Page 24 of #Resort Love
“Thank you,” I said softly, and meant it.
Aster just rolled her eyes, and I knew she was fighting the urge to elbow me in the gut. Reaching for the end of her rich brown hair, I gave it a slight tug. “Goodbye, Aster,” I said, moving the shelf and leaving the room, her quiet tsk following me out the door.
Before leaving the medical ward, I sent a note to Sybil, letting her know that the rest of today’s lesson was canceled and for her to start reading the books I had given her earlier. I made my way back to the library, finding the section for biology, pulling any book I could find in hopes of uncovering any answers about the pulsing cells or to her blood changing. After gathering a good selection of books, I let my magic free, transferring myself to my quarters and making my way to the hidden room, grabbing John’s journal along the way. I needed to do this research away from the eyes of Ambrose’s spies. The last thing I needed was for Ambrose to getsuspicious.
Three hours passed,and I still hadn’t found a single thing about Sybil’s abnormalities. Looking through John’s journal didn’t provide much help either. His thoughts were scattered and erratic, like a man slowly losing his grip on reality. I couldn’t make sense of most of what was written. However, there was one section that caught my attention. John and The Harbingers had noticed the abnormal pulsing cells in his blood. According to their research, it was further proof of John’s lineage coming from a demon, but their explanations were too short-sighted, limited to only believing in angels and demons. They had no idea of the hidden creatures that roamed Mide and beyond.
However, this did tell me that it wasn’t an anomaly that started with Sybil, nor did it seem like some odd mutation. This was proof that Sybil’s lineage came not only from the Seelie Court. There was something else hidden in her bloodline, something that I needed to find before Ambrose learned of this.
Leaning back in my chair, I closed my tired, blood-shot eyes, letting them rest. I still hadn’t decided whether I should tell Sybil about the results of her bloodwork. She was still too unaware of the danger Ambrose posed to her, still too naive of his character.
Exhaling, I opened my eyes, scanning through her results. We were able to confirm during her lesson that her magic is the element of light. The glow that surrounded her was bright and warm when she settled into herself, and the power that radiated from her was strong. She could be powerful if trained well. She could be the weapon the rebels had been searching for if she would stop letting the fear of her magic consume her.
Setting the results aside, I flipped to the next page in anancient journal I had stumbled on. Oddly enough, though the tome was in the biology section, it turned out to be a journaled medical log for those of the royal bloodline.
Scanning the page, my heart stopped before thumping hard against my chest. I straightened in my chair, feeling blindsided by what the page showed. A lump rose in my throat and I quickly read the rest of the long-forgotten passage of a high fae named Lux. Slamming the book shut, I called my magic to me, preparing to transfer myself. I stood, letting the world tilt around me until I stepped in front of a quiet cell.
The dungeon was dark, wet, and cold. The musty smell of fear and piss filled the air. However, the cell before me was clean and warm. There was a small window close to the ceiling, allowing the room a small amount of light, while lamps illuminated the room decorated in velvet furniture. Silk curtains hung along the stone walls, a small warm bed with fur pelts lay on top, and plush rugs covered the floor, giving the cell a surprisingly cozy feel to it, considering the circumstances.
I grabbed the bars, the icy cold biting at my hands. My heart thrashed in my chest. Formality long forgotten by a burning need for answers, my eyes narrowed on the female inside. “She’s your descendant,” I breathed, a sickening shock rolling through me.
Releasing a sharp breath, Queen Cassia closed her book with a thud before slowly making her way to the iron bars that had kept her imprisoned for over fifty years.
Chapter 14
Sybil
The next morning dawned brightly. Samian’s persistent knocking on my door grew louder as I groaned, not wanting to move from the warmth of my bed.
“For fuck’s sake, enough already,” I yelled, crawling out of bed. I made my way to the bathroom to get ready.
Today felt better. After Samian bailed on me yesterday, I spent the rest of the day exploring the palace. I even brought a notepad with me so I could draw a makeshift map for myself. It ended up coming in handy more than once, especially when Hale, the pale blond servant, conveniently disappeared and I had to make my way back to the library after my meeting with Ambrose. A lingering annoyance crawled down my back at the memory.
The meeting went as well as it could have after Samian’s warnings. The air felt awkward and uncomfortable while sitting with Ambrose. My body felt tense as I sat there answering all his questions. I tried my best to hide my unease, but Ambrose still somehow noticed the tension and decidedthat after his meetings today, he would take me out to show me the city.
Anxiety twisted through me all night, making my mind spin. I ran through our meeting over and over, picking at his words or the way his body moved to figure out the real reason he was being so generous. I barely got any sleep because of it. My mind created so many different stories and outcomes of our meeting today that I felt jittery. Especially when I tried to study the books Samian gave me. It was a very long and restless night of rereading passages until my eyes felt like they were bleeding.
Tugging on a white buttoned shirt and a navy tunic with silver threading, I pulled my shoes on and grabbed my books on the way out of my room. When I opened the door, a troubled Samian was leaning against the marbled wall opposite of my door. His elegant face seemed dulled. He looked tired. His eyes were drawn and hollow, his face paler than usual, and the warmth he had greeted me with yesterday was missing. Frowning, I stepped closer, putting my hand against his forehead to check if he had a fever.
He swatted my hand, his brows knitting and forming a wrinkle in the middle. “What are you doing?” he asked, taking a step away.
I blinked, fighting the cringe I felt welling inside. It was a habit learned from my mother that followed me into adulthood, and to do it to Samian felt oddly natural, though I doubted he felt that way. “I’m checking to see if you’re sick,” I shrugged, pretending that it wasn’t weird how comfortable I felt in his presence after only knowing him for one day. “You don’t look well, like something is bothering you.”
“Nothing is bothering me,” he sighed, though his eyes darkened for a moment before returning to normal. “And I’m notsick, so you don’t have to do that. Faeries aren’t prone to sickness like humans are.”
I raised a brow and gave him a knowing look but nodded, not wanting to pry. Samian returned my look before walking away. I rolled my eyes, shooting glares into his back but followed him, bristling at the uncomfortable silence between us. Something must have happened yesterday to make him act so detached.
As if he could feel the weight of my gaze, Samian stopped short, making me gasp when I almost ran into his back. Hesitating for a moment, Samian clenched and unclenched his hands before turning to me. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it, glancing at the wall beside us. I could feel him wrestling with the words he wanted to say, and my heart squeezed at seeing him look so uneasy.
I watched him closely, my nerves eating away at me as I noticed the muscle in his jaw feather over and over.
“I apologize,” he said a moment later, his face tight with apprehension. “I received some troubling news last night, so my mood for today is not the best. However, I will try not to let that get in the way of our day.”
“Did something bad happen?” I asked, wondering if it had anything to do with my meeting with Ambrose and the plans we spoke about yesterday.
Pausing, Samian held out his elbow, waiting for me to take it so we could walk together. Sliding my arm into his, he gave me a warm smile, and the tightness in my chest eased, filling with warmth, though it didn’t last long.
He’s with Aster, I reminded myself, feeling guilty from how it felt so easy to be around him, to find comfort in his touch.
