon entering the empty villa. Holding the heels in my hand, I walked across the cool tiled floor barefoot toward the expansive veranda. On the way, I nabbed a light blanket off the couch and wrapped it around myself—it wasn’t cold, but there was something comforting about being covered, less exposed.

Stepping onto the veranda, a soft summer breeze greeted me, playing with the hem of my skirt as I lazily padded toward the lounge area that was centered by a tiled firepit. The heels made a soft thud from being unceremoniously dropped to the ground before I nestled into an oversized chaise lounge, tucking into myself.

I stared out into the moonlit gardens, and for the first time in a long while, there were no thoughts left to plague me—throwing daggers and exhaustion had chased them all away.

It was our last night in these lands, and as I rested my head on the angled backrest of the chair, looking up at the stars, I was surprised to see familiar markings across the black expanse that covered Lumnara. A part of me felt this place was separate, like a parallel universe, but it was as real as the human realm .

How would I ever absorb this new reality I found myself in? As if in mockery, the firepit came to life. I smiled at the magic that’d somehow known I wanted a fire, that comforting crackling sound, and the hypnotic dance of the flames. Giving into the yellow and amber hues, it took only a few breaths before their calming presence lulled me to sleep.

The sun’s warmth pulled me from my slumber, and I noticed rosebushes I hadn’t been able to see the night before hedging the veranda—reminding me of Endymion’s floral metaphor. The more I thought about it, the less I believed that particular aspect of me came from the spark, as it was well and truly contained while I was in the Summer Court. There must be something wholly unique about who I was as a person, not just what some ancient powers had thrust upon me.

Unwrapping myself from the blanket I was cocooned in, I stretched away the sleep and got up, only to find Nevander standing guard at the threshold to the villa. A pang of guilt washed over me. I should have fallen asleep in Thaddeus’ suite. I wondered if he’d watched over me all night or if he’d taken shifts with Tarrin. They’d never complained about being tired or worn out from guarding me at night after attending to their duties during the day. Perhaps immortality granted them the ability to function on less rest.

“Good morning, Nevander,” I said.

“Good morning, Nyleeria.” A genuine smile bloomed on his face as he followed me back into the villa.

Thaddeus and Tarrin were having a lighthearted conversation at the dining table, which was filled to the brim with baked goods, fruits, and juices. My stomach growled in anticipation.

“Good morning, my dear,” Thaddeus said as he saw us approach.

My dear . He’d never been so casual with me before, not even in private. My heart raced, but I couldn’t identify the emotion coursing through me. I knew Tarrin and Nevander were well aware of what had transpired between Thaddeus and I, but I wasn’t prepared for intimacy outside the bedroom. I shook off the discomfort, positive that I only felt that way because I’d never had someone claim me in front of others.

Thaddeus stood and closed the small gap between us, then pulled me in before kissing me deeply. My body tensed, acutely aware of our audience, but I returned the kiss, and within a heartbeat, all fear melted away from his warmth, his familiar touch.

Caressing my cheek, he pulled away and smiled down at me, then pulled out the chair next to him.

“I’m going to go slip into something a little more comfortable first,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

The second I closed the door to Thaddeus’ suite, I pulled the pins out of my hair and stepped out of my dress, needing to be in my own skin again, to be able to run my hands through my hair.

My feet ached from the heels and were gritty against the smooth tile from the beach. I ran the water and washed the sand away. After I’d scrubbed the makeup off and brushed my teeth, I released the pink diamond from the bracelet straps and slid it back on the chain, letting its comforting weight rest against my chest once more.

It took a few minutes, but I found my clothing tucked away in a small closet off the suite on a portable rack—I chuckled to myself, wondering if Kai gave up on hanging them somewhere more permanent.

Now dressed in a simple skirt and a light tank top, I tied my hair up, and made my way back.

“Better?” Thaddeus asked as I sat down.

“Much,” I said with a relieved sigh, then served myself. “What happened after I left?”

“Remind me not to get on your bad side, Ny,” Tarrin said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to be on the other end of that , let me tell you. You could hear a pin drop for minutes after the doors closed behind you.”

Thaddeus’ lips curled in a knowing smile. “It isn’t pleasant,” he admitted, already being on the receiving end of my anger once before. I smiled sweetly at him and winked—lest he forget .

Tarrin laughed at our exchange.

“It was Fiora who broke the silence, digging into Wymond on your behalf,” Thaddeus explained. “I’ve never seen someone that soft-spoken make a point so clearly without raising their voice—her dominance was unquestionable.”

