Page 122 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Like?” I asked, not moving from my spot by the fire.

“Like who you are.”

“I thought you knew I was coming.” A faint rustle of wings from far above me caught my attention.

“Knowing you were coming and knowing who you are, are two very different things.” I looked back down, and again he gestured to the seats around him.

Slowly, I moved, choosing the chair directly opposite him—a hard, red leather, wingback with no give whatsoever. I was mad at myself—and so was my aching body—for not being smarterand choosing one of the comfier options, as he sank back into his and crossed one leg over the other. It was then I noticed the thick carpet slippers he wore on his feet and looked down at my mud-covered shoes, and then at the scuffs of mud I had trailed in here without thinking.

“There’s nothing to worry about,Margotenjoys cleaning,” he said, as if sensing my train of thought, lined faced crinkling with the soft smile he offered me.

I had nothing to say, so I just nodded, intending on keeping my feet as still as possible in order to give Margot less to clean. With another pull of the pipe, blooms of smoke stretched between us. It wasn’t an unpleasant smell, and the wisps seemed to have a mind of their own, dancing a pattern that twisted and rolled.

“So, I’ll ask again,” he started, not unkindly. “Who are you, Elodie?”

I shouldn’t be surprised he knew my name, considering Bastian had demanded for me to come here, but it unnerved me all the same.

Who was I? I wasn’t sure even I had the answer to that question anymore.

More to the point, who was he?

“I don’t know.” My voice was quiet as I put that truth out between us. “Not anymore at least.”

“But you used to know?”

I frowned in thought. “I don’t know,” I repeated lamely. “Maybe I never did.”

“It would seem that if you don’t know and I don’t know, it can be a discovery we make together.”

“Is that what I’m here for? So you can feed Bastian information on who I am, so he can continue to keep everything from me?” I accused.

“Not at all. You’re here for whatever I decide you’re here for. And I decide that at the beginning is where we shall start.” Strangely, I believed him.

“I.” He placed a hand on his heart before continuing. “Am Aumanus Aquila Clement Ardenas, but for the sake of ease, you may call me Arden.”

Good job, too, because that’s a mouthful.

“And you are Elodie.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Tell me about life before the castle.”

“Before I was kidnapped, you mean.”

“Indeed.” A light laugh fell from his lips.

“What’s there to tell? I’m an orphan who grew up with her nan. I lived—live—in a cute little cottage with my dog. My best friend has a different hobby each week that she tries to drag me into, and Nanna's crazy friend turns up every now and then. And I make jewellery which I sell online.”

“Sounds perfectly average.” Another bloom of smoke billowed between us and began twisting into shapes before it dissipated.

“It is. A perfectly normal, human, life.”

Why did I feel the need to specify human?

“From what I’ve heard, you’re anything but average. Have you had your power levels tested yet, or has Bastian been stubbornly keeping you in the dark of even that?”

“If he has, then I know nothing about it.”

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