Seeds of Sorrow (Immortal Realms Book 1)

It was difficult, not showing how Draven’s admission shocked her. To Eden’s surprise, the news formed an ache inside of her chest. She’d be leaving in four months’ time, which was not long at all. And Draven, in his own words, had assured her she couldn’t stay, even if she wanted to.

Did her opinion or her choices matter to anyone?

How she’d managed withholding a flood of tears was beyond her. Eden wanted to stay. If it meant ruling Andhera with him, she would learn how. But more than anything, she wanted to be there when Draven needed to bow his head, allow his shoulders to sag, and give in to a moment of vulnerability.

It is love, Eden thought almost miserably.

In nearly two months, Eden had settled into Andhera as much as she could. She’d come to terms with the idea that in the not-so-distant future, she would take on the mantle of queen. And now she learned it had only been a farce to get back at her mother. Once more, she was only a pawn in the realms.

As much as Eden wanted to make the most of the time they had left, she couldn’t dismiss her mounting feelings, either. She’d come to enjoy Draven’s company, even when he was in his dark moods, and she found that she could typically pull him from them.

Why was it every moment she truly felt as though something was finally going right, it shattered into oblivion?

Eden didn’t want to eat breakfast, but the revenants always feared her mood was spiraling into a similar one as when she first arrived if she didn’t. So she opted for a slice of sweet bread and a cup of berries.

Draven sat by her side, nursing a goblet of blood. Even that had become a part of her new normal. It wasn’t something she even thought about, outside of how it nourished him and was needed.

“Are you certain you’re all right?” Draven frowned as he glanced down at her barely touched food. “I only wanted to be honest.”

“Which I appreciate.” Eden sighed, then took up a piece of the bread. “And I’m fine. It’s just one more thing to process.”

Draven nodded and said no more. Eden couldn’t blame him. What else was there to say on the matter?

She pulled the bread apart and shoved a piece in her mouth. A moment later, Seurat intruded, looking remorseful as he did so.

“Apologies, sire, but you’re needed in the throne room.”

Draven downed the rest of his goblet and stood. He paused by Eden’s chair, and she glanced up at him, trying to read his expression, but there was far too much clouding his gaze.

“I’ll be fine. What trouble could I possibly get into?” Eden lifted an eyebrow and turned her head back to her plate.

Draven grunted. He slid his fingers beneath her chin as he lowered himself a fraction. “Try not to say such things and tempt fate.” His lips twitched into a small smile, then he pulled away and strode out of the room.

Eden could have laughed at his small tease, but the weight of the news still bore down on her. As soon as he left, she abandoned her food and opted to seek out Tulok or Dhriti so she could escape for a few hours into the city below the castle.

A few days later, Eden received a letter from her mother that left her puzzled. She pored over the words a handful of times, hoping that she’d missed something, but she hadn’t. The words she said tempted Eden to write back and let her know that she’d be home soon, but she thought better of it.

My darling daughter,

I believe there is a way I can ensure your safe return home. My heart breaks every day that you’re gone. Trust me when I say that no good comes from dabbling with the royals of the realms. Draven is not to be trusted, no matter what he entices you with, my darling. 

Be strong. We will be reunited soon.

“Loriah,” she called.

The handmaiden materialized, her hands folded in front of her. “Yes, my lady?”

“Where is His Majesty right now?” Eden folded the letter in half.

Before Loriah could answer, the sound of hissing and squawking filled the room. It startled Eden, but she knew exactly the source of the sound. Charging toward her bed, she slapped her hand down on the floor.

“Alder! Drizz!” Eden half crawled under her bed and pulled her pet out. His whiskers jumped quickly as his nose wrinkled and twitched. “You cannot be terrorizing the goblins.”

Drizz slowly made his way out from under the bed, his large yellow eyes full of remorse as he rattled off about something. But in the next moment, he was producing one of Eden’s cuffs.

“Oh, I see.” Eden placed Alder onto her mattress, then grabbed the cuff from Drizz. “You can’t steal things. I’ve given you and your friends trinkets. Why steal?” She clucked her tongue and motioned for him to leave. “If you asked, maybe then I would have given it to you. But not now.” She motioned for him to leave and looked to Loriah, who was trying not to laugh.

Finally able to respond, Loriah inclined her head toward the door. “His Majesty is in his study.”

Eden stood, the letter still in her hand. “Thank you.” She crossed the room and paused at the door. When she turned around, Loriah cocked her head in question. She wanted to tell her that in a few months she’d be leaving, but if she said it out loud, would that make it true? Would it speed up the remainder of her time that much more?

Saying nothing, Eden left her room and ventured down the hall toward Draven’s study. As usual, Seurat stood close to the door, and when she caught his eye, she asked without speaking if now was a good time. When he gave a curt nod, Eden pressed into the room.

