Chapter 21

Dominick and I settled onto one of the long couches in the parlor, but I couldn’t shake off the discomfort. The unease had been gnawing at me since I saw him approaching, and it wasn’t just because of our previous encounter. I had a hunch he was here to stir up some trouble, maybe even between Navine and me.

But there was nothing I could do about it now. He was already here. Plus, I was Navine’s bride, the queen of the Ivory Dragon. I had to show that I deserved this position, even to this occasionally provoking dragon.

Dominick broke the silence. “So, what happened to your leg? How did you end up hurting it?”

I shrugged it off. “It was nothing much. I just slipped, fell the wrong way, and twisted it. It’s been getting much better now.”

I was trying to downplay the whole thing. The last thing I wanted was to delve into what really happened. That could potentially reveal that I knew about Rosaline and their suspicions about his involvement in her death.

Dominick didn’t push further. He just flashed me a friendly smile. “That’s good to hear. You don’t have wings, so I’d imagine it could be very difficult for you to get around if one of your legs is hurt.”

I nodded. “It can be. But I’ve gotten used to not having wings. It’s been so long that I can’t even remember when I did.”

Dominick looked surprised. “Really? I didn’t realize that the Sun Fae had wings. I hadn’t seen any of them for years, even before the lycans took their lives. I’m surprised they didn’t just fly away. The lycans wouldn’t have had that advantage.”

I found it odd that he didn’t know we had wings, but I brushed it off. There were many Fae who didn’t, and I didn’t think my sect had been anywhere near where Navine said Dominick lived.

“Yes, we all had wings, but unfortunately, they didn’t help us that night. We wouldn’t have abandoned each other, especially during such a surprise attack,” I explained.

Dominick nodded. “That makes sense. You were quite young then, weren’t you?”

“I was only five.”

“Only five,” Dominick sighed sadly. “How terrible for you to have to go through that. It makes it even more fitting for you to be here now, living a peaceful life.”

I smiled at his kindness. “Thank you, but my life has been peaceful since then. Lord Jekia and his family took good care of me after everything happened, and I was raised by a very kind and loving Rainbow Faerie. Being with Navine has just been another blessing.”

Dominick agreed. “I can imagine.” He shifted his folded wings slightly behind him. “But I must admit, the suddenness of all this did concern me. Navine has been alone for so long that no one thought he would ever choose a bride. And then she turns out to be the last of a race of Fae, and quite young compared to him. Forgive me if I seem intrusive, but it does make me wonder about his motives.”

I had anticipated this question and didn’t hesitate in my response. “I understand your concerns, but there’s no need. Navine and I have a strong relationship, and he treats me very well. I’m sure he has nothing but the best intentions for me.”

Dominick raised an eyebrow. “The best intentions, you say? I would have thought you’d say he loves you.”

I chose my words carefully. “Well, I believe he’s growing to love me, and I know how I feel about him. It just hasn’t been long enough for us to confidently declare such things.”

Dominick nodded. “I see.” His expression remained friendly. “I realize it isn’t my place to question this so much. After all, Navine did choose you as his bride, as is any alpha’s right, and you’ve accepted it. I just hope you won’t feel too alone up here on this mountain. It can be hard to adjust to a nomadic life when you’re used to being around others.”

How did he manage to do that? It was impossible for him to know about the growing sense of loneliness I’d been feeling since I arrived.

But I was resolved not to let him get under my skin. I was capable of handling myself here. All I needed was a little time to get used to everything, and Navine had pledged to help me escape the confines of the palace more often.

“I won’t deny that this has been a big change for me, but I’m getting the hang of it. Navine has also promised to take me out whenever I want, which is a big help,” I told him confidently.

Dominick nodded in understanding. “That’s good of him, and I trust he will. But remember, if you ever feel too lonely, you can always reach out to me. I wouldn’t mind keeping you company and taking you wherever you want to go,” he suggested.

I should’ve rejected his offer immediately, but I didn’t want to come off as impolite. There was no ill intent in his proposal, even if it could potentially cause problems.

“Thank you for the generous offer, but I think I’ll manage. I wouldn’t want to cause any more tension between you and Navine,” I replied.