“Yeah, and the second the bastard went to open his mouth,” Tarrin said, “Myron snarled loud enough that the room shook. Even I could feel everyone rallying their power after that. Then Caius explained to Wymond, in no uncertain terms, that if the high lord so much as looked at you in a way that displeased him, he would have worn out his welcome and Caius would reconsider if their values were, and I quote, in alignment anymore. Myron seconded this. And then, get this,” Tarrin added dramatically, “Wymond apologized, actually apologized , to Caius.”

I had to laugh at the enthusiasm with which Tarrin recounted last night’s events.

“Then what?” I asked.

Surprisingly, it was Nevander who answered. “Endymion excused himself, and once he left, everyone continued visiting as if nothing had happened.”

“With exception to the conversation topic,” Tarrin added.

“Conversation topic?”

“You,” Tarrin said.

“Great,” I said, the word dripping with sarcasm.

“It was a good thing, Nyleeria,” Thaddeus said and placed a hand on my thigh. “After you left, the conversation favored your narrative. What you said hit home. In one night, they went from being suspicious of you to upset for you. Getting angry ended up being the best thing you could’ve done.”

“That’s not why I did it.”

“I know.” He gave me a soft smile.

“I’m done with this place,” I admitted, even as I was eating the most delicious fruit.

“I know,” he said again, and leaned over to kiss me. “We just have to get through today. We’ll go home after your lunch with Caius.”

“Thank the stars for that,” Tarrin muttered, and I couldn’t have agreed more.

“Nyleeria?” Nevander asked. His cautious tone instantly put me on alert. “Where did you go last night before you came back here?”

“How do you know I didn’t come straight back?”

“Because I came to check on you, and you weren’t here. I found you more than an hour later, on the veranda, sleeping.”

Damn. How was I going to explain?

“I was with Endymion.”

“Doing what, exactly?” Thaddeus asked with deadly calm.

I gave him a warning look at the implication in his tone. He didn’t own me, had no right to demand answers if I didn’t want to give them, but I didn’t press the issue. Our time here had been intense, and all of us were on edge.

“Throwing.”

“Throwing what?” Tarrin asked.

One of Thaddeus’ blades was on the table. I grabbed it by the hilt, turned away from the table while standing up, and let it fly toward one of the mannequins clad in leather armor. It was a killing blow, and the mannequin fell back at the impact. I sat down and continued to eat my breakfast.

Silence.

I looked up to find them all gaping at me.

“Did that just happen?” Tarrin asked.

“It did.” Thaddeus’ tone was unreadable.

“How did you learn how to throw like that?” Nevander questioned.

I just shrugged. “I told you—I spent a lot of time in the woods growing up.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

I stayed silent. I wasn’t about to launch into a story I no longer wanted to tell .

“How did Endymion know you could throw, Nyleeria?” Thaddeus asked. There was less implication in his voice this time, but there was still an edge to it.

“He guessed it.”

“How?”

I put my right palm up and rubbed my thumb over the faded marks. “He’d felt my calluses.”

“And why was he touching you at all?” Thaddeus words held a dark warning in them.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “The last I checked, Thaddeus, you don’t own me.”

They all tensed, but I didn’t care.

“Why was he touching you?” Thaddeus asked again, unrelenting resolve in his words and his eyes.

I stood. “What exactly, is it you’re accusing me of, Thaddeus? Would you like to add whore to the accusation of witch I received last night?”

He didn’t flinch at my words like the other two did, and I instantly knew what Thaddeus was thinking—brick by brick, I built a wall, protecting myself from his insinuations.

“You think because I wasn’t a virgin when you bedded me that I’ll spread my legs for whomever shows interest?”

Tarrin’s eyes went wide. He hadn’t known, then. These men and their skewed, out-of-date ideologies. I couldn’t handle this right now.

“I said it the other night, and I’ll say it again, Thaddeus. But this is the last time I will entertain this conversation. Do you understand?” My words were cold and clipped. “You didn’t seem to mind my lost maidenhood when you rammed yourself to the hilt inside of me again and again, enjoying the rough ride I offered you. There was no courting or promise of marriage before you spilled your seed inside of me and screamed my name with pleasure. Yes, we had sex. But you have no claim to my past, and you sure as hell have no claim to me now. So don’t you dare accuse me of sleeping around. And not that it’s any of your business, but I have only taken two lovers in my life, which I can guarantee is exponentially less than you have.”

I walked away, seething, then turned back to him. “To answer your question, Endymion felt my calluses when I danced with him in Wymond’s stead.”

Thaddeus flinched. Good, at least those words hit their mark.

Turning once more, I left the villa without another word.