A Dance Of Crowns & Thrones | Book I

Chapter 182 | August 26th | Part 2

Eko stood in the chill of the evening, the crisp air a stark contrast to the turmoil within her. Her powers, once fiercely radiant, had now dimmed, leaving her feeling both physically and emotionally drained. She looked around, the sky a sullen gray, a stark departure from the comforting warmth of past sunsets. Instead of the tranquil hues she had hoped for, the sky was a heavy, brooding blanket, mirroring the storm raging inside her.

The land beneath her quaked with the remnants of her magic, a grim reminder of the day and a half that had passed in upheaval. Cape Hope, her sanctuary, stood before her—a half-built house with exposed beams and incomplete walls. It was an unfinished dream, a fragile symbol of a life that had once held promise and hope.

She had envisioned this house as a cornerstone of a future brimming with potential—a home filled with laughter, a marriage that would weather all storms, and dreams of children. It had been a vision of togetherness, a future with him.

But now?

She no longer had answers. The shape of her world had become an enigma. Her shoulders slumped under the weight of uncertainty, and it felt like the air around her thickened, pressing against her lungs. Her white-blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders, starkly contrasting the somber landscape. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed him there, a silent observer—the man who had deliberately kept his distance.

Matthew, caught off guard by this unexpected encounter, felt an unfamiliar unsettled feeling with being this close to her. The sight of her, so close yet so distant, was the last thing he anticipated. He had assumed her life would move forward, her duties and responsibilities reclaiming her attention now that her world had resumed its course.

As he watched her, he saw her shake her head in a gesture that seemed to convey disgust. He interpreted it as a sign of her disillusionment—her discomfort with the life they had once shared. The commitment to a lie that had now been fully revealed was clearly taking its toll. The truth had settled into their lives like an unwelcome guest, and he imagined she was grappling with how to explain her time at Allegiant to the publishing houses. The silence about their life together was deafening, a cover-up of their sham of a marriage. He had expected some explanation by now, a reason for her prolonged absence from the throne. But nothing had surfaced.

Reluctantly, Matthew took a step back, not wanting to intrude on her moment of solitude. His Highness was lost in her thoughts, grappling with the disillusionment of the world before her, and he intended to respect her space. From a distance, he could ensure her safety until she returned to the palace. Their enemies were gone, leaving no trace of their threat. She could move forward, back to the life she was meant to live.

He was sure she was happy to return after the past year. As he retreated, he must have disturbed some rubble. Eko blinked away her tears, her senses sharpening as she turned abruptly toward the disturbance. Her eyes widened in shock as they met his—her husband, standing before her. The reality of the moment hit her like a revelation, leaving her stunned and vulnerable, caught between their fractured past and uncertain future.

"Matthew?" Eko's voice wavered as she took a step toward him. Her heart pounded with the sudden rush of emotions she'd kept at bay. To her surprise, he recoiled, stepping back as though her presence was unwelcome. "Where have you been? I didn't expect you to be here."

Matthew's gaze remained cold, his eyes hardening as he took in the sight of her, the unfinished house behind her a bitter reminder of what might have been. He took another step back, his silence a wall that she couldn't breach.

Eko's heart ached at the sight of his detachment. "I know things are... completely just been thrown into chaos. But we need to talk."

A muscle in Matthew's jaw twitched, but he said nothing. His eyes, once warm and familiar, now seemed distant and unyielding. The silence stretched between them, each moment amplifying the chasm that had grown between them.