Chapter 7 - Power Play

Meanwhile, Aeryl was being held out of the tub that was filled with roses and warm milk when it hit her.

A very strong pull. Her breath caught sharply as pain slammed deep in her chest. The calm the roses had given her shattered all at once. She gasped and pushed herself upright.

The room felt wrong. Too quiet. Too still. 

Her handmaids quickly covered her and helped her sit. Then, they exited the room.

Her heart began to race.

Then....

Pain.

It was not hers.

A sharp, nauseating twist rolled through her stomach, so sudden she barely had time to lean forward before her body reacted. Her throat burned. Her palms went cold.

“No....” she whispered, clutching the sheets.

Her gums ached.

The sensation startled her so badly she lifted her hands to her cheeks, fingers trembling. 

The pain wasn’t strong, but it was specific. Deep. Throbbing. As if something inside her jaw was pushing outward.

Images swiped in her eyes.

Stone, darkness, the faint echo of water striking a basin. Thunder. Witches and bats.

Then, him.

The realization slammed into her.

Aramisius.

She pressed a hand flat over her heart. It hurt.

“What… are you doing to me?” she whispered hoarsely.

Her wolf stirred. Not frantic or afraid but alert and concerned.

A strange warmth bloomed in her heart and her breathing slowed. The ache in her gums calmed, replaced by a dull pressure.

Silence.

But it wasn’t empty silence anymore. It felt connected. She could still hear the sound of water drops. 

Aeryl stared at the ceiling, shaken to her core.

That hadn’t been magic. It wasn’t panic.

That was him.

And worse, it had gone both ways.

Her fingers curled into the sheets.

“I felt you, you bastard.” she whispered to herself, unsure whether she was angry, afraid… or something far more dangerous.

Somewhere deep inside her chest, her wolf settled, waiting.

Then, she stood up to realize her knees were weak but she forced herself to find Nena and the maids waiting outside. 

"Take me to the prince."

****

****

Back in Somberwoke village, Ariana Frankfurt sat on a low stool beside her husband in his study, her eyes still reddened from grief and her hands unsteady as she knitted a mitten.

She was silent for a moment, her ears seemingly alert to every sound in the room as if she were waiting for someone to appear.

Then, she spoke. 

"Seth."

He paused in the furious imprint of an important letter.

"Yes, Ariana?"

"What has King Markos to say to you?"

Seth stilled. Then, he finally spoke.

"Ariana, do not fear. I have it all in control. I plan to go on a visit to his kingdom even...."

He looked up to see Ariana's sad face. She shook her head, not listening to him.

"I don't know how Aeryl will be feeling now? I'm so scared for my child."

"Ariana. Why so? But you know Aramisius will not hurt her. Why do you continue to grieve?"

Ariana sighed. 

"You don't see how vulnerable Aeryl is? You don’t know what's about to happen?"

"It won't happen...."

"Oh?" Ariana asked and then looked him straight in the eyes. 

Silence. 

Then, Seth spoke.

"I wish we'd told Aeryl about everything. I wish I'd just gone straight to Lord Aramisius, but.... she's so young, and I wasn't thinking Lord Aramisius will ever think of her."

"But you would have given her to Markos. I wish you had listened to me and just hid our daughter or.... "

"You do not understand, Ariana."

"But now, we will, Seth."

Silence. 

"I will visit Markos." Seth finally said.

Ariana shook her head, vigorously. 

Her hands shook. The mitten and knitting materials slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor. She did not bend to pick it up.

“Seth.” She said again, softer this time.

She was pale. Too pale.

“You told King Markos....” She said slowly. “....that you would give Aeryl to him. That he would guard her. Protect her.”

Seth nodded once. “Yes. Markos is my friend.”

Ariana swallowed. “And then you gave her to Lord Aramisius.”

There was silence again.

“You did not tell Markos on time.” She continued. “Not the truth. Not what she is worth. Not how many kingdoms were already watching and bidding.”

Seth’s jaw tightened.

“You think he doesn’t know?” Ariana said, her voice trembling now. “Letters came. Threats. Offers. Bids. Some of them were kings. Some were worse.... Sorcerers.”

She pressed a hand to her chest.

“They would have torn her apart just to own her.”

Seth stood. “That is why I finally chose Aramisius.”

Ariana shook her head. “You chose him too late.”

She looked up at him, fear in her eyes.

“Markos will feel betrayed even though he has no real right to.” She said. "Pain and greed makes even good men dangerous.”

Seth frowned. “Markos would never....”

“He is a king not a fool.” Ariana cut in. “And kings do not forgive being lied to.”

She took a shaky breath and got to her feet.

“I am afraid he will turn on us. Like the others. Like the rest of the kingdoms.”

Seth stepped closer. “Ariana, it all happened so fast. Aramisius swore an oath of brotherhood. Markos will respect that. He knows Aramisius is Aeryl's mate.”

“I know.” She whispered. “That is the only reason I can breathe.”

She lowered herself onto the stool.

“Aramisius is cold.” she said. “But he keeps his word. And Aeryl is his fated mate.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“If anyone can protect her.... it is him.”

Seth knelt in front of her. “You are safe.” He said firmly. “We are safe.”

Ariana sighed and went qiet for a moment.

“I had a dream.” She whispered.

Seth stilled. “What kind of dream?”

She closed her eyes. “A very bad one.”

“Tell me.” He urged gently.

“No.” Her voice was sharp now. Final.

He tried again. “Ariana....”

“No. It is too bad.” She said. “If I say it out loud, it might come true.”

She clutched his sleeve tightly.

“Promise me....” She whispered. “....that no matter what happens… you will never take her back from him.”

Seth did not answer right away. But he nodded. 

Ariana did not let go.

“We did not just give Aeryl away.” Ariana whispered. “We moved the world, and the world will soon answer.”

Meanwhile, outside the door, Lilah stood frozen. She had heard everything.

And her heart was too uneasy. She retreated, hands over her chest and her eyes glazed. 

****

****

A knock sounded at Aramisius door.

“Enter.” He said coldly.

The door opened just enough for the smiling doorman to bow. 

“My lord… the maids request instruction. Your Luna....”

“Do not call her that.”

The doorman stiffened. “Forgive me, my lord.”

“She will be bathed,” Aramisius said absentmindedly. “Water only. No oils. No incense. Nothing that alters her scent.”

“Yes, my lord. But....”

“And no one speaks to her.”

The servant hesitated. Just a breath too long. Aramisius looked at him, questioningly.

"My lord. Princess Aeryl actually requests to see you."

His forehead creased, but he corrected his facials fast.

“I will speak to her.” Aramisius said, the words leaving his mouth before he had considered them.

The servant bowed deeply. “As you command.”

The door shut.

Aramisius stood there, unmoving.

****

****

Aeryl's chest tightened. She stood alone, seconds passdd in silence. Muffled voices faded. Her heart throbbed.

Then - creak. The oak door opened. The doorman reappeared, face unreadable, and bowed her in.

For a moment, she wanted to run back to her room but pride cut the thought down.

She drew a slow breath, then another, and crossed the threshold. Everything smelled of iron, roses and cigarettes. Shadows clung to the chamber's corners, a flaming brazier blazing at its heart.

A real predator's den.

She walked in deeper, eyes adjusting....

"What do you want?"