Since the moment I lost him, my life hadn't been the same. Each day that passed held me in place like a marble statue, unaware of wind, sun or the passage of time. I only existed and hurt.
I wouldn’t lose Ansgar too. I wouldn’t make the same mistakes I made with my brother. The one who was supposedly murdered by a siren. The brother who had been by my side, who had protected me and been there all my life, teaching me everything he knew.
I lost him.
But I still had a chance to bring Ansgar back, and by all the gods, goddesses, and powerful spirits of this earth, I would not miss the opportunity.
A dishevelled Rhylan returned just before the prepare for landing message sounded in the jet speakers and retook his seat right in front of me.
“Did your girls have to go back to work and actually earn their wages?” I faked a pitying voice.
“Trust me, they earned them. They even deserve a bonus,” he smiled and started to tuck this shirt back in his pants.
I grimaced in disgust, watching him turn his shirt wrinkles into an impeccable, recently ironed garment just by willing it.
“Jealous, sprout? Did you want some attention too?” he mimicked my voice, which made me pout even more.
“Not a chance, buddy. You are not my type.”
“I am everyone’s type,” he smiled proudly and I knew that if he had a mirror at that moment, he would kiss his own reflection.
“If I didn’t want you in Evigt, I sure as hell don’t want you now,” I reminded him, which made him finally stay in his seat without fidgeting. “I have Ansgar,” it was my turn to display pride. “Who can compete?” I took the chance to grin at him for a long beat, while he adjusted his seat belt and reminded me to do the same.
“Speaking of Ansgar, did you reach a decision, or should I return to Mia and Glenda for another couple of hours?”
“I can see Mia and Glenda made an impression on you,” I tried to stall, not ready to place a binding signature on a piece of paper that meant signing my soul away to the man who killed my boyfriend.
I did not care what Rhylan said, he had left me covered in grief for an entire year, even mocked me when sending that shirt, instead of telling me the truth. For me, it still meant killing my boyfriend. He couldn’t just take away all the pain and suffering, the nights I cried myself to sleep missing Ansgar. Not with a piece of paper.
“Oh, yes,” he found a more comfortable position in his seat and started daydreaming about what he had just done with the women. “They are brilliant employees, Mia is so flexible and Glenda’s lack of gag reflex is just—”
“Urgh, stop disgusting me, I need to get ready for dinner,” I said and urged him to stop talking with vigorous waves of my hands.
“I already had dessert several times, but I can be ready for dinner again whenever you wish.”
There it was, that smug smirk of his, as though he knew how gorgeous he looked in every single situation, no matter what stupidity came out of his mouth.
“If I am to accept this, when can we go?”
He didn’t need more explanation, knowing perfectly well what the question was.
“Autumn solstice. That is when all the portals open and you can enter without invitation, as long as it’s in my presence.”
I grabbed my phone and quickly googled the date. Twenty-second of September. Six weeks away.
I could do this. What was six weeks compared to a year? What was Rhylan pissing me off every day when in six weeks’ time, I could see Ansgar?
“I need to add another claim to this,” I said and passed the parchment back to him. “The lock of hair you gave me needs to be verified by the Earth Kingdom royal family before the six weeks are done and we go anywhere,” I demanded, and as soon as I said the words, Rhylan did his magic and the writing readjusted before my eyes, containing my requirement.
5. Proof of Prince Ansgar of the Earth Kingdom safe confinement to be confirmed with a member of the Earth Kingdom royal family. No passage outside of the Human Realm will be accepted by the mortal of origin until such claims are to be verified
I took the piece of paper to read and reread it once again, making sure that nothing else had been changed without my knowledge. My hand shook while my fingers felt the smoothness of the parchment. A thousand doubts entered my body and I knew, even then, I knew that he kept lying to me. About Erik, about his intentions, possibly about Ansgar. Was I really agreeing to deal with the man who had tricked me once already, and in such a costly manner?
“Now or never, sprout,” I heard that sweet damned voice of his, honeyed wine and bitterness, challenging me, pushing to the extent where I might give in.
“Stop calling me that,” I raised my eyes from the paper just for an instant, enough to meet his dark unshakable gaze.
“You should be delighted by the acknowledgement of your love for the prince but well...who am I to judge the lack of a mortal brain?” Rhylan stretched wider on his seat and adjusted his shoulder blades in between the tall pillows.
