Call of the North

Chapter 8

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My mom never talked about my dad whenever I asked her.

"He's a great man, that's all you need to know," was all she would say to me about it.

Not that I ever doubted her, my mother never talked negatively about him and used to compliment my looks saying "You have your father's eyes," whenever she would sit with me in my room and I would have to recite our constellations. But it was always clear that she was not entirely happy with the situation, and it was her silent strength that kept us all together.

In the time I had with her, I never believed I would really be spending my life on the run as she had claimed I would. I began to think she was just testing me as she has done all my life. Training me to be the young woman I was growing into.

Her hopes for my future were diminished the night she read my palm.

And after that, I was left with a mother who didn't know if giving me time would be a waste, knowing I would hurt other people in the end. It didn't stop her from telling me to never hurt unless it was for my safety. And I have always done that, up until now.

When light shined in my eyes for the first time, I believed I had been reborn again, back at the age of 0 when I was nothing but a newborn. And maybe I believed it for a second, feeling hands around my head, cradling me so fragile. However, it was left short when I heard sniffling.

"Aisling, my love, I'm so sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry you're dead because of me, I'm sorry I was never the mate you needed."

Woah, woah, woah.

I tried to move, but I could only feel my fingers twitch for a few minutes until the feeling came back into my arm. Focusing as hard as possible, I managed to swing it over to graze my fingers in the hair that was threatening to make me sneeze.

I felt him freeze, mumbling something incoherently under his breath as he looked up, taking his face out of where it was buried in the fabric of my chest. His expression was terrified, and I could see a newfound urgency in his eyes.

"Aisling?" I swear it was like he was looking at a different person the way he looked at me.

His eyes were bloodshot red, and I could see half-formed tears in his eyes, making them look like they were glistening.

Even crying he was beautiful.

"Y-you were dead." he stuttered, clearly wondering what was up.

"Indeed she was. It seems the goddess has given us a miracle." I looked over away from him to see the Queen on a chair near where I was lying. It took me a moment to realize that I was in the palace hospital, the place where it had all started.

"My dear, your throat was slit. My son's healer could do nothing so he drove you here himself. By the time you got here, you were not breathing. It's been days since you arrived."

"D-days?" My throat hurt but I could feel the small tingling sensations where I was healing faster than before.

"Kai insisted he sit by your side until you woke up even despite the obvious indication that you were indeed dead. Your funeral was planned for tomorrow. That reminds me, I must announce you are alright. I will have our Seer come check to make sure you are alright. Maybe then we can continue what we had planned for you two after all."

Kai had not spoken at all while his mom did, merely staring into my eyes while I evaded them.

I didn't want to admit it, but knowing he had been there had earned what was left of my unearned trust. I trusted him with my life now.

"Well, I shall leave you two while I go get out the word that the Prince's mate is alive. Kai, I assume there should be a coronation sometime soon. You can crown her when she is married, but for now, a grand ball should be held to honor the two of you and the momentous occasion of her being alive. Then we shall honor the happy couple and commemorate their new beginning together."

The idea of getting married both frightened and excited me. However, I knew there was a lot more than what I was asking for.

As the Queen finally left, I looked over at Kai, and the way he looked at me made my heart melt.

Maybe if I let myself engage in my relationship with him, maybe I could prevent the destruction of anything. Try and live a normal life with the man that wanted to live it with me. Or so I believed.

"It might be foolish, but I didn't want to pronounce you dead. Not after only having you for a few weeks."

My throat was still bothering me so I continued to rake my fingers through his hair, letting the unspoken words between us hang in silence. There was something special about him - a familiarity that I couldn't quite explain. Even if it seemed crazy, I couldn't bring myself to give up on us.

"The man that hurt you, do you know why he did it?"

"It's time for you to die, you unholy monster. The Seers have awaited your arrival, and the war to come will be at your hands. You must die!"

The words came back to me and instead of answering, I just shook my head, tears slightly forming in my eyes, knowing that someone knew about me and had tried to kill me. I could hear him sigh in dissapointment, clearly having wanted to know, but again, I did not want to relive it.

Who's to say it won't happen again?