For the first time in twenty-five years, I remembered my dreams.
Now I understood why I hadn't remembered them before: I had dreamed of a tree of light, crystals that absorbed my energy, and a male figure wrapped in radiance saying, "You're finally home." It was a scene beyond fantastic; it felt almost prophetic. I was there, in that forest, with that figure. I wanted to go with him, but something wouldn't let me.
I shook my head with a disbelieving smile. This salty air was clearly getting to me. Energy crystals... seriously. I must've lost my mind.
The day was pretty routine: breakfast, bath, wandering around the house. But I couldn't focus on anything. Not after yesterday. I felt like someone was watching me. I couldn't see them, but I could feel them—a constant presence, as if the house itself was breathing with me.
Then Mrs. M appeared, as if she had heard my thoughts.
—Miss Sereniah, may I get you anything?
—Not right now, Mrs. M. Well... —I changed my mind quickly— Where's the lord of this house? We have a conversation pending.
She sighed.
—Milord left early this morning for the village. His schedule is quite full. I doubt he'll return before nightfall.
—Great. Another wasted day —I muttered. I was sure he had given instructions to keep me under watch.
—Is there anything to do nearby? —I asked. If he wasn't going to give me answers, I'd find them myself.
—The village is about twenty minutes away on horseback. Walking takes longer.
—And the closest thing?
—The spring. But I don't recommend going there alone.
—Why?
—Because you're a lady. A lady shouldn't be wandering around by herself.
—Is it dangerous?
—Not particularly. But we must maintain decorum.
—Then show me the way. I'd rather go out than stay trapped in here "maintaining decorum."
She sighed again, as if arguing with me was pointless. She handed me a simple drawing with directions.
—Be back before nightfall. The island is safe, but the jungle can be confusing at night.
—I'll be back before dinner.
...
I followed the map until I reached the spring, and I was not prepared for what I found.
The water shone like liquid silver. A light blue so unreal it almost glowed. Tiny waterfalls cascaded over rocks covered in white flowers. It looked like something pulled straight from a dream. I sat on a rock and let the peace wash over me, breathing in the calm.
I scanned the surroundings. No one appeared. Time slipped by unnoticed; hours must have passed. But there was no way I'd miss the chance to go in. In a corner of the spring, there was a small cave framed by two large rocks. I decided to undress and step into the water in my undergarments.
Warmth wrapped around me. The temperature was perfect—nothing else could compare to that sensation. For a moment, I felt like someone was watching again; I checked, but no one was there. I let myself float, losing track of time in that heavenly water. It was fresh, enveloping. Perfect.
A sudden crack snapped me out of my trance. Birds shot up from deep in the forest. The sound was sharp, like a distant explosion.
I'd better get out, I thought. I swam toward the edge. Then I heard it.
A buzzing. Then a shadow. Bats. Hundreds of them. They burst from a crack in the rock, hitting me as they flew past, scratching my arms. I screamed and fell back half into the water.
—Help! Someone!
I covered my face, using my hands to shield my eyes; the water here was shallow, leaving most of me exposed. A body lunged toward me and wrapped me in a heavy cloak. I felt the protective embrace. Thank God, I thought.
It was him.
Declan.
He covered me with the cloak, shielding me. His face was tense. He didn't speak. His eyes scanned me in silence. I was shaking.
Seconds later, it was over. My savior pulled the cloak tighter around me and lifted me out of the water in a single motion.
How had he gotten there so fast? What the hell?
His amber eyes roamed over me. I blushed; I was nearly naked. But he seemed more concerned with my injuries than my appearance. No words were exchanged. He stayed focused; I was still in shock. Bats? Seriously?
I covered myself as best I could with my hands, lowering my face in shame. His expression softened for a heartbeat. He lifted my chin gently, examining my face. I could feel the burn on my left cheek. I also noticed a scratch over his brow. That would take a little to heal.
Finally, he spoke:
—Are you all right?
His eyes had turned calm, almost warm. I nodded. I couldn't speak. For an instant, a spark of light flickered in his eyes, like stardust. Did I imagine it?
He noticed. His gaze dropped. His expression hardened again.
—Get dressed. I don't want anyone seeing you like this and causing more trouble.
Rage boiled up inside me.
—Who do you think you are? My father?
He sighed.
—I imagine you have women lined up to marry you with that personality —I mocked.
—Are you going to get yourself into a new mess every day? I have more important things to do.
—Excuse me, Your Majesty. I'll try to behave like a proper lady.
—Sereniah, please. Don't make this harder.
A howl split the air. Wolves.
Declan tensed. His gaze darted to the jungle.
—Damn it. We'll have to spend the night here —he ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
—What? Where!?
—In the cave.
—WHAT? After those bats came out of it? I'm not going in there, over my dead body-...
—It's the safest place. Stay behind me. —He interrupted me.
—No, no, no...
—Would you rather stay out here at the mercy of the wolves? —he teased; a small smile touched his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.
—Fine! I'll follow you, but if I die because of some animal, it's on your conscience.
—Trust me, we are going to be fine. Follow me.
I crossed my arms. He looked at me but said nothing. I started walking behind him.
I wrapped the heavy cloak tighter around me as we entered the cave, still dimly lit by the last rays of the sun. It was small, with a trickle of water seeping in through a corner, forming a little pool of crystal water. He watched me examine the place.
—You can drink from there if you're thirsty. It's pure spring water. —He gathered some dry branches from a corner and, striking stone against stone, lit a fire at the cave's entrance.
