Seeds of Sorrow (Immortal Realms Book 1)

Loriah frowned as she packed the last of Eden’s belongings. As requested, this included only what she’d received from Lucem. Everything else was to remain behind, and Draven could do as he wished with it. The gowns she’d commissioned, the trinkets she’d picked up in the shops, everything that belonged to Andhera would remain in it.

Even Alder.

Eden sank to the floor. She welcomed the inquisitive creature into her arms and nuzzled into his soft pelt. “You can’t come back with me. Loriah can take you to the garden, and perhaps you’ll find you prefer her to me.” Eden dragged her hand across his head and swallowed the lump in her throat. As much as she wanted to cry, she wouldn’t give in.

She refused.

Andhera took freely and gave nothing in return. Eden wouldn’t give Andhera or its king anything more. For all of his tenderness and the quiet moments they’d shared, Draven had turned his back on her when she pleaded with him. He may as well have taken a knife and embedded it in her heart.

Worse than that, she felt like such a fool for allowing herself to fall.

“You’ll make certain he has adequate attention, Loriah?”

“Of course, my lady. He will want for nothing.”

Eden released Alder, then stood and walked to her handmaiden. “Thank you for listening to me and being there when I had no one else.” She wrapped her arms around the revenant in a gentle embrace.

Loriah squeezed her in return. “Be well, my lady.”

“And you.” Eden pulled away as the door opened, and in came two male revenants to retrieve her two bags. She took the moment to walk to her mirror and inspect her reflection. The cut on her forehead had healed, but a scabbed line remained. Bruises littered her neck from where nails and fingers had pressed in, but they’d healed for the most part, courtesy of her ability.

Eden assessed her features. Her green eyes were still bright, and her face still smooth, but something about her had changed. Not in the way Andhera could distort an individual but something unseen.

She wasn’t the fae who had sat in the Midnivian castle’s sitting room, tearful and terrified. In a short amount of time, Eden had grown because she was allowed to. Perhaps Andhera had gifted her something after all, and if it weren’t for Draven, she’d never have blossomed as she did.

Without looking back, she left the room and followed the revenants outside. Zryan was already inside the chariot. His team of gray horses stomped in agitation from waiting.

Behind the chariot, a separate carriage had been prepared with a team of kelpies, and Eden stared at it in confusion. Was she not meant to ride with Zryan?

“Place her belongings in the carriage.” Zryan motioned with his hand, then turned to Eden as she approached. “Unfortunately, I didn’t know I would have company. Someone will be driving the carriage with your things to Lucem, but you’ll be with me through the Veil.”

Eden wasn’t sure whether or not to be comforted by that notion. The last time she’d been in the Veil, she had fainted. What would it be like this time? Although, as she locked eyes with Zryan, Eden refused to succumb to whatever terror lay inside the in-between.

She walked up to the chariot, refusing the offered hand, and stepped inside. Eden realized belatedly she was one of his subjects. No matter the situation, he was still her sovereign. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I can manage.”

Zryan’s eyebrows lifted as he entered the chariot beside her and held the reins. “Of that I have no doubt, Eden.” His lips turned up into a smile that reminded Eden of a cat waiting to eat a canary.

Aurelie had told Eden of all the rumors circulating about Zryan, and her mother had taken it upon herself to let Alessia know of his indiscretions. She frowned and pressed herself against the railing of the chariot. Much of Lucem was in disarray because of Zryan and Alessia’s quarreling.

With the jostling of the reins, the horses departed the courtyard, and Eden did her best to shut out the kingdom she’d allowed herself to fall in love with. If she thought about it, no doubt tears would fall, and she had promised herself not to cry.

By the time they reached the woods where the manticore had rushed them last time, it was almost quiet, except for the beat of their harpy guard’s wings overhead, and the shrill scream of something dying in the distance.

Eden turned to look in the direction of the sound but didn’t flinch.

“You can move closer to me if you want. I won’t bite.” Zryan paused, then chuckled. “That was poor timing on my part.” When this garnered no response from Eden, he sighed. His shoulders lowered, and although his eyes remained trained on the path, his demeanor softened visibly.

“I know what it’s like . . . to fall so hard, to feel so deeply, then to have it ripped away.” Zryan glanced down at Eden and caught her eyes for a moment. “To be separated from who you love is the worst. And for what it is worth, I am truly sorry.” Silence filled the minimal space between them before he added, “If I could have changed Draven’s mind, I would have.”

She had seen Zryan’s false sincerity in Midniva, but this was different. And he, for whatever reason, was allowing her to see another side of him. Did he speak of another, or was the one he loved Alessia? Eden didn’t want to think on it. Her life was crumbling again, all thanks to the royal family.

