Chapter 21: CURIOUS MIND

I woke up with a slight headache as I tried to figure out where I was. I looked around the unrecognised room, trying to remember how I ended up here.

I put myself in a sitting position, looking around the room. I remembered getting home with Seth last night, and we had a lot to drink. Then realisation hit me.

“Oh my God, I slept with Seth.” I gasped in shock. How could I let such a thing happen? I grabbed a handful of my hair as I tugged at it, hoping that this was just a dream, or maybe my imagination.

But immediately, I felt the pain from tugging on my hair. I decided to pinch myself instead, but I still felt the pain, and I wasn't waking up from my supposed slumber.

I got off the bed only to discover I was butt naked, which also confirmed everything. 

"No, no, no, what have I done? How on earth did I end up in bed with my best friend's husband? Where are my clothes? I really need to get out of here. What if Alda was on her way home?

What am I supposed to say to her? 

"Anna, get it together and think. I need to find my clothes; let's get out of here.” I said to myself as I grabbed the bed cover. I was about to cover myself with it when Seth entered the room.

“What the fuck!. Don't you know how to knock!?” I asked with my voice rumbling out of anger.

“Relax, why are you so worked up when we have already seen each other naked?” He said it with a smirk on his face.

We have already seen each other naked. How could he say such a thing so casually?

“You are unbelievable. Are you fucking kidding me right now? How could you have sex with me, your wife's best friend?”

“Why are you pushing the blame on me when you practically begged me to fuck you really hard, or have you forgotten the part where you kissed me first?”

His words brought back memories of me begging him to fuck me really hard. What have I gotten myself into? 

“I was drunk; you could have stopped this from happening.”

"Oh, spare me that act, because I do know we both would have seen the same faith even if we were sober. You can't deny the fact that we both felt the spark between us.” He said this as he approached me while I backed away from him.

I hit the wall and then realised that there was no place for me to run. Seth leant close to him as he brushed his hand against my cheeks. That simple act sent a shiver down my body.

Why is my body responding to his touch? I need to get out of here, or I will end up back on that bed with him.

“Get your hands away from me. What happened between us is a mistake and will stay between us; don't even think about saying a thing to Alda, or else.”

“Or else what? What are you going to do? You need to pick a side—are you against Alda or are you with her? Stop confusing yourself and make a choice.”

“I will pick Alda over you a million times; you are just a jerk; that is what you are. I don't know what I was thinking when I followed you to this house yesterday.”

“Suit yourself, but if you get stuck like you did last night, I will gladly help you out. You have my number; you can just call me and I will be there." He said this as he ran his hand up my arm.

“Fuck you,” I said to his face, and I pushed him off me as I stormed downstairs to gather my clothes. Once dressed, I took my bag and left.

I couldn't help getting bothered by what happened last night between me and Seth. And to think that it was unprotected sex. I must be stupid; why on earth did I let this happen? How am I going to face Alda?

Siofra's POV

It's been a week since I came to stay with my grandmother, and my mum wasn't even bothered to check if I really came to my grandma's house or if I really left Álfheimr for good.

How could she be so cruel? I have been here helping my grandma on her farm while reflecting on how my life turned out to be. How long am I going to stick with my grandma?

Alma also hasn't even bothered to check on me, even though she knows I'm here with Grandma. Maybe she would come; she is just busy with royal duties.

My mum is going to be keeping her extremely busy, given that the royal selection is tomorrow. All the elf queens who have unbonded with their stones of life will present their stones tomorrow in order to find a better opponent to carry on from where they left off.

I have been pondering inside my head whether to attend or not. Grandma's story is still giving me sleepless nights. I really don't want to spoil things for Alma.

She deserves to be the next leader of Álfheimr. It doesn't matter about the history of the family. I'm going to believe in her.

“Why are you so lost in your thoughts?" Grandma whispered in my ears, and that snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Grandma, what are you doing out here? I thought we agreed to have you rest today. You need your strength back if you want to keep running your farm.” 

Grandma has been sick for quite some time. She is unbonding with her stone, which is making her weaker with every passing day.

“I'm okay, Siofra, and you should be the one to rest. I have been working you up since your arrival, and you need all your strength against tomorrow.”

“What about tomorrow?” I asked her when I couldn't understand why she said I needed my strength against tomorrow.

“It's queen selection day. It seems two formal queens of elves have provided their stones for the festival, and guess what?” She asked with excitement in her eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“I decided to sign up my stone as well.” My eyes widened in shock.

“Why would you do that, grandma? You have not even fully unbonded with your stone.”

“That's because I suddenly wanted to live a few more years before I die. If my stone gets to find someone worthy, then I can at least live a little more before resting forever.” 

“But wait, Grandma, you were banned from the palace; how on earth are you planning to join the festivities?”

“Don't worry about that; your mum doesn't have any right to stop me from entering the palace when it comes to the queen selection. Everyone is invited; there is no exception.

And you are coming along with me. Let's both go see your mother and how she is doing with her precious daughter.” Grandma said, but I wasn't buying the idea.

“I don't think I can go with you, grandma. I will stay back and take care of the farm.”

“Oh really? I thought you wanted to prove me wrong about your sister, or have you changed your mind? She said that, turned, and left.

We were both in the stable having this conversation, but she left and headed towards the store room as she started dragging a bag of the horse's food towards the stable.

She definitely wants me to come with her, and I also can't kill my curiosity about Alma being the next queen of Álfheimr.

“Fine, I will come with you just to satisfy my curious mind.”

“Good choice, Siofra .”