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

36. Aeron

36

Aeron

I watch Princess Saphrina and Prince Proteus twirl around the dance floor. Trying to focus on the interaction and chemistry between them. But I’m failing.

My eyes keep going back to Dinalia at the high table. She’s stunning. I glance around the room seeing other nobles of both the Middle Kingdom and Celestial realm eyeing her. They whisper to one another. Whether it’s scrutiny or curiosity I can’t be sure.

No one will have her. Even if that includes me.

I look back over to her and almost flip the entire table when I see King Elio.

His announcement of Lady Dinalia seeking a husband is not without cause for himself. He wouldn’t do anything for her without being able to reap benefits of his own.

He’s leaning towards her. Whispering. I see the look he gives her. His eyes taking her in from head to toe.

I stand. Ignoring Aemond asking me what I am doing. Walking up to the high table. I need to get her away from him. For all I know he could be planning on killing her just as he did Queen Freya.

Offering my hand, I ask, “May I have a dance? ”

They both peer up at me.

Dinalia with reservations. King Elio with suspicion.

I hear King Charon say, “Come on, King Elio, let them dance!” Never taking my eyes away from Dinalia’s.

Then Queen Ayla chimes in, “It is a time of peace and celebration.”

Relenting King Elio says, “But of course. You two enjoy.” Hardly able to deny me, a fellow ruler, in front of the King and Queen of the Celestial Realm.

I’m holding my breath. Only releasing it once I feel her small hand in mine.

I guided her to the dance floor. Maneuvering the hand already in mine into position. Placing my other hand on the small of her back. Pulling her close to me so our chests are flush together. Her petite frame, engulfed by mine.

She’s looking at the tattoos on my neck. Most likely trying to avoid my eyes.

“You look exquisite.”

“Thank you. Aeron is it?” she spits out, tilting her head.

I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. She harbors venom toward me for obvious reasons. How do I explain myself? How do I control myself in her presence?

I clear my throat, “Yes, I suppose I should apologize for our last interaction.”

We move around the dance floor. Dodging others. We fall in step with one another seamlessly. I guide her effortlessly. Moving as a single unit.

As one.

She huffs, “Which part? Lying to me or invading my space and taking liberties?”

I do feel remorse for lying to her. I truly did want to try and get to know one another. Explore what could be but the rest of it is seared into my mind. I recall those moments everyday. Perhaps the only moments in my life worth remembering.

“Liberties? Hardly.”

“You don’t believe you took your own liberties with me.” She counters.

She’s not looking at me but I look down at her nonetheless, “You didn’t seem to object. Sure you moved but was it really against… or with me?”

My breath falters. As does hers.

I caress my fingers along her spine. I restrict the smirk that forms on my face as I feel her lean into it.

“Why did you never return?” She asks, meeting my eyes.

This question. Her eyes. Makes my heart pinch. Constricting in my chest. Feeling the burning and pining for her.

I can’t give in. Not yet.

“Did you miss me? Wait for me?” I egg her on.

“No, just curious. You pursued me. You offered to get to know one another and against my better judgment I considered it.”

She considered it?

That means our interactions have haunted her just as much as me. She wanted me.

I flatten my hand against her back. Pulling her even closer to me. Her body is soft, but still firm. She’s small and easily overpowered. Yet with one look, one word - anything. She would have me falling to my knees.

Still looking into each other’s eyes. Her’s seeping into my dark fractured soul.

I say, with all the seriousness in the world, “It wasn’t easy for me to stay away. I wanted to come to you every single day. Wanted to get lost in your eyes, those black dahlia eyes of yours. While I wrap you in my arms. Never to let you go. But there is more afoot here than you realize. I cannot allow myself to be distracted or swayed by my own desires.” I need her to hear my words. To know that this, what is about to happen is greater than what is possibly between us.

She stares at me in confusion.

The music ends. We freeze, not taking our eyes off of one another,

I pull away, reluctantly. Holding her at arm’s length. I bow, kiss her hand, and say, “Thank you for the dance, Lady Dinalia.” And to take my leave.

I leave the ball all together.

Wandering about the castle. Taking in its mirth. The halls are lined with torches lit. Cobble stone that took decades to build into this structure.

I find myself at the entrance of a garden. Or what used to be a garden. Everything here seems to be dead.

Venturing forward I see a figure off in the distance. Kneeling down to what looks like the only patch of life here. I quietly make my way forward. Shock barreling through me to find Princess Saphrina.

“Am I disturbing you?” I ask softly.

She stiffens. Startled by my presence.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you approach.” She says, standing to face me.

“Not enjoying the ball?”

Her eyes widened, “No, it’s lovely. I just needed a bit of fresh air.”

“And how do you feel about your future husband?”

She’s fidgeting. Not very becoming of a princess and future queen. “He’s fine.”

“Fine?” I question.

“Well, yes. It all must be fine regardless of how I feel.”

“And how do you feel, Princess?”

