Chapter 19

“Raelina, I can’t believe you’d break the one rule I gave you and leave the palace grounds,” Navine scolded me. We were in the conservatory, where I was tending to Nanash’s injured tail.

Navine had brought in medicine for me to use, including a numbing agent to ease Nanash’s pain as I realigned his bones and cleaned his wounds. I was grateful for Anika’s lessons in medicine; at least I knew how to help him.

Navine stood nearby, arms crossed, lecturing me. Well, more like scolding me since we’d arrived. I wasn’t surprised; he was furious when he found us outside and chased away the Golem.

“I take full responsibility for being out there, even though I didn’t intend to in the first place,” I replied curtly, trying to concentrate on my task.

“How could you not intend to go out there?! You were deep enough in the forest for that Golem to wake up and find you!” Navine retorted.

Nanash lifted his head from where it rested in his arms. “If I may, my lord, I believe there’s more to this than Raelina simply breaking your rules. We both know she’s not one to do so, especially not to take such risks as entering that forest with potential predators around,” he defended me.

“He’s right,” I chimed in. “I didn’t mean to go out there. Something strange happened, and that’s how I ended up where I did.”

This piqued Navine’s interest. “Strange? Are you suggesting something infiltrated the palace and influenced you?” he questioned.

I shook my head, threading a needle to start stitching Nanash’s wounds. “I’m not sure how to explain it. I was heading to our room when everything around me changed. Everything looked older, the colors were off, and I saw a woman descending the stairs and heading into the courtyard. I felt compelled to follow her, and she vanished when I tried to touch her. That’s when I realized I was in the forest, even though I don’t remember going out there,” I explained.

I glanced at Navine, noticing his expression change. He must have realized something was seriously wrong.

Nanash didn’t hold back his thoughts either. “It sounds like a spell was cast, but I’m puzzled as to how. I didn’t think this palace was vulnerable to magic,” he said.

“No, it usually isn’t.” Navine moved closer to me. “Did you notice anything unusual before this happened?”

“I thought I heard a voice, but I couldn’t identify it. I think it said something about the past haunting me,” I replied.

Nanash turned to face Navine. “What does her past have to do with her being here? Raelina’s upbringing had nothing to do with you or this place.”

“No. It didn’t,” Navine agreed, his voice weak, avoiding our gaze.

I caught the implication, remembering what Lorelei had told me. Navine must have realized it too. He just didn’t want to say it aloud, perhaps because Nanash was present.

“Then what was this? Was someone targeting her?” Nanash persisted.

“It’s too early to tell. I’ll investigate further once things calm down.” Navine shifted his focus to me. “How’s your knee now?”

“Not much better. It hurts when I try to move my leg even slightly,” I confessed.

“I see. I’ll examine it once you’re done with Nanash,” Navine said. He moved away from us. “I’m going to double-check a few things. Better safe than sorry.”

I watched him leave, his pace quick. This situation was troubling him more than he let on. That’s probably why he decided to check things immediately instead of waiting for me to finish.

Nanash moved closer to me, careful not to jostle his tail. “Something’s not right with him, and I don’t think it’s just because someone might have tried to harm you. I think he’s also shaken up because he jumped to conclusions instead of trusting you,” he observed.

“Maybe. I’ll try to have a private chat with him once he’s back. You’re okay with that, right?” I asked.

“Absolutely. I’ll be okay, so do what you need to,” Nanash reassured me.

I exhaled deeply, the full weight of the situation finally sinking in. Seeing Nanash’s injury only intensified the feeling. He was fortunate that it was only his tail that Golem had crushed. I shuddered to think what could have happened if the injury had been higher up.

“Are you okay?”

His voice brought me back to reality, and I quickly wiped my eyes to hide the tears welling up. “I’m okay. I’m just relieved you’re going to be fine,” I confessed.

Nanash moved closer, wrapping me in a comforting embrace. “I’ll be okay. I might be in pain for a bit, but it’s much better than if my spine had been damaged more. Let’s not dwell on the what-ifs.”

“Yes, I’ll try not to,” I agreed.

“That being said,” Nanash released me and gently touched my leg, “are you sure you’re going to be okay? You seem to be in a lot of pain when you try to move.”

“I’ll be okay. It hurts, but I don’t think it’s anything serious. I might just need a few days of rest and some medication. That’s all,” I assured him.

“I hope so, but at least let Navine check to make sure it’s not too bad,” Nanash suggested. He gingerly moved his tail, wincing slightly. “I’ll have to take it easy too. This pain could throw me off more than I should let it.”

