Chapter 6 : Magnetic Attraction
Constance
“Ah, Constance. I would like you to meet the head of the royal guard and my personal bodyguard, Silas Davila. Silas, this is Princess Constance. I‘m sure you remember her?”
“Indeed,” Silas said with a low voice.
My heart flipped upside down while my vision flickered in and out. Silas strode into the room, followed by another man, shorter but still well-built. I vaguely heard Declan introduce the other man as Rickon, the Alpha King’s Beta. Just after him, came Aaron, the man whom I had spoken with earlier and who was the second in command of the royal guard.
I sat at the table, my hands clasped firmly in my lap, my head down, but my eyes caught on Silas as he sat in the seat before me. Aaron sat next to him, with Rickon sitting beside me.
Silas, cool eyes level and jaw clenched tightly, spoke first. “My King, I apologize for our tardiness. There was a minor dispute that had to be dealt with.”
Declan waved the excuse aside. “It’s no matter. Constance here was just telling me the gruesome details of the events that led her here. I fear the situation is worse than we thought. The Southern Territories appear to be systematically wiping out all packs not associated with them. We may not have long before they make their way here.”
“Have you brought this up with the other Alphas?” Rickon asked.
Declan shook his head. “No, but they were present when the knowledge was first introduced to us. We will have to schedule another meeting post haste.”
“What do you think they will want to do about it? I mean, they are already struggling to maintain order within their own territories. How can we hope to organize an army on such short notice?” Rickon questioned.
“I don’t think that is our main concern,” Silas spoke with his deep melodious voice.
I shivered at the sound of it, the hairs on my neck prickling with the sensation.
‘Stop it,’ I scolded myself. This was not the time to dwell on the mating bond. I was there to warn them of the coming danger, not to foolishly run headlong into a relationship I was unprepared for.
But this wasn’t what bothered me the most. What bothered me was the fact that each time I met Silas’ eyes, he looked away as if he couldn’t be bothered.
He acted as though he didn’t feel the bond. That couldn’t be right, could it?
I knew that the mating bond was a rare occurrence, felt by only a few people within their entire lifetimes. But I remembered what my mother told me it was like, for she and my father had such a bond.
My mother described the feeling as being swept away by a warm summer breeze, your heart suddenly filled with a pure intoxicating joy upon seeing your fated mate. It was like feeling the sun wash over your skin after spending an entire winter inside.
She even described it as the feeling of tasing warm apple pie for the first time. When you first see it, it’s unfamiliar, foreign, and you aren’t sure about it. But the second you taste that first bite on your tongue, your mouth explodes with flavor; the sweetness of the apples, the cinnamon, and spices mingling in your throat to create a perfect harmony of glorious sensations.
After that first bite, you can never get enough. All you crave, all you’ll ever hunger for again, is more of that sweet apple pie.
This is what I felt then when I first saw Silas. I suddenly hungered for him in a way I had never hungered for anything or anyone ever before. My fingers twitched, longing to touch him, to feel him, to become a part of him.
And yet, he wouldn’t meet my gaze. He proceeded speaking as if I was no more than a plant in a corner.
“Our problem now is our defenses. We lack the proper tools and weapons to protect ourselves if they choose to attack,” Silas continued. “It won’t do any good building an army if we can’t even use the warriors we have. None of them are properly trained for this kind of defenses not to mention even the walls surrounding the castle are no more than withering structures at best.”
I was surprised that a guard was able to speak so freely. While my father valued the opinions of those around him, it was uncommon for those in castle employment, and especially Omegas to have a say in political matters.
However, from the way Silas was speaking and the way that the Alpha King, his Beta, and Aaron were responding, it was commonplace.
“We neeed to strengthen our fortifications while at the same time training and honing our warriors to be the best fighters they possibly can be. That, I believe, is the only way we stand a chance against the Southern King,” Silas finished.
“But would we have enough time?” Aaron asked. The other men looked at him, thinking for a moment.
“What else would you propose?” Rickon asked him.
“Perhaps we get the Kingsguard to train and strengthen our current warriors first,” Silas stated, looking to Aaron as if he knew what he was thinking. Aaron nodded and Silas continued. “The Kingsguard are by far the best fighter in the entire Territories. After all, we can’t know for sure when, or if, the Southern Territories will attack.”