Eden lowered her head. She gripped the rail in front of her and squeezed. “I hope you can find your way back to each other.” It was the truth. When someone felt that deeply for another, why should they be apart?

Zryan sighed again. “Time will tell. But as for you, try not to think badly of my brother. He has his reasons, and nothing he does is without a purpose.”

“I’m well aware of court politics. Everyone is a pawn to play with.”

Zryan’s jaw shifted, and he shook his head, his dark hair tumbling into his green eyes. “No, you’re not. You’ve known Draven for a little over a month, and maybe you’ve touched the surface, but you don’t know.” He didn’t say it unkindly, but Eden still frowned. “You know so little.” The words were soft, almost a whisper.

 Zryan turned the chariot down a path, and it burst through the Veil. They went from the dark of the day moon of Andhera to a hazy sky with an abundance of shadows.

Eden kept her eyes trained ahead. The whipping wind howled and pulled her hair free of its pins.

“I’d feel more comfortable if you stood next to me.”

At first his words annoyed her, as she assumed he only wanted to feel her body against his. However, Zryan didn’t glance down at her, and his voice didn’t hold a playful edge, either.

“What? I am close enough, Your Majesty.”

“No.” Zryan reached out, and when Eden leaned farther away, he cursed. “Listen. Do you hear anything? Outside of the wind . . . do you hear anything?”

Eden focused on the noise around them, but unlike the wails she had heard before, it was only the wind. No screeching or growling pierced the air.

This time, Eden willingly stepped closer to Zryan and clung to the rail. “What would make them grow quiet?”

“Nothing good.”

After that, they were silent for the duration of their journey through the Veil. Neither one seemed to want to test the beasties that lurked in the haze. It wasn’t until they emerged from the Veil and into Lucem that Eden made any noise at all.

The sun blinded her. She covered her face with her hand and winced, but oh, the warmth of the sun’s rays against her skin felt wonderful. In no time, her faded freckles would surface like a sky full of stars.

“Oh. That’ll take some getting used to again.” Zryan cocked his head and squinted as his eyes adjusted too.

But the light felt like a pick to her head. Even as it reflected off light patches of dirt, it stung her eyes. However, she could see more than just shadows and vague outlines.

When the chariot met the main road, Eden peered up, still shielding her eyes. She recognized it as the way into Edessa, the town she lived in. The fragrant blooms filled the air, carried on the warm breeze, and tickled her nose.

“Aren’t you bringing me home?” Eden twisted as she watched the side road pass by, the very road that led to her manor. She frowned as she turned to look up at Zryan.

“No. You’re coming with me to the palace. Your mother will receive word once we arrive.”

The obvious question hung on the tip of her tongue, but she stopped herself from asking. Of course Zryan would make her mother come to the palace. She was still being punished for telling Alessia the truth about where he’d been. But why, then, did he make the comment earlier? It only caused Eden to wonder further if it was Alessia he’d spoken of.

When the road gave way to Celeia, the capital city, it was obvious. The bleached stone buildings grew more numerous, and the mansions were larger than those in the neighboring town. The open fields lessened, and even the blooming trees grew sparse, only replaced by fountains or statues.

Even at the entrance of the city, one could see the palace perched on top of a hill. Eden had been there once, when her father had been alive, and she’d clung to his leg the entire time. But she still remembered the brightly lit palace and its opulent nature.

Little by little, Eden’s eyes adjusted, though they still burned from the excess light. Mercifully, by the time they arrived at the palace, the sun had shifted to cast shadows in the courtyard.

Zryan stepped down from the chariot, and this time, Eden accepted the offered hand. As she glanced behind them, the carriage from Andhera pulled up beside them. The team of kelpies chomped on their bits and pawed at the stone beneath them. They were so out of place amidst the pink and white blossoms of Lucem and stuck out like a sore thumb.

Zryan turned to the approaching driver. “Bring the bags inside and then you’re free to go.” He glanced down at Eden and nodded toward the palace.

Eden spared the carriage a lingering glance, frowning, before she followed Zryan into the palace. Fortunately, the lighting was dimmer inside, giving her eyes a reprieve from the bright sun.

Zryan turned toward Eden, his lips parting as he readied to say something, but the sound of sharp footfalls caught the attention of both of them.

Eden wanted to shrink backward as Alessia stormed toward them. She had a commanding presence, one that demanded respect. Eden lowered her eyes a fraction, but the gauzy gown of gold did little to hide Alessia’s slender curves beneath. Had it not been for her waves of ebony hair, Eden would have seen the mounds of her breasts. She was beautiful and harsh at once.

“So, it is true. You were in Andhera, Zryan.” Alessia clucked her tongue and clicked her nails together at her sides. “But to steal your brother’s bride?” A mirthless laugh escaped her. “Was it not bad enough you betrothed them in front of Midniva’s court? You now abduct her?”

