Chapter 3
1206 Words
It had been almost two weeks since Tora had seen Sylvain.
No sight. No sound.
Her mind was clear. It should have been a relief.
Wasn’t this what she wanted?
For him to leave her alone?
Tora shook her head. She needed to stop thinking about him. About his request to try.
How did he expect her to react?
After everything he had done, killing her people, nearly killing her.
And yet… he had promised to find her sister.
Did that only happen if she let her walls down?
She sighed, sinking slightly into the chair, her chin just grazing the table’s edge. She needed someone to talk to, someone to vent. But Marthos was busy and mad at Solis, but she was sure it might’ve extended to her for some reason.
A voice broke interrupting her thoughts during lunch.
"My Queen, this letter was left for you outside."
The guard.
Sestian had been replaced, of course he had. The guards had obviously been warned who she was now.
Tora forced a polite smile, reaching for the letter.
"Please, I am no queen. Just Tora or Theanna is fine."
The guard hesitated, then nodded, turning on his heel.
Tora studied the letter, Marthos.
Her heart skipped.
She had written twice daily, sending letters to Aurathen, waiting for a response.
And now, finally.
She peeled the letter open, squinting as if bracing herself for its contents. Please don’t be hate mail. Tora swallowed. They didn’t exactly part on good terms.
'Check the door. Marthos.’ Was all it said.
Tora’s breath hitched.
Excitement surged through her.
Was Marthos here?
The letter crinkled in her grip as her fingers tightened, pulse thrumming in her ears.
She barely hesitated before pushing back her chair, heart hammering as she rushed towards the door to reveal Marthos. Copper wings tucked behind her. Burnished-toned hair tied back, revealing sharp, striking features.
Tora beamed, embracing her.
"Marthos! You got my letters! How have you been? How's the Oracle?"
Marthos chuckled. “Which one?” She teased. Then simply gestured inside.
"Come on. A lot has happened to both of us. Let’s explain over some wine."
They settled inside, wine poured, and the unspoken weight between them hung heavy.
"Please don’t let this drag out. I need to know what’s going on with you," Tora pleaded.
Marthos exhaled, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Fine. How much do you know?"
Tora raised a brow.
"Know what?"
A pause.
Marthos swirled the wine in her glass, watching the deep liquid settle before speaking again.
"You know. About Solis."
Tora lowered her own glass, uncertain.
"What about him?"
Marthos took a large sip of her wine, as if steeling herself.
"Well…" She hesitated.
Then, with startling swiftness, “I’m in love with the Oracle.” The words flowed out, unrestrained. “And yes, he’s doing better."
The words fell so fast that Tora had to blink, then ask her to repeat.
"You heard me."
Marthos’s tone was cool, but there was something there, something raw beneath it.
A slow grin spread across Tora’s face.
"How does one fall in love in a week?"
Marthos downed the rest of her wine before answering.
"Long story short? I made it difficult for him. Tried to kill him, even."
Tora laughed. "Oh."
"He never stopped telling me I was his love anyway," Marthos continued, shaking her head. "One night, I drank too much of this," she lifted her empty glass before setting it down again.
Tora leaned in.
"And…?"
A pause.
Marthos’s lips quirked.
"We almost did it."
Tora gasped before laughing, shaking her head. "I knew you two had something weird going on!"
Marthos flushed but smirked. "I know. I wanted to kill him for whatever he was doing to my emotions. But it was not trick"
She refilled her glass, taking another sip before her expression darkened.
"But that’s not all."
Tora stilled, watching her.
"He told me the visions he saw, all except the one we were in."
The shift in her tone made the air heavier.
"In the ones we didn’t choose…"
Marthos trailed off. "Solis or Sylvain used me as the sacrifice to save you."
Silence.
Tora’s hands lifted to cover her mouth, the words settling like stone inside her.
"I’m no fool."
Marthos’s voice was steadier now.
"I expect that from Sylvain. But Solis?"
She shook her head, disappointment flickering in her gaze.
"I did not."
She took another sip.
Let the words sit.
"The day I saw you… and Solis."
Tora swallowed.
Marthos exhaled.
"I realised; he gave that vision knowing he would have Solis send soldiers to kill him. He sacrificed him to save me. I loved him then and there, and I wanted Solis dead, I hated him with everything I had." Marthos grip around the glass tightened at the thought.
Tora stiffened at the confession.
"Then I looked at him. His eyes, longing. Searching for mine."
A small, humourless laugh left her lips.
"But all he found was hate. I wanted to kill him, but…"
More silence.
Tora finally spoke, voice quiet.
"Wait, were you and Solis together? Did you… cheat on him?"
Marthos chuckled softly.
"No."
She swirled her wine again, watching it shift before continuing.
"It’s worse."
Tora leaned forward.
"What do you mean?"
Marthos sighed, setting her glass down.
"When the deal broke, I felt it."
Her gaze lifted to Tora, something heavy in her expression.
"Solis is my mate."
Tora inhaled sharply, then promptly downed her drink, poured herself another, then downed that, too.
"That explains a lot."
She set the glass down and exhaled.
Tora’s voice dropped as she glanced around, half-expecting black smoke to curl into the room.
"But it doesn’t change the way I feel about the Oracle."
She leaned back.
"I will never choose Solis."
The certainty in her voice was unwavering.
"Because he never chose me."
Her fingers traced the rim of her glass absently.
"In every vision, he betrayed me."
"Me as his friend. Me as his unknown mate."
Tora reached for her hand, squeezing it.
"I’m sorry you were the sacrifice."
Her voice was low. "I would never have allowed it."
Marthos nodded once, gaze still distant.
"What happens now? Do you go to Lunary?" Tora asked, the question lingering between them.
Marthos let out a quiet chuckle.
"I need to speak with my brother before I make any decision, it affects not only me but Aurathen."
She lifted her glass, studying the deep crimson liquid.
"This isn’t a normal relationship. At the moment, he’s in Aurathen as my friend who needed help."
They gossiped and drank until late in the evening, wine loosening words and laughter alike.
The grand dining table now sat abandoned. The remnants of their feast left behind as they settled into the softer, cozier space of the estate.
A marble fireplace dominated the room, its flames casting a golden hue against the polished stone. The heat curled around them, making the chilled night beyond the estate’s walls feel distant, forgotten.
They sank into plush armchairs, rich velvet cushions moulding to their forms, the warmth of the fire and the weight of wine keeping them there, unrushed, unguarded, lost in conversation.
- Writer