“Fair point. He would be quite jealous if we started hanging out, wouldn’t he?” Dominick remarked. He stood up and glanced at the nearby window. “Speaking of Navine, I can sense his return. I should probably leave before things get unpleasant.”

“It would be best if you did. I don’t want to witness any more fights over me,” I agreed.

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” Dominick assured me. He bowed politely and kissed my hand. “Until we meet again, my lady.”

As he started to walk away, I quickly stood up, ignoring the slight ache in my knee. There was something else I’d been meaning to discuss with him.

“Hold on, Dominick. There’s something else I wanted to discuss with you,” I called out.

Dominick stopped and turned to face me. “Oh? What might that be?”

I took a few steps forward to stand in front of him. “I won’t mince words here, and you pretty much admitted that you knew about it when we met at Lorelei’s. I wanted to discuss Luna and those nasty rumors surrounding her,” I said.

“Didn’t we already cover this at Lorelei’s castle?” Dominick asked.

“You only confessed to hearing things about her and called her a Succubus, which I found incredibly disrespectful. Yes, that’s part of her lineage, but she can’t help who her father was. It doesn’t give anyone the right to badmouth her, especially when they don’t know her,” I told him.

“I see.” Dominick nodded, placing a hand on his hip. “You want to defend her because you’re a childhood friend of Jekia’s children and you admire Rayne.”

“The feelings I once had for Rayne have nothing to do with this. I know what it’s like to be disliked just because I’m close to him and Rin. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t stand up for another woman who’s being treated the same way,” I declared.

Dominick looked amused. “You’re as strong-willed as I thought you’d be. I respect that, so I’ll be honest with you. If you’re asking if I know who started those rumors, then yes, I do. They started in a well-known Matchmaking House in Bergan. I don’t know who started them or how they spread so quickly. I’ve also sensed a dark presence around that House recently. You might want to let Lord Jekia know he should look into it.”

“You won’t tell him yourself?”

“Why should I? It’s his problem and his son’s.”

I sighed in exasperation. “And here I thought you were being somewhat decent today.”

“You’ll soon learn that I do as I please,” Dominick told me. He ran his finger under my chin, a satisfied smile on his face as he looked into my eyes.

My heart pounded as I stared into his prism-colored irises, a strange mix of fear and desire stirring within me. “You turned out to be quite beautiful in this life too. Let’s hope things go better than the last time.”

I was rooted to the spot as his fingers traced a path from beneath my chin before he exited the room. My heart was hammering so hard in my chest that I had to press my hand against it, trying to soothe its frantic rhythm.

I hadn’t felt this kind of unease since I was a little girl, but I couldn’t pinpoint the source of this familiar feeling. It was as if there was a forgotten incident lurking in the back of my mind, a thought I’d never entertained before.

The sound of the front door opening and voices echoing in the foyer jolted me back to the present.

Oh, crap! Navine was back and he’d found him here!

I rushed out of the parlor, down the short corridor, and halted near the foyer’s archway. Navine and Dominick were by the main door, neither of them looking particularly thrilled to be in the other’s company.

“I’ve told you before, I don’t want you here when I’m not around. Why do you keep ignoring my wishes regarding my territory?” Navine’s voice was tight with frustration.

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t be allowed to visit, especially when it’s to make peace with your bride. We’re all the same kind; we should be able to freely interact with each other or the courtesans we choose,” Dominick retorted.

He didn’t seem bothered in the slightest about upsetting Navine or the fact that he’d disregarded his wishes by showing up here.

Navine, however, wasn’t as nonchalant about the situation, even though he was doing a good job of keeping his temper in check. “I’ve warned you to stay away from Raelina. I won’t tolerate you trying to sway her,” he reminded Dominick sternly.

“And I have no plans of doing so. Why would I need to?” Dominick shot back, his stubbornness matching Navine’s. “I’m just biding my time, watching this whole thing crumble. Don’t think I’m oblivious to how you’ve been isolating her here. It won’t be long before she starts resenting you for it.”

Navine’s eyes were ablaze with anger, but he managed to keep his temper under control. “Leave and don’t come back. I’ve had enough of this game you insist on playing!”

