Chapter 25: Tears
Nadeira didn't feel like she was breathing properly. Every damn time she had to visit this castle-something stupid or scary must happen.
It turned really icy in less than a second, and her fingers trembled no matter how tight she balled them.
Who was this voice behind her now…?
For some reason, she didn't dare to move…if the king himself heard what she was saying…Nadeira would be beheaded.
"Fuck this…" She gathered all her strength to turn around and face it.
Then arms wrapped around her from behind that felt so strong, heavy, and sudden…
A quick gasp escaped her lips. This was it..Nadeira was going to die.
A low chuckle whispered by her ear. "So you do cry when you miss us."
Her heart nearly burst. "Nyxmaris!"
She spun around, wide-eyed. There he was, his sly grin glowed like a diamond under ice. Behind him was Orrisian, and Caspian, pale as a ghost but still confident enough.
Her tears spilled again, but this time it wasn't from fear. "You came."
Orrisian folded his arms. "You called. You think we ignore that?"
Caspian gave a slow nod. "Your tears reached us. That means we're bound. That means we come."
Her knees almost gave out in relief. "I thought…I thought it didn't work. In front of the king, I cried and nothing happened."
Nyxmaris tilted his head, brushing a strand of her hair back. "You think we'd let you cry and not answer? Little flame, you underestimate us."
Nadeira let out a shaky laugh, pressing her hand to her mouth. "I'm so glad you're here."
Orrisian's eyes narrowed. "What did the king want from you?"
She grabbed their wrists, pulling them quickly toward her waiting carriage at the gates. "Not here. Come inside, and I'll explain."
The guards near the path watched Nadeira as she stormed past with three princes in tow. They looked like personal knights, following her with quiet power.
However; none of the guards dared to stop her.
Inside the carriage, she shut the door and leaned back against the seat, finally catching her breath. Her three mates sat across from her, focusing only on Nadeira.
"Talk," Orrisian ordered, but in a gentle tone.
Though, he wasn't known for his patience, but he knew that offending his mate could mean trouble later.
Nadeira looked at each of them. "The king invited me to his council. He said after saving the children, he saw me in a different light."
Nyxmaris snorted. "Different light? That sounds like a trap."
Caspian's jaw tightened immediately. "Did you accept?"
"I tried to reject," Nadeira admitted, slowly her voice started rising. "I told him no. But he insisted. And then-" she swallowed hard, "he threatened my home. Said if I don't attend tomorrow, he'll take it away."
The princes went still for some time.
Nyxmaris's grin slowly vanished into thin air. "He dares touch what's ours?"
Orrisian's hand twitched toward his sword. "Then he dies tomorrow."
Nadeira bent forward. "No! Don't you dare."
All three looked at her.
She took a deep breath. "I can handle it. I need to hear what they really want. If I kill him or if you do…then I lose my chance to find out."
Nyxmaris raised a brow. "You're asking us to sit still while the king strings you along?"
"Yes," she said simply. "Because something is wrong. And I need to know."
Caspian lowered his eyes. "What else did they say?"
Nadeira hesitated, then whispered, "Levius found me in the garden after. He said… my father wasn't the only traitor. That the crown remembers everything. And so does he."
Silence filled the carriage.
Orrisian's eyes went dark. "Traitor?"
Nadeira nodded. "That word was poison. He wanted me to hear it."
Nyxmaris leaned back, smirking bitterly. "The snake knows too much. He always did."
Caspian's gaze looked through the small carriage window. "If the crown remembers… then your father's sins are still existing. They may use them against you."
Nadeira clenched her fists. "Then I'll find out what exactly he meant. I won't let them play me like some rabbit in the battlefield. I'll drag the truth out, even if it means tearing that council apart piece by piece."
Orrisian's lips curled into a smile. "That's my girl."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't you start."
Nyxmaris leaned forward suddenly, his hand catching hers. "Just remember, Nadeira, cry again, and we'll come. Even if you're in the king's chamber. Even if the whole court is watching. We'll come."
Nadeira felt her chest warm. "Good. Because tomorrow… I may have to cry louder."
Caspian spoke softly, though his tone felt measured. "If they try to shame you, we cut them down. Council or not. King or not."
She shook her head. "No. Promise me. Not yet."
Orrisian smirked. "Fine. Not yet. But if they lay a hand on you-"
"They won't," she cut in, with more confidence than she felt.
The carriage jolted as it rolled toward her mansion. Nadeira rested her head back against the seat.
She looked at each of them, and there was this buzzing in her stomach, making the corners of her lips go up.
"They think they can play with me," she murmured. "But tomorrow, I'll see who the real traitors are."
The three princes shared a glance. They didn't argue.
She placed her hand on her nack, like there was something she wanted to touch.
"Do you want a necklace?" Nyxmaris asked her.
"Haha…no…it's just old memories."
"Mind sharing it with us?" Orrisian raised his eyebrow.
"Remember the day when that 'mate' thing happened?" Nadeira let out some air.
"Yes!" All replied at the same time.
"When Victoria and Harriet hit me…I've lost my mom's necklace…it fell into the sea…it was the only thing that was so dear to me…and now, I've lost it."
Caspian cleared his throat, "Nadeira, how much do you know about your mother? Do you have any idea who she really was and what made the sea bond us four?"