Chapter 12

Before Navine came into my life, I wasn’t sure I knew what love was. Like many young Fae girls—and young girls in general—I had dreams. Dreams of a perfect man who would love, protect, and cherish me above all else.

We dream of a blissful life with them, building a perfect home and starting a perfect little family. But perfection is a myth. It’s not as we imagine it, and love is never as simple as meeting someone and falling head over heels.

Back then, I didn’t understand any of this. I woke up the next morning, basking in the joy of the previous night and the life I was building with Navine. It wasn’t what I had envisioned, but I had embraced it wholeheartedly, and I was grateful for it.

After breakfast, I went to the courtyard to see Nanash. Navine had some things to take care of. I felt guilty for not talking to my friend the previous day, but our meeting had run late, and Navine wanted me to wait until the next day.

As I approached the gate, Nanash greeted me with a warm smile.

“Good morning, little Fae. How was your night?”

“It was fine.” I settled on the grass next to the fence. “Good morning to you too, Nanash. Did you have a good night as well?”

“I did. It was a quiet night, but I expected as much after yesterday’s commotion,” Nanash replied, his smile never fading as he settled near the fence.

“You have a point,” I agreed. “And thank you for helping watch over this place yesterday. I know it was a lot to ask on such short notice.”

“It was my pleasure, and I didn’t see it as a hassle at all. I’ve been doing it for the last few years anyway. Besides, most of the feral ones avoided this area, sensing the immense power of the alphas gathered here. I must admit, I was a bit humbled myself when I sensed it,” Nanash confessed.

“I don’t blame you. It’s awe-inspiring to be in the presence of so many powerful beings, including one of the rulers,” I agreed.

“Ah, yes. The Eastern ruler made an unexpected visit yesterday, didn’t he?” Nanash remembered.

“Yes, Lord Lyric wanted to see me after hearing about my presence here. He’s also related to Navine. His father was Navine’s brother,” I explained.

“I see. Interesting. I didn’t know that Lord Navine had a family connection to one of the four rulers. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He could’ve been one himself if he hadn’t handed the position to Lord Jekia.”

“I think that was more his personal preference. He’s told me that he feels he has enough on his plate,” I responded, smoothing my skirt around me.

“Perhaps so.” Nanash leaned against the gate. “Going back to our earlier conversation, did everything go smoothly? I’ve heard that some Dragons don’t get along, so I wondered if there was any trouble.”

I had a feeling he was trying to probe me about Lord Dominick, but I saw no harm in indulging him. It was common knowledge that Lord Dominick and the other Dragons didn’t always see eye to eye.

“For the most part, things went well. We thought Lord Dominick might not show up, and when he did, it was brief. He said he had urgent matters to attend to, so he couldn’t stay long,” I explained.

“Urgent matters, huh? Sounds like he used a convenient excuse to skip the meeting,” Nanash commented.

“Maybe, but I don’t think it matters much. He came here to acknowledge and meet me, and he left before any real trouble started, so I guess that counts for something,” I stated.

“You make a good point,” Nanash agreed.

I glanced at the palace, making sure Navine wasn’t coming out before continuing our conversation. There was something I wanted to ask Nanash, and I didn’t want Navine to overhear.

“Nanash, you’ve been here a while, right? Do you know much about Navine?” I asked.

“I know as much as anyone else, I suppose. Why do you ask?” Nanash responded.

I glanced back at the palace before lowering my voice. “I’m curious about the tension between him and Lord Dominick. Everyone seems to have issues with Dominick, but Navine’s resentment seems…deeper.”

Nanash was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting away from me as he pondered my question.

“I can’t say for sure, but I’ve heard whispers of a long-standing feud between them,” he finally admitted.

“A feud? Do you know what started it?” I pressed.

“I’m not sure. The rumors suggest that Lord Dominick did something that deeply hurt Lord Navine, something he can’t forgive,” Nanash replied.

Something that deeply hurt Navine. I wondered if it had anything to do with his brother, Temple. Could Lord Dominick have somehow led Temple to the Eastern Lands where he was killed by the previous ruler?

