Bound by Blood & Parted by Fate

Chapter 26 : Shadows in the Night

Chapter 26 : Shadows in the Night

Fae's room, on the other hand, was a bit farther down the corridor. Her room was cozy, with embroidered tapestries hanging on the walls and a soft woolen carpet covering the floor. The bed had a canopy made of silk and the sheets were clean and smelled of lavender. A small table with a bowl of fruit and a carafe of water was placed by the window, overlooking the garden.

As Fae woke up in the middle of the night, her heart was racing and she was covered in sweat. She knew what she had just seen was not an ordinary dream, but a vision. She had seen a woman pouring wine into a golden cup with a red moon engraved on it. Fae's eyes then shifted to the man's hand, and she saw that it was Reza's hand. But then, her vision shifted to another man who was also in the room, and she couldn't see his face but she knew the man wanted to hurt Reza. She left her room, she needed to warn Reza.

As Fae walked through the dark hallway, she heard footsteps behind her. She quickened her pace, but the footsteps seemed to be getting closer. Suddenly, a man stepped out of the shadows in front of her, blocking her path.

The man who appeared before Fae was strikingly handsome with a chiseled jawline and piercing eyes. He had a deep, commanding voice that resonated through the dimly lit hallway. His long hair cascaded down his broad shoulders, and his muscular frame was on full display in his sleeveless leather armor. As a warrior, he exuded strength and power, making him an imposing figure. Despite his rough exterior, there was a sense of mystery about him that made Fae uneasy. She couldn't see his face clearly, adding to the ominous feeling that he brought with him.

As Fae walked down the hallway, she noticed a man approaching her from the shadows. She stopped in her tracks, feeling a bit uneasy.

"Who goes there?" she asked, keeping a safe distance.

The man stepped into the light, revealing himself to be a tall, muscular figure with long hair and sleeveless leather armor. He presented himself as Zaki, son of the Basharite Azar.

"Greetings, fair lady," he said in a deep voice. "I couldn't help but notice you wandering the halls. Might I inquire as to your name?"

Fae hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should reveal her identity to this stranger. But she knew she couldn't keep it a secret forever, especially if he was connected to the Basharite.

"I am Fae," she replied, keeping her guard up. "And who might you be…?"

“Zaki!” he said "I am but a humble servant of my father," he said with a bow. "But enough about me. Tell me, what brings you to this kingdom?"

Fae didn't want to divulge too much information, but she also didn't want to appear suspicious. "I came with my Basharite," she said vaguely.

Zaki raised an eyebrow. "Your Basharite, you say? Might I ask who they are?"

Fae remained silent, not wanting to give away any more information.

Zaki noticed her reticence and decided to change the subject. "Forgive me if I am being too forward, but I couldn't help but notice your beauty. You have the most enchanting eyes I have ever seen."

Fae rolled her eyes. She had dealt with men like Zaki before, men who thought they could woo her with flattery. But she had no time for such nonsense.

"I appreciate the compliment, Zaki, but I am not interested in your advances," she said firmly.

Zaki looked a bit taken aback, but quickly composed himself. "My apologies. I meant no disrespect. I merely wished to make your acquaintance."

"Well, you have made it," Fae said curtly. "But I must be on my way."

As she turned to leave, Zaki grabbed her arm. "Wait. One more thing.”

As Fae stood there with Zaki, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. She knew he was trying to get information out of her, and she didn't want to give him anything. She kept her answers short and to the point, hoping he would soon tire of the conversation.

“May I have your name” he added

Fae's mind was elsewhere, though. She couldn't stop thinking about Reza and how much she wanted to be with him. As Zaki spoke, she found herself lost in thought, calling out to Reza in her mind, hoping he could somehow hear her and save her from this conversation.

A few seconds later, just as Zaki was getting closer to Fae and caressing her cheek, Reza appeared out of nowhere and stepped in between them. Fae's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He looked so gallant and confident, as if he could take on anyone or anything.

"What is going on here?" Reza demanded, his voice low and menacing.

Zaki stepped back, a look of surprise and annoyance on his face. "Who are you?" he asked, eyeing Reza warily.

"I am Basharite Reza” his tone firm and unwavering

Zaki's expression changed as soon as he realized that the man standing in front of them was the Basharite Reza. He immediately took a step back and lowered his head in respect. "My apologies, I did not know it was you," he said before turning around and leaving without another word.

Fae let out a sigh of relief as she watched him disappear into the shadows. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease around him, and the fact that he had touched her without her consent only added to her discomfort.

After Zaki had left, Reza's expression turned stern as he turned to face Fae. He towered over her, looking down with a mixture of concern and anger. "What were you doing with that man?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Fae looked up at Reza, feeling a bit intimidated by his sudden change in demeanor. She took a deep breath before answering, "I was looking for you when he stopped me and began to talk with me. I didn't want to speak with him, but he was persistent."

Reza's eyes narrowed as he listened to Fae's explanation. He didn't seem entirely convinced but decided not to push the matter any further. Instead, he placed a hand on Fae's shoulder and pulled her close to him. "Just be careful," he whispered in her ear. "I don't trust these people."

Reza's expression changed as Fae revealed her vision to him. He was surprised and concerned at the same time.

"What kind of vision did you have?" Reza asked in a hushed voice, making sure no one was around to overhear them.

Fae explained everything she saw in detail, including the woman pouring wine into a golden cup with a red moon and the mysterious man who was looking at Reza. She told him that she saw his hand reaching out for the cup, and that was when she knew she had to warn him.

Reza's brow furrowed in thought as he tried to make sense of the vision. "I knew Azar wanted me dead," he said, rubbing his chin. "We need to be careful. We will leave as soon as possible"

Fae asked Reza, "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Reza hesitated for a moment before saying, "I sensed that you needed me."

Fae was surprised by his answer and couldn't hide it. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Reza looked at her and said, "The bond we share is two-sided, Fae.”

Fae's eyes widened in realization. "What does that mean…?" she asked incredulously.

Reza nodded, his expression serious. "I can feel your emotions just as strongly as you could feel mine."

Fae's mind raced with the possibilities. If she could feel Reza's emotions, she could use that to her advantage. She could gauge his reactions and plan accordingly.

But before she could voice her thoughts, Reza spoke again. "Don't even think about trying to manipulate me with our bond, Fae. It won't work. I know you too well."

Fae's heart sank at Reza's words. Had he really seen through her so easily? She looked down at her feet, feeling guilty.

Reza quietly slipped back into his room and Leyli stirred, looking up at him with sleepy eyes.

"Reza, where did you go?" she asked, her voice heavy with drowsiness.

"I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk," Reza replied, trying to sound casual.

Leyli raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was something he wasn't telling her. "Is everything alright?" she asked.

Reza hesitated for a moment before answering. "I just had some things on my mind," he said, hoping that would be enough to satisfy her.

As Leyli closed her eyes, she couldn't help but feel like something was going on between Reza and Fae.

Leyli thought about it for a while, trying to piece together the clues in her mind. She remembered the way Fae had looked at Reza when they first met, and the way he had reacted to her presence. She couldn't help but wonder if there was something more going on between them.

But Leyli decided to keep her thoughts to herself for now. She didn't want to accuse Reza of anything without any proof, and she didn't want to create any unnecessary tension between them. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to push the thoughts from her mind, hoping that she was just being paranoid.