“What? No!” Zryan spat out.

Dark luminous eyes shot from her husband to Eden, then raked over her figure. In a blink, Alessia was in front of Eden. “What have you done, Zryan?” Her hand hovered above the bruising at Eden’s neck. Rage colored the queen’s golden cheeks a deep red.

“No! That isn’t from me!” Zryan sputtered. “And honestly, Less, as if I’d steal Draven’s bride? Much less harm her. You know me, Less, I would never.”

Eden’s gaze darted from Zryan to Alessia. The queen looked ready to pounce on her husband, and while it may have been his fault Eden was in this predicament to begin with, he had shown her genuine kindness in the chariot. “He is right, Your Majesty. It isn’t from him; it was from a fight with a vampire.”

“A vampire?” Alessia squinted and looked to her husband, no doubt asking for confirmation.

“Yes . . . She’s dead.” And a dark piece of Eden wished she could have done it again. If that wretched vampiress hadn’t attacked her and hadn’t made a point to make her stay in Andhera more difficult, perhaps she’d still be there.

“Then why are you here?”

“Because Draven no longer wishes for me to remain in Andhera.” Eden clenched her jaw and lowered her eyes.

“Alessia.” Zryan stepped forward, whether to catch his wife or to shield Eden, she wasn’t certain.

“What?” Disbelief crept into the queen’s eyes, but then she turned a glare on her husband. “For how long?”

Eden wondered if she was purposely rubbing salt on her wounds, was surprised, or just didn’t believe them. “Indefinitely.”

Alessia stepped around Zryan and gently grabbed Eden by her bicep. “Come with me. Zryan, go send for her mother.” She cut him a look, leaving no room for an argument.

At once, Eden wished she was at Zryan’s side instead. Alessia, though perfectly amiable at the moment, had a presence about her that set Eden on edge. Like at any moment she would turn on her and reduce her to shredded fabric and flesh on the marble floor.

“I want you to be honest with me, Eden, and tell me all of what happened. My husband has a way of leaving things out or prettying them up, but I can tell you’ll do none of those things.” Alessia’s expression softened, and it reminded Eden of a mother comforting a sullen child. “It’s still too fresh, isn’t it?” Alessia stroked a hand down the side of Eden’s neck, where a bruise no doubt was. Quickly, her gaze hardened, and she retracted her hand. Without a word, she walked away.

If she’d answered at that moment, she would have choked on the lump in her throat. Instead, Eden nodded and followed Alessia to a quiet, dimly lit room and told her the majority of what transpired once she found herself able to.

By the time she finished, she had, in fact, cried. To Eden’s surprise, Alessia fetched a silk kerchief and stroked her back in a motherly fashion.

“Dear girl, shed your tears now, but not again. Draven is not unlike his brothers, which is complicated to say the least.” Alessia plucked the pins from Eden’s hair, then stroked her fingers through it. “If Draven sent you away, I believe it was purely to keep you safe.”

“But he . . . ”

“I don’t need to know what he said or how he looked. I’ve been around since before Draven ruled Andhera, while he still sat on one of the gilded thrones of Lucem.” Her head tipped back, and she sighed. “Trust that I just know him, and if you know your history at all, you should know the truth.”

Eden knew Alessia had been there. Anyone who knew anything of the stories, the historical recountings, and the legends knew. However, she’d foolishly grown detached from those, and knew only the Draven of the present day. The nightmare king. The fae turned other. She hadn’t stopped to consider the one he was before. Lounging in the sun, the rays kissing his freckled shoulders. Eden shrunk in on herself and dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief. She glanced at Alessia. “Which truth?”

“That Draven will sacrifice his very life if it means protecting those he cares about.” Alessia turned to Eden again, her dark eyes intensifying. “Did he tell you of the book?”

Eden nodded. “It was one of the reasons why he cast me out of Andhera.”

“That book . . . The Creaturae is a powerful weapon. It has the ability to create and destroy. To cast peace or destruction. The wretched old king used it to wreak havoc on the realms, and in the wrong hands . . . Could you imagine?” Alessia shuddered. Despite being a vision of strength, she looked frightened by the idea.

Zryan strode into the room, silencing the conversation. He looked from his wife to Eden, as if assessing whether or not any damage had been done. “Your mother is on her way . . . ”

While Eden was happy to hear it, her heart didn’t soar with joy, because it meant she was returning to a semblance of her old life, and it wasn’t a life she wanted anymore. Nor did she know if she even fit in it.

Cast aside by Andhera’s king, tainted by the dark realm, none would want her in their circles now.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Eden bowed her head.

“Enough of that,” Alessia cut in. “Between us, you’ve earned the right to call us by name.”

