Chapter 73 Rocks
Audrey could see the hesitation in his eyes but he stepped back, taking a curt bow before marching out of the room. The moment he was gone Audrey let out a shaky breath, her palm meeting her forehead as she sighed deeply, looking herself over in the mirror. She felt uneasy, flushed and hurt. Sure she didn't believe his words but when he brought up marking her it struck a nerve, one he seemed so quick to notice.
She couldn't help but question it, Darius had stopped himself right before marking her. He said he didn't want to impose his feelings on her but he should feel the love she had for him by now, right?
She was definitely being played for a fool but by who? It wouldn't be wise to believe Lord Anthony, he seemed so different but she couldn't help but wonder what he meant.
Her thoughts were cut short when the two women saunteref back into the room gazing around till they spotted Audrey in front of the full framed mirror. "Milady is everything okay?" Ruby asked noticing my distress. She walked up to her resting her hands on her shoulders where she squeezed affectionately snapping Audrey out of her mind.
For a second Audrey contemplated talking to Ruby, as she gazed at the elder woman she thought about it but then shook her head dismissing the thoughts, "it's nothing" she turned to look into the mirror as she plastered a fake smile on her face. "I really love this dress, is this what I'm wearing to the feast?" She asked, feigning interest as she tried to change the subject.
"No milady, this is one of the dresses you would be wearing to probably visit the kingdom with the elders. The dress you would be wearing is in the back, I'll go get it" I placed a smile on my face as Ruby walked away to go get my dress and I tried to ignore what I had just heard. Oh goddess please save me.
Audrey had no idea how she was going to manage with these many things like a militia of thoughts swarming her mind at the feast. Darius had already taken notice of Audrey's change in behavior, he could tell something was wrong from the moment he felt her heart race pick up when he tried to kiss her, originally he had thought maybe she was just flustered or it was embarrassment from the amount of attention the palace maids were giving them both but now he thought different. He could see the fear in her eyes as she tried to ease his worries by giving him one of her fake smiles, he could see the slight twitch of the corner of her lip telling him she was forcing the smile.
And the way her brows were slightly raised only gave her up all the more. He wanted to believe it was nothing but he knew better. He hadn't spoken to her properly ever since that morning he didn't mark her, maybe he had made a mistake and left her to think badly of his inaction.
He was scared yes but he had to make a choice his fears or Audrey and the answer was clear but could he do it? What if she left him out of fear? He knew she had feelings for him but could they stand the test of his past? There was so much she didn't know and so much he wanted to tell her but he was too selfish, he wanted her to believe he was what she thought him out to be.
He would remain what she saw him to be. He couldn't stand the thought of looking into her eyes and seeing fear, fear of him, seeing a mixture of disgust and hatred as she gazed at him. It would break him and he wasn't ready to find out. He was the darkness after all and she was his light, he didn't want to taint her, he didn't want his light to leave him in the abyss that was his. He had a taste of what it felt like having her and he couldn't imagine life without her. She was his anchor.
A lot was going on and he couldn't deny the feeling in his gut that there was more to come. Lord Odin's body had been found by a fisherman, it washed up from the river and when it was brought secretly to the castle for a closer look they had found rocks in his pockets. Few of his lieutenants and delegates that were aware of this brought forth the idea that he had killed himself probably after finding out he was to be taken to the gallows for his crimes.
It seemed like the most logical thing but Darius couldn't help but feel otherwise, he knew Lord Odin would not be the type to kill himself, rather he would have run back to his city or fled the country even. Ryker advised Darius upon hearing his concerns that it would be best he not put so much thought into it rather Ryker himself would pursue any notion that came up.
Ryker had further explained the Hunter situation that Darius had put aside had been looked into properly, Vivian's story had been confirmed. The Silver Moon pack was no more and it only lead Darius to believe Hunter was indeed a threat not one that could cause a lot of damage non the less with the upcoming festivities and the arrival of the elders he knew it would be the safest option to look for Hunter and bring him in to be crushed under the law.
There were a lot of things that plagued the mind of the king like the growing feeling that something bad was going to happen, like that sudden rush of anxiety you get just before you're about to fall. That was exactly what he was getting but unlike the painted scenario he couldn't tell what the aftermath would be till it eventually arrived. One thing was certain, this celestial event was going to be a new journey that was certain to occupy itself with many more obstacles, Darius could only hope that he and Audrey would be ready for the troubled waters ahead.
That was all he could do, for hope wasn't something to be held onto tightly for at the end it was just like sand, fast fleeting and quick to slip through one's fingers and scatter.