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I let out a sigh of relief when I don’t see him in the corridor. His door is still shut. Thank gods. This day might not be cursed after all.
I quickly slip from my room and shut the door silently behind me as I tiptoe across the hall. The stones emanate cold and the wind howls outside. A shiver runs up my spine. Hopefully there’s a library here and fingers crossed there’s a fireplace in there too.
There’s so much commotion today I can hardly believe it.
I sneak to a small nook in the corner of the main foyer to watch for a few moments. I need to figure out where a library would be—if it exists, anyway—so I might as well take in the day too.
It’s weird being here in the castle and not cooped up in Arulius’s room. I can sit in the middle of Nesbrim’s heart and just… exist. For the first time, I feel completely and utterly normal.
I take a deep breath of the cold air and the scent of burning wood crackling in the fireplaces. It feels fucking amazing.
A draft rolls in as male Eostrix warriors stride in with their white bone armor strapped on. Their black clothes underneath are tight and show off their muscles. Cocky assholes. A group of female Eostrixes follow close behind them, equally in shape and leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination with the tight black silk that hugs their bodies.
Okay, maybe I should start training in my spare time. That way I can punch Rune in the face and knock him on his ass next time. I clench my jaw as I brood on the way he just kicked my door open this morning. Kastian would be proud to know I finally just resorted to his ways of waking up and choosing violence.
I glance over to the far end of the foyer, past the dining hall and torture room. A large group of Dreadiuses and Moss Sparrows are huddled, reviewing some documents in their hands. I quirk a brow, wondering what they’re looking at. It must be important to have the castle hopping like this.
Someone sits next to me and I flinch as I cast a glance over at them.
Oh gods, for all that is holy. It’s fucking Kol.
Dreadiuses are called that for all the dread they seem to bring me, I muse as I give him a hard stare that saysget the fuck away from me.
He sits tall, dressed in his black cloak with ebony leather gloves pulled up his arms. Three black horns crest his head, tipping up at the ends, and his midnight-black eyes are narrowed on me in a death gaze. “Elodie.”
“Kol.” I return the nasty tone and fold my arms, furrowing my brow more.
He considers me for a moment before setting his hands on his knees like the good little trained soldier he is. “You will be relieved to know that Violet has canceled your sessions until further notice.” He scowls. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was upset they’ve been canceled. He’s a freaking sadist.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Rune was one as well—but Iamshocked to hear that Violet has put a pause on the sessions.
My brows pull in tighter. “You’re serious?”
He wipes invisible wrinkles from the black fabric of his cloak. “Yes, I wouldn’t seek to talk to you otherwise.” His eyes look me up and down and anger builds in my chest from his insult.
“Good thing your fucking brother can’t talk—I’m worried he’d be just as big of an asshole as you are.”
Kol snarls at me and it’s so raw that I know instantly I’ve hit his soft spot. “Don’t youdarespeak about Rune. He’s suffering as much if notmorethan a bitch like you.” He growls low at me, loud enough to draw a few gazes from the Eostrixes standing nearby. “You’re getting everything you deserve,Talia.” He hisses my name like it’s poison on his lips, making me flinch back in my seat.
“Gods, what the fuck crawled in your ass today?” I snarl back at him and I swear he’s about to lunge at me, but Naminé walks up to intervene. Her ash-blonde hair swirls around her back beautifully and her white Vernovian Thorn is as elegant as Nesbrim itself.
“Hey, Kol, Willow is looking for you. She said it’s urgent,” she says with a serious tone. The Dreadius eyes me once more like our conversation isn’t finished, before standing and storming past Naminé with a shove.
We both watch him until he leaves through the enormous front doors and then I let a breath of relief out. “Gods, he’s such a ray of sunshine, don’t you think?” I mutter and Naminé lets a soft laugh out. Her smile seems a little more light today and I’m wondering if it has anything to do with her date. A throb flutters in my chest at the idea of being normal and going on a casual date. The memory of Wren and me at the café with Marley brushes against my heart, and I smile at the one blissful afternoon I had in Tomorrow before shit hit the fan.
I wish I could be free like her.
She catches on to my sobering mood and sits next to me. “How’s the new guard? I haven’t heard who it is yet.” She scoots in closer with wide amber eyes begging me to tell her.
I glance away and grunt at her enthusiasm. “It’s Rune—Kol’s brother.”
She gasps quietly and then leans in closer. She smells like peppermint. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Well at least he’s pretty quiet, I guess…” She tries to make it sound positive.
I look back at her and deadpan, “He burst into my room this morning and fucking attacked me.” Okay, maybe that’s a little exaggerated, but I’m still pissed.
