It explained so much as to why Nic was always so hot and cold with me. He hated that he left to say goodbye to me. He
should have stayed home, but I’d always begged him to be with me, to spend time with me. He must have felt obligated to
return one last time.
Morgana let go of Vanessa’s hand once the weather seemed to calm down, the blue skies returning. She took another puff of
her pipe then handed it back to Morgana.
“Ella, when we found the murderer, Nicholas flew into a rage unlike anything we’d ever seen before. We knew he had gifts,
but the things he was able to do… He is more careful now and won’t allow anything like that to happen again. However, I think
with you, he finds it difficult to control his emotions, so maybe, pushing you away is the best he can do, to protect you.”
Vanessa took the seat next to me as she continued to explain, taking a hold of my sweaty and shaking hands. I stared
outwards, trying to comprehend everything.
“He thinks he’s a monster because of the things he’s done. I know he will fight you on this, but as his wife, you must take the
bad with the good. Prove to him you are not leaving.”
“He wishes me dead. I heard him say so himself.”
She puffed out a sigh and rolled her eyes at me as I turned to face her. Tears threatened to fall once more. I didn't know how
I had any left at this point.
“Trust me, if he wanted you dead, you’d be already buried in a box. We know our brother. He is fighting himself over his
feelings for you. Trying to do what’s right for this kingdom. But what’s right is learning to love you freely. Being the king, we
all know he can do both.”
I was starting to miss the buzz of the herbs as I listened closely to her words. I still couldn’t understand why the sudden
push back from him. Why was I suddenly the villain in his story? All I wanted to do was be close to him, create a solid
relationship.
“We will leave you with these thoughts. But honestly, I think talking to him without anger or shouting will work. We will
tell him the same. Maybe this evening you can both enjoy each other’s company alone. We will eat elsewhere.”
Eyeing the clock again, I saw I’d have at least a few more hours until dinner and the dreaded silence that would come
across the dining table. Vanessa and Morgana took their leave shortly after. With the quiet buzz around my head, I changed into
my riding clothes and decided a ride on Eira would help clear my thoughts. I needed to mentally prepare for what I wanted to
say to Nicholas.
Although the air was warm with the spring breeze, there was still a slight chilled wind that swept around me as I walked
down the path towards the stable. Bringing my cape up around my neck, I was grateful to find the stables empty aside from the
stable hand and his apprentice who was mucking out a stall.
