144. A difficult conversation
144. A difficult conversation
ALICE
FOUR DAYS LATER
We took that potion Myrwen gave us, and magically, we’re feeling better. Matt checked Aemon before we headed home, and he’s in good health. Really good health, if you catch my drift. According to Matt, just rest, good food, and plenty of fluids will be enough to get him back to full strength.
If he was only at half capacity these past four days we spent locked in our room, then I can hardly wait to have my man at full power.
My stomach churns as we climb the steps back to our reality in the castle. We’ve basically been exiled, enjoying our honeymoon.
My two mates are way too tense about this conversation. I get it—both of them have been through a lot. Too many revelations in just a few days, but we managed to forget some of that chaos by losing ourselves in each other.
Their anger flares in vivid colors, and now I can see our mate bond so much clearer in my mind. Everything, honestly, feels heightened after what we went through in that labyrinth.
“Are you guys okay with this conversation?” I ask, a slight hesitation in my voice. Feeling everything they feel, I know this is going to be tough for them. “We could call a council meeting before facing your mother. You know, wait a bit.”
“No,” Alaester says with a sigh. “This has taken long enough. My mother… Elora should’ve been locked up the moment we got back from the Fae realm. She’s done too much. To all of us.”
“But…” I try to argue, but Aemon takes my hand, drawing my attention.
“We’re okay, little monster,” he says with a smile, kissing the back of my hand and sending a familiar shiver across my skin.
No matter how much they say they’re okay with this, I know they’re not. She’s their mother. Sure, she was always more loving toward Alaester, but that didn’t stop Aemon from loving and idolizing her as a good mother. My chest tightens as we get closer.
The guards at the entrance to the king’s hall hesitate when they see us, but a low growl from Alaester makes them open the doors quickly. We’ve been gone so long that she’s taken over as Queen Regent again.
The moment we step inside, it feels like the tense atmosphere might swallow us whole at any second. Elora is seated at the desk, wearing a dark blue dress that falls in perfect layers, her ebony hair tied up in an impeccable bun. Her eyes find us as she lifts her head, probably after catching our scent.
“Aemon, my dear, so good to see you awake!” she says, her voice syrupy, standing with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes as she mentions Aemon. “What a surprise. A good one, I suppose. To what do I owe the honor of seeing you so early?”
I almost laughed. “Let’s cut the crap, Elora,” I snap, stepping forward.
She raises an eyebrow, feigning confusion.
“We know everything you’ve done, Mom,” Alaester says, the crease in her forehead deepening at his words. He continues, “We know about Myrwen’s exile and the damn war with Aladia that you fueled with lies. We know about our father and Liora… Aemon’s real mother.”
Elora blinks, and her smile falters for a second, but she recovers, tilting her head as if he’d said something absurd. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear. Myrwen? What would I have to do with that old witch, anyway? You know we don’t deal with other species, Alaester.”
“She told us everything, Mother,” he says, disappointment lacing his voice at her acting skills. “Don’t lie anymore, please.”
Elora shrugs, continuing her little performance. “Just stories from a bitter witch. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.” She looks at Aemon, her tone softening. “My son, you’re pale and weak. You just went through something terrible. I almost lost you. You should be resting,” she says, gently touching Aemon’s face.
Aemon stands frozen near his mother. I can’t bring myself to say anything either and just watch her. Aemon shakes his head and steps back from her touch.
“No. You don’t get to manipulate me with your scraps of love anymore,” he says harshly, and I swear I can see tears glistening in his eyes seconds before he shakes his head to push them away. “Enough of this, Mother. I always thought you treated me differently from Alaester because he was the heir by birthright… but it was all because you never considered yourself my mother. Not a single day of my life. I loved you so much, Mother. As the best, most exemplary person in the world… what have you become?”
My mate’s agony hits me through our bond, and I start to feel even worse. She just stands there with a stoic expression, staring at Aemon.
“Just confess, Elora,” I say to her, and she glares at me with a twisted grimace. Looking like she’s about to hit me or something, Aemon and Alaester notice and instinctively step to my side.
“You’re the one feeding this madness, aren’t you? That doesn’t surprise me,” she scoffs, taking a step back and looking at my mates. “Don’t let this human fill your heads with—”
“Enough!” Aemon roars. “Let’s end this cheap act, Mother… I’m not your son, Elora. I never was. Liora was my mother. You lied to me. To all of us. Why?”
Elora steps back, just one more step, but it’s enough to show she’s shaken. “You want the truth? Fine. I thought I’d take this to my grave.”