Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

28. Aeron

28

Aeron

W e will ride out in two weeks. Princess Saphrina is of age and her official betrothal will be announced to Prince Proteus at their marriage celebration in the Middle Kingdom.

My Father received an invitation to join the celebration. Most likely not thinking he will actually attend. Clearly a power play to inform us of their alliance.

Too bad my Father will not be in attendance.

But I will.

My Father has not been a problem for quite awhile now. Ever since overpowering him and receiving my full Goddess mark his demeanor towards me has changed completely. He treats me as his son and heir once again. Including me in strategic military planning. Consulting me on his plans to overthrow the other realms. He still intends to demolish them. Still wants to spread the darkness throughout the three realms.

But he hasn’t mentioned me needing to kill Dinalia to prove my worth. Killing her and her Mother really was just a decoy. An excuse he used to mutilate my skin. To punish me. To break me. To push me to develop and defend myself enough to bear a full Goddess mark. That’s all he wanted, power.

I haven’t seen Dinalia since then. I came so close to letting go. So close to giving myself to her fully. But in the end I couldn’t. She touched my burns and I recoiled back into myself. I long for her touch now. To feel the soft caress of her lightly calloused hands. Heat rushes to my groin as I envision her pinned beneath me again. I still remember every moment of that interaction. Her pushed up against that tree while I tower over her. I often still wonder if she thinks about me as much as I think about her.

“She’s going to be there.” Aemond says, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yes, I know.”

“You’re not worried?”

I give him a curious look, “Why would I be worried?”

He glances down to my hands. I’m twirling a black dahlia between my fingers. It’s the same shade as Dinalia’s eyes. Fitting her name and the flower her soul seems to represent.

“Can I be frank with you?”

“Haven’t you always been?”

He laughs, “Well, yes. But I fear you really aren’t going to like what I have to say.”

“What is it?” I say curtly. Beginning to lose my patients. Even for him.

He joins me. Sitting on the balcony of my room at the billet. Looking out to the gardens down below. “You are more powerful than you have ever been. And you are ready to take the throne. Our dwellers are strong. Fed up with your Father’s poor rule. Over taxed and living in poverty. But you’ve changed.”

“Changed? How so?”

“You’re distant. Not that that is unusual for you with your people for the most part. But even with me you have been distant. I don’t know what transpired between you and The Lady Dinalia but you seem lost. You haven’t had another woman since your last encounter with her. And unless we are planning and speaking of matters of states I know your mind drifts to her. We never speak of her but the last time we did you said you both had the same Goddess mark and there was a pull to her. I believed her to be your mate but no one would be able to cope being away from their mate the way you’ve stayed away from her. I just need to ask and make sure that you will be alright when you see her? That our plans will not go awry.”

I told Aemond I saw her. I told him I tried to have a conversation with her. Offering to get to know one another. I didn’t tell him of our physical interaction, the lust I felt for her but he can guess. I didn’t mention to him the specifics of why I pulled away from her. Why her very touch was what I longed for but also what sent a raging frenzy over my burns. I just told him it wasn’t going to work. By my tone and aggression he knew not to press the matter.

“I do not intend for our plans to go awry. It will be easy. They will all be in the palm of my hands and the three realms will be ours for the taking.”

He gives me a look that says he doesn’t quite believe me. But her relents, “If you say so, Your Grace.”

“There is something I do need to tell you though.”

“Yes?”

“It’s not a big deal but in the event that it comes up. I told Lady Dinalia that my name was Aemond.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Things had happened and I wasn’t in my right mind. She asked me what my name was and I said the first thing that popped into my mind. Thinking I couldn’t tell her my real name in the event she knew about the monstrous son of King Perseus. ”

“So, my name was the first that popped into your mind. I’m flattered.” He smiles at me.

I glare at him. He’s such an ass.

“Well it’s going to come up. They are going to make a formal announcement when we arrive.”

Throwing my face into my hands. “Yeah, I know. What am I going to say to her?”

I sound like a teenager with a crush. Not the most powerful Fae in the world that I have grown into. If anyone saw me this way other than Aemond they wouldn’t believe the reputation I have made.

Before Aemond can reply we are interrupted by his wife, Estelle.

Estelle is originally from the Celestial Realm and was raised to be a priestess of our Goddess, but left for unknown reasons. She uses her magic to conceal her true features, just as Queen Freya did. It didn’t take her long to reveal her true form to Aemond and myself. Something between the two of them just clicked.

It’s the same female that was perched on his lap the night after the raid. They married shortly after that.

She was also saved not long after by Dinalia. She ventured to one of our border villages to seek a dweller who had reached out for help.

Confident, she could handle it herself, Aemond did not accompany her. Caught off guard she had been beaten and raped. She most likely would have died too, if Dinalia had not shown up. She returned to the billet with the news. And I took it in fully.

Hearing how she defended the innocent. Murdering a rapist. Giving him just as much venom as he was giving her. Not standing down. She’s embracing the darkness inside of her and I didn’t have to do a thing.

