Chapter 23 I’m not jealous
The silence following the blackout was heavier than the explosions. Without the hum of drones or the distant roar of city traffic, the stronghold felt like an island at the edge of the world.
I sat on the edge of the massive stone hearth in Kael’s private study, wrapped in a heavy fur cloak he’d draped over my shoulders. My hands were still stained with soot and the silver residue of the virus, but they weren't shaking anymore. They were just... cold.
"You're staring again," Kael said.
He was standing across the room, lit only by the flickering orange glow of a dying fire. He’d stripped off his ruined tactical gear, wearing only a thin black shirt that clung to the powerful lines of his shoulders. He was cleaning his blade with a piece of silk, his movements methodical and rhythmic.
"I’m looking for her," I whispered, glancing at the obsidian mirror resting on the table between us. "The woman in the glass. She looked like me, Kael. But she felt like... the end of everything."
Kael set the sword down and crossed the room. He didn't stop until he was standing directly in front of me. He reached out, his cool fingers hooking under my chin to tilt my face up to his. The golden fire in his eyes had settled into a deep, smoldering amber.
"She is a reflection of the power you just used," he said firmly. "Nothing more. You reached into the deep and pulled out the light. Don't let a shadow steal the credit for what you did."
"I turned off a city, Kael. I could feel their hearts slowing down. For a second, I felt like I could have just... stopped them all." I looked at my bandaged palms. "Is that what I am? A weapon that just hasn't gone off yet?"
Kael didn't answer with words. He sat down beside me, the weight of him pressing against my side, and pulled me into his arms. It wasn't a "King’s" embrace; it was the desperate hold of a man who had almost lost the only thing that made his immortality bearable.
I leaned my head against his chest, listening to the slow, steady thrum of his heart. It was the most beautiful sound in the world.
"You are Aria," he murmured into my hair. "And you are mine. If the world fears you, let them. I have spent two centuries being feared, and I can tell you it is much better than being pitied."
I pulled back just enough to look at him. The chemistry between us usually an electric spark felt different tonight. It was a slow burn, a magnetic pull that made the air between us feel thick.
"You were going to let me go," I reminded him, my voice a mere breath. "In the hall, before the bombs. You told me to run."
"Because I am a fool," he rasped, his gaze dropping to my lips. "I thought I could protect you by sending you away. I didn't realize that the only place you're truly safe is where I can see you."
He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that tasted of salt and smoke. It started soft, a hesitant question, but as I reached up to tangle my fingers in his dark hair, it deepened into something hungry and fierce. In the dark, with the city dead and the enemies at the gate, it felt like we were the only two people left alive.
But the moment was shattered by a rhythmic tapping at the door.
Kael pulled away with a low growl of annoyance. "Enter."
Julian stepped in, looking exhausted. But he wasn't alone. Behind him stood a woman I recognized High Witch Selene from the Northern Coven. She wasn't an "Iron Weaver," but she was young, beautiful, and carried herself with an effortless grace that made my shredded dress feel even more pathetic.
"My King," Selene said, her voice like honey. She bowed low, her eyes lingering on Kael’s face a second too long. "The Northern survivors have been gathered. We seek your protection... and your guidance."
I felt a sharp, hot needle of something I didn't recognize pierce my chest. It wasn't the void. It was jealousy.
Selene didn't even look at me. She stepped past the mirror as if I were part of the furniture, moving closer to Kael. "We were misled by the Priestess. We want to help rebuild. My magic is at your service, Kael. For whatever... needs... you may have."
Kael stood up, his expression unreadable. "The Queen and I will discuss your terms in the morning, Selene."
"The Queen?" Selene finally turned her gaze to me, her eyes sweeping over my soot-stained face and bare feet. A tiny, condescending smile touched her lips. "Ah. The... girl. Of course."
She turned back to Kael, her hand grazing his arm as she moved toward the door. "I shall wait for your summons, then. It is so rare to find a King who truly understands the cost of power."
She swept out of the room, leaving a scent of jasmine and arrogance behind.
I stood up, the fur cloak sliding off my shoulders. The warmth of the kiss was gone, replaced by a cold, prickly irritation.
"She seems... helpful," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kael looked at me, a slow, knowing smirk spreading across his face. "Aria. Are you scowling?"
"I’m not scowling. I’m observing. She’s a High Witch, Kael. She has 'fire.' She has 'light.' She doesn't turn off the world when she gets stressed."
Kael walked toward me, his smirk widening into a grin. He caught me by the waist, pulling me back against him. "She is a politician, Aria. And she is boring. I have no interest in 'fire' when I have spent the last hour basking in the most beautiful darkness I’ve ever seen."
"She touched your arm," I muttered, hating how small I sounded.
Kael laughed, a rich, dark sound that vibrated through my back. He leaned down, whispering in my ear. "If it makes you feel better, I could have Julian turn her into a toad. Or, you could just remember that I didn't marry a High Witch. I married the woman who broke a mirror for me."
I turned around in his arms, looking up at him. The jealousy was still there, a dull ache, but the look in his eyes was pure, unadulterated devotion was a powerful antidote.
"Don't turn her into a toad," I said, a small smile finally returning. "I’d rather outshine her myself."
"You already do," Kael said, his expression turning serious again. He looked toward the window, where the first hint of a grey, powerless dawn was breaking. "But she’s right about one thing. The cost of power is high. The humans are down, but they aren't out. And now we have a whole coven of 'homeless' witches looking for a leader."
"Then let's give them one," I said, my hand settling on the obsidian mirror.