The reflection looked… beautiful. My cheeks burned.
I felt ridiculous.
Why was I wearing something like this? Here, of all places.
Sighing, I returned to the dresser, picturing my normal clothes, and pulled it open. My heart skipped a beat. It was empty. I quickly closed and opened it again. Empty.
“Are you—” I scoffed, my eyes bulging. Taking a step back, I examined the dresser. “Are you messing with me?”
It didn’t answer, obviously, and I felt even more ridiculous. Trying the drawer one more time, it was still empty and the clothes on the floor were gone.
“Alright then,” I whispered to myself, glancing in the mirror one more time before steeling my nerves and walking down the stairs.
As I passed the staircase to the front entryway, I glanced down and there was Rogue, speaking with Doran and two guards. His mouth stopped moving as his eyes slowly raised to mine and he stilled, his lips falling slack. My gaze dipped down his body, taking in every inch, and the room suddenly felt too warm, my skin flushing from the heat.
He was wearing black leather trousers and my eyes widened when I realized his tunic was the same deep blue color as my dress.That sneaky dresser.His hair was still hanging loose around his face, though it was now combed, with his crimson wings on full display as usual. My fingers itched to touch them, to feel the smoothness on the underside, and they shifted under the weight of my gaze.
A burning hunger to feelhim,every part of him, tore through me. I stood straighter, resisting the urge to descend the stairs to him.
His gaze was scorching, lazily sliding down my body, snagging on my exposed cleavage before returning to my eyes. His attention was locked on me, not even bothering to listen to his companions as I dipped into a faint curtsy before turning and continuing to the library, feeling his eyes on my back as I walked out of view.
My heart was still racing when I made it to the library, pausing in the doorway to gather my thoughts.
“Hello, Ara,” Alden said as he walked around a bookshelf. “Please allow me to apologize for our last encounter. I had a great many things weighing on my mind, but that was no excuse for how I spoke to you.”
“Oh, no. Please. No apology necessary,” I replied, offering him a light smile and waving a hand in dismissal.
“Well, in that case, let us discuss books, as I am sure that is what you came for. Have you read any more of the book I suggested?” he asked with a thin smile, his eyes tight as he wrung his hands in front of him.
“No, I haven’t, but I have no other stories in mind for today, so I’ll make sure to read it.”
He strolled to the historical shelves and pulled the thick tome, handing it to me with an encouraging look. “It can be a tricky subject, but an interesting one.”
I nodded and walked to the nearby table, Alden following behind me. Flipping through the back pages, I passed over Rogue and Adrastus, stopping at King Vaelor.
The first thing I noticed was his gray eyes—a dark, stormy gray that almost felt familiar. His hair was brown and long, hanging past his shoulders.
Glancing to the next page, it read:
Vaelor, the Last Storm Bringer
241st King of Ravaryn
Son of Alden and Ara, of village Nautia
Ability: Will storms to come, control lightning strikes, create electricity
Death: Murdered by Adrastus Draki in vie for the throne
My blood went cold. My eyes snapped to Alden.
“His father… Is that you?” I asked.
He nodded, leaning over to look at the sketch with furrowed brows.
“Yes, he was my son.”
“How can you stay here then? And work for Rogue?” I blurted, gaping at him.