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

51. Dinalia

51

Dinalia

I wake to a little extra warmth in my body. Something is off.

I feel different.

Opening my eyes reluctantly to the sun shining into my room. I open them to a flower.

My flower.

A black dahlia laying on the pillow next to mine. There is only one person who would have - could have - placed this here.

Aeron.

I pick up the flower. Smiling at the thought of him.

Then it all hits me in a flash. The events of last night.

The guards. King Elio. The assault. Aeron.

He saved me.

I feel my wrists. They are sore from whatever they had binding me. But it doesn’t match the cuts on my wrists I gave myself earlier that night before dinner.

Recalling the night’s events. I remember Aeron hosting me into his arms. Teleporting me to my chambers and laying me down in my bed. He was standing over me. Saying something. Though I can’t remember what. I was weak. I wasn’t lucid .

I was dying.

I should be dead.

I shoot forward in bed. Placing a hand on my head as I do. Still a little disheveled from last night. Glancing around my room. Expecting to see Aeron.

But no one is there.

My eyes land on the fire burning in the hearth.

It’s blue.

Not just the base of the flame but all of it. The entire fire is blue. Blazing and brilliant. Filling my room with a warmth I’ve longed for since before I can remember.

But how?

Suddenly there is a knock on my door.

Cracking open slightly. I see a head pop in.

I’ve seen him before but I can’t put a name to his face.

“May I come in, Lady Dinalia?”

I nod in response.

He enters. Closing the door gently behind him. He stands there. Making no move toward me.

“Hello, my name is Aemond. I am a soldier for Prince Aeron.”

My brows furrow. Aemond. That is the false name Aeron gave me. He must be more than just a standard soldier for Aeron to give his name as a cover and for him to be here with me this morning after everything that transpired last night.

Aeron and I have not discussed what is between us but after the way he came to my aid, I feel it in my soul that he would not allow just anyone to enter my room.

“Just a soldier?” I question.

He smiles, “Well, you could also say I am a friend. If, his Grace, were to have friends.”

I smile at that. He doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would have a large circle. Doesn’t strike me as someone who has many he is close with and can confide him.

Spoken as if it was my own soul.

“Di-did he inform you of what happened last night?”

Aemond sighs, “He gave me a run down of how he rescued you from an attack. Bringing you here to your chambers to rest. He went to take… deal… with those who would have taken advantage of you. Entrusting me to look over you. Ensuring no other harm would come.”

“Deal? What do you mean, deal?”

He clears his throat, “Punish”

He says it so flatly. As if it’s just another day.

“Punish?”

“Yes, my Lady, Prince Aeron does not take assaulting a woman lightly. Nor does he take anything lightly when it comes to you. He would protect you at all costs and anyone that dares to harm you will suffer the consequences. His wrath is not to be trifled with.”

His wrath? I’ve heard of the wrath of the infamous Prince Aeron. He is ruthless. Without mercy.

“H-he can’t! One of them was King Elio. What will happen to him if he kills the king?”

Not having a care in the world for how he chose to kill or torture them. Only fearing what might happen to Aeron for avenging me when I was too helpless to defend myself.

I shoot out of bed. Not caring what I look like. Only that Aeron is safe.

Aemond holds his hands up. Blocking me from the door. “It’s alright! King Elio is alive and well. Nothing will happen to Prince Aeron, my lady. All is well.”

I’m wriggling under his touch. He’s grabbing my shoulders. Trying to keep me still. I don’t register anything that he is saying. Not until I know Aeron is alright. A lump forms in my throat. Making it hard to breathe. I can’t put my finger on it but there’s something new, something different between us.

I feel him.

More than I ever have before. I feel him in my heart and soul. He is alive. He is safe. But I need to see it for myself.

“My lady! Please! Listen to me!” Aemond begs, “Your mate will be her soon!”

I freeze.

What did he just say?

Mate? My Mate? Aeron?

Can’t be but that would explain so much.

But I know he’s not. Mates have matching Goddess marks and I saw his chest. His sternum is blank. Absent of any tattoos or a Goddess mark.

I look Aemond in the eyes, “What did you say?”

“N-nothing my Lady” His eyes are wide. Voice faltering at what he’s just given away.

I relax. Stepping away from him. “First, please don’t call me my Lady. That’s not who I am. I’m just Dinalia. And second, you don’t answer to me. I have no authority or power over you but you care about Aeron. He is your prince. So please answer me honestly. What did you say?”

His shoulders droop with the sigh he releases. “I believe Aeron is your mate. And he will be here soon. So there is no need to panic M- Dinalia”

He laughs, “Feels weird to not use your title.”

I smile at him, “Feels weird for you to speak it to me.”

The doors open. We whip our heads over to see Aeron standing there.

My heart nearly bursts out of my chest at the sight of him. My Goddess mark burning. Feeling the pull towards him. I don’t care if he’s not actually my mate. I will not deny this desire.

His eyes widen and before I can move he’s on me. Enveloping me in his arms. Picking me up off the ground. Spinning me in a circle.

