Luminous

118 - Seduction (1/3)

Crimson dawn had broken the blue of the sky by the time Meya rose from her mattress to retch out the window. Despite Dad's protests, she'd spent the good part of second sleep massaging his bad hip with her heated hands, while Mum brewed herb tea to soothe his pain and ease him to slumber.

Mum was there when Coris talked to Dad. She advised Meya to sleep on her fears for a night, and her wisdom proved true. Now that the shock had subsided, and her pregnant humors had settled again, Meya realized she may have let her imagination run too wild.

Sir Bayne, now the new Lord Crosset, would definitely not let the Hilds starve. And even if Dad's honor wouldn't accept riches and titles in return for Meya's services, Coris's silk, satin, gold and jewels alone should be more than enough to sustain Meya and her babe for months.

The chances of King Alden hunting her and her family down, though not naught, were also slim, considering Meya hadn't even married Coris, and was unknown to him.

For Coris would let them believe he had The Axel, hunt him to the edges of Latakia. He'd offer himself as bait to protect Zier. And that was her true fear.

She remembered the night she almost lost him. She couldn't imagine then, and still couldn't now, how life would continue if he'd died. This time round, she wouldn't even have his corpse to mourn. He'd simply disappear from sight and sense. A kiss that faded, an embrace that turned cold, the tempest melting into thin air. Until she birthed a son with his eyes, then his memory would haunt her for the rest of her days.

Would it be worse to have his body delivered to her doorstep, his belly split open and his guts removed, or to never hear his name in a sighting again, knowing yet never seeing proof that he'd drowned at sea? She'd seen Philema, Sir Bayne, Jason, a dozen other widowers, but she couldn't fathom how to live so long after losing one's love so young.

Why must he do this? Was it truly worth the risk? What were tens of thousands of nameless, faceless Greeneyes, compared to her Lexi, if she were honest? This was the trap the Hadrians fell to for two centuries. This was why it had taken Baron Kellis two decades. And she was falling for it as well.

Having emptied her gullet, Meya looked up from the chamberpot, then nearly toppled headfirst towards the sight below. Black-cloaked figures swept across the inn's courtyard. A gust of wind unhooded one as he knocked on the door. Lamplight fell on his pale, gaunt face.

Meya hurtled through her door and down the hallway. She reached the head of the stairs just as the innkeeper heaved the door back and they trooped in, Coris in the lead, followed by Baron Kellis, Baroness Sylvia and Lady Arinel, the latter two sniffling and wiping tears.

Coris froze and blinked as Meya scampered down the carpeted steps, chamberpot swinging.

"Where have you been?" she gasped. Coris merely caught her free arm and steered her back up the stairs. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Meya, not here," he replied curtly.

"Where's Zier? Why are they crying?" She shook him off, straining to see those behind.

"Meya, wait," he commanded. Meya gritted her teeth as he led her into his family's room. While his parents and Arinel drifted towards the fireplace to warm themselves, Coris took Meya to the alcove, drew the curtain across, then finally answered her glare.

"He left. For Easthaven," he said somberly.

Easthaven?

Her head slowed and her senses dulled as if weighed by Lattis. Zier left, just like that? Last night he was there, and now he was gone?