His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 38: Fairies?!

Soren escorts me back to the palace quietly after the Prince’s reminder of our ’deal’. The familiar, desolate, bare halls are welcoming. Staying in my brother’s quarters was nice, but I couldn’t continue hiding there, especially after the attacks on the villages by the mountains.

Word would spread about the Forsaken Princess as well. I’d be villainised for taking their King away from his duties. They’d probably say how dramatic I was, needy, asking for attention.

"Princess?" The clinking of Soren’s armour halts as my hand pauses on the door to my study. "It is late. You should rest."

"I will..." I smile over my shoulder, and my knight gives me a stern look.

"Promise. But I will read first. I know sleep will not find me yet."

Soren’s expression softens a little, and he steps forward. "I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything about the Queen Mother," he whispers regrettably.

I shake my head. "But you did. You managed to get to my brother."

"The Prince did," Soren corrects, head lowering as he scowls. He’s beating himself up again over something he cannot control. "I am just a knight. They wouldn’t let me through."

My hand raises to his cheek before I can stop myself. "You did what was in your power," I whisper with a soft smile. "You still got Eryx’s attention, and he went to Alaric."

"Eryx..." Soren frowns at the familiarity I use the Prince’s name and places his large hand over mine on his cheek, keeping it there as he stares at me. "Yes, I do not hold the same station as a Prince."

Soren’s fingers curl around my hand and remove it from his face as my heart pinches from his expression and the detest in his voice. "Soren..." I reach for him again, but he steps back.

"I will be out here," he says, changing the topic.

Nodding, I return to the study, my mind feeling a little dazed. Dealing with the Prince’s blackmail and confusing charm to then face Soren and his self-hatred should not be a priority. Even my heat had cooled off.

That could mean anything, though. Under Eryx’s touch, it had begun to spread and fester. Fortunately, the Alpha Prince wasn’t affected this time. Maybe it was my time spent with Alaric and recovering from my wounds?

Regardless, there were others facing an unknown threat in the mountains. I didn’t have time to think about Soren’s feelings, Eryx’s confusing behaviour, or contemplate about my heat. But what could little ol’ me do? I was without a wolf and could only speak to the others in the strategy room.

It frustrated me to no end. I sat at my desk, threading my fingers together, with my elbows propped up on the surface, and leaned my head against my hands. Soren was right; I should rest, but how can I?

I asked Alaric if I could go with Hanok to inspect the bodies and provide aid where I could. He dismissed me immediately, stating it was for my safety. He was right.

If I went with the Beta, I would only be a distraction, a potential hazard, and someone who needs protection. I was useless. Reading books can only do so much.

Groaning to myself, I flick my fingers up from where they were laced together and pinch at the top corners of my eyes to both stop the beginning of a headache and clear the tears misting my eyes. Fatigue and irritation at myself were playing a role here; I know it because I do not tear up easily.

My sniffle was a little too loud, weak and pathetic sounding in the room and slammed my fist into the desk with a wince. So weak. How was I meant to deal with Deyanira as well? Goddess. I flick my gaze up in a silent prayer to help this foolish princess.

Nobody answered and wisdom did not fall into my sleepy mind. Glass of wine it is. Opening the drawer to the side, I reach for my ’secret’ bottle and pause when my fingers curl around a box. A small smile tugs at my lips, and I open it, remembering the book Sverre sent to this address.

Mindlessly, I flick through a few pages, expecting it to entertain me for a short while and take a swig from the bottle of wine.

One hour later, I lowered the book from my face. The only light in the room is from the small candle holder and the eery silver lighting from the moon hiding mainly behind the clouds outside the window.

"What have I just read?" It was not what I was expecting.

The book I thought might conclude theories from the fairytales we were taught growing up. I was entirely wrong. It went into detail about the history of this world and how the Creatures of Lore once ruled the realm.

Fae, witches, wildlings, sirens, pixies, it was all turning into one big jumble in my head. The world in this book was beyond anything I could imagine. I tried looking for the author, but no name was left.

The map at the beginning was the same as the ones I’d seen in the strategy room hours before, but this one connected the islands with the ancient names of what once seemed unified. Even the humans mingled among these creatures that weren’t large in population but bore powerful magicks.

The High Fae ruled over everyone, followed by the Daemons and Beast Fae. The Lords of the High Fae were born with magicks like fire, water, earth and wind, powerful beyond measure and cruel, and allegedly enslaved the Beast Fae—the Weres and shifters of society.

The Beasts were looked upon as nothing more than animals. They became the Lords’ pets and slaves. That was until they rebelled and overthrew the Fae courts.

Daemons, the fae of an even darker nature, mostly known as Blood Wraiths, was even more heartless than the High Fae, but their numbers were much lower, and they preferred the sustenance of virgin blood.

During the battle between High Fae and Beasts, witches were killed...

I yawned, closing the book, my mind spinning with the terminology, fae, beasts, lords, rebellion... Witches seemed a bit of an overkill for my tired mind. Leaning my head on the closed book, I stared at the small flame of the candle. The book had been an entertaining read, a nice recess from the shambles of my life. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

That’s all it had to be because how could an entire population get wiped clean? Not only was this rebellion in no history book, but neither were the rules of these High Fae and Daemons. Whether they were good or bad, there would still be information, and not in the form of old fairytales.

That was only one of many things wrong with the book. It stated the Beasts—Weres and other shifters (what other shifters?) were also deemed as powerful Fae. FAE. The illustrations of the High Fae revealed them to have wings.

"Fairies," I scoffed sleepily. "Beastly fairies..."