Setting me down gently. Taking my face into his hands. Resting his forehead against mine. “I thought I lost you.”

I hear him swallow. As if the lump in his throat was as big as mine until we saw each other.

“Y-you came for me. You saved me.”

“Of course I did! I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner! I knew King Elio was not to be trusted. I shouldn’t have let you out of my site.”

I pull him into a bruising kiss. Smashing his lips into mine. Embracing the warmth he fills my body with. Letting him consume me.

Pulling away, I say, “Doesn’t matter. You came and you’re here now.”

“What is this!”

We freeze. I look to the side of him to see who it is. It’s… oh no.

Saphrina.

I try to step away but he pulls me in closer. I don’t know if he doesn’t realize who it is or if he simply doesn’t want to let me go.

“I have to talk to her.” I whisper to him.

He shakes his head against mine. “No, I’m never letting you go again.”

“Dinalia, get away from him.” Saphrina says, marching over to us. Sliding her arms in between our bodies. Pushing me away.

Anger barrels through me. The slight chill returned to my soul.

“Saphrina, don’t push me away from him.” The anger is clear in my tone.

She takes his hand in hers. I watch as she interlocks her fingers with his. Grasping his forearm with her other hand .

I look back at him. He’s watching the movement. His eyes meet mine. Pain and suffering locked in our dead stare. He seems conflicted.

As if he isn’t sure how to proceed.

How could he not be sure?

I didn’t imagine this.

Right?

Saphrina is looking at me with disbelief and betrayal. “Dinalia, how could you do this to me? You knew Prince Aeron was my mate and yet I find you here with him. In an embrace, kissing!”

“Have you confirmed the bond?” I say, to her. Matching her aggression towards me.

She looks between the two of us. “Well, no. I couldn’t find him last night. He disappeared. Most everyone did, including you. That’s what I was coming to see you about this morning. But then I found this! You in the arms of my mate!”

“He is not your mate Saphrina!” I shout at her. My breathing is heavy. Overwhelmed with emotion. Defensiveness.

I can’t recall the last time I felt so much. My normal numbness and desolation to the world has faded.

Her eyes widened. The hurt is evident on her face.

Aeron slides his arm out from under her grasp. Walking over to my side. Placing his arm around my waist. I feel his hand grip my hip firmly. Pulling me into him.

He’s making this worse.

Flaunting us in front of her.

Saphrina stands there gawking. Frozen in place. Her mouth is gaping open.

“I don’t understand,” she begins, “I thought… Aeron, I thought you felt something for me. I thought you were my mate.”

Aeron clears his throat, “I do apologize if I gave you the wrong impression but my heart has and always will be Dinalia’s.”

My breath falters in my lungs. I’m not about to hear him pledge himself to me, while I watch my sister’s heart break.

“I tried to deny it,” Aeron continues, “Knowing there are great odds and obstacles in our way. But I couldn’t.”

I don’t look up at him. My eyes locked on Saphrina. She’s taking the two of us in. I can see the tears swelling in her eyes. Her lip begins to quiver.

“Saphrina,” I begin, “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“So what? All this time you’ve been lying to me. Hiding this from me? Was this going on when I confided in you about him? Did you have a connection with him when I told you I thought he was my mate?”

There’s too much to explain and she is not willing to listen. I can’t possibly tell her I’ve met him before now. I can’t tell her I don’t even know what this is. But all I do know is it was out of my control before I could grasp it. I was falling into his essence and by the time I realized what was happening to me, it was too late.

I was his.

My soul was his.

“I- I’m…” I start but she cuts me off.

“I don’t even want to hear it! I hate you! I hate you both! And I never want to see either of you again!”

“Saphrina!” I shout, taking a step towards her.

“No! Don’t come near me! You betrayed me! I’ve defended you. Been there for you all these years and this is how you repay me? With treachery! By stabbing me in the back! And you!” She shouts, pointing a finger at Aeron. “You stabbed me in the heart! You made me feel like no one ever has! You made me feel seen. Like I was more than just someone with a blessed Goddess mark.”

I snicker at that. A mark she doesn’t even have. A mark she never truly had.

As if Aeron read my thoughts, he says, “And what blessed mark would that be?”

Saphrina freezes.

Glancing back to me. I leave my face blank and expressionless.

What he is asking is harsh and a little too forthcoming. But it’s time. Time she stops being so naive and grows up.

I let it unfold. I do not bother defending or helping her. She needs to stand on her own two feet for once.

Saphrina doesn’t say another word. She storms off. Exiting my room as quickly as she came.

I lean in to him. Reassuring myself that he is here with me. In the event, that I am banished from the castle.

He grips my hip tighter. Drawing me into him as well. Turning me so our bodies are flushed once again. Resting my head on his strong chest. I curl my arms into myself as I feel his wrap around me even tighter.

My confidence has always been a facade. Standing tall with my head held high. Ignoring the wandering eyes and loose lips. What else was I to do but stand alone.

But now, I am not alone.