Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

Ch 61: Guiding light

Cw for mentions of SA, violence, abuse, sui**dal ideations and death
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They remained quiet way for a long while, simply breathing the same air. She only pulled back to lay her cheek on his shoulder, as he carded fingers through her hair.

Aedion sat cross-legged in the middle of her room, leaning against the armchair as he held her in his lap. Outside, it was still dark, flurries of snow piling up against the window panes.

Ella toyed with the golden necklace around his throat, coiling it around her finger. She stared at the fireplace absently, quietly content.

Then, she paused, finally recalling the rest of the conversation they'd been having earlier.

"Oh," she murmured, flushing in embarrassment.

"What's wrong?" Aedion asked, chin perched atop her head.

"I forgot to ask you. The girl, Kallia, is she alright now? Was she able to get away?" She shifted slightly to look at him. "Was she able to reunite with her sisters?"

Aedion hummed in agreement. "Yes, she was. I arranged for it that night. When you saw us go into that room—we were forming a plan for her to get away as safely as possible. She needed to wait a few more days so as not to raise suspicion. That is often the most dangerous time. There was much to lose, so we needed to be careful."

Ella nodded, still embarrassed that she'd thought so horribly of them. "Where is she now? Does she need a place to stay?"

Aedion shook his head, the movement tickling her skin. "No, I arranged for that already. After I was able to locate her sisters and buy their contracts, I set them up in a house in a safe location. They'll have to lay low for a while, but they are all safe now. Free."

"That's good," Ella sighed, twisting her hands. "They deserve it, after suffering so much."

"Yes, it was good to see them reunite when I took Kallia there earlier this week," Aedion's lips curled, amused. "Their screams were deafening. Seagulls, the lot of them."

Ella laughed softly, mirroring him. There was that soft glimmer in his eyes again. That tender side to him so little saw.

It filled her with overwhelming pride and affection for him.

"Can you tell me about them?" she asked softly.

Aedion hummed, leaning against the armchair, his body moving beneath her.

"Kallia and her two sisters are orphans, originally from a little town in the north of Caelum. They ended up in a servitude bond due to poverty, taking out loans for food and items they couldn't pay for, obviously," he clicked his tongue in distaste.

"That is so predatory," Ella murmured with a frown. "Preying on poor people that way, knowing they won't be able to pay it back."

"That is why they do it. Some merchants purposely target the poor and vulnerable,  knowing that eventually, they'll get an indentured slave out of it. A small investment, in their eyes."

A shiver of disgust ran up her spine. She still couldn't quite believe that was allowed. It was appalling.

"They were separated?" She couldn't imagine the pain of being thrust into slavery, only to wonder if her sibling were still alive.

"Yes, one went to work in some stables further down south in Caelum. The youngest was sent to work the field in Cereas," Aedion said. "When Kallia came to me for help, it took me a good while to track them down."

Ella's brows arched. "Cereas? But I thought..." She'd thought the field workers were paid. She'd visited many towns with Briar, and she'd never seen anything amiss.