Nyx | Carpe Noctem ✓

Chapter 52: Trap

Nyx POV

"I am going mad. I am honestly going insane. I have no idea if she is still alive."

"You do," Azriel said and placed his hand on my chest, right over my heart. "Right in there you feel it. You know that she is still alive." I looked at him, nothing but honesty and sincerity glowing in my uncle's eyes. I bowed my head. He was right. It still drove me mad.

"I think we should spar, shouldn't we?" my father then asked from the lounger he sat on next to the training pitch. Both Azriel and I looked at him. The slight wince he made when getting up did not go unnoticed by me. For a split second I furrowed my brows and shook my head. But my father insisted and handed me my sword, so I took him up on his offer.

"Yes, sparring might be a good idea. But are you alright? Your health."

"Sure, it is what you need right now," he assured me, his hand patting my shoulder while leading me onto the training pitch. He then clasped my shoulder tightly. "It helps you get your mind off. Because seeing you, all the people I love, struggle and hurt is the worst pain I can feel. I know it won't bring Madis here now, but it will distract you and that is what I want," he told me and I flung my arms around him quickly. I wondered when it was the last time that I had hugged him so much. Probably when I had been a little babe.

With our swords tightly clasped in our hands we then stood opposite each other. I carefully pushed at his sword, mostly on ducking and twisting. But then the tip of his blade brushed my cheek and I tasted blood on my lip.
"Nyx, I know you are going easy on your old father. That is not what I meant when I said we should spar. Now come on, fight like the future High Lord of this court and not like a little baby."

I grinned at my father, bowed at the waist and lunged forward. He got what he had wanted—I obviously did not fully unleash my power. I was scared I might have blown him off the House of Wind if I had done so. I still had not the best control over my growing powers and especially not with Madis gone. Shit, no, for this few minutes I was not going to think about her. I needed distraction. And Madis was fine.

I defeated him—still we both ended up with bloody faces.

When he returned to the others who sat on the loungers my father wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him. He led me over to the edge of the rooftop and for a long moment we just stared out onto Velaris. "You know, Nyx, I am really proud of you and the male you have turned into. Some months ago I was slightly scared about handing this all down to you in all honesty." He paused and gave me a sidelong glance. "But now I have no doubts. You will be a great High Lord. I know people will love you and I also know that you will turn this court into something amazing."

Tears burned in my eyes when I lowered my gaze to the ground. "I am sorry for disappointing you so much in the past. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted and...I don'T know."
My father huffed a breath and squeezed my shoulder. "I know exactly what you are saying. I hated that I was going to be the next High Lord when I was your age. I despised it and then my power started to grow and I did not feel ready at all. The war had just ended and all Cass, Az and I wanted to do was drink, sleep, eat, girls and enjoy our lives. And you know the rest." A cloud covered the sun and I inhaled deeply.

"When I became High Lord I was not ready for this position, still managed to do it. You are ready, more than read. You will do great, my son."

I smiled at him and squeezed him back. "You know that this means a lot."

The corner of his mouth moved up and he dipped his chin. "Now enough of the cheesy stuff. Let's get back to the others. Cass and Az will never let me hear the end of it: my son handing me ass in sparring."
I laughed and so did my father when we returned to the others.