“Did you happen to find trouble after all?” Seated in his high-backed chair, Draven’s eyes were trained on the desk, but he slowly lifted his gaze as he waited for a reply.

Eden huffed. “No.” She glanced out the window, the golden moon at its strongest, hinting as to what time it was. “Although it is only noontime.”

Draven loosed a breath. His shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Spare us all.”

A bright toothy smile didn’t break out on his face, but it was there in his gaze and in his voice. It was enough to set butterflies off in Eden’s belly as she approached him.

“I received a strange letter from my mother.” She placed it down in front of him as she leaned closer. One of his arms snaked around her midsection.

“What of it?” He picked it up, and his eyebrows lifted in question.

“I just found it strange that she found a way to bring me home.” Eden shrugged, frowning. “Do you think she’ll blackmail Zryan?”

He sighed. “With what? The truth? I’m sure she is only trying to soothe you whilst you stay in the land of nightmares.” Draven spoke dryly and pushed the letter away, his other arm slipping around Eden’s waist as he turned in his chair to face her, drawing her between his thighs.

“I don’t know. I’ll be in Lucem before long.” She swallowed roughly and lifted her arm as Draven’s forehead pressed against her abdomen. An ache spread in her chest, knowing that she’d be gone soon. It frustrated Eden every time Draven leaned into one of her touches, because she felt the desperation in them too. He didn’t want to let go, and yet he’d return her home, unwilling to keep her in Andhera.

A moment ticked by, and Draven didn’t move.

“Are you all right?” Eden whispered as she dragged her fingertips through his hair and down his nape.

“No,” came his curt reply as he pulled back, his arms still around her. “Andhera grows restless as news spreads that half a noble family was slaughtered and a hive destroyed in Midniva.” His fingers bunched the maroon fabric of her waistcoat as he shook his head. “It’ll only get worse.”

Eden didn’t know how to soothe his fears. She couldn’t tell him that he worried for nothing when even in her heart she knew that wasn’t right. Andhera was an unforgiving land, and one misstep could mean death or betrayal.

“We will see it through.” The words had barely left her lips when the sound of talons clacking on the floor disrupted them.

“My lord, apologies for the intrusion,” Captain Hannelore began. “But you’re needed.” She turned her keen gaze to Eden and inclined her head. “My lady.”

Eden felt every muscle in Draven tense up, and although she didn’t see his face, she imagined the walls were in place in his expression. He stood a moment later, and Eden placed a hand against his chest to stop him from moving.

“Come find me when you’re tired of chasing shadows.”

Draven brushed past her, and once again, she was left alone.

One emotion bled into the next. It felt like a knife twisting in her chest. Eden pressed her fingers against her closed eyes as she willed them all to still. She refused to give in to the prick behind her eyelids and instead strode out of the room and down the hall.

She could hear shouting coupled with cheering, which, given how still the castle was, seemed as if it were coming from close by, but it wasn’t. As she approached a window, she peered down below to see what the commotion was.

A group of harpies stood in a row, and opposing them stood were-wolves. They saluted one another and launched toward each other in a fierce dance. It reminded Eden of the line dances she’d seen at the Blossom Festival, but this wasn’t lighthearted. As a fist connected with a jaw, a wolf collapsed to the ground, and he laughed.

Eden pulled away from the window and ventured outside to where she’d seen the group. At first, she wasn’t certain why she was there watching them. She’d trained with them before, but it had been with an invitation. This time, she’d join because she wanted to.

“My lady, had I known you would be watching, I’d have instructed Dhriti to strike harder.” Tulok grunted as a fist connected with his ribs, and then Channon’s hands swept him aside.

A roguish grin pulled at the other were-wolf’s lips, unruly light hair spilling into his eyes. “Tulok tells me he loaned you a butter knife?”

Eden slid her hand along the smooth leather of her breeches and pulled the dagger from its sheath. “This isn’t a butter knife.”

Channon folded his arms across his chest. “It may as well be if you don’t know how to use it.”

Tulok shoved past him and knocked him in the back of the head, which made Eden laugh. “I think what my captain means is, if you’d like to watch us and perhaps learn how to use the dagger for more than pruning, we’d be happy to show you.”

The tutoring with Tulok had, thus far, been hand to hand, and although he promised eventually it’d include a weapon, they hadn’t gotten that far yet.

Eden twisted the hilt of the dagger in her grasp. It still felt awkward to her, and they were right, the dagger may as well have been a butter knife. She tilted her head, still laughing at their antics.

“Very well. I’m ready to use a weapon in our training now.” Eden chewed on her bottom lip and searched the eyes peering at her. It seemed to be the answer they were hoping for.

“Don’t bruise her,” Dhriti ground out.

“Do you think I want to die?” Tulok barked, then he laughed.