Render Me Starless

♛ | Chapter 18 - "gardens of truth"

"I need a drink," I murmur to myself, my mouth dry. My shower was so hot it left me feeling parched. Orion and I had returned home after our dinner and I had just gotten out of the shower. I comb my hair and then make my way out of my room. It was almost midnight and the throne had risen for another day.

I make my way to the kitchen, smiling at the mages who meet my eyes. It was fairly empty, only a mother with her son occupying it. "Lady Starlight," the woman greets and her and her son bow. "Hello," I murmur, still not used to the whole bowing thing.
"Can I help you with anything?" she smiles warmly as the two straighten up once again. I return her smile, my heart warming at her kindness. "Thank you, but I think I can manage," I respond and she nods. I look down at the boy. He couldn't have been older than eight. I catch the boys gaze but he quickly looks away. "What's your name?" I ask and crouch down in front of him. He was a cute thing. "Tevy," the little boy whispers, still looking down.

"Well Tevy, I'm Astraea," I introduce myself, "it's very nice to meet you."
"Hi," he manages to squeak out before trying to subtly hide himself behind his mum. The pair leave quickly afterwards and I retrieve my much needed glass of water. I turn around to rest on the counter only to find my mate standing at the entrance, leaning on the wall. I instantly grin, "missing me already?"
He ignores my question and decides to walk in. "You're becoming accustomed to the people," he says and I nod after I gulp down my water. "I'm a natural," I joke.

"Are you not tired?" Orion asks me, eyeing my attire of jeans and a simple t-shirt. "Not yet," I say. My body is fatigued but I can't bring myself to actually sleep. I don't want to. "I might go exploring around the castle," I tell him. Even though I had been here for a while, I hadn't been comfortable exploring the castle alone till now. "Have you seen the garden yet?" he asks and I shake my head, delightfully surprised that there even was a garden. "Come on," Orion beckons and walks off. I dutifully follow, the liquid stars rejoicing.

I've spent enough time with my mate to know this was him offering his time to me. I knew he didn't do this for anyone. But that's the thing, I wasn't just anyone. I was his mate. I smile to myself, admiring Orion from the back. This was progress, Astraea. Progress.

He shows me the gym, the library and a recreation room that was mostly for the kids. The garden was located on the top floor and was much bigger than I thought it would be. There was no roof and the stars added to its magical appeal. It was gorgeous to put it simply. It ranked very high up on my list of favourite things about The Night Throne. The first being my ice sculptured Adonis of a mate and then the chandelier at the entrance of the castle.

"My mother would always come up here to think," Orion murmurs as I join him on the stone bench. "I definitely see why she would. It's peaceful," I reply, equally as quiet. I was surprised no other mage was here. "What was she like?" I ask, holding my breath. I was taking a leap here. I wasn't sure if he was going to ignore me or not. The question was a gamble and I really didn't want to lose.

"She loved to cook. She would cook even when my father told her not to. 'There are cooks for a reason, Emilia', he would say. She would never listen though," Orion starts and my breath loosens and I let myself relax, listening to Orion's numbing voice. "She always hosted balls because she would make any excuse to dance. Mother offered the castle as refuge to anyone. The people loved her, they still do. She would have liked you." He looks up slightly, to the night sky and I turn my body to face him.
"My father loved her so much. The two of them never stopped smiling," he says, his voice turning to a hoarse whisper at the end. My heart aches for the loss of an amazing queen, mother and mate. Orion's face, still tilted up at the sky, is void of any emotion.

He was truly a sheet of ice so strong but I knew no matter how thick the ice was, a crack was inevitable.

I stand, the liquid stars weeping along for our mate who had lost too much. I turn so I face him and he finally looks away from the stars to meet my gaze. My heart shatters as I see his eyes glossy with unshed tears. "They say that after you die, you join the Night Lords in the sky and become a star," he murmurs and I feel my own eyes burning with upcoming tears.