Sighing, “May I be honest with you?”

Naive of her. Asking if she can be honest with me. Very Trusting. So soon too, given my reputation.

I nod, “I would like nothing else.”

This couldn’t be more perfect. She’s willing to be honest and confide in me and I haven’t even begun to sway her.

“There’s nothing there. We’ve been betrothed since we were born, all our lives. And yet… I feel nothing for him. He’s kind, handsome, gracious, everything I could have wanted but he’s a stranger.”

“You did just meet today.”

“Dinalia, said I am an extraordinary Fae. I’m supposed to be blessed. Supposed to have a mate. I’m meant to feel this pull towards him. A longing. For our souls to co-exist and have matching Goddess marks. For him to complete my soul.” She doesn’t just tell me the truth. She vents to me.

She thinks she is blessed by our Goddess and Prince Proteus is her mate. What she knows of mates seems to be from Dinalia.

What does Dinalia know of mates?

Does she think I could be hers?

I step closer to her. I hover my hand over her shoulder before placing it down gently. “What makes you believe Proteus is your mate? Or is meant to be your mate?”

“Well, the alliance. The light of our Goddess’s full moon when the alliance was made and one we were both born under. Doesn’t that mean something?”

Being born under the light of the full moon does mean something but that doesn’t mean their souls are destined for one another. That simply means their fates are intertwined.

“Do you feel as if your soul is incomplete and you are destined for a mate?” I rub my thumb over her shoulder. A soft caress she doesn’t shy away from.

She looks up at me. Giving me a small laugh. Before saying, “Dinalia asked the same thing. But the truth is I don’t know. I’ve never felt as if I wasn’t whole but now I don’t know. Our souls are supposed to be in harmony with one another and I couldn’t feel more different.”

“I do not know if he is your mate or not. I cannot say whether the two of you are blessed by the Goddess. However, your sister is correct. Being born under the light of a full moon does mean something. I have heard much of you before coming here. Your beauty and kindness. Your pure heart. I see you now for what you are. A true Fae, blessed by our Goddess. Have no fear Princess. All will be revealed.”

Her eyes soften even more. Her body relaxes under my touch. Why she is allowing me to touch her only furthers her innocence. “I’ve heard much of you as well, Prince Aeron. Of your cruelty, ruthlessness, and bloodshed. Your actions now betray your reputation.”

She places her hand on mine. Removing it from her should. Holding it in her own hands. “Thank you for your kind words.” She lets my hand go and begins to walk inside.

I watch her leave. Letting my eyes linger on her. She pauses and begins to turn. I rearrange my face just in time to plaster a longing look on it. She smiles and heads inside.

Aemond appears in the entryway just as she is turning the corner. Walking towards me, “I was coming to check on you after your dance with Lady Dinalia only to see you speaking with Princess Saphrina.”

I hum at him.

“So, how did it go?”

“Which one?”

He laughs, “Well I am curious about both but let’s start with the most pressing. Princess Saphrina.”

Hardly.

“She is naive. Asked if she could be honest with me.”

He gawks, “She openly asked if she could speak truths to you.”

“Mmmm, yes. She is hesitant in her marriage to Prince Proteus. Believes she is still blessed by the Goddess and should have a mate. Thinking Prince Proteus was meant to be that she is questioning everything. Evidently, there is no pull. No desire for him.”

“She believes herself to be extraordinary enough for a mate?”

“Wouldn’t you if you had been told your entire life you were blessed by our Goddess and betrothed since birth to unite realms.”

He shrugs his shoulders, “Fair point. What else did she say about mates? What does she know of them?”

I pause, fighting the tightening of my chest. “Everything she knows about mates is from her sister, Lady Dinalia. She knows their souls co-exist with one another in harmony. Completing the other. A pull and longing.”

I wait for him to say something but he doesn’t so I continue. “She feels nothing for him. Most likely because she is not actually blessed by our Goddess and has not been given a mate. But her heart is wanting. She wants love. She wants to be loved.”

“And did you offer her such accommodations?”

“The seed has been planted. She has taken a liking to me.”

“Excellent! So our plans are truly underway?”

“Yes, my old friend. All the pieces are coming together.”

Walking over to him and placing a hand on his shoulder to turn him as we begin walking inside.

“What of Lady Dinalia?”

I’m frozen in my tracks.

“I will use whatever is between us to instill more favor for myself in Princess Saphrina. The Princess seems to hold her sister in very high regard. The higher Lady Dinalia thinks of me. The less Lady Dinalia will object to my pursuit of Princess Saphrina.”

He nods, “Good.”

I hate myself for every word I just said. I don’t want the two of them to discuss me. I don’t want Dinalia to think I am interested in her sister. One, because Dinalia is very protective of the princess and is more than capable of defending both of them.

But also because she is the only one I truly want. But that doesn’t matter. My wants and need do not hold any relevance in the devastation that is about to come.

Mates or not.

It must be done.

She must fall .