“I’m sure Navine would agree with that, and if there’s anything else I can do to help, just let me know. You found me and saved my life out there, and I’m the reason you got hurt,” I reminded him.

“Hey, don’t blame yourself for anything. I did promise to look after you. Plus, you’re my friend—how could I ever leave you?” Nanash replied.

That made me smile. “I’m glad to hear that. I consider you my friend too, Nanash, and I haven’t had many.”

“Maybe those who are different don’t, but doesn’t that make such friendships even more meaningful?” Nanash suggested.

“Very true,” I agreed.

I felt a bit lighter now, despite everything else looming in the background. I’d always enjoyed Nanash’s company. He might have been a Snake, but he’d been my friend almost from the day we met. His actions today proved that. Not just anyone would risk their life for another, no matter how noble they tried to appear.

Nanash glanced at the door, then lowered his voice. “There’s something else I’ve been meaning to ask you. I hope you won’t think I’m being nosy.”

“No. You can ask me anything,” I assured him.

“When you were a young Fae before your sect was killed, did you ever hear of any interactions between the Dragons and them?” Nanash asked.

I had to think about that. Had I ever heard the other Sun Fae mention any Dragons?

“I don’t remember hearing anything about that. Why do you ask?” I replied after a moment of thought.

“Well…” Nanash hesitated before backtracking. “Maybe it’s not important, especially after everything that’s happened.”

I was about to ask him what he meant, but the sound of the door opening interrupted me. Navine was returning.

“Okay. Everything should be secure now. Why don’t you rest while I take Raelina to treat her knee?” he suggested to Nanash as he approached us.

“That sounds good. I could use some sleep,” Nanash agreed. He patted my shoulder. “Take care of yourself and rest too. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes. Thank you, Nanash, for everything,” I said.

I watched him slowly slither off to a nearby tree, wincing with each movement. I was still worried about him. I hoped the medication would ease his pain and speed up his recovery.

Navine moved closer, his voice gentle. “I think it’s best if I carry you to our room. It’ll be easier to examine your leg there, and probably more comfortable for you on the bed,” he suggested.

I nodded, trying to hide my discomfort. “I trust you, Navine. I know you’ll be as gentle as possible,” I reassured him.

He gave me a small smile. “I promise, I will.”

He crouched down, allowing me to loop my arms around his neck. Then, with a swift movement, he lifted me into his arms. A sharp pain radiated from my leg, but it was bearable, just like when he’d first brought me in.

He carried me out of the conservatory, down the hallway, and toward the staircase leading to the second floor. As I looked around, everything seemed so normal, so quiet. There was no evidence of the chaos that had just occurred.

Navine broke the silence, his voice filled with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay, aside from your leg?”

His question pulled me back to reality. “Oh, yes. I’m fine,” I assured him quickly. “I was just lost in thought about everything that happened.”

He nodded, his expression serious. “You don’t need to worry. I’ve checked the barriers I set up. It won’t happen again,” he promised.

I tightened my grip around his neck, resting my head against his shoulder. Despite the stress, I couldn’t deny the comfort I found in his arms.

I had to ask. “You’re not still mad at me, are you?”

He paused, resting his forehead against mine. “No, I’m not. I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I was wrong to jump to conclusions. I should’ve known you wouldn’t intentionally put yourself in danger or try to spite me,” he admitted.

I shook my head, my voice soft. “I would never do that, Navine. I care about you, and I know you’re just trying to keep me safe. But I won’t lie, I’ve been feeling a bit trapped. I can only leave with you, and I only have you and Nanash to talk to. Even with the crystal ball, it’s not the same,” I confessed.

He looked thoughtful as he started up the stairs. “Is that why you wanted to see Lorelei? To make more friends?” he asked.

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, that’s part of it. I’m not used to being confined. I understand why you don’t want me to leave, but it’s hard. I miss the freedom I had growing up,” I admitted.

He sighed, his voice filled with understanding. “I get it. Maybe we can find a way to give you more freedom. My biggest fear is that you won’t be able to escape if something happens, especially here on the mountain,” he explained.

I nodded, my voice firm. “I get that. Not having my wings is a disadvantage, but I’m not reckless, Navine. I know I need to be careful, especially here.”

We finally reached our room. Navine gently set me down on the bed.

He looked at me, his eyes serious. “I believe you. But for now, let’s focus on getting you better,” he suggested.

I sighed, giving in. “All right.” I carefully lifted my skirt to reveal my swollen knee. It looked worse than before. I must have injured it more than I thought.

