From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Elara

I still can’t believe my family is here. It doesn’t matter that I spent most of the night talking with them, catching up on everything that’s happened this past month. I still can’t believe any of it. Not even now, as Abigail runs around the garden trying to catch butterflies. I look at her and think that, in the span of a blink, she’ll vanish.

“Don’t get too close over there.”

“Why not?”

“It’s forbidden.”

“Why would he forbid such a pretty place?”

I glance over to where her eyes are pointing. She’s right–from the outside, you can already glimpse how beautiful it is, how much it hides. I don’t dare comment on what my eyes saw in there for fear it’ll only make her more curious to the point of doing something reckless. I sigh.

“Because he’s selfish and wants all the beauty for himself. That’s why he also bought your sister.”

Evanora joins us and ruffles my sister’s curls with her hand. Last night, once she was sure there was no danger, she burst into my room and, of course, insisted on coming with me. It’s worth mentioning that she was absolutely charming with everyone and quickly won over my younger

sister.

“Makes sense,” Abigail adds as she tilts her head and studies me. “My sister is very pretty. You are too, even if you cover yourself.”

Evanora’s eyes widen in surprise at the comment, then quickly soften. I know she’s smiling because of the way the corners of her eyes wrinkle.

“Will you let me see you fully one day?”

“Oh, how bold,” the banshee teases. “She wants to see me fully–did you hear that, Elara?”

“Can I join in too and watch?”

We all turn at once toward Drystan, who has his hair tied back in a soft bun and his arms behind his back, as usual. My sister shrinks slightly at my side, instinctively aware of what stands before her.

“In your wildest dreams, leech.”

“Permit me to ask: am I a mosquito or a leech? I’m terribly confused.”

“You’re both–as disgusting as a leech and as annoying as a mosquito.”

Abigail lets out a small giggle, even if it’s not exactly a joke. Evanora hates him with such passion…

*Fine qualities, no doubt. Though you forgot the most important: my impressive intellect, my undeniable wit, and of course, my rather striking looks.”

“You’d only be attractive if I looked at you with empty sockets.”

“May Lilith forbid you ever lose those pretty blue eyes, little witch.”

Abigail tugs on the sleeve of my shawl to get my attention. I look at her and understand she wants to whisper something in my ear. I crouch to her level.

“They like each other,” she whispers.

“Undoubtedly. When do you think they’ll realize it?”

We quietly slip away from the two of them, who don’t even notice we’ve disappeared mid–argument. We walk back toward the castle, radiant smiles on our lips. No matter how far we go, we can still hear Evanora’s insults and Drystan’s laughter–an absolute spectacle, no doubt,

We climb to the upper floor of the castle and 1 head to my parents‘ temporary chambers. I knock twice under the watchful eyes of the guards, and my mother opens the door herself. She pulls me inside, and I see my father sitting in a chair by the balcony.

“How was the walk, Abigail?” Dad asks.

“It went well. I don’t know why you didn’t want to come with us,” I reply.

He doesn’t truly answer–he just gives me a gentle smile, the kind that’s so typical of him, then turns his gaze back to the window overlooking the

1/2

8:43 PM

Chapter 67

balcony.

“Now that you’re back, you can keep telling us everything that’s happened since you left.”

Mom places her hands on my shoulders and gently pushes me to sit on the bed. Abigail runs to my father’s lap, where he lets her distractedly gazing outside and stroking her thick curls.

She used the key word: “lived.” Because it seems like before all this, I didn’t live–I merely existed.

“What do you want to know?”

sit

while

+20

What’s he like?” She sits beside me and grabs my arm. “It wasn’t until you left that we even heard his name. Since then, it’s all anyone talk the streets of Ravag.”

“Why?”

“Because people thought he was almost a legend–a myth, something forgotten.”

about in

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify