Seven Courts of Love and Magic

Chapter 16

Zaria

I sit at the table, letting myself drown in my own anger. I force myself to feel every bit of that blinding rage, lest I forget it anytime soon. How could he say that—bringing up our parents. I am not my father.

After a few minutes, I finish my soup, cold now. Then, I lean across the table taking Nyx's unfinished second sandwich. I can't stop thinking about the expression on his face. He looked hurt, really hurt. I didn't mean for my comment to escalate to the level that it did, I didn't even mean to say it. I twirl the ring on my finger, anxiously.

For the next half hour I sit in the chair, going back and forth between anger and guilt, running the conversation over and over in my head. In the end, I settle for no feelings at all.

A steady rain began shortly after Nyx left. Now, it's a downpour, splashing against my feet, the awning protecting me from above, the smell of wet dirt wafting through the air.

After another few minutes, when Nyx doesn't come back, I start to worry. He doesn't know the Dawn Court like I do, he could be anywhere right now. And in this rain. I wonder if he felt the downpour coming, thinking of the truth he offered about his hurt knee.

Sighing, I push away from the table. I need to find him. He could be lost, or worse. My anxieties overtake me, forcing me to follow down the direction he left.

——————

The rain is relentless as I walk the stone path; I'm soaked to the bone. My tunic and pants stick to my skin and I pray to the Cauldron that my underclothes are not visible beneath the ivory fabric of my shirt. The sun is setting, and with each step my boots splash and slip against the rain, my heart growing heavier with worry. I hope that wherever Nyx is, he's as drenched and miserable as I am.

I remember to check the buildings as I pass, searching for a black roof. I've seen different shades of reds and oranges and burnt browns, but not a single black roof. I push my wet hair back from my face and keep moving forward, trudging through the puddles gathered by the sides of the pathway.

I follow the street around yet another red roofed cottage and squint through the rain at a dark figure in the distance. "Nyx?" I say to no one but myself.

Running towards him, I yell his name. His hands are shoved in his pockets and he walks at a slow pace, his head hung forward, his wings drooping behind him. "Nyx! What are you doing."

He doesn't turn back. I can barely hear his voice. "What does It look like I'm doing?"

I stop, sighing, defeated, no fight left in me. "Nyx, I don't want to argue. We're both soaking wet, please, can we just go inside."

"I'll go inside when you apologize," he mumbles.

The audacity. "When I...what? Apologize for what?"

He finally turns around. "You know what."

We both stand there, staring at each other, the rain falling around us. In any other circumstance it would have been soothing.

I cross my arms across my chest, planting my feet. "That is ridiculous. I am not going to apologize."

"The I'm not going inside." He raises his brow, turning to leave.

Another wave of anger rolls over me and stomp my feet. "You are acting like a child!" I run my hands through my hair, tipping my head up towards the sky. I let the rain fall against my face for a moment, savoring the cold sharpness that calms my rage.