Chapter 22 -Avianna-
\-Avianna-
Court has never required this much effort. Maintaining the illusion that I am perfectly fine and entirely unaffected by the fact that Caylix is standing behind me is almost more than I can handle. I keep my posture perfectly composed, and to anyone watching, I am the picture of control, exactly as they expect. Internally, however, I am discovering that self-control has limits, and I appear to be approaching mine at an alarming rate. Because I can feel him. Not in a vague, general sense, but in the way that I know exactly where he is without looking, I can feel the subtle shift of his weight, the rhythm of his breathing, the precise moment his attention moves.
We have stood in the same room thousands of times. I have never once had to consciously remind myself how to breathe in his presence. His energy pushes against me in a way that is difficult to describe without sounding completely unhinged.
Which, for the record, I am not.
“Mostly,” Caylix murmurs at my side. “Though I have to admit, it does sound like you’re a little obsessed with me, Avi.”
Don’t let it get to your head. Gods know your ego is already large enough. And if this is what I’m feeling… you’re feeling it too.
He’s quiet for a moment, then his amusement slips through the tether.
“Better pay attention,” he murmurs. “Your favorite councilman is speaking.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
He is not my favorite. He is, at best, tolerable on a good day.
“Focus, Avi,” Caylix murmurs, entirely too amused for someone who is supposed to be helping.
The councilman is speaking about trade routes, northern passages, tariffs, something that absolutely matters and would normally hold my full attention. I nod at the appropriate moments, offering the occasional measured response, because if nothing else, I can perform competence while quietly unraveling. Rhydon shifts beside me, leaning in slightly as he murmurs something agreeable about the proposal. His hand brushes mine and I wait for the reaction from the hex, the warmth, the flutter, something. Anything. But there is nothing, no spark, not even the faintest flicker of awareness. Behind me, Caylix moves, just a half step closer, and my body reacts like he touched me, every nerve ending aware of how near me he is. I shift my weight, just enough to stand a bit closer to Rhydon. Rhydon looks at me and smirks, mistaking my intentions, clearly, and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
I feel nothing.
Caylix shifts again and something in me tightens instantly. Do not react. Do not turn around. Do not acknowledge the fact that your body appears to have developed a very specific and deeply inconvenient preference.
So… just to clarify, I think toward Caylix, keeping my expression perfectly neutral as the council continues, this is affecting you as well?
The response comes immediately through the tether and I can feel caylix’s agreement. Yes.
Good. Not good, obviously. Terrible, actually. But at least I’m not imagining it.
Rhydon says something beside me, his voice smooth and practiced, and before I can respond, Caylix steps to my side and my entire focus fractures for a second.
This is absurd. For comparison’s sake, I add dryly, Rhydon has now touched me twice and I have felt absolutely nothing.
“I am aware,” Caylix whispers.
Wonderful. I am so glad we're both aware of that.
The rest of the session passes in a blur of words I will absolutely need repeated later, because I retain none of them. By the time we are dismissed, I have reached one very clear conclusion. This is not affecting me with anyone else. I turn to leave. I need distance, I cannot think clearly. Caylix’s jaw tightens, his own control locking visibly into place.
“Do you…feel the hex toward anyone else?” I ask quietly, suddenly far more nervous about the answer than I should be. His gaze shifts to me immediately.
“No.”
Relief crashes through me so fast it almost steals my breath, because I had imagined it before I could stop myself. Him looking at another woman the way he looked at me last night, feeling that same heat, that same pull, that same unbearable attraction.
Gods.
Something sharp twists in my chest. I look away quickly, hating myself a little for the thought. But the tether flickers anyway. I try to pull away, but Caylix slows beside me.
“Avi.”
My throat tightens instantly. His voice lowers, meant only for me despite the people moving around us.
“I would be jealous too,” he says quietly, “if you felt the hex towards other men. Especially after what we shared last night.”
The tension inside me loosens instantly as warmth moves through the tether. I glance at him finally, and the look in his eyes confirms it.
Thank you, Caylix. For…saying that.
His mouth shifts faintly at the corner. Then we keep walking.
“We shouldn’t be standing this close,” he says.
He is absolutely right but neither of us move.
“Avianna.”
My father’s voice cuts through the moment. His gaze moves between us and I know that look. He has already seen enough to understand that something is wrong.
“My study. Now.”
The door closes behind us. My father studies us both in that quiet, knowing way of his.
“Well,” he says calmly. “Tell me.”
“The hex doesn’t react to anyone else, only us,” Caylix replies evenly. “And so far, it’s only when we are near each other.”
My father’s gaze sharpens slightly.
“Targeted,” he says.
“It appears so,” Caylix replies.
I feel it then, the quiet weight of that truth settling over the room. This was not random, it was meant for us.
“Until we can figure out how to break it,” my father continues, “You two must stay separated.”
The words land harder than they should.
Caylix inclines his head once. “Understood.”
I say nothing because I do not trust my voice not to betray me.
“The man at the gates, the boy in the stables, the targeted hex,” My father says, “all of it points to the same conclusion.”
“Dark magic,” Caylix says.
A chill moves through me. “It was trying to separate us,” I say quietly.
Both of them look at me.
“It was trying to ruin us,” Caylix adds.
My father exhales slowly. “Whatever is behind this, it is watching, learning. It approached you the first day Caylix was not at your side,” he continues, looking at me now. “That is not a coincidence.”
He turns to Caylix then. “You will step back from her side.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. But Caylix does not hesitate.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You will not be idle,” my father continues. “Find out everything you can. I want to know who is capable of this level of magic within my kingdom.”
“I will,” Caylix says.
“And Avianna, you will be guarded at all times.”
I nod once.
“If you feel anything,” Caylix says, his gaze finally meeting mine, “you come to me immediately.”
“I will,” I say.
My father nods once. “You are both dismissed.”