As Es eventually stepped out of the chamber, she wasn’t particularly aware of how she was supposed to find the dining room in such a large manor. It didn’t seem right that only a single soul could own a house like this.
To be honest, the notion that demons possessed a residence had never crossed her mind, since it was claid that all the demons in Illyria had been eradicated all those years ago. Their previous ho had been ruined, and it had beco a deserted place in Illyria which earned the ominous moniker of ’the tainted land.’ The very idea that they all still existed, let alone occupied a grand estate like this, was a radical departure from everything she knew.
But this just opens a different view.
Descending the long, winding staircase and coming to a stop at the grand foyer of the manor, Es pushed through a separate door that led to the rear of the estate, and she found herself on a andering path that guided her towards the shore. As she paused, her hands on the balustrade, she was struck by the serene beauty of the scene before her.
The water rippled gently under the shimring lights, casting a hypnotic glow across the lunar landscape.
Why was every corner of this house so enchanting? Even the presence of a mysterious sea that stretched into the unknown, added to the sense of wonder that surrounded her.
Retreating inside, Es followed another door, which led to a spacious, high-ceiling room. Her gaze settled on two unfamiliar faces, seated cross-legged on the carpeted floor. They were playing a lively ga of cards near the crackling hearth.
The warm golden light danced across their features, illuminating their expression.
Finnian was with them, and he was holding a card, his eyes shining with excitent. The two imposing n sitting beside him didn’t seem to bother him at all. One had vibrant green hair, reminiscent of a lush adow, while the other had dark brown hair, their hair color matching their eyes.
At the dining table was a beautiful woman, whom she recognized imdiately as the sa demon shifter she t in the woods, the one who seed to spite her.
She was having a conversation with Donovan who was seated across from her, and the sight of him did that thing to her heart again.
"A non-shifter is your mate?" Revana sneered, her voice laced with disdain. "Are you aware that no one would tolerate her here? She’s a Montague, and even without a wolf, she’s a liability. What if she betrays us to the king or his cohorts?"
Her gaze narrowed, accusation etched on her face. "I bla Acheron and Lothar for this folly. They kept hyping you through the whole thing."
Revana’s glare slid to Acheron who remained impervious to her ire. "You’re just being petty," he said with a shrug. "I an one glance at that woman and you can tell she’s been mistreated there. She won’t betray us if Donovan thinks so, and don’t bother Lothar and I, we’re in the middle of a ga."
"You fuckin’ arsebadgers!"
"It doesn’t matter if others don’t accept," Donovan’s calm, asured tone intervened. "They’ll have to adapt, since I’m not complaining. And, Revana, I need you to keep your animosity in check, for my sake." His gentle words were accompanied by a soft, persuasive smile, which seed to disarm Revana. She scoffed, but ultimately averted her gaze, her silence a tacit agreent to comply with Donovan’s agreent."
"Dinner’s ready!" Althea stepped out of the kitchen, looking as radiant as ever with two overflowing trays in her hand, and a beaming smile on her face, as if she couldn’t wait to share her al with everyone.
Lothar and Acheron were entranced for a mont, and in a flash, Acheron was out of sight. He took the trays from Althea and offered to assist her in bringing them to the table.
"A lovely lady such as yourself shouldn’t stress herself with such heavy loads when I’m around, I’ll carry them for you."
Althea’s face glowed with appreciation as he helped her set the table. "You’re so kind, Archer!" Her attention shifted to Es who stood at the entrance, and her eyes sparkled with excitent upon recognizing her.
"You ca!" She hastened towards Es who looked surprised to see her. "Co co co, I made lots tonight, you must be hungry after going through such a sour wedding, you too Finnian." She gestured for Finn to stop playing cards and have his al.
She held Es’s hand and brought her to Donovan’s side so she could sit beside him at the dinner table. Es didn’t dare look in his direction and kept her gaze fixed on the table, her heart racing.
Her heart stopped when Donovan’s hand slid to her thighs so he could take hold of her hand, their fingers intertwining romantically under the table, and his face was as expressionless as ever.
The audacity....
Es involuntarily scowled.
Her gaze flicked to everyone present, wondering if they knew what this man was doing to her right now, and Lothar smiled platonically. "Please, don’t be nervous. If you aren’t comfortable eating in front of all of us, then I can help you take your als upstairs. It’s not mandatory for us to eat at the diner."
Finnian sat beside his sister, and he gave her a reassuring smile, oblivious to her turmoil. "They’re the ones who saved ." He said, gesturing at Lothar and Acheron who just finished setting the table for Althea. "They took out the guards who tried to inject with more of that painful chemical."
Es glanced their way. It made sense why she didn’t see Finnian with Donovan, cause she wondered how he got here since he had only taken her away.
"Thank you for saving him." She said, trying to free her hand from Donovan’s firm grip.
"And to think our initial plan was to kidnap you," Acheron added and smiled at the nervous look on her face. "I’m Acheron and of course, the flashiest of the group. I am one of a kind and everyone here would be nothing without ." His words dripped with confidence, and the rest sighed as he flexed his muscles.
"You can call Lothar," the other one introduced next. "That’s Revana, and you already know Althea. She told us countless tis how you and your brother saved her despite knowing who she was, so we owe you our gratitude." his appreciation was evident, and Es shook her head as if telling him it was nothing to worry about.
She was flabbergasted by how they welcod her, all except Revana.
"I’m Esray, and it’s shocking to be here." She answered nervously. Althea dished up her plate, including Finnian’s, and Es used her presence to free her poor hand from Donovan’s possessive hold.
"This is my way of offering my thanks. I’m so happy to see you two again! I thought we’d never et." Althea said with a hearty smile.
Neville entered the dining chamber, his fatigue apparent in his voice and mannerisms. He carried a syringe, his eyes scanning the room as he approached the table. "Okay, where’s the boy?" he asked, adjusting his glasses with a weary gesture.
His eyes swept across everyone present, coming to rest on Es. "It’s good you’re here. I’d like to administer this antidote to your brother, if you don’t object," he explained, his tone asured and professional.
"From my understanding, the palace’s ddling has exacerbated the curse in his body, which is a grave concern. This antidote should stabilize the situation and prevent further... complications."
"Complications?" Es’s brow furrowed in concern as she struggled to comprehend what the new stranger was saying. "What do you an by complication?"
Gently turning Finnian’s head to the side, Neville showed Es the dark runes on his neck, but what stunned her was that it had spread a little. The runes which were only at his neck, had sohow made its way down past his throat.
"It will go back to its usual size when I give him this, but I’ll need your permission for that, considering you’re the guardian." He explained, and Es was skeptical till Donovan added.
"It’s a prophylactic asure, a temporary shield against the curse’s malevolent influence," he explained. "We administer it every two months to prevent the curse from wreaking havoc in our lives, as the curse is sohow in our bloodstream. The palace’s attempt to suppress your brother’s transformation had unforeseen consequences, or so we’d like to believe. The mark was starting to spread, and if they had given him more of that chemical, he wouldn’t be here right now."
Es’s eyes widened when Donovan dropped the last part, and Neville added.
"Since he’s afflicted with the curse, I’m afraid he’ll have to start collecting this antidote every two months like everyone else. If you have plans on leaving, then you need to reconsider and think of the repercussions."
Es glanced at Finnian, surprised he didn’t tell her that he suffered in their hands. They really tried to hurt him after assuring her that they wouldn’t.
"Do you know who ordered them to inject you with those chemicals?" She asked Finnian, and he nodded.
"They ntioned her na. I think it was Lady Emily."
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