Chapter 122 -Avianna-

Chapter 122 -Avianna-
Avianna- 

"You were different on the mountainside," she says after a moment. "You stumbled into places without understanding how you'd arrived. You couldn't control how long you stayed. Half the time, I don't think you even understood whether you were watching the past or the present."

She looks deliberately around us.

"But tonight you chose this place. You remained safely behind your father's protections, and yet here you are."

She sounds almost impressed. That worries me far more than another threat would have. Elise’s eyes linger on me, and something in her expression changes.

The amusement fades first, followed by the irritation. What replaces it is quieter, more calculating.

“You really don’t know, do you?”

I don’t answer.

Her gaze drifts toward my arm, where the mark lies hidden beneath my sleeve, before returning to my face. For some reason, she looks almost pleased by whatever she finds there.

“I wondered how much they had told you.”

“Who?”

The question escapes before I can stop it and Elise smiles. I just gave her the reaction she wanted.

“Oh, no.” She shakes her head slowly. “I’m not going to make this that easy for you.”

I hold her gaze, annoyed with myself for giving her even that much. She begins to move around me, not approaching, merely changing the angle from which she studies me.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? How quickly everyone accepted the prophecy once the pieces began falling into place. A lost prince returns. A mark appears. Then another. Suddenly ancient words no one has understood for generations make perfect sense.”

Her gaze flicks briefly toward my wrist.

“Convenient.”

I refuse to ask what she means. Elise seems to expect me to, and when I don’t, she continues.

“I assume the High Priestess tells you the marks mean you belong together, and Agameus tells you your magic is growing. Your father tells you the Covenant has recognized you both. Everyone is so eager to explain what all of this means.”

She pauses.

“But I wonder if anyone has explained what it requires.”

Something cold settles low in my stomach. Caylix feels it immediately. His presence strengthens through the tether, warm and solid against mine.

Don't let her lead you, Avi.

I don’t respond. Elise is watching me too carefully.

“Prophecies are lovely things when they’re carved into stone,” she continues. “All those beautiful words about love and power and kingdoms enduring. People become considerably less enthusiastic when someone starts asking what those words actually cost.”

I keep my expression neutral.

“The prophecy says we seal the Dark Realm.”

“I know what it says.”

“Then I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.”

“I’m not making one.” Elise smiles faintly. “I’m wondering why no one else has.”

She lets the silence stretch. Her eyes search my face, looking for whatever question she hopes I’ll ask. I don’t give it to her.

Finally, she laughs softly.

“You’ve gotten better at this.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Although not quite good enough.”

Her gaze shifts again. There is something almost pitying in the way she looks at me that immediately puts me on edge.

“You still believe everyone around you is protecting you.”

“Is this the part where you tell me my father secretly hates me?”

“No.” She laughs. “Alexander is painfully predictable where his daughters are concerned.”

“Agameus, then?”

“Far too sentimental.”

Elise shakes her head. Then she smiles. And I know who she means before she says his name.

“Caylix.” Elise whispers.  

The tether goes very still. Every part of him is suddenly focused on me.

Elise watches my face.

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

I force myself not to react.

“What’s interesting?”

“The way you change when I say his name.”

Her smile widens slightly.

“Your precious Caylix.”

I almost roll my eyes.

“If you’re planning to show me another imaginary woman carrying his child, you’ll need new material.”

She studies me for several long seconds.

“Do you really think that’s what I was trying to show you?”

I don’t reply so she steps closer.

“Fear is easy, Avianna. Everyone is afraid of losing the person they love.”

Another step.

“Trust is much more interesting.”

Caylix’s presence presses harder against mine.

Avi.

Elise cannot hear him. But somehow, watching me, she seems to know he’s there.

“I wonder how much you actually know about the man you’ve bound yourself to.”

Elise smiles faintly.

“Your precious Caylix isn’t quite as innocent as you believe.”

A flare of anger moves through me.

“Whatever you’re trying to do isn’t going to work.”

“Then prove me wrong.”

“Why would I need to prove anything to you?”

“You don’t.” Her answer comes easily. “Prove it to yourself.”

I hate how calmly she says it. She looks toward the distant palace, almost as though the conversation has ceased to interest her.

Then, casually, she says, “Ask him.”

I say nothing. Elise looks back at me.

My pulse gives one hard beat. I feel Caylix through the tether, so I cling to that instead.

“Caylix wouldn’t keep something like that from me.”

Elise’s expression doesn’t change. Then one corner of her mouth lifts.

“But wouldn’t he?”

No. Absolutely not. She sees the certainty in my face and takes another step closer.

She’s trying to break us, Avi.

Caylix’s words come immediately. He’s not frightened, not defensive, just certain.

She couldn’t make you afraid of me, so now she’s trying to make you doubt me. Don’t let her.

Warmth moves through the tether with the words. The same love he’d wrapped around me before I entered this place.

I hold Elise’s gaze.

“He’s telling me exactly what you’re doing.”

For the first time, her smile falters. Only slightly..

“He says you’re trying to break us.”

Elise considers that As her smile returns.

“Of course he does.”

The answer is so quiet that something about it unsettles me. I refuse to give her anything else. Elise’s eyes drift toward my mark once more.

“Then don’t ask him.”

A small shrug.

“Forget I said anything.”

She begins to turn away. And that is far more effective than if she’d kept pushing. Because now I can feel the question sitting there, unanswered. I hate her for knowing exactly how to leave it that way. Caylix feels the shift in me.

Avi. Feel me.

I close my eyes for half a heartbeat and find him exactly where he told me he would be.

There is nothing she can tell you that changes us. Nothing.

I know. I believe him. I open my eyes. Elise has stopped walking away. She’s watching me over her shoulder.

“No.”

Her eyebrow lifts.

“I’m not playing.”

Something sharp flashes behind her eyes. I deny her the reaction she was certain she would get. I reach for the thread that will take me home.

Elise speaks behind me.

“That’s probably wise.”

I stop. Damn her. Her voice lowers.

“Because if you knew what permanently sealing the Dark Realm requires…”

She pauses.

“…you might finally understand why Caylix would rather you never ask.”

Avi, come back.

I reach harder for my body and suddenly pain detonates through the tether.