The Necromancers

Chapter twenty

Dryan's POV

A shudder rolled over her and I bit back the smile of satisfaction. I did affect her as much as she affected me. Her eyes glanced at me and roamed all over my face like she was trying to memorize my features.

"Do-" I tried speaking but I was cut off by the same lady from before.

"Prince Drystan, why did you walk away like that." She whined from behind me. I briefly shut my eyes and took in a deep breath to calm myself. "And who is she?"

Who is Astoria?

"I'm her date for tonight." I said and took a step closer to a silent Astoria who watched the whole exchange with big eyes.

"You mean she is your date for the night?" She asked with a confused voice.

"Not that I have to explain myself to anyone, but yes, I am her date for the night. Now if you will excuse us." Saying that I looked at Astoria to see her already forwarding her hand for me to take. Oh Beathan, this woman will have me on my knees. "And yes, do not forget about the meeting tomorrow in my office."

It was something I was looking forward to. The meeting with her and her parents would mean that I get to show them their rightful place. They cannot go around abusing my people and expect me to not find out. Eldora is a victim who was too afraid to seek justice. And it is because of people like that family who subjugate the weak and eat off of them.

My father has aimed for the kingdom to be as pure as it can be. The crime rate in our kingdom is lesser than in any other country in the world and I was proud of my father for working so hard for the safety of his people. Although it is not completely safe and yes creatures are lurking around in the woods that we cannot kill or hunt because of their sneakiness or something else but it is still a lot better than what our kingdom once used to be.

"Where are we going?" Astoria asked me softly. I'm glad she didn't pry but at the same time, I wanted her to ask me as many questions as she could.

"Wherever you want to go." I replied. My father always lets my mamma take the lead in any situation. He knows she is the level-headed one, whereas my papa thinks with his heart. He gets more emotional regarding the decisions.

"No no, you can tell me. We can go wherever you want and then later we can go wherever I want to go..." she paused as if contemplating whether to say the next words or not, "date." She completed softly with a faint pink tint on her cheeks.

The always put together, the ever so stoic and sophisticated woman that I have always known Astoria to be, blushed in front of me, while she called me her date. Could this encounter get any better? Astoria didn't strike me as someone who would blush or stutter. She looks like she has her shit put together all the time and I wonder how she manages to fucking do that. Even in the mornings when she wakes up early and goes out for a run or just a walk, Astoria looks like an angel and so calm and serene. And that same woman was blushing for me.

"Let's go and meet mamma and papa." I said before I would have taken her into my arms and kissed her senselessly.

"As you say Prince." She fake bowed and hooked her arm around my elbow. Her small hand was cold but it felt nice in contrast to my always warm self.

As we approached mamma and papa I realized that they were talking to my cousin and my best friend. It was a good chance to make Astoria meet the two guys who have been with me for all these years and gotten me into more trouble than I can remember.

Eden and Drako turned towards us as they sensed us approaching and I saw Drako smile at Astoria. I figured he had already met her. Eden on the other hand looked at me and narrowed his eyes. He was sensing danger, trying to figure out if Astoria had thrown herself over me like the other girls and if she was a threat that needed to be taken care of. He has always helped me with that. With the slightest of nods from me, he relaxed.

"Ophelia! You look stunning. And Sorin don't get me started on you. Leave some room for the average-looking people too." Astoria said in a happy voice. She got along well with my parents. A great thing indeed.

Growing up as a single child with both my parents busy with all the work related to the kingdom was hard. I barely had people my age to play around with and I often felt lonely. Mamma and papa were upset about it too but that was how the pregnancy of the witches worked. They could barely conceive in their life considering we are immortals and according to the myths and legends a witch only conceives when another dies.

This theory was very much popular back in the days because a lot of witches were being hunted and killed in the human lands and that is why many witches who were kept safe conceived. Mamma conceived me later after the death of an unknown witch.

Although I know everyone is busy with their work right now, I haven't heard of another witch pregnancy ever since Astoria's mother died. Another witch should have conceived a baby after the death and although our kingdom is big and widespread, news like this spreads fast and is celebrated among everyone, because it is very rare to see the babies around here.

Glancing back at my family I noticed Nyx, Alessi and Amedeo had also joined all of us and my parents seemed more relaxed than I had ever seen during such social gatherings.

Astoria laughed again at something Eden had said and I watched her as she tipped her head back and softly parted her lips to let out her laughter. Her eyes crinkled at the side and her arms gently held onto her stomach. Her brown gown rustled behind her and I watched as she glowed in the room. Like the sole person, my eyes sought out. Like the only light at the end of my tunnel.

I watched as her hair was pushed out of her face with her small dainty fingers. She patted her hair a little to settle them down until she was done with them and huffed in frustration. It was endearing to watch her.

"Let me." I said softly. Trying hard not to break the calmness that I had entered. When I got the consent from her I pulled her hair back lightly and held them for a while until I was certain that it would not itch her. Her hair was as I imagined and probably better.

"Let's go and eat." Mamma said happily and everyone began walking towards the food while Astoria stayed watching the food like it was her enemy.

"Are you okay?" I asked her softly in her ear, still playing with a strand of her hair. I had begun talking a lot around here and I couldn't complain about it. She shivered under my touch and took a few deep breaths before turning around to look at me.

"Yes. I just don't want to eat anything yet."

"We can eat later." I suggested. Something seemed off about the way she was saying it.

"No. You can eat. I wouldn't stop you. I just don't want to eat anything right now."

I just nodded and didn't push the subject. She looked weak enough. If the bags under her eyes were any indication then I know what this is about and pray that I am wrong this time. It would be devastating to know that she suffered all alone through it. And not many people would say it is a serious issue but I know how bad it can get in certain cases.

Eating disorders can get pretty bad.