Stella
Two more weeks passed with nothing odd occurring. Astralini became more understandable, and
simple conversations were easier. Prince Fernando often found me in the garden on the days Patrick came.
“Why are … you …” I halted, unsure how to ask why he was so kind to me. Bolin didn’t translate everything, but I picked up gossip and the way the staff looked at me. They wanted nothing to do with me. A guard muttered the words “die” and “no matter” to a colleague when I passed them in the hall yesterday.
“Why am I…?” Prince Fernando asked, glancing up from the violet petals he was admiring.
“Beautiful?” I finished, hoping that was the correct word.
His eyes twinkled as he laughed. “You think I’m beautiful?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He tilted his head and opened his mouth, but before he said anything, Rocco, the guard who brought me here, interrupted us. The more I observed his actions with the prince, the more I noticed his loyalty and dedication. A seed of trust buried itself into the trauma of being forced here.
Rocco spoke rapidly, and I only caught "man is here" and "please come, Your Highness".
The prince glanced between me and his guard. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Go with her and fetch Bolin.”
Rocco bowed. Prince Fernando strode into the villa.
Prince Fernando
Stella fell from the sky a month ago, and no one claimed kinship. Yet this stooped, gray-haired man with deeply lined features asserted he was Stella’s husband. He was at least twice her age. What took him so long?
Several guards stood at attention nearby.
“I asked him preliminary questions,” Dario said when I entered. “He has no magical abilities.”
I appreciated his communication despite our spat regarding the whole sensing and apprehending Stella last month.
He continued, “He says his name is Kade. He thought his wife had perished, but when he heard reports about Stella, he realized she survived. It took him two weeks to travel here.”
I looked the man up and down, distaste swirling in my gut. I didn’t believe him. Stella may not be a young woman anymore, but I couldn’t imagine her with a spouse thirty years her senior.
Turning my attention to Kade, I forced myself to smile.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said in Celestia.
His brow furrowed.
“Do you speak Celestia?” I asked.
Kade glanced at the guards, then back at me. “I don’t understand that language.”
My brow quirked. “What languages did your wife know?”
“Lisairean and Trestainian.”
“Then our healer is not your wife,” I said. “Send him out.”
“Please! Let me see her!” Kade begged.
Like an angel sent from the Divine, Stella entered with Bolin and Rocco. I silently cursed at the unfortunate timing. She’d called me beautiful, but she was stunning. Her long brown hair partially covered her face, but her gorgeous blue-gray eyes took in her surroundings. Her simple tunic dress hinted at gentle curves.
“Stella!” Kade stepped toward her, but Bolin held out his hand with a scowl, stopping the man with just his presence.
For once, I was grateful for the annoying linguist.
“Stella, say you know me. Please!”
The blood drained from her face. “I don’t remember,” she said in halting Astralini. “It’s called amnesia.”
“That’s why you didn’t come home,” Kade whispered.
“Are you … my father?” she asked.
He reacted as though she’d stabbed him in the chest, but it came across like a performance instead of genuine hurt. His hands flew over his heart.
“I’m your husband,” he corrected.
She blinked.
“Prove it,” Bolin demanded with the authority of a king.
Kade pulled a string of black stones from his pocket and held them out to Stella. “It’s your marriage bracelet. You’d taken it off the day you disappeared.”
“Marriage bracelet? That proves nothing,” Bolin said harshly.
Dario interrupted when he snatched the jewelry from Kade. He examined the stones, frowning.
“Obsidian?” he whispered. He looked up, panic written over his features. “He’s a forbidden user! Get him out! Out, now!”
Time slowed.
Kade spoke deep, guttural words and lunged for Stella. Wind spiraled through the room, pushing the guards and me away from her. Spirals of gray magic erupted from Kade’s body and threw Bolin out of his path.
I struggled against the onslaught of wind, only for air to leave my lungs. This aberration of nature was killing us.
“Stop!” Stella screamed in Celestia.
A dome of green and gold light exploded from her, counteracting the air and forbidden magic, and knocking Kade to the floor.
I could breathe again.
Time regained its speed. Several guards lost their footing once the gale-force winds disappeared. Not me.
I drew my sword and leapt. In less than a second, I straddled his prone form and stabbed him through the chest before he conjured more curses. Bone crunched beneath my blade as I sank it all the way to his spine.
Kade writhed as blood leaked from both corners of his mouth.
I leaned over, watching him pant for air. His bloodshot eyes flicked to me.
“Your first mistake,” I whispered, “was thinking you could have her.” I nodded toward Stella, who knelt on the floor with her hands clutched over her stomach.
“The last was underestimating me.”
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