Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 80

[ Taiya ]

Does it matter? Does it matter, he says. My world was a blur of rage. I wanted to kick him. No, I wanted to go back in time and hit him with a heavier book. Does it matter!? After telling him, the Crown Prince of all people, I might be insane or the entire castle was deceiving me, that is his response? Despite his finger on my lips I went to protest but he shushed me. It made me angrier. The feeling settled in my bones and once again it felt more like me than the crying, blushing, delicate woman I had been.

"You're so cute when you're mad." My Prince chuckled while I fumed. This was no laughing matter. My admission was dangerous. I was accusing the King of being a liar. "Let me explain. If you are still vexed then I will submit to your wrath. Consider this - if, IF you are this Taiya, a criminal by all accounts, then what is there but gain in this scenario? You have a warm bed, clothes, food, the attention of a Prince." He smiled in such a way that my whole body tingled. "The same is true if your sanity is in question. I'm not going anywhere. Do you know why I call you mon foudre? What it means?"

"No."

"Mon foudre, from 'coupe de foudre'. The old language. An expression for love at first sight. You are my thunderclap. I will follow you anywhere mon foudre, insane, criminal, the perfect Lady… it doesn't matter to me. I will toss my crown to the crowd if I must, for you are my everything. My dawn, you make me all that I should be under the Sky and upon the Earth." Ye Gods help me. He was such a romantic. Did he even have a single practical bone in his body?

"Ethyn, I -"

"Fable or not, I believe you are my mate." He towered over me, eyes darkening. "You are my Ebalina and I would burn the world for you." That heat was back, swirling between my legs. This dominant Ethyn, this possessive Ethyn was rather captivating. He thought we were mates too. My heart was hot in my chest.

"Those are just words. Pretty words but nothing more." I stayed strong. I needed more than words.

"Name anything, - you can move to my quarters.” My Prince spouted thoughtlessly.

“Why? So that the whole castle will think you have made me your conquest? Or would I be a secret like the rich man's servant?” Disapproval burned in my eyes just as much as it did in my words.

“Err, I see your point," Ethyn floundered for a moment, his faux pas causing a blush to begin creeping up his neck. It made his golden skin look bronze. "We can go to the Temple right now, become entwined." It was cute watching him clamour for a solution but that didn't stop me from scowling. "Too much? Not very romantic either." He scrunched up his nose in distaste. My Prince looked a little panicked.

“Do you ever think before you speak? Not a good trait for a someday to be King.” I teased.

"Only around you is my tongue so loose… I forget that I should be wearing my mask.” He took a deep breath, calming this worry that had grown. “There will be a ball in a few weeks, I will have you announced as having my hand for every dance.” He sounded confident in his solution. Ethyn's grey eyes were focused on me.

“So you are making a show of your declarations by refusing to dance with anyone bar myself at a ball that you haven't even invited me to?” My words came slowly as I tried to wrap my head around what he was saying.

“Yes, because I shall abide by the announcement regardless of whether you accept or reject my invitation. I’m not so bold as to assume you would agree.” A twinkle sparkled in his eye. It might have been hope. It might have been excitement. Either way he took a lock of my hair, running his fingers though it.

“And if I agree, not that you’ve asked, will you be embarrassed, deny me even, if I should come dressed in blue??” Holding back a smirk, I twirled my skirts.

“I would be sorely disappointed if you wore anything else. Afterall I plan to dress to match your eyes.” His hands ran over my sliver and blue bodice. I could imagine him holding me as we danced, moving me gracefully across the …

“I’m not sure I know how to dance…” All the confidence I'd gained slid away, leaving me feeling exposed.

“Easily taught, like many things that are expected from a Lady.” My Prince was calm and matter of fact with his 'does it matter tone'.

“And you would save all your dances for me?” My feelings danced in a way that I suspected my feet could not. The way my emotions were flinging themselves around was exhausting - it was like I was trying to be two different people.

“Yes, I won’t even dance with my sisters.” He declared with out hesitation.

“Isn’t that rude?" I asked picking at my nails.

“I don’t care.” Ethyn shrugged taking my hands in his. It felt less like flesh on flesh and more like he was touching my soul. “Does that satisfy you mon foudre?”

“Truly, you aren’t concerned by my …?" I gestured at myself, unsure how to say what I meant.

“No. I told you mon foudre, you are my horizon. I look to you and no one else.” He pulled me against his body, holding me close. Warmth flowed from him to me as I pressed my face against his chest. Ethyn's heart beat a steady, calming rhythm. “Would you tell me what the voices say?” He asked in a hushed voice.

“They beg me to come to them, they tell me I will make the world bloom, they tell me I can keep you - that you are my mate.” I added the last part in a small, shy voice. It felt foolish to say we were mates when I hadn't even acknowledged that he had said as much himself. Not only that but as it was a concept rather than a recognised reality people might think it a con. Lowly Lady Esther with nothing left but tricks to bag a Prince. But how could that be so when he had said it first? At least Ethyn wouldn't think poorly of me.

“Have you asked them about yourself?” Ethyn asked while still embracing me. His hold was a little tighter now. The notion was strange. Although I had replied to them this morning, it was only out of shock. Mostly I tried to ignore these whispering voices. There was something about them, the way they sounded like leaves skittering or water bubbling, that was unnerving.

“You think I should?” Was my simple reply as I clung to him.

“Why not? What if it's the inner you?” He shrugged with his arms still around me.

“Ok.” I agreed, why not? The voices had done nothing but whisper and right now I felt safe in Ethyn's arms. There was a chance he was right, that it was just me reaching out but wouldn't my inner voice sound like me?

Hello? I ventured, eyes closed.

We are here. We are waiting… the voice rippled.

Who am I? A nervousness passed over me making my stomach clench.

An Heir! An Heir! The voice tumbled with exuberance, some how managing to embody all the bliss of spring.

But am I Esther or Taiya? I pressed, confused.

Come to us and we will show you the truth… bring your Prince, but come! Make the world bloom…

There was my truth. I was insane. I had to be.

“Esther?” My Prince asked with whispered concern as I shivered in his arms.

“I'm alright." With a little sniff I swallowed down my fear.

"Did they speak?"

"Yes… they said I'm an Heir." A little shrug coupled with a shake of my head stopped him from questioning what that meant. "The told me to go to them, to bring you, to make the world bloom…"

Sighing with tiredness and frustration I reached up and ran my hand through the sliver streak in his hair. An errant thought fell through my mind with a big splash. His magic might be the shade of truth but it didn't stop him from lying. Had he lied to me?

I didn't think so but that 'does it matter' was cascading through my head again. Ethyn hadn't vowed that he wouldn’t lie, he had only waylaid my fears of that silver shade being used against. My Prince hadn't jumped to his Father’s defence nor had he reached out to quell my fears that my mind was fractured.

“Esther?”

“Yes, My Prince.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that you might be a liar.” Ethyn stiffened at my words. “I’m deciding if I care.” He gulped. My fingertips brushed his face, the softness of his cheek, the swell of his lips.

“Esther, I…”

“Shhh,” as he had done to me, I pressed my finger to his lips, “you don’t care if I’m a liar. Should it be any different for me to contemplate the same?” My skin was tingling from where we touched. Was it the same for him? “But where do we draw the line Ethyn? What honesty is too honest and what lie is too deep?” A pressure was building in my head. A storm cloud without the rain, growing and roiling. There was a thought here. Something deep but the storm didn’t want to expose it’s purpose.

“Please, Esther, I...” Once again I cut him off.

“Hush, hush My Prince.” In his soft grey eyes I saw my storm. For now that truth was enough. “In our lies as much as our honesty there is love.”