Navine gently touched my knee, his fingers tracing the swollen area. The pain was sharper this time, making me gasp.

He immediately pulled back, his voice filled with regret. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he apologized.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “It’s okay. It was bound to hurt. It looks worse than before,” I admitted.

His expression was grave as he nodded. “You’ve injured your knee quite badly, more than I initially thought. It feels like you’ve torn a tendon. I’m afraid this is beyond my abilities. We need to get you professional help,” he said, his voice filled with resignation.

I sighed, the reality of the situation sinking in. “I might be out of commission for a while then. These injuries take time to heal, even with immediate treatment,” I said, my voice filled with dread. “Oh no.”

“Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay. I think there might be a way to speed up your recovery. I’ll reach out to Emelio. He’s a mage; they’re the ones who handle injuries for the rulers. He might have some insights,” Navine assured me.

“I really hope there’s a solution. The thought of being bedridden for too long is unbearable,” I confessed.

Navine gently settled next to me on the bed. “Don’t stress about it,” he comforted, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll sort this out. You’ll be back on your feet before you know it.”

It was comforting to see the familiar, caring side of Navine again, especially when it was just the two of us. It gave me the courage to bring up the topic I’d been dying to discuss.

“Navine, can we talk about something, since it’s just us?” I asked.

“Of course. You can talk to me about anything. I’ve told you before, nothing is off-limits between us,” he reminded me.

“I know, but this might be a topic you’d rather avoid,” I warned him.

“Even so, you can always talk to me. I’m here to listen, and I’ll respond as best I can,” he promised.

I took a deep breath, carefully choosing my words to avoid dragging Lorelei into this. I had promised her I wouldn’t tell Navine that she’d told me about Rosaline. I was sure there were ways to navigate around how I’d come by the information, maybe even what had just happened to me.

“I trust you, Navine, please don’t misunderstand me. But I can’t help but wonder about what led me into that forest. It wasn’t just the mysterious woman I saw. Everything around me seemed to change. It was like I had stepped back in time, yet I was still here in the palace. So, I have to ask, have you always been here?”

“Yes, I have. I built this place myself a long time ago,” Navine confirmed, looking a bit uneasy. “Do you think you might have seen something from the past?”

I nodded. “I do, and I’m pretty sure I’m not wrong,” I confirmed. I paused before asking the next question.

“Navine, please be honest with me. Have you really never had a beta?”

Navine tensed slightly but didn’t hesitate to answer. “No, I haven’t, and I wouldn’t lie to you about that. Why do you keep asking?”

“Because of what I’ve seen, both now and in that extra room. You’ve avoided talking about who that person was. I understand it might be painful, but I also feel that they meant more to you than just a passerby in your life. If she wasn’t family, then isn’t it possible she could have been your beta?” I reasoned.

I won’t lie, it stung a bit to voice all this, even if Rosaline had been dead for so long. The pain didn’t feel like jealousy, more like he was trying to erase her.

Navine was silent for a while, seemingly contemplating his response. “I stand by my words; I would never lie to you. I’ve never had a beta, and I don’t plan to,” he finally said.

After another pause, he added, “But I will admit, there was a time when I almost did. Some people might even believe she was, but she died before it could happen.”

I was stunned. He was acknowledging Rosaline’s existence. I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to discuss it openly. Maybe he’d finally tell me the whole truth.

“Navine, please be honest with me. What happened to her? How is she connected to me?” I asked, leaning forward and gripping his hand.

Navine looked down, his thumb tracing circles on my hand. He looked regretful. “I never intended to keep this from you, and I would never lie to you. But I want you to know, I’ve never seen you as her,” he confessed.

“I believe you,” I affirmed.

“Even after all these centuries, it’s still tough for me to talk about her,” Navine confessed. “I’m not naive. I’m sure Lorelei or someone else from her circle has shared some of this with you, and I don’t hold it against them. I can’t deny that I should have been the one to tell you about her from the start. Maybe it’s for the best that they did, considering everything that’s happened.”

I decided to be upfront with him. “Lorelei did share some things with me, and I promised not to involve her in this, so I hope you’ll respect that. She was just trying to help me, especially after I told her about the things I’d seen. She was concerned about what happened with Dominick too. He even hinted at Rosaline when he visited,” I explained.

“I won’t confront her, and she was right to share what she knew with you, even though I’m sure her knowledge was limited. Most of the others don’t know much about Rosaline or what happened back then. Only Dominick, Niles, and I know the full story,” Navine assured me.

