DARKHAVEN | "Three Sisters" Book One

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Gia

Lord Taliesin and the woman beside him seemed to glide up the stairs. Lord Lucien stepped forward with a charming smile and bowed deeply. "Lord Taliesin, it is a great honour to welcome you back to Darkhaven Castle."

Roslin leaned close to Gia and whispered, "I wonder who that is," likely in reference to the woman aside Taliesin whose beauty neared that of a goddess.

Gia's heart had quickened in her chest. "From what I've gathered, that might be—"

The Elven Lord gestured to the woman at his side. "You remember my daughter, Lady Loriel."

Lucien's eyes moved to her and he bowed reverentially and took her hand. "Of course, so nice to see you again."

Gia watched Lucien closely. She was very intrigued, as Ms.Magda had made mention, though quick and offhanded, that Taliesin's daughter was very fond of one of the Lords, but had neglected to say which one.

It didn't seem to be Lucien. Lady Loriel offered Lucien a gracious smile and nod, but there was little emotion in that smile. It was mutual.

As Lord Taliesin moved on, Novak stepped forward.

"Lord Novak," greeted Taliesin, who neither offered his hand nor bowed. His daughter, however, was not spared the same tiresome custom of hand-kissing that Gia had come to despise. She kept her face impassive as she glanced at Roslin from the corner of her eye, watching Novak take Loriel's hand and press a kiss to it.

"Lord Taliesin, Lady Loriel, it is always a pleasure to welcome you both into our home," Novak told father and daughter, his tone dripping with charm. Again the woman bowed her head and offered a smile, this one genuine, before following her father to greet the final Lord.

And there. There it was.

Gia watched as the Elven woman's eyes landed on Aleksander, and how they seemed to shine a little brighter. She stood a little straighter, her pretty lips parting for a smile so heavenly.

Gia felt the breath catch in her throat just as Lord Taliesin held out his hand for a firm shake of Aleksander's. "Lord Aleksander...It has been too long."

The red-eyed High Lord bowed deeply. "Far too long, my friend, you are indeed most welcome here."

Lord Taliesin gave the ghost a smile and nodded his head curtly once more; the only display of respect he'd offered any of the three Lords.

Then Lady Loriel stepped forward, and Gia's stomach churned as she heard the Elven woman's voice for the first time. "Dear Lord Aleksander, I'm always so pleased to see you."

Gia watched as he most uncharacteristically returned the smile and took the woman's delicate hand, pressed a kiss to it, and replied with, "An honour and privilege to have you grace us with your presence again Lady Loriel."

The Elven woman looked at him with such affection that Gia had to look away, her cheeks burning as nausea roiled through her. A heavy weight settled in her chest. She suddenly became acutely aware of her faults and imperfections—of which there were too many to count. She felt like one enormous, glaring mistake.

In all the time she'd been at Darkhaven, Aleksander had never looked at her that way. Never greeted her with such warmth.

She was jealous.

A wave of sadness washed over Gia. How had she not realised until this moment that she'd grown fond of Aleksander? She thought back to his hand brushing against her thigh in the tavern, his vulnerability at the Iridial, the way he had defended her honour, killed for her, healed her.