*MATURE FANTASY*
Bound by fate, torn by betrayal.
Their souls are intertwined.
She is his mate, and he is hers, whether or not this is something they want.
Elara has spent her life hiding from the oppressive forces of the Light, a powerful cult th...
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The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves against the ground was the only sound that filled the air as I sat in front of Rylan on horseback, the warmth of his body pressed against my back. I gripped the pommel tightly, feeling the steady movement of the horse beneath me as we traveled through the forest.
My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, the events of the past few days replaying like a relentless storm. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at me, knowing that I was at the mercy of those around me, unsure of what the future held for me. I didn't think they intended to physically hurt me. But I still largely did not know why they wanted me in the first place. What was so important that they needed me to be brought to the Silver Blades territory?
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Rylan's arm encircled my waist, his touch sending a shiver grazing down my spine. I glanced back at him, meeting his gaze for a fleeting moment before returning my attention to the path ahead.
As we rode on, the forest stretched out before us, its lush greenery providing shade. The scenery was serene, though my mind raced with questions, each one more pressing than the last.
"The other night, Finnian alluded to you being a prince. What was that about?" I finally asked, unable to shake the lingering curiosity.
Rylan shifted behind me, his arms tightening around my waist. "I am a sort of royalty for the Silver Blades," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of reluctance, as if this was not something he wished to share.
"But not born into it?" I asked, recalling snippets of our previous conversations and the mentions of his lineage. His father was a shoemaker, not a king.
He let out a weary sigh. "Because I am a reincarnation."
"Who is the other prince mentioned?"
Another pause before he said, "He is from the Spirit realm."
I couldn't help but scoff at the absurdity of it all. "You can't truly be serious." I struggled to comprehend the fantastical nature of his words. They believed someone from the Spirit realm lived amongst us, someone who had come from where the Spirits ruled? Unless, the strange vision I had as a girl was real and not induced by panic. What had the Spirit said to me then?
"Your kind sees the Spirits as gods. It is what they like, but it is not what we are. We are beings behind the veil, trapped on an island, but we will not be trapped for much longer."
Then the Spirits were not truly gods?
Rylan sighed before saying, "It is what everyone believes. He is powerful, his conjuring spans numerous gifts from fire to wind, and that is just what he has shown of it."
"And what do you believe?"
"From some of our conversations, I have gathered there are many so called Spirits, not just the two the people of Armenda pray to. I understand people's inclination to give respect to such a being with power, but I do not see him as a god."
