Chapter 8

I didn’t chase after Navine when he stormed off. It wasn’t fear that held me back, but rather a desire to avoid any further conflict. So, I busied myself with cleaning the kitchen and then decided to wander the palace, hoping the change of scenery would help clear my head.

I couldn’t say I was angry with Navine, even though I felt his reaction to my question was a bit harsh. I was only seeking clarity. But I couldn’t ignore what I’d overheard the previous day.

Lord Niles didn’t seem too fond of Lord Dominick either, even if he was better at hiding his disdain than Navine. This only solidified my suspicion that something significant had happened in the past—something that had caused a deep divide between them.

My train of thought was derailed by the loud howling of wind as I reached the top of the stairs. It sounded like a window was open in one of the rooms to my right. I was surprised that Navine would overlook something like that.

I decided to investigate, thinking he might have been too engrossed in his work to notice or deal with it.

I cautiously opened the first door, peering into the room. It was one of the three spare bedrooms that Navine had shown me earlier. He had mentioned that these rooms were kept ready for any unexpected guests, but they were seldom used.

The room was spacious and tastefully decorated, much like ours, but the sheets draped over the furniture indicated its lack of use. A window on the far side of the room was wide open, its dark curtains billowing in the gusty wind.

The wind was also disturbing the sheets, and one on a nearby dresser had been partially blown off, revealing the dark oak finish in the dim light.

Leaving the door ajar, I quickly crossed the room to close the window, securing the lock in place. The lock felt loose, and I hoped it would hold up against the storm. The room was chilly from the wind, causing me to shiver as I pushed the lock as firmly as I could.

Once I was confident that I’d done my best to secure it, I reached for the sheet on the nearby dresser to cover it again. But I paused when I noticed the items that had been hidden under the sheet. Intrigued, I pushed the cloth aside to get a better look.

The dresser was smaller than the ones in my room and seemed to be made of solid dark wood. There were only a few items on top of it: a couple of small porcelain trinket boxes that looked like they might have been used to store jewelry.

One of the boxes had an intricate carving on its lid, an ornate letter R intertwined with the images of a sun and moon. I gently picked up the box, examining it closely and wondering who it might have belonged to. Could it have been a family heirloom of Navine’s? Perhaps it belonged to his mother or sister?

But something about it felt strangely familiar. I dismissed the feeling, attributing it to the fact that my name also started with an R. I was probably just being hopeful, wanting to feel a deeper connection to Navine.

~You are the sun, and I am the moon. Together, we will always be one.~

I placed the box back on the dresser as those words echoed in my mind. What was that? Was I just imagining things because I was getting carried away with my romantic notions?

Despite my attempts to convince myself that it was all in my head, the sense of familiarity persisted. It felt like I was trying to remember something I’d forgotten a long time ago.

“Raelina?”

I jumped at the sound of Navine’s voice, so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed him standing in the doorway. I spun around, clutching my chest as I tried to catch my breath.

“You startled me!”

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to,” Navine replied.

He walked over to me and asked, “What are you doing? You’ve been standing here for quite some time, looking like you were lost in thought.”

“Oh,” I glanced at the window. “I was passing by and noticed that this window was open, so I came in to close it and fix the sheet that had been blown off.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve been having some trouble with that window. The latch is loose, and I keep forgetting to fix it,” Navine admitted.

He placed his hand over the latch and melted it in place. “This should hold for now. I’ll take care of it properly tomorrow, once the storm has passed.”

“I didn’t know you had the ability to melt metal like that,” I said, a hint of awe in my voice.

“All Dragons can. We naturally produce and control fire within us,” Navine clarified.

I realized there was so much I didn’t know about him. Glancing at the dresser nearby, my curiosity was piqued. “Did this room belong to a family member of yours?” I asked, taking a chance.

Navine’s gaze followed mine, his face becoming unreadable as he took in the sight of the dresser and the items atop it. “Yes, but they’ve been gone for a long time. I haven’t really touched anything in here since,” he replied.

