Mina glanced at Talya, who was dusting some old tomes. She did not remember the Archduke, but she didn't think he was lying. Her parents had many friends in Ora Dorei. And if she accepted the Archduke's invitation, she could ask him for a recommendation of a family that could take care of Talya until she returned from Athea. "It would be an honor to dine with you and your daughter," she said. "But I can't leave until it is time to close the shop."
The Archduke smiled. "I understand. Zeyn should appear any time now. He has something I have been looking for for a long time." The front door opened, and the Archduke smiled. "Speaking of the devil," he said as Zeyn entered the shop.
"Archduke Le Doux. Ladies," Zeyn greeted. "I see you have met my new assistant."
"I have known Mina for a long time. Her father and I have been friends for a long time. Before you ask me to tell you the entire story, I am in a bit of a hurry. My son, he is not well." The Archduke put his hands in his pocket, and Zeyn clapped his shoulder. "Also, I invited Mina to dine with Jade and me."
Zeyn sighed. "Very well. Mina, you can have the rest of the day free."
While Zeyn showed the Archduke and Jade the weapons made by the twins fae, Mina got Talya ready for dinner at the Archduke's house. They didn't have anything appropriate for the occasion, but with the money she gained from Zeyn, Mina bought a few second-hand dresses for Talya and her. She chose the ones that looked the least worn and put a ribbon in Talya's red hair.
"Who is this young lady?" the Archduke asked when Mina and Talya returned to the shop.
"Talya. She is mine now," Mina replied.
The Archduke smiled as if he understood what Mina meant. "You do have a soft spot for orphans. Abeel did warn me you would fill my house with children. I can see he was not wrong.” Mina furrowed her brows. “Well, if you are ready, the carriage is waiting for us outside."
Around fifteen minutes later, the carriage stopped in the upper part of the city, in front of a castle. The Archduke opened the door and got out first and helped the women and Talya climb down. A servant came to see if the Archduke needed assistance.
"Mina, Talya, this way," the Archduke said after he instructed the servant to take the fae weapons into his study. "It is still early for dinner. How about Jade and I show you around?" he asked when they were inside the castle.
"If it is not too much trouble," said Mina.
"Not at all. You will be living here after all." Mina furrowed her brows. "You don't think I will let you return to work for Zeyn. You are not only Adinet's daughter but are also family."
"What do you mean?"
Jade grabbed Mina by her hand. "All will be explained. How about I show you the rooms Talya and you will be staying in?"
"But—!" Mina tried to protest, but Jade laughed as she dragged Mina up the stairs.
The Archduke and Talya followed them.
They were on the first floor when a gut-wrenching scream coming from a nearby room echoed through the castle. Servants and a Fire Mage rushed to the room.
Before Mina could ask what was happening, the Archduke spoke. "It is my son, Abeel. He was injured so severely during the....war, that he still suffers from great pain. I am trying to find a way to cure him, but so far, no luck. Let's show you the rest of the castle before we go to the dining room."
"What about your son? Aren't you worried about him?" asked Mina. Hearing Abeel scream affected her greatly. He sounded as she did the day Jayden died. Like he had lost a vital part of himself.
The Archduke looked at the room that led to Abeel's room. "When he has one of his episodes, only the Fire Mage can help him. He will be better in the morning."
Mina chewed her bottom lip. "Can I meet him?" She didn't know why she asked that. Maybe because Abeel's scream reminded her of her own suffering.
"I don't think that would be wise. Not until he is well," replied Jade. "His mind is not what it used to be."
"I see," Mina said.
The Archduke and Jade finished showing Talya and Mina the rest of the castle before they had dinner. While they ate, the Archduke asked Mina about Athea and how she got away when the Necromancer attacked the capital of Nodor. Mina explained briefly that she had gotten married before explaining what happened on the day Jayden was killed. The Archduke nor Jade appeared to be surprised by Mina telling them about her wedding to Jayden. When Mina started telling the Archduke about King Stig, his entire demeanor changed. For the rest of the dinner, he barely said anything else and appeared to be in deep thought.
After they finished eating, Mina thanked the Archduke and Jade for the invitation but that she could not accept to spend the night in the castle. After many pleas on Jade's part, Mina reluctantly agreed, but with the condition that the Archduke would tell her everything in the morning.
It was past midnight, and Mina was still wide awake in bed. Talya was sleeping beside her. Mina was trying not to toss around, not wanting to disturb Talya. She was still thinking about Abeel. There was something that was pushing her to go see him.
