“I…” she blinked heavily, “No, Travus, that wasn’t–”
He kissed her, his name sounding even sweeter now from the lips of someone who he not only cared about, but was also his mate. To think that someone like him would be the subject of destiny’s mercy and have his mate return, no matter if it wasn’t the same person. She gasped with a shudder, grabbing his wrist to hold herself steady as she mewled against his lips, leaning forward to kiss him back slightly.
When he pulled away, all his previous grievances were forgotten. “If the pregnancy scared you, I understand,” he said. “It’s an unexpected turn of events for the both of us. But I’m sorry, Princess, this is even more of a reason that I must focus on my plans. The next time I lose you, I will no longer remain alive to suffer your absence again.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, and he shook his head.
“It’s not for you to do so,” he said. “Your only duty now is to rest, and to let me look after you as I should have before.”
“But I’m not Niette,” she sighed almost offendedly. “I think you need to stop this notion about me being her reincarnate. I’mme, and I can take care of myself.”
He nodded. “I know, but you must let me do it anyway.”
With that, he kissed her once more and pulled away with much reluctance, fueled by ambition that had long waned over the centuries after Niette’s passing. It was the kind that was now fueled by protectiveness rather than grief, and he could feel the gears of his mind turning anew.
It was time for him to take the situation into his own hands now.
***
The Humans were brought up from the dungeons, and they looked at Travus curiously as they were shoved onto their knees. They looked rough, with dirt on their faces and in their hair, sunken eyes from terrible sleep, and weakened from not having fulfilling food. There was an air of desperation to them accompanying the desolate darkness in their gazes.
Were his advisors with him, they would’ve asked him to not converse with the prisoners. But his advisors were sent away. He no longer trusted them to help him with his goal since every suggestion of theirs had been a failure.
“You’re the ones Sir Guisgard interfered with, yes?” Travus said as he rested his cheek on his fist, peering down at them from atop his throne. The four men all respond differently, but in contempt. Clearly, they were bitter. “It must’ve been difficult to cope with the fact that your own kind captured you, even if it was the honorable thing to do.”
“Nothin’ honorable ‘bout kissing the boots of the like of ya,” one of them spat. “Coulda used his status to demand us Humans have our own land to run. Maybe we wouldn’t be here then.”
“I agree,” he said darkly. “As the king of a land long isolated from the rest of the realm, my people were only able to enjoy themselves because of the contributions of intelligent Humans. It’s sad how the creators of magic themselves are now discouraged from wielding it.”
Another Human looked at him suspiciously. “Why are you sympathizing with us? You threw us to rot in your dungeons.”
He smirked at them. “It took me a while to recognize your abilities. You made it into my kingdom undetected and almost got away with a large lot of black iron. You did so without using magic, yes?”
The men exchanged looks with each other before one of them looked Travus straight in the eye and decided to speak. “The fact that we’re completely devoid of a drop of magic is what made it possible,” he explained. “Magic detects magic, which is what your barriers alert you of.”
He raised a brow at the interesting notion. “You’re saying that stripping you of magic education made you…invisible?”
The man nodded. “We found out quite by accident some years ago. It’s why Humans like us are sought out for certain…favors.”
Travus grinned. “What a fascinating loophole. This only makes things easier for all of us. Say, in exchange for your freedom, would you allow me to commission you for something important?”
The men’s eyes lit up, and he took it as a yes. He looked at his guards. “Make sure these men are accommodated in the outbuilding quarters,” he said. “No one shall botherthem.” Then he turned back to the men. “When nighttime comes, I shall approach you with the details. Until then, ensure you don’t take my mercy for granted.”
Chapter 20
Arthur worried for Aria’s safety despite a message from her promising that she was okay. A day after returning to Nexis from Travus’s castle, a blinking firefly floated into his room and landed on a piece of empty paper to imprint a message with its light before leaving. He immediately read through it, feeling more and more confused as he continued.
There’s a lot to explain,she wrote in the letter.One, I’m pregnant with Travus’s child, and it confirms that he’s my fated mate. I didn’t think my mate would be someone outside of my race, but here we are. It reminded me of our conversation when we first met. I suppose that was fate trying to give me a sign.
He remembered what she was talking about, and now he wondered how different things would’ve been had he not sought her out. In a way, he felt like a cog in destiny’s design to bring Travus and Aria together.
I assumed the castle’s dark magic or my own indirect use of it was affecting me, but I’m thinking that may only haveplayed a small part. Regardless, I must ask you to reach out to Hector and inform him of the castle’s architectural design. Should things go south, the Faes are our last resort in using the castle against Travus. Look for Hector, and he’ll be able to help.
Recalling the way the castle walls rose when Aria was trying to escape, he shuddered. He hadn’t realized just how powerful Travus was as a person. Since only Fairies, Faes, and Humans were able to utilize magic directly in any form, it was a surprise to see that Travus’s bloodline had been granted this ability through dark magic. It almost felt like betrayal, but the architect and Faes must’ve trusted the Elven royalty at some point.
Lastly,the letter continued,the Council Stones. It has some relevance to the Realm of the Dead. I don’t entirely remember the stories and what the scrolls say about it, but there may be some clues in undoing his immortality. His main goal is not to rule over the realm, Arthur. So donotfall for this reasoning.
Wasting no time, he marched out of his room and headed to Mierna’s. She wasn’t there, and he turned to the maid passing behind him pushing a cart of medical supplies.