I sensed he was reluctant to delve deeper into the topic, but I couldn’t help but probe a little further. “I noticed the symbol on the trinket box. The letter R caught my eye. Did they have a name similar to mine?” I asked.

“They’ve been gone for centuries. There’s no need to discuss it further.”

“But why not? Is it wrong to—”

My words were cut off as a flash of lightning lit up the room. The thunder that followed was so loud, I could have sworn it rattled the walls. I couldn’t help but jump, my hands flying to my mouth as I looked down, shaking.

Navine closed the distance between us, pulling me into a comforting embrace. “You’re really scared of storms, aren’t you?”

“I’ve always been,” I admitted.

My trembling eased slightly as I clung to him, though I still let out a small yelp when another thunderclap sounded.

“Let’s go to the library. It’ll be more comfortable there,” Navine suggested.

I agreed, eager to leave the room. Not just because of the storm, but also due to the eerie feeling that had settled over the room. It felt colder, more ominous. I didn’t know why, and I didn’t want to stick around to find out.

The library was much more inviting. By the time we arrived, the storm was in full swing. Rain lashed against the windows, the wind howled, and lightning illuminated the room before thunder shook it.

Navine led us to a cozy nook on the far side of the room. He sat down, pulling me into his lap as I curled up against him. His ivory wings wrapped around us, providing a sense of security.

But I couldn’t shake my thoughts. Navine seemed to have deliberately avoided discussing the previous occupant of the room. Was it just me, or did his eyes look a bit sad when he answered my questions?

“I was surprised to find you in there. I was looking for you and didn’t expect you to be in one of those rooms,” he said, breaking the silence.

“You were looking for me?” I echoed, trying to distract myself from the nagging curiosity.

“Yes,” Navine confirmed. “I felt guilty about earlier and wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have been so harsh just because I was upset and taken by surprise.”

This was unexpected. He didn’t seem like the type to apologize. But I’d take it and use it to my advantage.

“I’m not mad at you. I just don’t understand why you reacted the way you did. Is your relationship with Lord Dominick really so bad that you can’t even talk about him to me?” I asked.

Navine sighed deeply. “I won’t deny that I’ve had my struggles with the other Dragons. I was born with great power and pride, the eldest son of the most powerful Dragon clan. It was always my duty to lead, and I took it seriously. But no matter what I did or said, there were always those who challenged me. Dominick was one of them.”

“So, it’s a pride thing,” I surmised.

“That’s only part of it, and I’d rather not discuss the rest.”

“Is it really that bad?”

There was clearly more to this, something that deeply troubled him. Maybe his pride prevented him from discussing it, or perhaps it was too painful. I could relate to the latter.

Even now, nestled in his arms, I could vividly recall the gentle embrace of my late father.

Navine’s grip on me tightened. “Raelina, I’m aware of the tragedy that befell your family and your sect. It was a horrific event that should never have occurred, and it’s a failure on many parts, mine included. We were all supposed to be monitoring that lycan clan, so it’s inexcusable that they were able to wreak such havoc,” he admitted.

“I know,” I replied. “But I’ve stopped blaming people. It won’t undo what happened or bring anyone back. I’ve found it’s healthier for me to move forward and focus on the good memories, even if they sometimes haunt my dreams.”

I nestled closer to him, my eyes closed. His heartbeat was a comforting rhythm against the backdrop of the thunderstorm.

“Those memories, they never really leave us, do they?” Navine mused.

I looked at him, studying his thoughtful expression as lightning illuminated the room. His gaze was distant, focused on the window. It was as if he was lost in his own memories.

“What about your family, Navine?” I ventured to ask.

“Most of them are no longer with us. They’ve passed away over the centuries I’ve been alive. The last one close to me was my brother, Temple. He was killed in the Eastern Lands a long time ago, but his son, who is now the rightful ruler of those lands, survives him,” Navine shared.

I was taken aback. “You’re related to the ruler of the Eastern Lands?”

