Chapter 3 Three
ARIA
I’d seen a lot of insane things in my life. One of them happened to be a dog I was hundred percent sure was secretly a skin walker.
But this? How do you explain seeing a man appear from nowhere? With wings, no less! The blinding light finally disappeared when he dropped to the ground.
“I couldn’t believe my ears when the news got to me,” His voice sang through the air. “But it’s really you.”
Draven was no doubt attractive, arguably more attractive than any other person I’d seen before. But this man, he was bewitching.
His appearance was a complete contrast from Rowan. Pristine white hair fell all the way to his back and kind green eyes stared back at me.
His looks alone drew me to him, forcing me to stare even if I knew I didn’t want to. Ronan’s growl broke me out of my daze.
“Oh, for fuck sake.”
The man ignored the Lycan King, stopping just a few inches away from me. Then slowly, he got down on one knee.
“Forgive me for taking so long to arrive, Radiant One.”
Radiant one? What did that mean? Draven, who’d been quietly watching the exchange moved closer to the man.
“Why are you here?” He asked coldly. “This wasn’t part of the agreement.”
The man’s gaze flickered to Draven. “So was keeping her all to yourself. What happened to bringing her to the Court of Radiance so I can heal her of—”
“Bullshit!” Ronan growled. “You just want an excuse to get her into that cage of yours.”
“As always, your vocabulary could use some restructuring.” He said flatly.
His eyes softened when he finally turned back to me again. “You have no idea how amazed I am that you’re finally here.”
“No,” I frowned, the frustration from earlier slowly bubbling back. “You’re making zero sense whatsoever. I’m so confused by everything you’re all saying, and no one seems to want to explain anything to me.”
He nodded in understanding, gently taking one of my hands in his. “Forgive me, Radiant One. I am Kael Solis of the House Solis, the Fae King of Light.”
Then slowly, he brought his lips to the back of my hand. A warning growl left Ronan but the Fae King ignored him.
“To answer your question,” he went on, “The last thing you remember is an accident, correct?”
“Yes…” I slowly nodded.
“You are the reincarnation of the last Oracle Queen. She was the one woman who once bound the Four Kings in peace. And some centuries ago, she vanished.”
I frowned, trying to place all what he was saying. “So, by four kings, you mean—”
“Yes,” Kael nodded. “Four kings. These two and I included.”
“Well, where’s the fourth?” I was curious now.
Kael flashed a blinding smile. “That’s not important now. What matters is that you remember your past life.”
I pulled my hand from his, sending him a skeptical look. My past life. He’d mentioned me being a reincarnation of some Oracle Queen but that didn’t make the slightest bit of sense.
Sudden flashes hit my head like a spear. The images felt fractured, some parts cut out and the rest not quite making sense. Flashes of fire run through my mind. Then there’s blood, and the shrill scream of a woman…mine?
“Is it coming to you?”
Kael had an expectant look on his face as he continues to watch. I stepped back, a searing pain racking through my head.
Draven and Ronan stepped in immediately, their faces etched with concern. Kael rose, eyes watching me with a careful calm.
“You’re the only one that can undo the Curse of Division, Aria.”
I sent him a withering glare. “And what’s that?”
“The four realms—Shadow, Light, Wild, and Darkness—are on the verge of collapsing. And the curse of division bounds them to do so. Unless, the Bride of Balance is somehow able to unite the four kings.”
“Oh, really?” I let out a dry laugh. “And I’m supposed to be this bride.”
His voice remained soft. “Precisely, Aria.”
Another dry laugh leaves my mouth just before I shook my head. “You really expect me to believe this? Look. I understand, you’re looking for some reincarnation of ‘prophecy’. But that is not me.”
“Okay,” he continued. “Then explain how you’re still alive.”
I was quiet.
He had a point. I shouldn’t even be breathing. And yet, there I was. Very much alive. Kael’s eyes continued to watch me carefully.
Slowly, he reached out a finger to my temple. “There’s a block in your memories. It’s preventing you from coming to terms with your past. This will restore your memory.”
As soon as his finger touched me, a jolt ran through my head down to my very heart. I winced, trying to pull back. But his hand instinctively moves to my waist, holding me from moving.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” Ronan growled, his eyes wide with anger.
Kael simply held out a hand to him, green eyes searching mine while his lips whispered sweet nothings.
His hand on my waist continued to burn with a certain warmth that left me at a loss for words. There was something painfully intimate about the feeling. Something familiar. The same light that he appeared in seemed to envelope us once again.
When he finally let go of my waist, I pushed back with a gasp. Draven’s glare was cold enough to freeze the whole room.
“What did you do?” He demanded.
Kael turned to him. “Helped her get her memories back. Something both of you seem to be so against.”
Ronan stiffened a little, but his glare didn’t waver even once. Kael took that as his chance and continued to push.
“Why’s that?” His smirk deepened. “You seem to be so against her remembering everything. Afraid of what’ll happen when she finds out?”
Ronan grabbed a fistful of the Fae king’s shirt. “You shut your fucking mouth right now. Keep playing prince charming when we both know who you are, you narcissistic shit.”
I groaned, another wave of pain hitting my head. Why was it hurting so much? The light that enveloped Kael slowly faded.
He turned to me, eyes soft and warm again. “Now if you—”
A deep mocking laugh cut through the air. It was barely noticeable but I didn’t miss the small bristle in Kael’s shoulder, and the way his eyes seemed to narrow.
“What a pretty lie you’ve woven, Fae.”
I stepped back, looking around furtively. “Who’s that?”
For the first time since he got here, Ronan’s voice was low. “It’s the fourth king. He’s here.”