A Court of Sunflowers and Stardust

•chapter 16•

"All I really want is to find a soulmate; someone else to catch this drift."

Confrontational Talks and New Revelations

~

It became painfully apparent, two days after The Courts meeting, Kaleb wanted nothing to do with me. He wouldn't look at me, and if he did it wasn't for longer than a second. He wouldn't send for me, invite me to walk around Velaris or even just spend time with me the way we had done when I'd come from The Spring Court. He seemed like a different person towards me, and it was only me he was acting this way to.

I had no idea what I did wrong.

On the bright side, Azriel took me under his wing and allowed me to try and figure out what the poison was and where it was coming from as his spies got to work. We now sat in The House of Wind, my legs crossed on the sofa as I closed my eyes to concentrate.

"So what exactly am I supposed to imagine?" I clarified, shifting on the seat.

"I need you to think about the roots of all of the trees and flowers and such, and then follow them to the source of the poison." Azriel responded, his voice devoid of any emotion as usual.

I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut as I reached myself out to the nearest tree, I'd start from there. I dug deep down, feeling the roots in my blood, but it sent a wave of nausea over me and I felt like I was going to vomit.

I put a hand to my mouth, but continued following the roots, joining other trees to my mind and other plants. It was so much, honing all these plants like this, I already felt tired.

But instead of following the roots, something else popped into my line of vision and I jumped. Alakai stood there with his arms crossed, waving me over as we were in the same forest I met him in the first time. I prepared myself to go, but I felt something grip my shoulders and pull me back.

I screamed, fighting whatever was pulling me, until I heard Azriel's voice. "Acacia! Calm down!"

My eyes flew open and I was back at The House of Wind, Azriel in front of me with a slight raise eyebrow. "What happened?"

He sighed and stood straight. "I don't know, you just dropped back onto the couch and your eyes started spasming."

I thought back to Alakai, but didn't say anything. "I don't know what went wrong."

Before he could respond he blinked and looked towards the entrance, where Kaleb landed and strode through. He paused when he saw us and I realised just how close me and Azriel were standing and how it would look. I took a step back, preparing to try and speak to Kaleb, but he just continued walking towards the library.

I flared my nostrils in aggravation and went to follow him, Azriel's scarred hand catching my wrist. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

I clenched my fists and gently ripped my hand away from his, "I want to find out what his problem is."

Something like amusement flashed in his eyes and that just made me more mad. Why was everyone so entertained about Kaleb ignoring me?

I practically stomped off after Kaleb, before he could enter the library I gripped him by his wrist and spun him around. He looked mildly shocked but I didn't have any time to waste.

"What is your problem?" I almost shouted, hearing Azriel's wings rustle as he left the house. Now it was just us.

Kaleb's pursed his lips, refusing to say anything. That just made my temper stronger and I felt the urge to throttle him, but I wouldn't be my father. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I don't know what I did wrong but please tell me it's making me feel like-" I begged but he cut me off.

"You've done nothing wrong." He muttered and I swear his voice sounded pained.

"Then why won't you speak to me?"

His looked away, refusing to meet my eyes, as if scared that if he did something bad would happen. I felt like I should reach up and take his face in mine, but I refrained.

"Kaleb." I called softly, ignoring an odd tug on my rib cage that almost took the breath from me. I narrowed it down to the poisoning of the Earth, but something else was eating away at me, that there was something in front of my eyes I was missing.

"You're going through so much, I didn't want to add to that." He responded, as if that made any sense.

I sighed, "whatever it is; you can talk to me about it, I'm here for you."

He shook his head lowly, "it's not like that- it's- it's-"

He paused closing his eyes as if he was fighting some inner war. I reached up, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder to try and ease him into an explanation. But what next came out of his mouth I didn't expect.

"Acacia, we're mates."

My arms dropped and so did my heart. That tug in my rib cage- it was my body calling for my mate.

Mates.

I looked at Kaleb and something hard snapped inside me, as if a bone had broken but it didn't hurt. I could feel it then, a thick piece of rope that bound us together inside.

I staggered backwards, shock was an understatement. How could I be Kaleb's mate? Look at him; he's kind, he's funny, he's powerful, how-

I turned on my heel and ran, ignoring as Kaleb urgently called after me. There was so many emotions rushing through my body and I couldn't make sense of any of it.

My mate. That's why when I first tried to kill Kaleb I couldn't. Because he's my mate.

I ran into Mor, who took one look at my face and realised what I'd found out. "I'll take you back to Velaris." She offered and I distantly nodded, barely noticing as she motioned for Kaleb to stay away.

But my mind was fully plagued with the thought and feel that Kaleb was my mate.