“Yes, although we’re not particularly close. We exchange letters occasionally and have met a few times, but it’s more of an alliance than anything else.”

“You don’t want a closer relationship with him?”

Navine shrugged. “I’m indifferent, really. We respect each other. I see a lot of Temple in him, which I appreciate. My brother was strong-willed and had a strong sense of justice. I’m glad his son inherited those traits.”

“It sounds like you and Temple were close,” I observed.

“You’re not wrong.” Navine leaned back against the wall, adjusting his hold on me so I could sit up a bit. His wings remained wrapped around us. “Temple and I were similar in many ways. He was the only sibling I truly got along with. We had three other siblings, but they were more self-centered, which I couldn’t stand. Our parents didn’t raise them to be that way, and I don’t think they grieved much when only Temple and I were left.”

“That’s harsh.”

“I can’t deny it. It’s just how things were. My father was right when he said that with great power comes great responsibility. Alphas are supposed to protect, not exploit.”

I started to connect the dots. “Is that why you have a problem with Lord Dominick? You think he uses people for his own benefit?”

“I don’t think it. I know it. I’ve seen him do it countless times over the centuries. He’d love to take my place, but I won’t let that happen. Neither will the other Dragons. Niles is more powerful than he is and always will be. Even if something happened to me, Niles and Jekia would make sure Dominick never gains full power,” Navine assured me.

“Sounds serious,” I murmured.

“Don’t worry about him, or about my past.” Navine’s hand gently caressed my cheek. “I won’t let Dominick cause you any trouble. You’re with me now. You’re safe.”

I had a strange feeling that there was more to his words, like Navine knew something about Dominick that was connected to my past. But that didn’t make sense. I’d never had any dealings with these Dragons. Why would one of them want to harm me?

“I trust you, but I have to ask, what did Lord Dominick want in that letter?” I asked.

Navine sighed, a weary sound. “I guess there’s no point in hiding it just because it upset me. He was asking if the rumors about me taking a bride were true, and if so, he wanted to meet you.”

“But I thought no one else knew about us. Could Lord Niles have told him?” I wondered.

“Dominick has a knack for uncovering secrets, no matter how hard we try to hide them,” Navine confessed. “Sometimes, I wonder if he’s got spies lurking around my mountain, though I’ve never caught one.”

The situation was escalating quickly. I hadn’t expected this level of hostility; I thought some might not accept me, but it seemed this particular Dragon might have plans to use me for his own benefit—or worse, against Navine.

“I guess there’s no way around dealing with him. I’ll just have to stay alert when he’s around and not let him manipulate me,” I declared, more to reassure myself than Navine.

“You don’t need to worry so much. I won’t let him have any alone time with you. The same goes for his usual crowd,” Navine assured me.

The storm was subsiding, the thunder and lightning receding into the distance while rain still pattered against the windows. I glanced out, relieved to see the darkness lifting. I hoped storms like this weren’t a regular occurrence.

“At least the storm’s over. And I’m glad you’re not upset with me for asking too many questions,” I said.

“I was never upset with you. That’s why I apologized earlier. I’m the one at fault, and you have every right to ask whatever you want,” Navine reminded me.

Ask whatever I wanted. There was one thing I wanted to know. I wanted to understand this new world I was in, and what better way than to meet the others in person?

I turned to Navine, making sure my request was clear and direct.

“If that’s the case, why not let them meet me? Could we maybe host a gathering for them to do so?”

Navine didn’t respond immediately, taking a moment to consider my proposal.

“I suppose that would be better, especially since Niles knows about you and Dominick’s heard,” he finally conceded. “But if we do this, I want you to stay close to me and be on your guard. Not everyone will be on your side, even if most are friendly.”

“Of course,” I agreed readily.

I planted a grateful kiss on his cheek.

I confess I didn’t take his warning too seriously at the time. I was confident I could handle myself around these Dragons and even prove that I was worthy of being Navine’s wife.

All I needed was this opportunity.