Page 21 of #Resort Love
“And Aster is part of that few?”
“Yes, though she would never admit to it.” The corner of his eyes crinkled in fondness. “Aster and I have known each other since our school days. We met during my weapons training class. We had around twenty faeries in the class and one of them slipped during a drill and landed on the pointy side of his sword,” he laughed softly, shaking his head at the memory. “Someone sent for a professor, but Aster was passing by when it happened. She immediately ran up to him, tearing the bottom of her uniform, and kneeled beside him, wrapping the cloth around the wound while giving out commands to anyone close by. She wasn’t allowed to use her magic since we were still training. We were all so stunned that no one seemed to question the young bright-eyed female barking orders. We all followed her instructions until the professor came to take him away. She left me stunned and I have never been able to forget her since.”
His face softened at the memory, and I smiled, picturing the frosty woman dishing out commands to unsuspecting men. She was a force to be reckoned with, but a force that I wanted to be friends with, reminding me so much of Willow. They even looked similar, though Willow’s hair had a hint of red.
“But if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it until my dying breath,” Samian added, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Chuckling at his boyish request, we turned the corner to a pair of large wooden doors. My mouth gaped open as we walked into the royal library; it was vast and magnificent. It had three floors, two of which had bookcases that rose from floor toceiling with marble columns in front that held up balconies of the second floor. The ceiling was made of multiple skylights that gave the library a soft natural light. Wooden desks filled the middle of the room as people sat, studying or taking notes.
“A fan of libraries, huh?” Samian smirked, noticing the awe that lit my face.
“Who wouldn’t be with a library like this?” I said breathlessly.
“Oh, I could think of a few.” His tone was passive, if not a bit detached. I dared a glance in his direction, noticing how his lips pressed together. “Come, we will be going to the third floor.”
Taking in the breathtaking scene around me, we made our way to the stairs. The bookcases were sectioned out by subjects and had ladders connected to them for easy access to the higher shelves. Walking up the stairs, the second floor was like the first. Tables filled the overhang of the second floor while more bookcases lined the walls. Golden sconces lit up the bookcases and each desk had small delicate lamps for every seat.
Finally reaching the third floor, Samian walked us to a table near the back wall. The tables on this floor weren’t in any order; it was like people regularly moved them around. Bookcases behind our table lined the middle, creating a makeshift hallway that led to secluded rooms in the back. I made a mental note to remind myself to explore more of the third floor during my free time.
When we reached our table, there were already a stack of books waiting for us, along with two plates of food filled with a mix of savory and sweet pastries. There was also a coffee carafe and a teapot with small cups on a cart beside the table. My mouth watered from the delicious smell.
Making a quick move to the cart, I poured the steaming coffee into a cute porcelain cup that had dusty pink rosespainted on the sides. Bringing it to my nose, I inhaled the amazing robust smell. I took a small sip, letting the salted caramel and hazelnut warm me.
Sitting down, I sighed and relaxed in my seat, eyeing the plate of pastries and finding it hard to choose which to taste first. Samian chuckled, helping himself to some tea and a savory pastry filled with ham and cheese. Finding one with jam and cream cheese, I moaned at the burst of tart raspberry sweetness filling my mouth. Samian stifled a laugh, but we ate in a peaceful silence until both plates were almost gone.
Chapter 12
Sybil
After finishing the last of the coffee, Samian stood, grabbing a few books from the top of the closest stack. As he handed them to me, I quickly looked over each one. The books seemed to be beginner guides on understanding magic and the various types of magic found in Nemos, the history of the realms, and creatures that lived in each of the realms.
“Today we will go over any questions you might have and some information about Nemos. It’s important that you have a good understanding of how this realm is ruled. Before we start, do you have any questions?”
“I do, actually,” I said hesitantly. “Since this is a palace and Ambrose mentioned that you work for him, does that mean Ambrose is the king?”
Samian scoffed, his eyes darkening, the act making me feel unsettled. “No, though he may like to act as if he is, Ambrose is not the king. We are ruled by a kind and compassionate queen. Her name is Queen Cassia Aberra, and she hasbeen this realm’s queen since before the realms were split into three. Her brother, Dryden, was the king before her; however, he gave up his throne to stay in Mide. He cared for the humans and wanted to make sure they stayed safe.”
“Wow,” I blinked, stunned. The stories said that faeries were long-lived, but to encounter someone that was alive before the realms became three felt daunting. “Am I going to meet her? Is Dryden still in the middle realm?”
Samian’s face tightened, his lips forming a thin line. “No. To both.” He said quietly. “Queen Cassia is indisposed at the moment, though this is something we can discuss later. As for Dryden, no one seems to know where he is or if he is still alive. Now, like you learned last night, this is the Marble Palace,” he said, quickly changing the subject when I opened my mouth to ask another question. Confused, I sat back, my brows knitting together. However, I stayed silent, letting him continue.
“We are currently in the city of Volmire, which is made up of a mix of nobility and commoners who oversee the restaurants and stores around the city. Outside of Volmire, there are smaller villages where the rest of the general population live. Each of the villages are governed by a lord. Currently, the lords and ladies closest to Ambrose all reside in the palace.” Samian grimaced as he said the last sentence, his lips dipping with distaste. “Any questions so far?”
“If Ambrose isn’t the king, why is he able to choose which families are allowed to reside in the palace? Shouldn’t that be up to the queen?”
“Yes, it should,” was all Samian said. Leaning back into his chair, his brows furrowed like he was testing the words he really wanted to say. Finally, his gaze flicked to mine. “Sybil, I don’t know how to word this delicately, so I’ll just say it. Be careful around Ambrose. He may seem kind and caring on thesurface, but that’s where it ends. Underneath, he is not someone you should consider as a friend and he is not someone that you should ever rely onorenter a bargain with.”
Frowning, I thought back to yesterday after losing control of my magic. My stomach twisted as Liam’s wide, terror-filled eyes flashed across my memory. Ambrose had offered me a bargain then; one he said would protect those around me from being injured if I ever lost control again. I had forgotten about it in the chaos, but something that felt a lot like unease crawled up my spine, warning me to listen and pay attention to what Samian was trying to say.
“Why should I be careful about making a bargain with him?” I asked, hoping he would tell me more about Ambrose.
“Bargains are not something you can easily get out of. Once you are in a bargain, it is bound by death. Meaning, if you don’t keep up your end of the bargain, the magic of it will take your life instead. The only way to get out of one is if one of you dies or whoever offered the bargain releases you from it. That’s why it's essential that you listen to me when I say this. Never, and I meannever, enter a bargain with anyone, especially Ambrose.”
My blood chilled at the warning in Samian’s tone. His eyes were dark and severe while he waited for me to respond. “I’ll try not to,” I laughed, hoping to break the heavy tension in the air.
“No, there is no try in this, Sybil. I mean it. I need you to tell me you understand that.”
“I understand,” I stammered, blinking at the severity of his tone. The weight of his stare felt like it was pressing down on me, and I fought against the shiver that threatened to rise.
