Chapter 7- Watching eyes.

Seth’s POV

Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered his hands. which was infuriating because I wasn’t sure it happened.

The worst part wasn’t that I remembered, it was that I wasn’t sure I hated it.

“I must be going crazy. It must be the Aphrodisiac.” I said quietly.

“You must like the red roses?”

I lifted my head. A man I’ve never seen in the palace stood in front of me.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“The roses. You must like them.”

I looked at the roses, I must have been staring at them for a long time.

“No. I hate roses. I prefer lilies.”

He burst into laughter. “You were lost in thought then. My apologies.”

I didn’t respond, I just stared as the sun hit his brown skin. He looked delicate but he wasn’t.

“Who are you?” I finally asked.

“Excuse my manners. I’m—”

“I help you last night and you didn't even come to thank me.” Vaelor interrupted. “I see you’ve met my Veyra warrior, Ryn.”

Veyra? I thought he wiped the whole of Veyra? Who was the man?

“He was the one their cowardly king sent to fight me.”

I rolled my eyes. “So you are a traitor.” I said to Ryn.

“Quite the contrary. He fought till the end.”

“Then why didn’t he die for his kingdom?”

Ryn’s smile faded. “Because someone had to survive to remember it.”

The answer caught me off guard. Quite an excuse. For a moment, nobody spoke.

“He lost.” Vaelor said, lazily. “It wasn’t up to him to live or die. I wanted him.”

Ryn’s jaw tightened.

“Am I wrong?” He asked.

“No.”

Then it dawned on me, this man was kept alive for a reason. Vaelor needed him and he needed Vaelor too.

“I’ll take my leave now. I hope to see you again, Seth?

How did he know me?

He disappeared down the garden path. Leaving me alone with the one person I least wanted to be alone with.

Wonderful.

Instant embarrassment kicked it.

“Tell me something.”

“What?” I folded my arms.

“Do you intend to act like nothing happened last night?”

“I don’t remember anything happening last night.”

“Interesting.” He folded his arms. “Because I remember you begging for my help quite clearly.”

“I was drugged.”

“Yet somehow you still threatened to kill me three times.”

I paused.

Ragebait? He was trying to get a reaction out of me.

“Only three?”

“Four.” Vaelor corrected. “So you do remember.”

I finally looked at him. For a moment nobody spoke.

“Try me.”

“You know,” he said, “most people are afraid of me.”

“Congratulations.”

Something in his voice made me want to pay attention.

“Do you not fear I would kill your people just like I killed the people of Tarn and Veyra?”

His eyes settled on me.

“Like I said before, I do not care about what happens to them. Just me.”

He grinned as he looked at my stiff face.

“But that’s a lie. You fear nothing. Not even for yourself.”

I almost laughed.

If only he knew fear had followed me since the day I was born.

Fear of discovery. Fear of the heavens. Fear of myself.

What he mistook for courage was simply exhaustion.

His smile faded slightly. “Seems like your king really wants to know what we’re talking about.” He pointed at a window.

I turned and saw Elias looking attentively.

“You think I should tell him what happened yesterday?” He teased.

That caught me off guard, I almost reacted.

“You should. If necessary.” I replied and turned to leave but he grabbed my hands.

“Let go.” I snatched my hand away.

I looked up again, Elias was still staring.

He looked pissed.

“You’re hiding something. I can’t wait to find out what it is.” He began walking away.

He stopped in his tracks and turned back to me.

“By the way, I saw you talking to Valen the other day, you really shouldn’t trust people like that.”

Then he left.

He followed me to the garden yesterday. He probably heard what Elder Valen said to me.

I could feel it, Elias wasn’t at the window anymore.

I let out a breath as I opened the door to Elias chambers.

He looked like he was waiting for me.

“Is that how you plan on killing him?” He asked sarcastically. “I almost thought you were the one married to him.”

“Are you jealous? You’re fitting in this wife role everyday.” I teased.

“Seth, you aren’t sticking to the plan.”

“This is the plan.”

“No.” He shook his head. “The plan was to kill him.”

“Who says I won’t? I’m not the one running into his bed the moment I get drunk.” I said.

The room fell silent.

“Did you find anything, Cassian?” I asked, ignoring him.

“Yes, your highness.”

“Out with it then.”

“You were right. Elder Valen has been gathering the other Elders together. They’re planning something.”

“Elder Valen? What’s going on?” Elias asked, looking confused.

“Find out what they’re up to.”

“Answer me. What’s going on?” Elias demanded.

“While you were drinking to your fullest yesterday, your minister tried to threaten your aide into working for him.” I finally answered.

Elias blinked. “What?”

“He approached his Highness in the garden,” Cassian explained. “He offered friendship.”

“Friendship?” Elias scoffed. “That old snake doesn’t have friends.”

“Exactly. I need to know what he is up to.”

Silence settled over the room.

I leaned against the table. “Since he wants us to be friends, it would be rude of me to turn him down.”

Cassian frowned.

“Your highness, that’s too dangerous.”

“You keep making a mistake, Cassian.” Lister who I forgot was in the room said. “You are to refer to him as Seth. He is now the king’s aide.”

I turned to make sure I heard right.

“You seem to be going out of line recently, Lister.” I said softly. “Elias, will you put your guard in place or do I have to do it for you.”

Smack.

Elias hit him.

Nobody spoke.

Then Fren burst through the doors. “His Majesty requests your presence.” He said, looking at Elias.

“No.” Elias replied, wiping the blood stain on his hands.

“No?”

‘No. I don’t have to answer anytime your king requests for my presence.”

“I was asked to bring you with force if necessary.” Fren said.

Cassian’s hand immediately moved to his sword.

Fren didn’t blink.

“Shall we do this the easy way, Your Majesty?”