“Do you think I’m her reincarnation? Is that why you chose me to be your bride?” I asked, taking a leap of faith.

“Yes, I do believe you’re her reincarnation, but that’s not why I chose you,” Navine replied. He gently brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I chose you because I felt a connection with you from the moment we met. You’re not just beautiful, but being near you feels like finding something I didn’t even know I was missing. I don’t think it’s because of your soul. It’s simply because of who you are.”

“I’ll accept that, but you must understand that the reincarnation part is a bit hard to swallow,” I admitted.

“I understand, and I wouldn’t blame you for having doubts. But if you’re still interested, I can tell you about what happened back then.”

“I am interested.”

Navine shifted so that he could lean against the headboard with me. He seemed a bit more relaxed now. Maybe sharing all of this was helping him feel better.

“It’s been so long that I feel like I’ve forgotten some parts of it, even though I could never forget her.” A faint smile crossed his face. “I’ll admit that you do remind me of Rosaline in some ways. You’re as strong-willed as she was, and you don’t back down easily when you believe you’re right. You also value your independence and would never fully submit to anyone, not even an alpha.”

“I’d think most women would be like that,” I pointed out.

“You’d be surprised how many aren’t. While many claim to be self-sufficient, they’d quickly give it up to please a male alpha,” Navine responded.

He returned to the previous topic. “Rosaline and I met by chance. She was one of the last Celestial Fae, and her home was in the forest at the base of this mountain. As far as I remember, the Celestial Fae were nearly extinct at that time due to disease and repeated attacks by rival Fae and ferals. Despite all this, Rosaline was doing her best to survive, often working in the fields to plant and gather food. That’s where I first met her.”

“And you knew she was the one when you met her,” I guessed.

“Not immediately,” Navine admitted. “Our relationship developed more slowly than most alphas with their mates. To be honest, Rosaline didn’t want much to do with me at first. She preferred to be independent. But over time, we became friends, which eventually turned into something more, and I finally convinced her to come here with me, to be my bride, and maybe even my beta someday.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Sounds like you had your hands full with her as your beta.”

“I can’t argue with that. She may not have been physically strong, but mentally, I think she was even stronger than me. That’s probably why her death hit me so hard; I took her strength for granted and overlooked the signs that she was in trouble,” Navine confessed.

“What happened to her? Lorelei only knew that she died, not how,” I asked.

Navine seemed to ponder over his response.

“Well, the answer to that could be a bit controversial. From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem like a tragic accident or even that Rosaline took her own life. But neither Niles nor I have ever bought into those theories.

“Yes, she drowned in the sea, and we think she was pulled under by a sea creature, maybe a Lamia. But the real mystery is how her wings were torn apart before she ended up in the water. It didn’t match the pattern of a Lamia attack.

“It felt more like her wings were deliberately damaged so she couldn’t fly when she fell off the cliff.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. Somehow, I felt he was right, even though I couldn’t pinpoint why.

“Are you implying that she was in danger because of Dominick?” I asked, recalling Lorelei’s comments about him.

“She mentioned something about him wanting Rosaline too, but she chose you, and he was furious about it.”

“Indeed, there was a lot of tension among us during that period,” Navine admitted.

“It’s not uncommon for alphas to vie for a female, but Dominick has always been the kind to despise losing. He was enraged when Rosaline chose me over him. I remember him threatening her, vowing that we would never find happiness together.

“Niles and I have always suspected that he played a role in her death, even though we’ve never been able to prove it.”

I nestled into him, shutting my eyes as a wave of sorrow washed over me. I was certain he was right. Dominick had somehow contributed to her death, whether by tearing her wings and casting her into the sea or by having someone else do it.

But I was determined not to let this consume me.

“It’s heartbreaking, and I can only imagine how devastated you must’ve been,” I murmured.

“I was,” Navine admitted, hugging me tighter and planting a kiss on my head.

“I’ve been in a state of despair for a long time because of it. I thought I’d never escape that darkness. But then I found you, and it was like stepping back into the sunlight. Please never doubt my love for you, Raelina. You are who you are, and I will always do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“I know you will, and I love you too. You’ll always hold the top spot in my heart,” I vowed.

Reflecting on it, I’m not sure why I made that promise. Was it my soul’s way of mourning the past and reassuring him that this time, I would be his and his alone?

Whatever the reason, I was committed to keeping my word.

This time, no one—not even a potentially vengeful Alpha Dragon—would come between us.