“As you wish.” Dominick brushed past Navine, their shoulders bumping slightly, but no more words were exchanged.

I watched as he opened the door and left. It was clear he was trying to provoke Navine, and I felt a pang of guilt for keeping him around long enough for Navine to find him. I’d probably played right into his hands.

I waited a few moments before slowly stepping into the foyer. “I’m sorry, Navine. I should’ve just told him to leave,” I apologized.

Navine sighed heavily, turning to face me. “Don’t blame yourself. He probably wouldn’t have left even if you’d asked him to,” he reassured me. “He didn’t try anything with you, did he?”

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t. He wasn’t here long, and we just talked a bit. He said he wanted to apologize for his behavior when I saw him at Lorelei’s castle.”

“That sounds like a self-serving move, but it doesn’t surprise me. He’ll likely do whatever he can to try and win you over,” Navine scoffed.

I couldn’t disagree with that. It seemed too convenient for Dominick to come here just to apologize, especially since it didn’t feel like much of an apology in the end. His ego had definitely gotten in the way.

But I didn’t want to overthink it. It was more important to reassure Navine and make sure he was comfortable with my stance on all of this. “I’m sorry about all this too. I kept him around a bit longer because I wanted to ask for his help with Luna’s situation,” I explained.

“You don’t need to keep apologizing. None of this is your fault, and it’s understandable that you want to help Luna. But be careful with what he tells you. Dominick might try to mislead you just for the fun of it,” Navine warned me.

“I get that, but I also think he gave me a sliver of truth. He wanted me to inform Lord Jekia that the rumors started in the Matchmaking House in Bergan, but he didn’t know who exactly started them. He mentioned something about a darkness there too,” I shared.

“A darkness? That’s intriguing. Jekia hinted at that possibility too, so it might be worth sharing with him,” Navine conceded. His demeanor seemed a bit subdued as he added, “I hope you understand that I have no intention of keeping you here against your will. I meant it when I said you’re free to go wherever you want.”

Dominick’s words had clearly hit a nerve. Just my luck. But I could handle this. I genuinely cared for Navine and wouldn’t abandon him.

“I believe you, and I trust that you’ll keep your promises to me,” I comforted him. I hugged him and felt a sense of relief as he returned the embrace. “He can try all he wants, but he won’t make me leave you. You’re the one I’m meant to be with.”

Navine kissed the top of my head. “And I’ll always be here for you, no matter what happens.”

These were beautiful promises, and while I knew actions spoke louder than words, I wanted to believe them with all my heart. Even if this marriage began as a sort of escape, I had grown to genuinely care for Navine. I even thought I was falling in love with him.

There was no way I’d ever betray him or let Dominick use me against him.

I held onto this thought as the day passed, even though I confessed I was still a bit rattled by the events. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Dominick had stirred up something deep within me that I didn’t want to remember.

But that didn’t make sense. I remembered most of my life quite clearly, even my early childhood. Apart from that night with my sect, my life had been mostly peaceful.

I tried to push these thoughts to the back of my mind as I finished my bath and slowly climbed out of the tub. My knee felt better after soaking in the warm water, and I wrapped a towel around me as I stood in front of the mirror and let down my hair, which I’d tied up before getting in the tub.

I paused as my hair cascaded over my shoulders, studying my reflection. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel like myself, or that I was comparing myself to the vision of Rosaline. I just felt the need to examine myself a bit more closely.

It wasn’t that I felt less beautiful than Rosaline or any of the other women I’d met so far. I liked to think I’d inherited the best features from my parents. My blue eyes sparkled even in the dim light, and my long golden hair gleamed.

I might not have been as tall as many women I’d met, but I was well proportioned with curves in all the right places. I smiled, remembering the last time I’d seen Lady Lana, just a few months before meeting Navine. She’d been so surprised that I didn’t have men falling at my feet.

“You’ve grown so beautiful and intelligent, Raelina,” she had said. “I’m sure any man would be proud to call you his.”

She was probably right, and at the time, I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I wished her oldest son would do so. But now I was sure it wasn’t meant to be. Rayne was destined for Luna, and I was meant for Navine.

