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

32. Dinalia

32

Dinalia

I t’s him. I’m sure of it. I would know those deep sapphire eyes anywhere.

Aemond. The Shadowling man who fooled me into thinking he wanted to get to know one another. The one I waited day after day in the forest for. The one I think about when I touch myself until I’ve reached my pinnacle.

What is he doing here?

Is he a nobleman? A guard?

No, can’t be. He’s leading the group.

He doesn’t meet my gaze. Not until he stops directly in front of us, with a stupid ass smirk on his face. The audacity of him. I feel like such a fool. He was playing with me all along. Embarrassment rushes to my cheeks. I can’t let him see his effect on me. Not the embarrassment that fills me now. Or the fact that I still want him.

I can’t want him.

And yet my heart twisted and pinched the moment I saw him. That same unexplainable feeling towards him lingering after all this time .

I stare straight ahead as he looks at me. Clenching my jaw so hard I’m afraid my teeth might crack. Not willing to look him in the eye.

Not able to look him in the eye.

I am horrified by our last interactions. I would have given myself to him out of pure lust and enrapture.

He has the same arrogance as before. The same cool demeanor. But he seems to capture the room’s attention. As if everyone is afraid to move, think, or even breathe until he gives permission. Even King Elio seems taken back by his presence.

The silence that fills the room is almost haunting.

Until, King Elio speaks, “Prince Aeron, how kind of you to join us in celebration. May I present my daughter, Princess Saphrina.” King Elio says, gesturing to Saphrina. “And my ward, The Lady Dinalia.” then to myself. “As grateful as we are for your attendance, is there a reason your Father, King Perseus, is not here?”

I stiffen. First, his name is Aeron, not Aemond, and he is the prince. How could I have been so stupid? So naive. So trusting.

His baritone voice fills the hall, “Shortly, after receiving the invitation my Father fell ill. Unable to endure a lengthy amount of travel. He sends his regards and sympathy. Though we had hoped my attendance would be sufficient.”

“Of course it is, Your Grace. We were just expecting all the rulers to witness the first alliance between realms.”

While King Elio and Prince Aeron engage in conversation. I harden my face, my mind, and my heart. I will not give anything away by his presence. They are discussing why the prince is here and not King Perseus himself. I could care less. King Elio’s only concern is for his pride and ego. Wanting all to bear witness to his glory of uniting two realms.

Then I feel his eyes on me.

I glance over to him. Not able to move any other part of my body but my eyes. I’m frozen but with what I can’t be sure.

Feeling both the Prince and King Elio’s eyes on me now. I don’t dare move.

The prince returns his attention to King Elio. Seamlessly altering his presence. The whole room grows eerie and haunting with him. And then he says, “Blood for blood, King Elio, blood for blood.”

I can’t believe what I just heard.

‘Blood for blood’

Only my Mother has ever said that. My mind is racing.

How does he know it? What does it mean to him? Why did he say it almost as a threat to King Elio?

What does it mean to King Elio?

Then the prince looks back to me, giving me a slight nod.

What does it mean to him?

I glare over to King Elio. Knowing my Mother said blood for blood was the only way Saphrina’s magic would reveal itself. Though, we never had that conversation. I suspected my Mother’s death was the blood that was spilled in order for Saphrina to obtain her own Goddess mark. King Elio was in the room when I found my Mother dead. I almost killed him in a fit of rage after assuming he killed her. But he flatly said no when I asked him and walked away.

King Elio whips his head over to me. A warning look in his eyes.

I look him up and down. Not bothering to hide the suspicion on my face. Before slowly turning my head back to the front.

Now is not the time to get into this with him.

I will uncover the truth. One way or another. From one barbaric King or one heinous Prince.

“Is that to say King Perseus is dead?” King Elio asks.

So, blood for blood means the same for all realms. Did the Prince kill his own Father to add to his power? I wouldn’t put it past him. The Prince already has substantial power of his own. The hunger in his eyes is evident as he stares us all down. His soul black as the night sky. Rage and destruction are the only things he knows. A primitive beast who does nothing but kill. Knows nothing but death.

With a small laugh, he says, “No, King Elio, my Father is very much alive. Just not well enough to attend. I do hope you are not offended by my presence.” He places a hand over his chest and bows his head, portraying sincerity.

He looks over to Saphrina and gives her a smile. It takes all of my will power not to roll my eyes. Of course he would look at her.

Saphrina has always been beautiful. Ever since the day she was born. She has captured everyone’s eye with her perfect ivory skin, long blonde hair, and demantoid garnet eyes. She has flourished into one of the most gorgeous young Fae. Taking after our Mother. Her beauty is beyond compare.

