Chapter 79 Nostradamus
"You will never see her again" he spoke in finality making us all snap our heads in his direction. I heard Orchid inhale sharply, her pulse quickening.
"What do you mean!?" She asked frantically.
"I know not more than you do. Than any of you do" he looked all of us in the eye one by own and suddenly he went stiff, staring directly at Astrid. "You" he starts making Astrid gaze up at him and all of us turn our attention to both of them. "You chase what is not your own, you anger the fates with your foolishness and if you do not retreat from the path you seek to follow you will be the first to fall by the darkness"
I studied Astrid's face carefully to see her pale a little but no words came from her lips. She gripped her wine glass tightly and took a large swing before placing it down, her gaze still casted low. No one uttered a word as Nostradamus got up and started walking away. Immediately I was on my feet following hastily after him.
"Wait" my voice brought him to a halt. "Why did you say those things, to scare us?" I accused, narrowing my gaze at him. Truthfully I wanted to deduce some kind of distrust towards him so what he said wouldn't bother me as much as I know it did. A part of me felt his words had weight and they were true but I didn't want to believe it, I wanted to believe there was hope that he was just drunk and saying anything to torment us.
"I have no intention my princess. I simply said what I saw" he answered not meeting my eye.
"What did you mean when you said the light will fight the darkness on the ancient soils of ruins?" I quoted the line that had struck me the most and somehow it left this feeling in my chest that I just couldn't shake till I got further clarification.
"I do not control my visions. They come at any time but I can study and do my part to inform you when any such sightings arise" he finally looked at me and I couldn't see a trade of deceit in his eyes.
"What-" before I could get my sentence out j was cut off by the small jingle of a bell coming from the dining hall and I knew what it meant: it was time for the feast. I watched as Faye and Penelope began approaching me from the open grand doors no doubt coming to usher me to the table. I turned back to see Nostradamus gone. I swept my gaze all over the ball but he was nowhere to be found.
"Milady it's time come with us" I heard Penelope and I turned around, startled.
"I'll be right there just give me a m-"
"You can't go off Audrey it'll look bad to the other nobles" Faye stroked my arm slowly sensing my unrest. I tried to smile at her but I couldn't. I needed answers if I was to be able to even get through the rest of the day.
"Don't bother yourselves. I will take my mate to the feast" we all directed our gazes to the deep timber. I knew exactly who it was from the shiver that flew down my spine. I don't know how but Darius' voice seemed a lot deeper and somehow everything he did sent an array of butterflies in my stomach. He had a smile on his face as he gazed st me lovingly and I swear I almost melted into a puddle.
Faye looked me over one more time before they both bowed and walked away. Darius walked up to me, putting forth his arm for me to take hold of. Without hesitation I looped my hand through his and we began our little walk to the dinner hall. While we walked I couldn't help but let my mind wander to Nostradamus' words. The light and darkness did they represent an event? Or people? Or an eclipse of some sort maybe on the kingdom? I let my mind go crazy with different insinuations and possibilities as we walked, I could tell Darius was staring at me, trying to figure me out and probably see what exactly was going on in my mind. I was never one to stay quiet well unless I was uncomfortable or had a lot of things swarming my mind like now. Even when I was flustered and it would be preferred I be quiet I always found a way to say something stupid but never did I really stay this silent so I understood why Darius was giving me that look.
We reached the dining hall and everyone was seated: allies, the elders, nobles and their mates. I caught the Oracle's eyes before I squeezed into the space before my chair that Darius had pulled out for me. I smiled sweetly at him, thanking him softly as I say down. He pressed my shoulder comfortingly, placing a little kiss to my cheek making everyone at the table turn their piercing eyes to me suddenly making me nervous probably not used to the display of affection in the open. It made my cheeks burn and I snatched my gaze down to my lap and the food piled on my plate.
Okay Audrey just breathe, it's easy, you do it all the time. I inhaled a deep silent breath trying to calm my suddenly racing heart as I rubbed my clammy hands on the napkin that lay in my lap. I felt tingles spread along the exposed skin of my thigh making goosebumps rise against my skin. I turned my attention to Darius to see him already digging into his food. He sent me a subtle smile and I understood his signal. Breathe baby. He began absentmindedly rubbing circles along my skin effectively calming me down. He had taken his rightful place at the head of the table with me at his right hand and Ryker at his left. Although Ryker didn't have his mate he was off age to celebrate the Wolf Moon.