—This will keep them away.
I sat on a rock, wrapped in the cloak. He was soaked too. He sat across from the fire, his eyes fixed on the flames, his hair falling over his face. That's when I saw it.
A scar. Long. Pale. Across his collarbone.
I shivered. How had he survived an injury like that?
—Are you cold? —he asked without looking at me.
—I'm fine —I lied, trembling inside.
—You skin and lips are almost blue —he added, lifting a brow.
—And you look like someone who thinks he almost owns the world.
A fleeting smile crossed his face.
Something inside me, silently, began to give in.
I had a thousand questions, but none felt safe to ask. Honestly, part of me didn't want to talk. I wanted to watch him. Understand him. There was something about him... It wasn't just the way he touched me without touching me, or how he seemed to read my thoughts effortlessly. It was the energy radiating from him, as if the air itself shifted around him.
Suddenly, he stood. His shirt parted slightly, revealing the thin scar across his collarbone again. A lord with scars? Something didn't fit. It was completely out of place in a man who moved like he'd never been wounded.
—Are you going to sit there freezing out of pride? —he asked, offering me a blanket I hadn't seen before.
—Where did that come from?
—Not everything you see is all there is —he replied with that infuriating calm that made me want to throw a rock at him.
I accepted the blanket without a word. When my fingers brushed his, that damned current returned. It was like liquid electricity running through my skin. I swallowed hard and looked away, but I knew he felt it too. Because that night, he didn't laugh. He didn't make a single sarcastic remark.
—What was that noise? —I finally asked, referring to the blast before the bats had flown out like demons.
—I don't know yet. But I don't like it. —His voice had grown lower, sharper.
There was something in his eyes that looked like guilt. As if protecting me was a burden he hadn't chosen but couldn't let go of either. I tried to change the subject before the fear settled in.
—Why me? —I asked, unable to hold it back.
He sighed.
—That's a long story. And if I told you, I doubt you'd sleep tonight.
—And who says I can sleep anyway?
He didn't answer. He just moved closer to the fire, tossed in a few more branches, and sat down again—closer to me this time.
—Sereniah... —he said my name slowly, and my heart trembled in my chest—. There are things you won't understand yet. But there's something I can tell you. I... am not what I seem.
—I figured that much —I said, trying to sound strong—. No one normal has eyes that light up like yours. I've heard stories of humans with strange abilities, people who look different from the rest.
He tensed, and for a second, I thought he'd stand up and walk away. But he didn't.
—The truth... is more complicated than you think.
—What are you? —I whispered—. Or what am I to you?
He looked at me again, straight into my eyes.
—What you are... what you mean... is bigger than you or me. And when you find out, nothing will ever be the same.
He inhaled and glanced up at the cave's ceiling, lost in thought. Then his gaze returned to the fire.
—What if I told you none of this was a coincidence? —Declan murmured, his eyes fixed on the flames—. What if I told you that you and I... were destined to meet? Everything else was an act.
My chest tightened. I didn't like those words. They were dangerous. Addictive. Like sweet wine that makes you forget it's poison.
—Are you always this mysterious with all your prisoners? —I asked, crossing my arms, using that tone I relied on when I felt like I might fall apart.
He turned his head slightly. His smile was slow, like a whisper.
—Only with the ones who interest me.
My cheeks burned before I could stop them. I turned away and pulled the blanket tighter, hating that even here, in a damp cave full of bats, he could make me feel... seen.
—Don't get it twisted —I added, staring at the wall—. This doesn't change anything. Just because I'm not screaming or hitting you doesn't mean I accept any of this.
—Of course not —he said playfully—. You still have several stages of anger to go through. I'm looking forward to seeing them all.
—Are you always this arrogant?
—No. Only when I'm... intrigued.
His voice had changed. Lower. Softer. Velvet. And damn it, it wasn't fair. He couldn't sound like that when I was at such a disadvantage.
I shifted uncomfortably, trying to put more distance between us, though there was already plenty. Still, I could feel him. Too close. As if his presence filled the air itself.
—What was that thing in your eyes? —I asked before thinking. Damn curiosity.
Silence.
I looked at him. He wasn't smiling anymore.
—What thing?
—Don't play with me. Your eyes... changed. For a second they had... light. Like...
I swallowed. He tilted his head slowly.
—Sometimes, when someone is in danger... they see what they need to see —he finally said, expressionless.
—Is that what I saw?
—Maybe. —A pause—. Maybe not.
I wanted to yell at him. Shake him. Or... touch his hair? I was definitely under some kind of spell. I clearly had two or three personalities roaming around in there.
Oh Lord.
—You're unbearable —I muttered.
—So are you. And yet, here we are. —He smiled—. The universe has a twisted sense of humor.
I pulled the blanket again, hating the way his words made me feel. As if everything I'd ever known was on pause, waiting for him to explain why I was here.
—Don't get cocky —I said finally, my voice heavy with sleep—. This doesn't mean I'll let you get away with this.
—Perfect. I don't like easy things anyway.
Bastard. I turned around, giving him my back, closing my eyes, pressing my lips together to keep any sound from escaping. None of this was right. And yet...
I felt more alive than ever.
—Sleep, Sereniah —he said from his side of the cave, his voice stripped of its usual smile—. Tomorrow... we go home.
And there it was again. That shadow in his tone. Like he knew something I didn't. Like everything I'd lived so far was just the prologue.
And still, I slept. Because deep down, even if I didn't understand it yet... I felt safe.