King of Blood

Chapter 26 - Lyanna

Lyanna had spent the first night with Katherine in her explosively colourful apartment, where every surface seemed to burst with bright hues and mismatched patterns. It had been a sensory overload, but in the best way—safe and warm. On the second night, however, Lyanna had decided to return to her own apartment, feeling the pull of her familiar, muted surroundings. Katherine had insisted on coming with her, armed with her laptop and a resolve to 'understand everything' about Lyanna's world.

Now, as the moonlight filtered through the curtains, Katherine was perched on the sofa with her laptop balanced on her knees, her face illuminated by the screen's glow. A steaming mug of hot chocolate sat on the coffee table beside her, untouched. Lyanna was on the floor nearby, surrounded by papers from the Unseelie court, sorting them into neat piles.

"Alright," Katherine said, breaking the companionable silence. "Here's a fun one. Apparently, fae can't lie. Is that true?"

Lyanna glanced up, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "No, that's ridiculous. We can lie just fine. I told you my name was Leah, remember?" There was a hint of amusement to her voice as she smirked. "But if we swear an oath or make a binding promise to a god, we're magically compelled to keep it—or face the consequences."

Katherine arched a brow, her fingers still hovering over the keyboard. "What kind of consequences?"

"It depends on the nature of the promise and who it was made to," Lyanna explained, turning back to her papers. "But let's just say breaking a vow to a fae god isn't exactly recommended."

Katherine whistled softly, then returned to her reading. "Okay, how about this: Fae will kidnap human children and replace them with changelings."

"That one's half-true," Lyanna admitted, shuffling a stack of documents. "Centuries ago, there were records of fae being charged for the kidnapping of human children but there had been no such case in my lifetime that we know of. The gates were sealed for our own protection around the time that humans invented the gun."

Katherine laughed, leaning back against the sofa. "Good to know. I'll still remember to triple check my locks if I ever have children though."

Lyanna chuckled softly, feeling a rare sense of ease. The weight of her worries hadn't vanished, but Katherine's presence made it bearable. She sipped her own hot chocolate, the warmth soothing against the chill of the room.

Katherine set her laptop aside and leaned forward, her gaze roaming over the items in Lyanna's living room. "So, what's the deal with this map?" she asked, pointing to the large, hand-drawn map framed on the wall.

Lyanna followed her gaze. "That's Avalon," she said. "Our world. The Seelie Court is here in the north." She traced a finger over the map, stopping at a sprawling expanse marked with intricate designs. "That's where Jehovah will live. And down here in the south..." Her hand moved to a darker, more chaotic area. "That's the Unseelie Court. My home."

Katherine stood, walking over to the map for a closer look. "They're so far apart," she mused. "I guess that makes sense if you're enemies."

Lyanna nodded, her voice soft. "The distance isn't just physical. The courts couldn't be more different. According to records, the Seelie value order, light, and beauty. The Unseelie... we thrive in the shadows, in violence and chaos. Though, it's a bunch of bullshit." Her tone darkened. "Both courts are just as wicked as each other."

Katherine turned back to the room, her eyes falling on a sword propped against the wall. "And this?" she asked, pointing. "It's beautiful."

Lyanna smiled faintly, standing to retrieve the blade which she handled with ease, the metal feeling like an extension of her own arm. She handed it to Katherine, who gasped as she took it.