Her Mother said I could help her be at peace with the darkest parts of herself. In our few interactions I saw it. The darkness tormenting her soul. But if she is able to kill now. To let go of that and bring death, she is embracing her true desires.

Estelle told me what Dinalia said,

“No, I am not from around here. I was just passing by and… I don’t know, felt a sense of responsibility. No one should be taken advantage of in such a manner. All deserve to be treated with care and respect. Regardless of status. Something we are all born with but at no fault of our own.”

Her views did not surprise me in the least. Most likely feeling them in her own heart. She more than most understands that. Having lived in the most judgmental castle there is.

When Estelle told me she mentioned that Dinalia should meet me. I almost lost it. Not to mention she informed her of the billet of dwellers.

Dinalia isn’t from the Shadowlands, but of course Estelle couldn’t have known that. She just saw a young girl misplaced in the world. Thinking she was from the Shadowlands. Dinalia would have made a great addition to our ranks given her fighting and magical abilities.

Although, our main stronghold is here at the billet just outside the castle. Right under my Father’s nose. Our ranks have grown throughout all of the Shadowlands.

Aemond and Estelle often venture to the major towns to ensure information is being passed down and all are aware of the upcoming changes. They also bring with them food, water, clothing, and anything else the dwellers may need.

My people are ready for the shift. They can feel the Forest of Despair changing. Sucking the life force out of the surrounding trees that bleed into the Middle Kingdom and Celestial Realms. The dark creatures that exposed themselves becoming more and more aggressive. The other forests are no longer safe to travel through.

That’s why I am surprised Dinalia still does, somehow unharmed. Making her way into our bordering villages to kill.

Yes, I know it’s her. I do not care. Every single man she kills deserves to die. Generally soldiers of my Father’s. I didn’t know it was her at first. But after further investigation it was clear. She has a type she likes to kill. And she kills them all in the same way. Right through the heart. The same way her Mother was killed. She’s smart in her killing. Varying the towns. Always changing the time and location. No pattern to be found.

She’s an impressive killer indeed.

“I want to come with you.” Estelle says, pulling me from my thoughts of her.

“No”, Aemond replies harshly. Far too harshly for her liking.

Aemond is a formidable man himself. Demolishing anyone and demanding respect. But with Estelle he waivers. Holding his heart in her hands. No one has ever tempered him the way she has. And she makes her points clear and stands her ground in the life they’ve built together.

“I wasn’t asking.”

“If you go. Who is going to stay here and look after Lilliana?” Aemond asks.

Lilliana is their three year old daughter. Estelle was pregnant with her when Dinalia saved them. That is whom she is named after.

She takes after her Mother, however. Which is hard living in the Shadowlands. Her hair at the roots is black like Aemond’s and fades into the resounding silver of the Celestial Realm. Her eyes are identical to her Mother’s, an icy blue. The boys will be chasing after her when she is older. I can’t wait to see how Aemond handles that. He is very protective of his family. They are his whole heart. And the main reason he wants to change the world we live in now.

Lilliana is sweet and kind, young and innocent. She is only afforded protection against her mixed blood because she is Aemond’s daughter. Essentially my niece. I will not see that little girl harmed.

I clear my throat. Usually I try to stay out of these martial spats the two of them get into but I must intercede on this one. “Aemond is right Estelle. Lilliana cannot be left alone. If Aemond and I are both gone she will need you here as a beacon of protection.”

She huffs, “And when the fighting breaks out here? Where do you think they will come first? Who do you think they will come for first?”

Aemond and I share a look. We understand Estelle’s concern for her daughter. Though there will be far more fighting in Azaria. By the time word reaches my Father of what has happened. We will have returned to the Shadowlands.

It’s Aemond’s turn to speak, “We will be back before anyone here knows what’s happened.”

She glares at him, “And what chaos will follow you here once you are back? How exactly is Aeron going to take the throne and secure his line?”

“Estelle! You should use a title that honors the respect he deserves!”

“It’s alright Aemond.” I cut in, “You and her are the only ones whom I’m actually okay with calling me by given name. Only my given name. Well you and your Lilliana.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.” He gives Estelle a warning look.

She rolls her eyes. Knowing I enjoy the commonality between us. The only people I have a resemblance of family to.

I stand and walk over to her. I place a hand on her shoulder. Trying to be as comforting and less brutish as possible. “Estelle, if anything were to fall upon you or Lilliana all you have to do is reach out to me. And I will teleport Aemond and myself to you immediately.”

Knowing I am true to my word she relents.

“Very well. Thank you, Your Grace.” I nod at her. Not needing her thanks.

She walks past me to Aemond. Placing her hands on his chest as she says,“You better come back. ”

He offers her a sarcastic laugh, “Oh wife of little faith. I will be with Aeron. Who has ever had the upper hand over him.”

She looks over her shoulder at me. We share a look. And although she is telepathic she says nothing in my mind. Her eyes say it all. One word. One name.

Dinalia.