The witch coughed again and began chanting, “In shadows deep, where realms entwine, a queen once fallen shall anew define. From ancient blood, a lineage lost shall rise again despite the cost. The witch returns to claim her right with magic stolen and love a blight. Legends lie, and tales mislead, but the lost queen shall set us free.”
“Yes, we know the damn prophecy.” I sighed. “But why this village?”
The witch only smiled and chanted the prophecy again.
“Do you see why I snapped?” Dedra grumbled from the door, and I clenched my jaw.
“I have somewhere to be, but try to get any information you can,” I said, looking at Aria. Aria smiled wickedly and stalked toward the witch, flames erupting from her palms. I made it only a few feet out of the tent before the screams started again.
Chapter 7
Zara
Two days had passed since the unsettling encounter with my mother, and I hadn’t experienced another disappearance since then. I’d finally managed to catch up on much-needed rest, secluding myself in my room and instructing the maids to bring all my meals to my chambers.They brought a selection of books from the library along with the food. Despite my efforts, I hadn’t found anything that could explain what was happening to me. However, I didn’t let it discourage meandremained determined to find an explanation.
A knock on the door jolted me from my reading, breaking my concentration. I let out a frustrated groan as I reluctantly left the sanctuary of my bed. The dark blue tunic and black leggings I wore were slightly wrinkled, but they were presentable enough.
My irritation deepened as I finally reached the door and pulled it open.
Jeremy stood there, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw ticking with visible frustration. He wore a white shirt with rolled sleeves, exposing his well-defined muscles and prominent veins.He looked more relaxed without his jacket, but his golden eyes blazed as they locked with mine. “Princess,” he hissed, his voice edged with concern and a trace of annoyance. “Are you ill?”
“No,” I snapped, already reaching for the door to shut it. But Jeremy’s arm shot out, blocking my attempt.
“Then why haven’t you been down for your training lessons? You haven’t been too one—”
I cut him off. “Yes, yes, since the other day. I’m aware, thank you. And I’ve told you I have no desire to train with you,” I shot back, trying to close the door again, but his arm was firmly in the way.
“So, you’re choosing not to train at all? How wise,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“If that’s all, Captain, I’d like to return to my reading,” I said, dismissing him with a wave. I abandoned my futile attempt to close the door and turned, crossing my room back to my bed. I heard him sigh heavily from the doorway, and when I finally settled back down and looked up, he had moved into the middle of the room.
“That wasn’t all,” he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he glanced around the room. His eyes wandered over my scattered belongings, pausing briefly on each item. “I want you to come back to training. It would be wise for you to know how to defend yourself,” he said, picking up a glass owl trinket from my desk on the far wall. He inspected it casually, raising an eyebrow in slight amusement.
“Please don’t break that; it was a gift,” I said, watching him intently as he carefully set the glass owl back down.
“Gift from your boyfriend?” he asked blandly, his gaze fixed on a nearby book as he continued to move around the room, picking up and examining various objects.
I bristled slightly. “Not that it’s any of your business,” I retorted, “but it’s from my friend Cynthia. She brought it back from her trip to one of the northern territories.”
His eyes finally met mine, a flicker of curiosity in his expression. “And you like owls?”
“Yes,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. Jeremy’s lips twitched, and I couldn’t help but scoff at him. “Is that amusing?”
He glanced over at me, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Not at all. I’m quite fond of owls.” He placed the book he was examining on my desk and then approached my bed. Leaning against the bedpost, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made me blush. “Zara,” he said, his voice low and insistent, “come back to training.”
Seeing him at the end of my bed made my heart race. Images of him shirtless surged to the forefront of my mind, and I cursed myself for thinking of that right now. I squirmed, clenching my legs together. Jeremy’s nostrils flared, and his gaze showed a hint of understanding as he watched me on the bed, his eyes darkening slightly.
Why was it that every time he was near, my body reacted like this? All flustered, all hot. It was ridiculous—like I had no control over myself at all.
“I’ll think about it,” I said, meeting his golden eyes with equal intensity.
Jeremy seemed to want to argue more on the matter, but decided to change the subject. “Your father wants me to escort you to the village today.”
There was an edge to his tone, and I straightened in bed. “Why?”
“He has a meeting with Duke Atticus, and plans on traveling with him afterward. He would be back for the ball next week, but wanted to see you before he left.” Jeremy shifted uncomfortably where he stood, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“What else do you know, Captain?” I questioned, sensing there was something more.