I don’t know why I feel a sense of jealousy. I guess you could call it jealousy. I have no claim to him, nor him to me. Perhaps the interactions between us meant more to me than they did to him.

Of course they did. He lied to me from the very start. He cannot be trusted. He was playing with me the whole time. Stringing me along for what reason I can only guess. But it won’t work. I won’t allow him to fool me again.

King Elio clears his throat, “No, of course not. You are very welcome here. So glad the Shadowlands are accepting of the union and alliance between us and the Celestial Realm. We shall see you all later this evening for the Welcome Masquerade Ball.” He claps his hands together, “Dismissed.”

I lead the way out. King Elio and Saphrina followed behind me. The exact same way we came in.

Saphrina leaves us first. Needing to go change and prepare for the Welcome Masquerade Ball. “Meet me in my chambers and we can find a mask for you to wear.” She says to me. I nod at her, ensuring I will see her in a moment.

I head down the hall towards my chambers when my arm is gripped. Harder than it should have been. Manhandled, I am being dragged down an empty stairwell into the shadows. A passage even the servants don’t use.

I’m thrown up against the wall. I am just about to unleash my magic on my abductor when my throat is caught and I peer into the eyes of King Elio.

He has me pushed up against the stone. His forearm pressed hard into my windpipe. Seething with anger.

Through gritted teeth, he spits out, “What did I say? Uh? I have been very generous to you. Allowing you to enter my kingdom, to stay after your Mother died. And now, I am giving you the opportunity to use the title of Lady - I have bestowed upon you - to find you a husband. Under one condition. No Shadowlands. And what do you do? You go and capture the attention of none other than Prince Aeron. How does he know blood for blood? What did you say to him? Have you met him before? What are the two of you planning?”

I grab hold of his hand. Bare skin is all I need. Bringing my magic to life. I burn him. His skin turning black and frosting over. I could heel it but I don’t think I will.

He yanks his hand free of my grasp. Releasing me at the same time. I gasp for air.

Before he can make another move towards me physically or with his own magic. I restrict him with mine. I push him back up against the opposite wall with a wave of energy. Coiling my flames around his throat, being sure not to burn him. Giving him a taste of what he just did to me. Cutting off his airways.

Shock and astonishment plasters his face.

Nothing but power in my tone, “I have no plot or allegiance with the Shadowland Prince. I do not know how he knows blood for blood or where he might have heard it from. I’m more curious about what blood for blood means for you, King Elio. Why would he say it to you in that manner? I saw the look in your eyes after he did. What are you hiding?”

I release him from my magic. He gulps in air just as I did.

Rubbing his throat, he begins, “I’m sure your Mother informed you of blood for blood.”

I nod.

“Well, she is the only one I have ever heard it from. It could mean a multitude of things.”

“Mmmhmmm, right, and what does it mean to you?” I ask, though not willing to give up the upper hand on what I know.

“I was worried. Prince Aeron has a great deal of power. Some say he is the most powerful Fae to exist. If he has killed his Father, regardless of them coming in peace. There would be nothing and no one to stand against him.”

“So why come to me? Why question me?”

King Elio falters for a moment, “I was just concerned for the look he gave you.”

“Concerned? Since when have you ever been concerned for me?”

He sighs, standing at his full height again, “You are right. I have never cared for you. But make no mistake you do have power and I will not hesitate to kill you, shall you decide to align yourself with him.”

I huff. He has got to be kidding me. “You really think I would align myself with the Shadowlands? After all they’ve done? Raiding my village, my home, forcing me to come here and endure you and your righteousness. Only for them to lay waste to your Castle, infiltrating it so easily , killing my Mother in the process, along with Cookie. Taking the only good things in my life from me in a single night. Are you so blind? So consumed by your own pride and vanity project to wed Saphrina to Prince Proteus.”

We just glare at one another. We have never been close but enemies is a harsh way of putting our relationship. We have remained cordial and civil with one another though. The few interactions we do have are met with tension. Neither of us bother to hide the disgust for the other.

Though, mine is far more subtle. Given that he is the King after all.

“Very well. But I will be watching. Very closely.” He says, glaring at me as he leaves.

That was a creeping way to say he will be watching to make sure I do not interact with the Shadowlings.

There is something else afoot here. Something with the Shadowland Prince that has King Elio on edge.

And I intend to find out.

I don’t have time now to head back to my chambers. So, I make my way over to Saphrina’s chambers.

She’s already waiting for me. Having dismissed the servants so she and I can discuss the Greeting in private.