“They will attack,” I said, my voice carrying across the room.
The men looked up at me in surprise, apparently having forgotten I was there.
The tension in Silas’ jaw worked as I spoke, and I knew he wasn’t pleased by my sudden interjection.
“I’ve seen the army first-hand. I know what kind of devastation they will reap if we are unprepared. So far, they’ve wiped out two whole regions of territories and murdered the Alpha Kings along with them. I don’t know what King Lukas wants or why he’s taken up with war, but I do know that he’s dangerous. His armies are vast and very powerful. We will have to work together if we are going to beat him.”
“There is no ‘we.’” It was Silas, his voice so stern and so cold it sent a chill down my spine. “You are simply a guest and a princess at that. You have no business making war plans. You have survived and we need to make sure it stays that way.”
“What?” I asked, not quite believing what I was hearing.
I had risked life and limb coming here. I wasn’t about to just stop at saying a few words. My whole life was ripped away from me, and now I was being told to stick to the sidelines?
“I’m afraid he’s right,” King Declan said, looking at me sympathetically. “It isn’t fitting for a princess to make war plans. You’ve done your part. You brought us this news at the risk of your own life, and for that, we will be eternally grateful.
“But now, for as long as you are a guest here, you will be treated as the princess you are. In time, we will see what more we can do with you. But you needn’t worry any longer. You’re safe here.” He reached across the table and clasped my hand. “I’ll take care of you, my dear. Don’t you worry about a thing.”
But even as he said the words, my eyes traveled back to Silas, who sat glowering at me like I was a misbehaving child.
This was all wrong. I couldn’t let this happen! I couldn’t let them just push me to the side like I meant nothing!
“But,” I tried. “My parents! I can’t just….”
“You will,” Declan replied firmly. “Now, return to your rooms. I will have dinner sent up to you. You need your rest, as I’ve said so many times before. Let us handle this. If need be, we will update you as we see fit. Go on now.”
My legs felt like stones, my body welling with a numbness I couldn’t control. I barely registered the hands that closed around me pulling me to my feet and guiding me through the doors.
Everything seemed to be both moving too slowly and far too quickly. My mind raced even as my heart threatened to stop altogether.
What was happening? Why couldn’t I stop it? Why were they saying those things?
I felt like I was in a nightmare, helpless against the crashing waves of despair that echoed around me, forcing me down into a darkened void of agony.
This was it. This was my life. I had nothing left but pain and anguish.
My head rested on the pillow, the stars shining brightly outside and the sound of crickets singing their soothing song. But still, I couldn’t feel the sleep I longed for. My head pounded while my body ached.
My tears had run dry long ago, and I knew not what else to do besides lay and think.
Despite the feeling of meeting my mate, the person whom I had least expected to find in the midst of all this chaos, I felt nothing but grief. I should have been glad. Finding one’s true mate was something to be cherished and celebrated.
But I had found him after having already lost so much, and he wouldn’t even look at me. Was it possible he didn’t feel the same? Or did he simply not care? Either alternative felt like another weight on my chest, collecting with those that represented each of my parents’ deaths.
I found myself reeling, lost in my sadness. I felt so tired, so torn, so broken, and yet, I could not sleep. I could not find rest even when I so desperately needed it.
What was I meant to do? How was I supposed to stop what was coming? Even the King said that I shouldn’t bother with it. He told me to stay put. But how could I do that now when doing so before had already caused the death of so many others?
That wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to fight. I wanted to stand against the invaders, against them all. But how could I do that when all anyone ever saw me as was a princess meant to be coddled and polished without a scratch upon her?
I wasn’t entirely sure if the man I was destined to be with was interested in me. It was possible that he was simply pretending until I was gone. Being a stern man, he may not have wanted to reveal his true feelings to anyone.
But still, the look he gave me was far from happy. Only, how could I know without asking him? What would I even say if I did speak to him?
I had countless questions and felt completely lost. Like anyone in my position, I cried out for help even though I knew there was no one to turn to.
During that dark moment when I was alone and shedding tears onto my pillow, all I could think of was my mother's beautiful smile that I would never see again. It pained me to know that I would never get to hold my father's hand or gaze at the rolling hills outside my bedroom window. I felt like I had no one but myself.
I guess that’s all we will ever have in the end. Just ourselves and the darkness.