Render Me Starless

♛ | Chapter 32 - "double trouble"

"Ready to explore your new home, Star Princess?"

I look up to find the twins standing in the doorway. Gosh, they were quiet. "Do I have a choice?" I ask, standing. Although I knew Cole and Cullen could easily kill me, they offered me somewhat of a familiarity in this place where I knew no one. After all, they had tried to kidnap me.
When I had been left in the room the previous day, it was dark so I had decided to try to sleep after I found a bulky guard outside of the door. Although I hadn't slept much. It was hard to, considering I wasn't with my mate nor in my own Throne.

Both twins grin and it was equally frightening and sultry. For the first time I realised that Cole was the only twin who had dimples while Cullen was without. Besides that, the scar running over his cheekbone was a striking difference that made it easy to tell the difference.

Cole hums. "I suppose you don't."
Cullen tilts his head to the side slightly. "So is it Maria or Astraea?"
I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes. It wasn't hard for me to remember the fact that I had been rejecting the name Astraea quite ferociously during our initial meeting. "Astraea," I answer after a beat of silence from my end.
His grin widens slightly and I refrain from rolling my eyes at the smugness permeating from him. I could have easily suffocated from it.

"Alright, lets get on with this tour," I interrupt whatever cocky remark that was on its way out of the mages mouth. "As the Star Princess wishes," Cole says and pulls his brother out with him. I let out a small sigh before following out of the room they had given me. As opposed to the castle in The Night Throne, Taylem preferred a modern taste and instead resided in a mansion with the latest technology. I had been surprised when they hadn't thrown me into the dungeons or something. Instead, I was met with luxury. I scoff to myself. I suppose I was meant to be marrying their prince.

Yeah right. I wasn't marrying Thorin.

After I'm shown a bunch of rooms within the mansion, I am led outside. I grumble, covering my eyes against the raging sun. Lords, it was hot for Winter. I clutch the front of my stupid dress as I trudge down a flight of stars. I was still stuck in the dreadful orange gown and my hate for it grew with every second. As soon as I got home, I was going to burn it.

"Do you want to see where all the magic will happen, Star Princess?" Cullen asks me as we all come to a stop. Before I can respond though, his twin does. "She's not actually supposed to see till after the marriage, Cullen."
They were much closer than I would have liked and it allowed me to feel their excessive heat that radiates off of their body. "I don't want to see anything," I say but despite my words, I devour everything I see within sight. The Day Throne was very obviously technology based which was quite odd considering they had their magic. I hated spotted solar panels littered on top of the buildings.

I sigh, turning back to the men who were silently arguing. "Why am I here?" I ask and they stop, their familiar grins returning as they face me. The dramatic shift in their facial expressions were creepy to say the least. "We want your magic," Cullen answers.
I cross my arms. "My magic only does one thing. I'm a Preserver, remember?"
This time it's Cole that responds. "Yes, but you were also given the magic. You weren't born with it."

I reach for my necklace, clutching it. "So?"

Both of their grins widen. "What is given can always be taken away," Cullen and Cole respond simultaneously and I feel the metal of the necklace digging into my skin as I clutch it tighter.
I take in a shuddered breath, stepping back from the mages. Sweat torments me as fear drags its claws on my heart. "You want to-" I swallow the growing lump in my throat. "You want to take my magic away from me?"

They nod gleefully.

"Will it kill me?"
Cole shrugs as Cullen responds. "We don't know."
"That's helpful," I mutter. "And if you take my magic away, where will it go?"
"When we take it away, King Taylem will have the magic binded to a pendant."

"I think it's time to head back now," Cole says and I can't help but silently agree. Staying in the room alone was much better than speaking with these two. They take me back without another word and I finally let go of my necklace, exhaling as they close the door behind them. I sit down on the bed, bunching up the ugly orange fabric, surprised I had lasted through the stupid tour with it. I seriously hated this dress.

My fingers go over the mark under my collar bones, the source of my magic. The thought of it gone was painful. Sure, I hadn't been born with it but it had become a part of me. What was worse was thinking about Orion. The magic was what made me Orion's soulmate, was it not? Would he still want me if I were to somehow survive?

The tears come faster than I thought they would. I hated crying but the warm tears flowing down my cheeks was a caress I needed. I clamp my eyes shut, shaking my head. "Of course he will still love me," I whisper. "What's not to love?"
I wipe the tears off my chin as my mind goes to Stella, the puppy that was attached to the magic from the mark. Would she still exist and if she did, would she even know who I was?

The magic puppy had stolen my heart as soon as she had been created. I knew that she wou- my head turns as soon as I spot the small bunch of familiar shadows, the telltale sign of Stella coming. My heart jumps as the puppy yips quietly as soon as she forms. "Oh my lord," I whisper as she bounces into my arms, her tongue lolling out. "I didn't think I would see you here," I murmur to her, scratching behind her ear. I hadn't even considered trying to summon Stella, assuming that the magic behind her was tied to The Night Throne. I had only seen her yesterday but it felt like forever. "I missed you," I tell her and she gives my chin a little lick.

I quickly fill Stella in on what's been happening, not giving a care that she couldn't respond back. As I speak, I look around the room, double checking for no cameras. But I knew there wasn't. I had overheard Cole and Cullen's conversation about the security of this room. There was only the one guard outside the door with nothing else. Apparently the king had complete faith that his helpless human of a Preserver would stay put.

My eyes flit over to the notebook on the desk in the room and I let myself grin in this hellhole. "I have a plan," I tell Stella.