No, that didn’t seem right. It felt like there was something else—something even worse that Lord Dominick had a hand in.

Hold on, I thought, could it be related to those items I found in the spare room—the ones with the R on them?

Once the idea took hold, I couldn’t shake it. Navine had been so evasive when I asked about those items. It was as if they caused him pain just by existing—even if he tried to hide it.

“Nanash, do you know if any other Dragons lived here with Navine?” I asked quietly.

Nanash shook his head—a look of confusion crossing his face.

“No. As far as I know, it’s always been just him and now you. Why do you ask?”

“Well,” I began, deciding to be somewhat honest with him, “I found some items in one of the spare rooms. They had an initial on them, and Navine didn’t want to discuss who they belonged to. You mentioned that Lord Dominick did something unforgivable to Navine. I’m wondering if it involved whoever owned those items.”

“Maybe,” Nanash conceded. He then tried to dissuade me from digging any deeper. “But I would leave it alone, my lady. Lord Navine seems happy now that you’re here. There’s no need to dredge up the past and potentially cause him pain.”

“I understand, and I don’t want to hurt him,” I agreed, though I wasn’t ready to let it go. I wanted to understand Navine and his world, and that meant understanding his past, even if I had to do it without him knowing.

Nanash glanced at the palace, as if making sure we weren’t overheard.

“Just be careful, my dear. Asking too many questions about Lord Dominick could backfire. If he finds out, he might try to mislead you or cause trouble between you and Lord Navine,” he warned me quietly.

I couldn’t deny the wisdom in his words. I’d heard enough to know that Lord Dominick was a force to be reckoned with.

“I’ll be careful, Nanash. Thank you for your advice,” I assured him.

“I hope so.” Nanash moved closer to the fence, his voice barely above a whisper. “I hope I can be here to help you, my lady. I enjoy your company more than I can say, and I’d like to see you happy here, especially after everything you’ve been through.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I replied, returning his smile.

We both turned as the palace door opened. Navine was coming out to join us.

“There you are. I was wondering if you were out here chatting with this Snake again,” he said, his tone light and unconcerned.

“I was,” I confirmed, accepting his help to stand.

“Morning, Lord Navine. I heard yesterday went smoothly,” Nanash greeted him cheerfully.

“Indeed, it did. Thanks to your help, we didn’t have any unexpected surprises,” Navine replied.

“I was happy to assist. But remember, we had a deal. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” Nanash reminded him.

Navine sighed softly. “Of course, I remember our agreement. I’ll honor it, but let me be clear—if you try anything with Raelina, you’ll answer to me,” he warned.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I value my life, after all,” Nanash assured him.

Navine pulled me aside and gestured toward the gate. As if on cue, it creaked open, allowing Nanash to slither in.

“You’ve proven yourself trustworthy over time, and I like the idea of extra protection for Raelina when I’m away. So, you can stay with us as agreed. You can even have the conservatory. But remember, I’ll always have control over you—for insurance,” Navine added.

He traced a pattern in the air, and a golden symbol—a shield with a sword—appeared on Nanash’s forehead. It was a familiar symbol, one I’d seen around the palace.

Nanash touched the symbol, understanding its meaning. “Ah, a way to keep me in check. Not that I’d harm her. I’m a Snake of my word.”

“I believe you, but I like to have a safety net when it comes to Raelina.” Navine turned to me. “Speaking of which, I came out here to find you. I promised to take you to see Anika.”

I couldn’t hide my excitement. My hands clasped together, and a wide smile spread across my face.

“Really? We’re going to see her today? That’s wonderful!” I exclaimed.

Navine looked pleased with my reaction. “Absolutely. I always keep my promises, and I know how much you miss her.”

“I do,” I admitted. “She’s been like a mother to me since that awful night. I can’t imagine not seeing her.”

“And you won’t have to. I’ll make sure of it. Now, let’s go inside and get ready.” Navine gently touched my back before addressing Nanash again. “I trust you’ll make yourself comfortable here, Nanash?”

