Chapter: Threads of War and Heart
Elis
I sat at the grand dining table, swirling the wine in my goblet, watching the red liquid catch the light. The feast laid out before me went cold. I couldn't eat. My mind had wandered again, to her. Lily.
She had always been beautiful. But tonight, when I saw her in the royal quarters, dressed in elegance, she looked... transformed. There was a quiet strength in her now. Not just beauty, but grace and something else. And yet, her eyes still held that spark…that fire that first drew me in.
Eunice moved around the table, placing a steaming dish before me. "She has settled in?" I asked, not looking up.
She paused for a moment, then resumed setting the plates. "Yes, she has."
My fingers tightened slightly around the goblet. "I should see her."
Eunice exhaled. I could hear the motherly caution in her voice. "And what would you say?"
I finally looked up. "That I made the right choice."
Her brows rose slightly. "For her, or for yourself?"
I frowned. "What are you implying?"
"I've known you since you were a boy, Elis. You've always been decisive. But with this… I see hesitation."
I leaned back in my chair, jaw clenched. "Because she means something to me."
Eunice gave a small, satisfied nod. "Then treat her like she does. Let her understand why you did what you did. If you go now, she'll think you're trying to buy her with a fine room and royal gowns."
I looked away, the weight in my chest growing. "And if I wait too long and lose her?"
"Then she was never yours to begin with."
Her words clung to me long after she left the room. But I knew she was wrong about one thing. Lily was mine. I felt it in my bones. Still… I would wait.
Lily's pov
It was a quiet afternoon. I was in the garden, kneeling in the dirt, gently pressing a sprig of thyme into the earth when I heard hurried footsteps behind me. "Lily!" I turned as Sara appeared, breathless and flustered. She stepped over the stone path, her skirts gathered in her hands.
"What is it?"
She didn't waste time. "The king…he's gone to war."
My fingers, still coated with soil, froze in place. "War?"
She nodded quickly. "The rival kingdom attacked our borders. The king led the army himself."
My chest tightened. "He went himself?"
"Of course," she said. "He's the Alpha King. The warriors wouldn't fight with half as much fire if he stayed behind. But Lily… there's more. This battle…something about it feels wrong."
I wiped my hands on my apron and stood. "What do you mean?"
"I overheard some of the warriors," she said, lowering her voice. "They said the enemy… It isn't normal. They fight like monsters. Fast. And unnatural."
A chill ran through me. "Did Elis say anything before leaving?"
She hesitated. "Not that I know of. But his Beta, Douglas, looked like a man preparing for his own funeral. And Princess Zeena threw a tantrum so loud I could hear it from the east wing."
I turned away, breathing in the scent of rosemary and damp earth. "He'll be fine," I whispered. "He has to be."
Sara crossed her arms, watching me. "You care, don't you?"
I kept my gaze on the soil. "He's the king. If he falls, we all do."
She smirked. "Right. That's the only reason you care?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I motioned toward the bag in her hand. "Did you get the seedlings?"
"Yes. There was chaos in the market. People are stocking up. Preparing for the worst."
"Thank you," I said softly.
She reached out and squeezed my hand. "Just… take care of yourself."
When she left, I remained in the garden. I ran my fingers over the herbs. Lavender. Basil and Moringa. My hands knew what to do, but my mind drifted. The sun sank lower. The shadows stretched long. The air turned still. And then it hit. A searing heat spread through me and then ice. My knees gave out, and I gasped as a vision gripped me.
Swords. Screams. Blood. Elis. He was in the thick of it, blade swinging with brutal precision. But he was tired. I could feel it; his body ached. His strength strained. I felt everything. Pain. Rage. Desperation. Move! I screamed in my mind. And he did. Just in time. His eyes darted around, as if he sensed me.
I wasn't there. But somehow… I was. I moved with him. Anticipated his blows. Shielded him in ways I couldn't explain. It was like dancing with death and him. Then it all shattered. I collapsed back into the garden, the vision yanked from me. My body convulsed and my breath became shallow. Something was wrong. Worse than war. Something else watched that battlefield. Something dark.
I must have passed out. Hours later, I woke up on the cold stone floor of my chamber. My skin was damp with sweat, my clothes sticking to me. I dragged myself to the basin and splashed my face with water. The girl in the reflection looked pale. And haunted. Why did I feel his pain? He was miles away. I should've felt nothing. But I had.
A knock broke the silence. "Lily?" Sara's voice was soft, cautious. "Are you alright? You left the door unlocked."
I forced my breath to even. "I'm fine."
She stepped in and frowned immediately. "You don't look fine."
"I didn't sleep well."
"You've been off ever since he left."
My heart skipped. Sara looked at me, quiet now. "You feel something. Don't you?" I didn't answer. She didn't push. "You don't have to say it. Just know you're not alone."
I nodded slowly, grateful for her. But I still couldn't bring myself to speak the truth. Because whatever was happening between me and Elis… it wasn't normal. And it terrified me.