The smile stayed on my face as I left the bathroom. Entering the bedroom I shared with Navine, I noticed he wasn’t there, which didn’t surprise me. He often stayed up late reading, but he would come to bed if I asked.

I dropped the towel in the hamper, then turned to the nightgown I’d laid out on the bed. But seeing the blanket nearby, I decided to use that instead. After all, what harm could it do to mend things even more?

I won’t lie, I was craving more than just sweet words and casual affection. I acknowledged this to myself as I wrapped the blanket around my body and left the room. The more time we spent together, the more I yearned for his physical touch.

I didn’t see this as a negative. Physical intimacy was just as emotionally fulfilling. He wasn’t in the library, so I made my way to the sitting room where he usually retreated with a book.

But as I approached the slightly ajar door, I halted at the sound of Navine’s voice. It seemed like he was having a heartfelt conversation.

“I don’t know if I can go through that again,” he was saying. His voice was heavy with exhaustion.

“Everything will be okay, Navine. I understand your concerns, but Raelina is nothing like Rosaline. I’m sure of that,” Niles replied.

I peeked into the room, initially disappointed that I hadn’t realized Niles was here. But a wave of relief washed over me when I saw that Navine was simply communicating with him through a crystal.

Still, their conversation unsettled me. It seemed like Navine was more troubled by the earlier events than he’d let on. I decided to listen a little longer.

“I know, and I don’t want to compare them. But I can’t convince myself that everything will be okay—not after what happened before. We all know how manipulative Dominick can be, and he won’t hesitate to resort to violence to get what he wants—especially if it’s to spite me,” Navine continued.

“I’ve never understood his animosity toward you. Despite your attempts, you two have never managed to get along,” Niles recalled.

“And I doubt we ever will. I think it’s just a clash of our personalities,” Navine said. He leaned back in his chair. “That being said, I don’t want Raelina to get caught up in all this. Maybe I should consider keeping her with me from now on.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary, Navine. Raelina is a strong woman, and I’m sure she can take care of herself. She’s also devoted to you, and I highly doubt anything Dominick does will change that,” Niles reassured him.

“Maybe you’re right. I might be overthinking this because of my own lingering fears,” Navine conceded. He sat up straighter. “That being said, I should probably go now. I imagine she’s waiting for me to join her for some rest. It’s getting quite late.”

Niles agreed. “All right. Just remember what we discussed and try not to worry so much. I’m sure things will work out as they’re supposed to.”

Navine nodded, ending the communication before glancing toward the door. “I thought I felt your presence.”

I had anticipated that he’d notice me eventually, and I walked over to him. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just wanted to see you,” I admitted.

“It’s okay, my dear. I don’t mind that you heard some of that,” Navine reassured me.

“Are you really that worried about me betraying you? Because Niles is right. Nothing Dominick does will ever make me doubt you,” I assured him.

“I’m not sure if it’s that as much as it is me feeling the sting of old wounds that never fully healed. I just feel like I can’t afford to repeat the same mistakes,” Navine confessed.

“And you won’t,” I assured him, settling onto his lap. I planted a kiss on his cheek before snuggling against him. “I trust you, Navine, and I always will, no matter what happens. I’m grateful that you chose me, and I don’t care if it has anything to do with my soul or not. Being with you is all that matters to me.”

Navine chuckled lightly. “At least I know you’ll always be honest with me about your feelings.”

“Shouldn’t everyone be with the one they love?”

“Good point.”

“That being said,” I continued, sliding my fingers under his partially unbuttoned shirt to touch his chest, “I was hoping we could relax a bit more tonight.”

A warm smile spread across Navine’s face as I slightly opened the front of the blanket. “Well,” he gave me a gentle kiss, “how could I say no to that?”

As he scooped me up in his arms and carried me back to our room, everything else faded into the background. All I could concentrate on was the familiar warmth of our closeness—a sensation I’d grown to cherish since we first met.

Yet, making love with him wasn’t just about the physical connection.

It was a reaffirmation of my conviction that no matter what Dominick did, he could never pull me away from Navine.

Navine was the only one I craved, the only one I desired.

I was ready to move mountains, to cross oceans, to keep this love I’d discovered.