“Absolutely. I’ll ensure everything stays in order. Enjoy your visit,” Nanash assured him.

Navine seemed satisfied with his response and led me back into the palace. I was buzzing with excitement and quickly got ready. I chose a comfortable yet elegant dress, brushed my hair, and put on the sun pendant. It was a beautiful gift, and I cherished it.

But as I adjusted the crystal chain against my forehead, a strange sensation washed over me. My reflection in the mirror seemed to morph into another woman. She looked like me, wore the same dress and jewelry, but her hair was white, and her eyes were an icy blue.

I wasn’t scared, just puzzled. A thought crossed my mind. ~Oh~, ~is this what I used to look like?~

A sudden pulse coursed through me. I closed my eyes, clutching my head as a distant male voice echoed. ~“And now I will destroy everything he loves…”~

A loud buzzing filled my ears, then faded. I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror again. My normal reflection stared back at me. What just happened? Why did I think I looked different? And whose voice was that? I’d never experienced anything like this before.

Something deep within me was rattled by the whole ordeal. I couldn’t just sit there anymore, not with this unspoken fear gnawing at my insides. So, I rose to my feet and made a beeline for the door, eager to find Navine. I thought maybe a change of scenery would help.

Before I swung the door open, I paused to collect myself. It was crucial that he didn’t see me in this state. I didn’t want to worry him, especially not after all the joy we’d shared since my arrival.

Stepping out of the room, I was greeted by the palace’s bright and airy ambiance. It was a comforting sight, but I didn’t slow down. I kept my pace brisk as I made my way toward the stairs.

However, I halted in the hallway as I neared them. Voices echoed from the foyer. It sounded like Navine was in conversation with Nanash.

“I mean it, Nanash. No matter how much she pleads, don’t mention any of it,” Navine’s voice floated up to me. His tone was hushed, as if he was trying to keep me from overhearing. He must not have realized I was approaching the stairs.

“I understand, but isn’t this all a bit risky? We both know how Lord Dominick can be, and I’ve shared my suspicions with you. It seems you share them,” Nanash countered.

Suspicions? What is he talking about?

Navine let out a weary sigh. “I’m well aware, but there’s nothing more we can do now. We can’t change the past. All I can do is ensure her safety with me.”

“That’s commendable, but tread carefully, my lord. Lord Dominick won’t abandon his plots so easily. And strangely enough, he seems to have a grudge against you. What happened back then to make him so fixated on you?” Nanash probed.

“Who knows? Only Dominick understands his own mind. But let’s end this discussion. Raelina will be ready soon and will be joining us,” Navine replied.

“Of course. And do try to enjoy the socializing. It might do you some good,” Nanash suggested before leaving.

“Perhaps,” was all Navine said.

I waited until Nanash was gone before I ascended the stairs. Navine was in the foyer, his head bowed and fingers resting on his chin, lost in thought. I descended the stairs and stood before him, surprised when he didn’t seem to notice me.

“Navine? Is everything okay?” I asked.

Navine blinked. “Yes, yes,” he responded, snapping back to reality. “I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought.”

“Nothing’s wrong, is it?” I pressed.

“Absolutely not,” Navine reassured me, cupping my cheeks and planting a soft kiss on my forehead. “Everything’s fine. I didn’t mean to worry you. Are you ready to go?”

I tried to give him my most convincing smile. “I am if you are.”

I knew I should’ve asked him about his odd conversation with Nanash, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It felt almost forbidden—and not just because it could stir up trouble between us.

Was it because it might be connected to the strange incident upstairs? I wasn’t ready to find out.

“Great. Let’s get going,” Navine stepped aside, then paused to look at me again. “Are you sure you’re okay, Raelina? You look a bit pale.”

“Oh! Yes! I’m fine!” I assured him, doing my best to sound convincing.

I wasn’t sure if Navine bought it, but he didn’t press further.

“Okay. Let’s go then. We should have the whole day to explore.”