Page 30 of Vardaesia
“I like the girl,” Roathus offered. The wizened Meyarin had a contemplative look on his aged face. “I see good things.”
“I wish I’d been there to meet her,” Cykor said, referring to the meal where Alex had first encountered Gaiel, Riza and Roathus. With a smirk, he added, “For one measly mortal, the girl certainly has this court in an uproar.”
At the time of this memory, Niyx’s father hadn’t yet been introduced to Alex—not as her mortal self, at least. He’d known her as ‘Aeylia’ in the past, but he’d also lost those memories thanks to Lady Mystique—memories that he, and all the other Meyarins she’d met thousands of years ago, would now remember in the wake of the ancient woman’s passing.
“The girl is insignificant,” Queen Niida said with a cold wave of her hand. “This meeting isn’t about her, it’s about ridding our son of her. As you said, Gaiel, she is beneath his attention. And she does not belong in our city.”
Alex knew present-day Niida held little love for her, so her venomous words came as no surprise. Whatwasa surprise was that it seemed as though the queen had called a council meeting just to pass judgement on one ‘insignificant’ girl.
Lost as she was in what she was witnessing, Alex had forgotten that she wasn’t a lone observer to the scene.
“This is so weird,” D.C. whispered, pressing her finger to her ear. “It’s like… I can hear them speaking Meyarin, but somehow I understand the words.”
Alex looked down at her cuffs, remembering Saefii’s words about them acting as translators.
“Are they talking about you, Alex?” Bear asked.
She nodded and explained quickly, not wanting to miss anything, “They didn’t like the idea of Roka training me. Queen Niida wanted me gone from Meya.”
Jordan’s brow creased with puzzlement. “No offence, but as far as secrets go, this doesn’t sound like that big of a deal. Unless you’re not telling us everything.” His words were cautious, but there was still a hint of accusation in them that Alex didn’t appreciate.
“This is the first time I’m seeing this,” she said, the need to defend herself taking over. “I don’t know any more than you guys.”
However, as truthful as her statement was, she was afraid that she knewexactlywhy they were there—and what was going to happen next.
“Wait,” Jordan said. “If this isn’t your memory, then who—”
He didn’t finish, because Astophe spoke, interrupting him. “My son—yourprince”—his firm emphasis couldn’t be mistaken—“assures me that training Alexandra Jennings is of the utmost importance. He would not make such a claim without due cause.”
“Your son is blind when it comes to the mortal,” Gaiel all but spat.
Astophe’s normally bright expression darkened. “Careful, Gaiel. Don’t forget to whom you speak—and about whom.”
Gaiel flinched, realising that he’d overstepped. “Apologies, Your Majesty. I only meant—”
“Fear not, for you spoke true,” Niida interrupted smoothly. “Our son does appear disillusioned by the girl. As my husband claims, Roka mistakenly believes she is important.”
“I didn’t say mistakenly.” Astophe sent a cautioning look to his wife. “If Roka believes Alexandra is integral, then she is. I trust my son’s judgement—we all should.”
“Then you are just as much of a fool as he.”
Alex gasped at the queen’s biting words, shocked that she had snapped at the king so fiercely—and so publicly. In the past, Niida and Astophe had been almost sickeningly sweet together. While Alex had spent little to no time with them in the present, she still couldn’t fathom what she’d just witnessed.
“What?” Declan asked, hearing Alex’s shock. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she quickly replied. “Their arguing just surprised me, that’s all.”
Alex didn’t explain further; she was too focused on what was playing out in the throne room.
“You know, my love—you know—” Astophe wasn’t able to finish his low admonition before Niida interrupted.
“Mortals bring nothing with them but pain,” she hissed. “Weallknow that.” She rose haughtily from her throne and looked down her nose at her husband and the council members, her eyes like golden fire. “I’ve already told the girl as much. Just as I have told her what will happen if she fails to heed my warning.”
Alex recalled the queen’s ominous words spoken in the dead of the night: ‘I’ve already lost one son because of your race. I won’t allow you to take another from me.’
At the time, Niida hadn’t had any idea how accurate her statement was. But it wasn’t Alex’s race who was to blame—it was Alex herself. And when she returned to Medora from Tia Auras, the queen would know everything…remembereverything.
“Warning or not,” Astophe said, his regal bearing and unyielding tone making his words all the more powerful, “for as long as Roka wishes to ally with the mortal, he shall be welcome to do so. Just as she will be welcome in our city. I’ll hear no more on the matter.” His normally warm amber eyes were uncompromising as he held the gazes of everyone in the room before meeting his wife’s burning glare. “Is that clear?”
