Chapter 24
Rhyland’s POV
I watched as Raven left the room to meet with the Queen, leaving Cassius and I alone.
His body was less tense than usual to my surprise, usually he was as still as a rock when he or Raven came anywhere near me.
“Do you think I’m cretinous?”
I looked his way and took a moment to answer him back.
“Why? Would it bother you if I did?” I smirked and his eyes hardened as he looked at me. I shrugged at his lack of response and moved to walk out of the room until his hand gripped tightly around my arm.
I felt my eyes shift from their ever so light purple to a darker shade.
“It would be wise of you to remove that hand if you want to keep it.” I gritted out as I slowly brought my glare up to meet his.
“I’ll put this as simple as possible, don’t fuck with her feelings.”
I furrowed my brows and snatched my arm out of his grasp.
“What are yo-,”
“I see the way you two act when you’re together. A blind man could feel the tension between you two. But for the sake of your life, this better not be a scheme from you and your f-,”
I let out a chuckle and shook my head.
“Oh? What are you going to do to me?” I smirked and he just laughed.
“Me? No, that pretty little raven haired girl you’re fawning over would kill you before I could get the chance.” He patted my shoulder and chuckled as he turned to walk away.
After he had left the room, I finally took in a deep breath and shook off the bad feeling that was slowly seeping it’s way into my brain.
What the hell is happening?
Maybe it’s because of the earlier events. Raven didn’t even give me time to explain and I needed to find her and tell her exactly why I said what I said.
Plus that Queen gave me a bad vibe and her alone with Raven for a long period of time didn’t sit well with me.
I set off down the hallway, determined to find her. My shoes patted down the stairway as I made my way down the staircase and towards the room the Queen had occupied, only to find it completely empty.
The door was still parted so I could see into the room, only to find nothing.
Panic began to ease its way into my mind and I felt my adrenaline start to stir in the pit of my stomach.
Where is she??
I moved through the castle until shouting and loud banging caught my attention from outside. Pulling the huge oak doors open, I spotted an entire crowd of people.
The same people that had been scared the venture out of the shadows when we first arrived were now in plain sight, what had them stirred up now?
I stepped out into the streets and a tiny woman’s eyes met mine. Her hair was matted and gray, but her eyes shown a different side of her. A side full of life.
“What is all of this?” I asked her and her face moved upward in a genuine smile.
“We have gathered to celebrate the return of our Princess.”
My eyebrows furrowed together as to how they knew Raven was their Princess but I didn’t reply. I followed the people that were chanting and cheering lined up down the road.
The ocean waves sounded nearby and I pushed onward, towards the front of the crowd. Everyone was pointing and gasping at whatever was ahead of them.
I finally made it to the front and moved my eyes to the area that they were pointing towards to find the most beautiful sight.
The sun was setting behind her, the orange and red colors clashed together as Raven sat in the water.
To my amazement, her hand trailed through the water and a blue shimmer flowed along with it. As if her hand brought life to the waves themselves.
I felt myself stumble out onto the beach, looking towards her in awe. How could you not?
When Queen Fara said her kind belong on this land, I didn’t believe her nor did I understand why.
Now, now I see.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
A voice came from beside me and I turned to see a man that looked the same age as Queen Fara.
“You’re absolutely right about that.” I agreed, eyes glued to Raven.
“We knew this day would come, the day the Princess came back to resurrect this land, this kingdom, and its people.”
I watched a smile grow along her pink lips as she stared down at the water and I couldn’t help but hate his words.
“Isn’t that a lot of pressure for one person to handle?”
I am the Prince to the throne but my kingdom was already built, the lands were in perfect shape, all I needed to really work on was the commoners and their trust in me.
She had to worry about everything.
“It is, but she was meant to do this.”
He stepped forward and walked along the sandy beach towards her. On instinct, I felt myself tense with every step he took closer to her.
I watched as her eyes shot up towards the man and her facial features soften at something he had said. His finger turned me pointed towards me causing my eyes to spring open wide.
Her eyes fell on me and so did Queen Fara’s.
“Come Rhyland, no need to hide.” She said childishly and I just grumbled while rolling my eyes.
My legs carried me towards the spot that they were at and I couldn’t help but feel bad at how things were left between Raven and I.
Her gaze stayed pinned to the water when I finally made it to them.
“Isn’t it astonishing? The way the elements answer to her very touch?”
I simply just nod to the woman and she notices my hesitation to step any closer to Raven.
“Could I speak to you for a moment?” I looked down at her and she stayed slilent for a bit.
“Raven?” I called out but to no avail.
I turned to look elsewhere right before a handful of water wet me. My eyes shot open to find a mischievous Raven smiling up at me with her hand full of another scoop.
“No, don’t you-,”
Another handful.
“Alright, that’s it.”
I spoke and dipped down to place my hands in the water, as soon as my skin came in contact with the blue liquid something so unexpected happened and I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The same blue shimmer that had been flowing behind Raven’s hands now flowed behind mine...