She fought the urge until she could not and got out of bed. A robe was at the foot of the bed, and Mina put it on before leaving the room. The hallway was quiet. The dim light coming from a few magic crystals allowed her to see where she was going.
When she stood in front of Abeel's room, her hand on the doorknob, she started having second thoughts. What was she doing there anyway? Not long ago, she became a widow, and now she was already at the door of some man she had never met before. And for what? Just because she had heard The Archduke’s son scream with the same agony she felt when Jayden took his last breath didn’t mean he understood her pain. He had episodes, whatever that meant. At least, that’s what his family claimed.
But there were invisible strings that kept pulling her to open the door and enter.
*'Maybe he is sleeping. Or maybe he is unwell. And if, Gods forbit, wakes while I enter, how will I explain myself to him?'* she asked herself.
She was about to leave when she heard the sound of something falling from inside Abeel's room. Worried he needed help, she opened the door.
The room was mostly dark, but the light coming from the full Moon was enough to let Mina see a man sitting in an odd chair with wheels in front of the window. His back was to her, his eyes fixed on the sky.
"I am sorry to disturb you, but I heard a sound and thought you needed help," Mina tried to explain why she entered his room.
"I have been waiting for you for a very long time. For all my life." He was still looking out the window.
Mina frowned. "I think you have mistaken me for someone else."
He turned the chair around, and Mina gasped. "I know exactly who you are. But do you know what you are to me?"
He looked at her with mismatched eyes—one blue and the other black—while he waited for her reply. His black hair and beard were cut short. On his left cheek, he had a deep scar.
He was wearing only a pair of white, cotton pants.
Her soul recognized his.
Before she knew what she was doing she ran to him and he caught her in his arms and put her on his lap. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and when her skin touched his, she saw what their life could be together. Them getting married in the Hepys Kingdom, and crowns were placed on their heads. Him telling her those three words she had been waiting for all her life to hear. Her pregnant with their child.
"Your soulmate," Mina breathed. She lifted her head. "I am sorry for my outburst. I don't know what had gotten into me." She felt ashamed of how she ran to him and sat on his lap. But how could she not when she was his, and he was hers?
She tried to stand, but he put his arms around her waist, stopping her. "It brought me joy to see you recognized me even before we learned each others' names. I am Abeel."
She frowned. The Archduke had much to explain to her. Abeel as well. "But I thought... Never mind. I am Mina."
He pressed his forehead to hers and inhaled deeply. "I have been waiting for you for so long, Mina. And you finally came. Our life together will be amazing. I can hardly wait to have our soulmate ceremony."
Mina freed herself from his arms, stood, and paced in front of Abeel for a few moments before showing him her bracelet. "I am already married, Abeel."
Pain flashed in his eyes, and a lone tear gathered at the corner of his eyes. "You didn't wait for me?"
"You were the one who didn't wait," she mumbled.
The tear ran down his cheek, his scar until it reached his jaw and dropped on his pants. "I did. Please believe me. Your husband, where is he?"
Her bottom lip trembled. What is lost is lost forever. She finally understood what they meant. "He is no longer with me." Her voice trembled.
Abeel looked sad for her. “You are still mourning him.”
“I don’t think I will ever stop mourning him or loving him. You might be my soulmate, but I want my husband back.”
A low growl left his lips, and he grabbed her hand and pulled her back in his lap. “You are mine, Mina. I understand you are hurting, and I will be patient with you, but one day, you will forget about him.”
“Never!”
He cupped her cheek. “Why?”
“The kind of love I have for him is forever.”
His fingers trembled. “Let me try to win over your heart.”
“Abeel,” she tried to reason with him.
Some menacing flashed into his eyes. “Why are you being this difficult?”
“Because looking at you reminds me of what I had and lost and… I can’t. I just want him back.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. “If I could, I would bring him back for you, but I don’t have that kind of power. I can only give you my heart and soul.”
“I am sorry, Abeel. I just want Jayden back.”
He looked into her eyes. “Is that his name? Jayden?” Mina nodded. “His name sounds very familiar.” He frowned. “I think I might have met him during the war. Fought along his side.”
“I am sure you did.” She decided to talk about something else. Thinking of Jayden brought her so much pain she wanted to stab her heart with a knife. "Why are you sitting in such a strange chair?"
"During the war, I was injured by dark magic and lost the ability to walk. This chair allows me to move around."