Chapter 41 Daevir hates my bracelet
My eyes stirred awake to the movement on my hand. It was soft like a poke, like someone was trying to pull something off me.
My eyes caught Daevir, lying next to me; his eyes weren't on me, but on the bracelet I had on. His fingers twiddled through it. He was trying to take it off!
Quickly, I snatched my hands, sitting up fast so he wouldn't succeed.
Daevir's eyes trailed me. The smile on his face has faded to a flicker of jealousy.
I smiled, hoping to soften the tension. “Your highness…”
A smile curved his lips. He leaned in and pressed his lips on mine, kissing me. He held me and kissed my forehead, “Amarien.” He started. “I don't think I'll ever love a woman as I love you.”
I felt his thumping heartbeat in my ears.
“This moment with you …I want it to last forever. Won't it be nice to have you in the Imperial quarters serving as the empress of the realm?”
“Such dreams are uncomely for a lowly concubine like me, your highness.”
“But I want that.” He looked at me. “The last thing I want is you being far away from me. I don’t want another man trying to touch you. I want you all to myself.”
I swallowed.
Daevir’s hands trailed the sheets, seeking my hand. “That's why I'm a little concerned about that little thing tied to your hand.” When he found my hand, he whipped it out; the bracelet shimmered in the sunlight.
His voice suddenly morphed from softness to graveness. “Who gave you this bracelet?”
I clenched the blanket over my bare chest. What do I say?! I can't possibly lie to Daevir! He is the reason I went all the way to my village to seek help. He is the reason I found that prophecy.
I wish Theron hadn't found me. But what could I do when he insisted I have the bracelet!
“It belongs to Grandma Chichi.” I finally said, lying.
I can't believe I just did that.
Daevir's eyes held mine in suspicion as if he could see through the lie, but couldn't confront me because he didn't know why I was lying. What does he know about the bracelet? Does he know it's from Theron? Why is he insisting I take it off?
Oh, but I can't take it off. I can't! If I do, Theron will be here, and the disaster that will follow will haunt me for the rest of my life.
I wish I could read Daevir's mind that moment.
“Well, since it belongs to your Grandmother. I can't force you to take it off.” He said. “I wish you could, though. Something about that bracelet doesn't feel right….”
“Speaking of my grandmother…” I quickly cut in before he could go on about his suspicion. “I found a letter. A prophecy you should know about.”
Quickly, I grabbed the letters Alpha Logan had given Chichi and displayed them on the bed.
“What are these about?” Daevir looked from me to the letters.
I opened my mouth to speak, but froze that moment. I wasn't sure I was ready to say all that I saw that evening at Grandma Chichi’s house. The fact that Grandma ChiChi married a werewolf, and I could be…
I swallowed. Daevir only needs to know what he needs to know.
“I saw them in Grandma Chichi's house.”
Daevir's fingers fiddled with the paper, assessing it. “This is written in a very ancient language, Amarien.” He looked at me. “This is werewolf language. How did you read it?” I could see the light in his eyes carefully dissipating, but I had to carry on.
“Yes, your highness. I'm lucky to have learnt the language as a child with my grandmother.” I leaned in, “but that's not what's important, your highness. There's a prophecy you need to know about. A prophecy that started the age-long war among the werewolves.”
Daevir quickly lifted the letter and began reading it aloud.
“THE AGE-OLD PROPHECY WRITTEN IN THE BLUE MOON. DEATH, BIRTH, AND BLOOD HOLDS IT TRUE.
Behold, a strong and mighty Alpha shall emerge from the Human kingdom. An Alpha with the blood moon secrets and powers. And Alpha, which has the power of destruction and life. He will end all wars for good.
The one who takes his head, takes all his powers.”
I held his gaze.
“I think it's talking about you, your highness.”
Daevir lowered the letters slowly, his eyes held realisation.
I went on. “Can't you see, your highness. The only one who could possibly become a werewolf overnight will be the human Alpha…with the powers and all. That's you!”
“That can't be Amarien.” Daevir lay beside me, tense, staring at the ceiling as though afraid of whatever I was about to say next.
“It has to be.” I pressed. “There is no other explanation.” I leaned in. My fingers were trembling with excitement as I held the brittle parchment to my chest.
“Your highness, I braved my way back to my village to seek a remedy, a cure. Something that could stop your werewolf urges once and for all. But when I fell upon this, I realised you mustn't fight it anymore. You need to accept who you are for all over sakes. If you own such powers, then you could put an end to all the wars and suffering once and for all. You're the chosen one!”
Silence
“Your highness,” I whispered, reaching for his arm.
But he snatched his arm off.
He sat up.
Slowly, like he was trying to calm his rage.
“Chosen?” His voice was low, dangerous. “You think this is some divine blessing?”
My smile wavered. “I…I thought maybe it would comfort you. That you wouldn’t have to fight yourself anymore. That your wolf isn’t your enemy...”
Daevir’s head snapped towards me.
His eyes burned with a fury I had never seen.
“Of all people,” he hissed, “you believe this nonsense?”
My lips parted. “Daevir…”
“You think some ancient scribbles make me a hero?” His voice rose, sharp as a blade. “I’m a monster, Amarien. A beast! I nearly tore you apart. And you come to me with fairy tales?”
“It’s not a fairy tale,” I whispered, shrinking. “I just… wanted to help. I thought it meant you didn’t have to hate yourself. I thought…”
“Well, you thought WRONG.”
The words slammed into me.
I flinched hard, hands curling in the sheets.
Daevir stood, pacing like a trapped animal. His breath came rough, uneven. “I told you I don’t want to hear anything that calls this…” He clawed at his own chest, as if trying to rip the wolf out. “...destiny. Or fate. Or purpose.”
“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I only meant…”
“You NEVER LISTEN,” he snapped, rounding on her. “You keep pushing this… this hope on me. This is the idea that I should accept what I am. I WILL NOT.”
My throat closed.
Tears blurred my vision.
“Daevir, please, I wasn’t trying to upset you. I thought you’d…”
“What? Fall into your arms?” His laugh was sharp, humorless. “Thank you for reminding me I’m a beast? Thank you for reminding me of the thing I’m trying to forget every waking second?”
I covered my mouth, shoulders shaking.
He turned away as if the sight of my crying only worsened his rage.
“Stop,” he muttered. “Stop crying.”
I couldn’t.
My breath broke into sobs. “I only want to save you…”
“I don’t need saving!” he roared. “I need you to stop feeding me hope I can’t afford.”
He moved toward the door.
My body reacted before my mind did.
I fell from the bed, dropped to my knees on the stone floor with a hard thud.
“Your highness,” I grabbed the hem of his tunic, desperate, trembling. “Please don’t go. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I won’t say it again, I promise. I’ll never bring up the prophecy. I’ll forget it ever existed. Just…please…don’t walk away from me.”
For a heartbeat, he stood perfectly still.
My tears soaked the back of his hand as I held onto him. “I won’t speak of the wolf. I won’t speak of destiny. I won’t do anything to hurt you again. I promise. Please don’t leave me alone like this.”
Slowly, painfully slowly, he pried my grip from his clothes.
He didn’t look at me.
Didn’t even breathe my name.
When the last finger slipped from his tunic, my hands fell uselessly to the floor.
He stepped away.
Opened the door.
And slammed it hard to my face.
I collapsed on the floor, crying.