Eden smiled. It was a small one, but for a moment, she felt comforted. The Zryan in Midniva was vastly different from the one staring out a window in this room. He was a quiet, solid presence. And his wife, although terrifying by reputation and certainly when she approached Eden, was not as she expected.

Though Eden wished she could doze off, she didn’t. Instead, she studied a blank wall and attempted to silence her tumultuous thoughts and emotions. But it wasn’t meant to be because not long after, a servant announced the arrival of her mother.

Eden sprang from her spot next to Alessia but came up short as Zryan held out a hand to stop her.

“Naya Damaris, thank you for coming.” Zryan motioned to Eden.

“Eden!” Naya gasped, lurching forward.

Zryan barred her path. “I’ve called you here for an obvious reason. As a father, I can understand how difficult losing your only child must be . . . which is why I’ve decided to bring Eden back to Lucem. No strings, no tricks.” He gestured for Eden to move forward. “Only a show of good faith between us both. No more nonsense on your part, and your daughter safely back in Lucem.”

It was a lie. Zryan’s only part in her return had been escorting her to the palace. But this was another game. One that she would play along with, if only to avoid Alessia’s ire. Still, she wondered how the royal family refrained from tripping over each binding lie. It was dizzying.

Confusion warped her mother’s face, as if she didn’t quite believe the sight before her eyes.

Eden reached out and grabbed her mother’s hand, which turned into a vice grip. “It’s really me, Mama. It isn’t a trick.”

Alessia had moved to stand beside Zryan. Her gaze remained solely on Naya, and Eden had no doubt that her mother assumed it was a game put on by the two of them.

“Mama, it’s truly me.” She leaned closer, and her mother’s free hand slid along Eden’s cheek and into her hair.

“Why?” Naya hissed. Her green eyes flicked between the two rulers.

“It’s as I said. I wouldn’t want my child ripped away in such a manner.” Zryan caught Eden’s gaze, and he lifted a brow in the most subtle of gestures. If she hadn’t spent a month and a half with his brother, she would have missed it.

“Please, let’s go home and be done with this.” She could feel the prick of tears at the back of her eyes but refused to give in. It didn’t matter if she knew Zryan’s words were lies and that Draven had cast her off.

Naya curtsied stiffly. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesties. I will never forget it.” She looped her arm with Eden’s and led her out of the room. It wasn’t until they were down the corridor that she halted and turned to face Eden. Quickly, her eyes assessed the one before her, and she must have realized it truly was her daughter. But a frown tugged at her lips.

“Who did this to you?” The question came in such a low tone that Eden’s skin prickled. “No. Not here.” Naya pulled Eden through the halls of the palace, and it wasn’t until they were nestled inside their family carriage that she spoke again. “It was him, wasn’t it?”

If she hadn’t been so caught off guard, perhaps Eden would have laughed. Her mother didn’t know Draven at all if she suspected him of harming her. “What? No. He would never.”

Naya scoffed. “Wouldn’t he? Did he place you in a trance while he used you for his purposes?” The words were cold, but the fury beneath wasn’t directed at Eden. Regardless, the careless way she hurled her words stung.

The carriage lurched forward, and Eden stared out her window, shaking her head. “No. He wouldn’t. No matter what you may think of him, he wouldn’t have touched me against my wishes.” Color rushed into her cheeks unbidden as she recalled the way he touched her.

“But he did touch you?” Naya asked lowly.

She couldn’t lie, not with her mother watching her so closely. “Because I wanted him to.”

“Oh!” Naya sat forward then rocked against the back of her seat. If they were home, she would be pacing frantically. “You foolish girl. It isn’t your fault—he is a monster after all.”

Yes. No. No, he isn’t. Eden’s heart still ached from the abrupt departure, but hearing how her mother spoke of Draven grated on every nerve. “He is not a monster.”

“And he has brainwashed you. My girl, it will all be well soon enough. We can work around the damage he’s done.”

“What damage?” Eden’s voice bordered on hysteria. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here, Mama. I want to be in Andhera. I want to be with Draven, Mama. I love him.” As soon as the words left her mouth, her mother gasped. Betrayal, confusion, anger—it all burned within her mother’s eyes. A look Eden knew well, and she could feel herself inwardly stepping back, shrinking.

Naya leaned forward, hands coiled in her lap, but the motion still made Eden flinch. “And that is why I’ll be keeping a close eye on you. You’re to have a chaperone at every turn, and you are not allowed to leave without me knowing. I will fix this, like I promised in my letters.”

Eden’s bottom lip quivered, and she bit it with such force it began to bleed. “Just listen to me. I don’t need protection.” She wouldn’t cry. Not for the loss of her love nor for the loss of her freedom. She would endure it until it was time to break free again.

Naya ignored her daughter’s distress and instead dove into how life had been without Eden, what it would be like now, and how it would be different.

Different, she thought, like a true prison.