Page 12 of Moonlit Guardians
The Unseelie woman snorts. “I like to think I know Theren enough to know that isn’t true,” she says as she looks over at me. “You don’t have to protect me, Eilish.”
“I’m not trying to protect you.”
She nods and gives me an understanding smile. “How did the two of you meet anyway?”
“It’s… complicated.”
“And it’s also a long walk to King Galmer’s hall,” Aima counters as if we’re sparring with words.
I nod. “I used to sneak into the Unseelie Kingdom. The Delendren Glade had many gateways leading to the other realms so my mother could heal those in need.” I grow quiet as the memories flood me. “The Unseelie Kingdom was dark and exotic. I loved the noise and the vibrancy of the kingdom far more than the tranquil forests and fields of lavender in the glade.”
“How did the guards not notice a portal into the city?”
“It wasn’t in the city,” I explain with a shrug. “The gateway opened in a forest on the outskirts of Oronrel, a forest Theren once used as a place to escape his father’s cruelty. It was there that he first saw me. At the time, I hadn’t noticed him tracking me each day.”
“What happened then?”
“I remember always having mixed feelings about meeting Theren because my mother told me leaving the glade was dangerous, but, of course, I didn’t listen.” I sigh. “I was captured by a group of exiles that were taking refuge in the forest.”
Aima says nothing as we walk through the streets of the Mercenary Stronghold. The beautiful buildings and colorful flags marking the territories of each clan still fill me with awe.
“Theren tracked me that day, the same as he always did, but once he realized I’d been captured, he came after me. Elioth was in the forest too, searching for Theren. In saving me, Theren led his father right to us.”
“What happened then?”
I shrug. “I fought them. Theren warned me not to but it… did little good. I killed some of Elioth’s men when they attempted to tie me up.”
“You killed his men?” she repeats, eyes wide. “Did Elioth punish you?” she asks the last question in a way that tells me she’s been on the wrong end of the former Unseelie King’s rage before.
“He did. But I fought back.”
Aima seems proud when she says, “Of course you did.”
“I... was beaten, but Theren forced his father to stop. I thought Elioth was going to kill him right then, but I suspect he stayed his hand because his men were watching.”
Aima shakes her head. “It was because of Theren’s mother.”
“His mother?”
She nods. “Theren’s mother always favored Cambion, but she did what she could to save them both from their father’s wrath. And Elioth loved her as best he was able.”
“Elioth tied us to a tree and left us there for the night. I guess he didn’t expect us to grow close after that… but we did. With Theren’s help, I managed to escape and afterwards, Theren visited the forest each day until he found the gateway tothe Delendren Glade. We continued to see one another, growing closer as I taught him to speak the other languages of the realm and he taught me how to laugh. Theren became my friend and my protector,” I say with a smile tugging at my lips. “And then one day our friendship grew into love.”
“Now I remember noticing Theren smiling more and I remember searching for him with Cambion. We could never figure out where he disappeared to for so long.”
“When his visits suddenly stopped, I thought Elioth had finally managed to kill him. And I grieved him as if he’d died. That was… the darkest day of my life back then.” I take a breath and push the memory away. “Then one day, when I was walking alone in the places we used to share our secrets, Theren found me.” I walk up the stairs that lead to the Hall of Clans with Aima beside me. “Theren told me Morrigan had saved him, that she’d made a deal with Elioth that Theren would train to be king at the temple in the Cogost Mountains.”
Aima pulls me to a stop and whispers, “Theren was never the same after that, he was... different.”
I nodded because I understood why. “I’d told him I had to live with the knowledge that he would leave me and drown in the guilt that I’d caused him so much sorrow. I begged… him not to love me.”
“And what did Theren say?”
I’m not sure I should answer because I can see the pain in her eyes. It’s not an easy thing to listen to a story about the man you love loving another woman.
“Eilish,” Aima says. “What did Theren say?”
Asking me not to love you is like asking the moon to stop chasing the sun.
