The Cursed Heir

Renewal

After her classes the sun was still shining, the air was warm with a light breeze. Perhaps one good thing about the school was its vast grounds, on a day like this Lyra could enjoy the weather with some false sense of privacy from her classmates. No one around to bother her, staring or fawning over her was a rare luxury she was lucky to enjoy here.

Sitting down with Nathan and Michael in front of her she was silent. Her mind was on Nick; how safe she’d felt in his warm embrace. It was no small thing for her to feel safe after everything that she had been through. Even with her guards by her side all day, every day she never felt at ease these days. Her mother’s treason had destroyed any notion of security for Lyra, now she was always on edge.

For the first few days after her mother’s plans had been thwarted she had tripled her security. At night two guards stood outside her doors, during the day she had six guards with her at all times. She had at first thought that might help her feel at home again but that wasn’t the case. Any false allusions of protection she had previously had were gone. In some ways she no longer cared, she couldn’t lose Jason twice after all.

Now she had something or rather someone she was afraid to lose again, it dawned on her that she could no longer behave so carelessly. Her mother was gone, but that did little to soothe her. She had been protected from the ugly truth for so long but there were many in their world who sought to destroy her family. The Lord Lebonair had done all that he could to shield her from this fact, but after what had happened to Jason he had told her of the dangers that they had faced, that they would always face.

She was lost in her thoughts, but the feeling of Nathan’s ocean blue eyes boring into hers broke her from her trancelike state.

“Do you think it’s safe here?” She asked, her eyes focusing on them now.

“Well I should think so, you’ve got the two of us.” Michael said, feigning offence.

“But do you feel safe?” There was a moment’s pause before he next spoke, and that in itself spoke volumes for her.

“Of course I do, this school is practically a fortress.” Next to him Nathan was watching Lyra intently, his eyes analysing hers.

“Don’t you feel safe?” He asked, his concern evident.

“I don’t think that’s a fair question. I only felt safe at the court because nothing bad had ever happened there and I never thought that it could.” Her response did little to reassure his concern.

“You say the word and I will have more security here tomorrow.” Nathan offered but she shook her head.

“I can’t think rationally anymore; I’m asking because I trust your judgement more than my own. If you feel that we are safe here, then I will trust that you are right.” She didn’t often let herself be vulnerable but she owed them so much, they deserved the raw truth after all that they had done for her.

“I can speak to the headmaster, perhaps we can tighten the school’s patrols.” She felt Nathan’s hand gently squeeze on her own.

“Words will never be enough but I want to thank you both for all that you’ve done, all you continue to do for me. I know I don’t make your jobs easy and I don’t say it often enough but I truly am grateful and I do appreciate you both. I don’t know where I would be without you.” Her eyes were glassy, her tone sincere.

“Don’t go soft on us now kid.” Michael joked, grinning widely.

“It is with pride that we serve the Lebonair my Lady.” Nathan even cracked a little smile.

“We’re having a moment Nathan, don’t be so formal. You can call me by my name, you never had a problem doing so before.” She rolled her eyes, smiling at him.

“I could hardly be formal with you when you were at my house every other day fawning over my brother.” He teased, watching as her face went dreamy.

“Oh Cole, I actually cried when I heard he found his mate.” She laughed, reminiscing her silly youthful behaviour.

“That’s not a surprise to anyone, you used to write Lady Lyra Carter on the corners of your school books.” All three of them burst out laughing.

“The heart wants what it wants.” She sighed dramatically.

“But Cole looks just like Nathan, does that mean you fancied him too?” Michael smirked, glancing between them.

“Nath wasn’t cool and mysterious, besides Annabelle called dibs on him when we were like twelve.” Both Lyra and Michael looked to Nathan then.

“Aw he’s blushing!” Michael’s laugh was infectious.

“Play nice boys.” She shook her head at them.

It felt nice being with them, just carefree as she used to be. She missed when they would hang out, wasting whole days at Nathan’s home in the pool or even just relaxing in the gardens at the court. Since her k********g they had been protective, and for a while she felt like they were her guards and not just her friends. It was reminiscent of a time before all the ugliness to be sat outside with them, laughing and talking.

For a few months now she was catatonic, almost like she wasn’t really there. Now she had a renewed sense of appreciation for the things she had failed to recognise before. She knew it was due to Nicholas, he had awoken something in her. For the first time in a while she felt alive again, thanks to the mate bond she now felt. It was like she had been sleepwalking and he had brought her back to real life.

That night, like clockwork she was awake past three. She stared out the window, wondering if she should venture outside again. A part of her knew better, it was incredibly scandalous should anyone see them yet she didn’t care about that. She had been so concerned about preserving her reputation for so long and it had gotten her nowhere in the past. Now she was sure nothing she did was comparable to the events of the trial.