Chapter 13 THE ATTACK
As Auren escorted her from the study, she could feel the tension radiating off him.
“You don’t like him,” she said quietly. It was obvious, no one needed to tell her that.
“I don’t trust him,” he corrected. “He plays with fire for fun. He deliberately gets on my nerves to get a reaction out of me. The only reason I tolerate him is because Amelyn likes him. ”
Haven tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Jealous, are we?”
He shot her a sharp look, but the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly. “Careful, little flame,” he murmured, eyes gleaming. “If I were jealous, you’d know.”
And though she pretended not to care, Haven couldn’t stop the flutter in her chest as his hand brushed lightly against hers, the heat of it sinking into her skin like a silent promise.
He was already having an effect on her.
\~~~
Dinner was quieter than last time. The servants had laid out a simple meal, roast duck, bread, and a decanter of crimson wine that shimmered faintly under the candlelight.
Auren sat at the head of the long table while Haven occupied the seat to his right. For a while, the only sounds were the clink of silverware and the soft crackle of the torches lining the walls.
“I take it Imogen didn’t bore you to death,” Auren said finally, pouring her a glass of wine.
Haven smiled faintly. “He’s... interesting. Charming, even.”
Auren’s brow lifted. “Charming?”
She blinked innocently. “Well, he talks too much, but I suppose it’s better than sitting through hours of silence, and getting on my nerves”
His jaw ticked, though his tone remained smooth. “Perhaps I should take over your lessons, then. You wouldn’t be bored, I assure you.”
She raised her brows. “You? Teaching me? You’d burn down the study before the hour ends.”
Auren chuckled under his breath. “You wound me, wife.”
The word wife rolled off his tongue like smoke, soft yet commanding. Haven looked away, her pulse quickening.
“You look better in red,” he said suddenly.”You should wear it often."
Her head snapped up. “What?”
“The ruby necklace,” he said simply, his gaze flicking to the delicate gem resting above her collarbone. “It suits you.”
“Oh,” she murmured, fingers brushing the jewel. “Thank you.”
They fell into another stretch of silence. But this time, it wasn’t uncomfortable. The air was thick with something unspoken, something she wasn’t ready to name.
When the meal ended, Auren rose first. “Get some rest,” he said. “Your training begins at dawn.”
“Training?”
He didn’t turn as he replied, “If you’re to be Queen of Drakorath, you’ll need more than lessons on posture and history.”
Her heart skipped. “And what kind of training would that be?”
He glanced over his shoulder, a dangerous glint in his golden eyes. “The kind that keeps you alive.”
\~~~
Later that night, Haven lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling as the wind howled faintly through the castle walls.
She’d tried everything, closing her eyes, counting breaths, but sleep refused to come. The ruby at her throat pulsed faintly, warm against her skin, as though responding to something unseen.
Then she heard it.
A whisper.
Soft. Distant. Almost like a memory.
“Haven…”
Her breath hitched.She sat up, glancing toward the door. The sound came again, closer this time.
“Come… find us.”
Her pulse quickened. Against every ounce of reason, she rose from the bed and reached for her robe. The whispers seemed to guide her, faint as wind through leaves.
She followed them down the corridor, barefoot and trembling. The torches along the hall flickered as she passed, their flames bending toward her like they recognized her presence.
“This way…” The voice led her through the castle gates and into the courtyard. The air was cold, the night moon pale and full. The world outside was eerily quiet, too quiet.
Then the whispers stopped. Haven turned slowly. “Hello?”
No response. Just the faint rustle of movement from the shadows. And before she could react, something lunged.
A dark figure, hooded, fast and silent, caught her by the arm. She screamed, but a hand clamped over her mouth. The stench of iron filled her nose as another blade flashed in the moonlight. Her heart thumped in her chest, as her breathing quickened. Was this how she died?
Then, fire.
It erupted around her in a sudden ring, golden and furious. The shadow screamed as flame engulfed it, dissolving into smoke.
Auren stood a few feet away, his hand still raised, eyes blazing molten gold. The fire reflected in them, wild and alive.
“Did I not say you’d need training?” His voice was low, controlled fury. “You nearly walked into a death trap.”
Haven trembled, the echo of her fear still sharp. “I… I heard someone calling my name.”
Auren strode forward and caught her by the wrist, not harshly, but firm enough to make her meet his gaze. “If something calls you in the dark, Haven, it’s not meant to be followed. Are you that desperate for an escape?”
“You think I'd put my life in danger just to run away?"
"I think you are crazy enough to jump at the first opportunity you see.” He was furious at her for carelessly putting her life in danger.
She let out a wry laugh. ‘“You can't exactly blame me. I don't want to be here. Kept like a pig for future sacrifice."
His hand lingered on her skin, his touch warm, grounding. “Trust me, Little Flame,” he murmured, voice softer now. “The only place you would be sacrificed is on my bed.”
She turned around and walked away, Auren
following behind her, none noticing the white shadow watching in the distance before turning to walk away.