The Princess & The Lord

Part 23

"Elena," she could hear the distant voice calling her name, but she couldn't look at him. She couldn't breathe. She focused on trying to fill her lungs with air and took a few steps back as she shut her eyes.

"Elena," the voice said again but she didn't care. Her heart tore to shreds in her chest when she heard those words- I'm his mate. The words struck her like a blow. She opened her eyes again to see the golden threads weaving through the crowd.

"You-you have mate," Elena said quietly.
Elena continued taking small steps backwards. She looked down at Nyx and she could see a thread leading to his chest-to his heart, but it wasn't tied to anyone else. He had a loose end. The thread floating from Solana's chest drifted towards Nyx's as if trying to knot their ends.

"Elena, please let me explain." Nyx pleaded before her. Elena blinked hard and the golden threads vanished.

"I need some air," she said stoically as she turned and walked towards the balcony. Nyx continued to follow her leaving Solana behind.

Nyx had a mate-Solana. It clicked, why her scent was off yet familiar. It was entwined with his. It made sense. It fit. From what little Elena knew of her, she was a perfect match for him. She was beautiful and kind and generous. She was bright and friendly and Elena knew she you make a wonderful consort as Lady of the Night Court. They were opposites and yet equal at the same time. Powerful in their abilities, one of day and one of night.

But something felt off. His scent didn't bare a trace of hers. Elena braced her hand on the balcony wall as she breathed in the crisp cool air.

"Elena," Nyx said delicately. "Elena, please let me explain," Nyx said again.

"There's nothing to explain. You have a mate." Elena said refusing to turn around and face him.

"It's not what you think," he spoke as he reached for her hand. Elena quickly pulled it out of his reach. "Elena, please I wanted to tell you."

"You wanted to tell me?" Elena scoffed at the audacity. She finally looked over to him as the rage rose in her throat. "You've had weeks to tell me and you choose not to. You lied to me. You flirted with me. You let me believe this could be something real. And the entire time, you had a mate. You never once brought it up," Elena sneered. She ripped the mask from her face as smoke rose from the fabric. She threw it to the ground as it burned to ash on the stone.

"When should I have brought it up? When would you have taken the news any better than you are now? In the beginning, I didn't think it mattered. We weren't anything to each other. But then I fell, I fell hard and I fell fast. I was so wrapped up in you- so wrapped up in us that I didn't know how to tell you. I wanted to tell you tonight, I wanted to tell you everything," Nyx pleaded before her. The pain in his eyes was so very clear.

"I'm sure you were," Elena scoffed again. Elena pulled at the collar of her dress. Her breaths became quicker. "I can't breathe in this stupid thing."

"Can we get out of here, please? I will explain everything. No more secrets. I promise." Nyx held out his hand. Elena waited a long moment as she thought about accepting his offer.

She was mad and she was angry- heartbroken. But at the same time she knew the male before begging her to take his hand. She knew who he was- knew he was good. He deserved a chance to explain, for she had hidden something from him as well.

"I'm so angry with you," she said quietly as she held back the tears.

"I know," he whispered back. "You should be," he added as guilt spread across his features.

She placed her hand in his and he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "I don't want to be angry with you," she whispered.

"I'm so sorry, Princess," he said with a tear streaming down his cheek.
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Nyx winnowed them back to his rooms. It was slightly dark, only lit by a few candles placed upon the tables.