Thea

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- This marriage will give me a legitimate reason to ascend to the throne of Adaman after the death of her parents. - Raphael said calmly.

My lungs seemed to have lost all air. I held my breath from his words, from the horror penetrating into my bones from the tone with which these words sounded. As if someone else’s death was nothing significant to him. Although I should have realized this even at the moment when he mercilessly dealt with his enemies in Riliya.

His bloodlust pulsed around him, as if it craved new nourishment, captured and exhausted everyone around, but endowed its owner with incredible strength.

It was as if a thin thread of prudence had broken in my soul, which still kept me from going crazy. I grinned miserably to myself.

- Will it ever end? – he frowned at my question. – Is it an uncontrolled desire to own everything despite the lives of ordinary people?

- That’s what you mean? You see, this desire is not just to own a piece of territory, it is a desire to give people in these territories the life they deserve. Calm, serene, joyful, where they can safely raise their children without worrying about finding a little food for themselves. All the power of Adaman and Riliya is rotten, and you yourself know and see it.

- But how many people will die for this power? Do you think that no one will stand up for their rulers?

- They will, of course, but this is their choice and their problems. - he shrugged as if it wasn’t that important to him. – If you care too much, then you can distract Dexter and then I will do everything quietly and quickly, without unnecessary bloodshed. You know, he’ll peck out my whole brain later, and he does it very professionally.

- OK. And then what do you want from me? What should I do?

- Just be yourself, you don’t have to do anything else. But before the wedding, try not to provoke Giselle. Just before the wedding. That’s all I’m going to ask you for now.

I gave him a stern look, letting him know everything I thought about his plan. I didn’t like it at all and it’s not the way I wanted to go. I would have chosen a more diplomatic approach. Probably... I don’t know... I was no longer sure that in this case something could be solved by negotiations.

- I have one more question. - I began, a little uncertainly.

- Ask away.

- Since you’re getting married, can I get married too? – I boldly met his eyes burning with fire, which were ready to burn me for just one question.

By the way, I wasn’t going to get married, and there were no applicants, so this question was more of a mockery, and also the expression on Raphael’s face made me understand that I really meant something to him, but I couldn’t miss such a good chance to annoy him.

- Of course you can. Only if your fiance arrives at the wedding in a coffin with folded arms. I’ll even conduct the wedding ceremony for you myself. - he muttered through his teeth, clearly enraged by this question.

- Well, I’ll keep it in mind. - I lifted my chin and smiled. - And now, Your Majesty, I would like to go to my room, otherwise future suitors may misunderstand me if I stay here for even a little longer.

I turned around abruptly and, rustling my long skirt on the floor, moved towards the door. But after taking just a couple of steps, I felt strong male hands on my waist, possessive, demanding. And then my back was pressed tightly against his hard, inflated chest and hot lips touched my ear, burning with their breath.

- Don’t tempt me. - he whispered, tightening his arms around my waist. - What I told you wasn’t a joke.

- Did you leave me other options? - I turned around and extricated myself from his embrace.

It was a game that two people could play, and I wasn’t going to give in or lose to him.

He grinned, amused by my audacity, but still let me go. Well, let’s assume that I won this round.

With the utmost care, I slipped unnoticed into my room and sprawled on the bed, convulsively exhaling the air that was still squeezing my chest. All the nervousness covered me with a train from head to toe, I felt a slight shiver all over my body, as if from the cold. The skin was covered with pimples, and I felt weak. I was mentally exhausted. Perhaps this is even more difficult than being attacked by stepmother and sisters on a daily basis.

Curled up on a soft mattress and wrapped myself comfortably in a fluffy soft blanket, I allowed myself to fall into a deep sleep. Deep and restless.

I didn’t notice this transition from wakefulness to sleep, as if I was still conscious, but in a completely different place, unfamiliar to me. Everything felt so strange, hazy and blurry, and my body was weightless, as if I was not a person at all, but some kind of ghost.

I was surrounded by a forest, winter, dank, covered with a layer of freshly fallen snow and so silent, deserted, dead. Although it was a dream, I very clearly felt cold and when I looked at my feet, it turned out that I was walking barefoot. And my clothes were completely different. Simple, even more correctly, peasant, torn in places, but darned and washed, so that the color has already faded.

I didn’t know where I was going, but my sleepy subconscious bravely and without fear led me deep into the forest, to where it was darkest, to where I absolutely didn’t want to go.

- Well, finally. We’ve been waiting.

I found myself in a small clearing, where the fire was swirling briskly, and there were about ten women and girls around, of completely different ages.

- I had to stay late to help my mom make a water supply. – it sounded like mine, but at the same time not my voice.

The voice was softer and more melodious, like a teenager’s.

- You could use magic, why are you so opposed to it? - one of the women asked.

- I’m afraid Mom will find out. I’m afraid they’ll find out in the village and condemn us. - I replied in a drooping voice, slightly bowing my head.

- That’s right, it’s better to keep this gift away from outsiders. But you can do it secretly. - the same woman answered again. – you need to develop your skills, otherwise you will be useless to the coven.

The woman I had a chance to talk to was already quite old, but there was a huge strength in her, as if she was the main one among all those present.

- I’m trying. I replied. – The other day I even managed to treat a neighbor’s dog’s frostbitten paw.

- It’s all so insignificant. - A young woman whose face was hidden under a hood intervened. – What will you do for us? In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t keep dogs here. - she spread her hands to the sides, indicating that there was not a single animal soul around.

I cringed under the gaze and my subconscious could not understand what I was doing here at all. If I had my way, I would grab my sleepy Self and walk away from here without looking back.

- You asked us to teach you and we give you knowledge, but we get nothing in return. The time for your payment will come soon, Temi. – she said again and threw off her hood.

***

I woke up sweating and feverish, I was shivering. What is this strange dream? As if everything was real, I still remember Lillian’s face after she took off her hood. She was much younger than she is now, but it was definitely her, there was no doubt.

My brain must be overloaded with information and creating these inexplicable dreams. Otherwise, how else to explain what I just saw. It was so different from all the dreams I’d had before. It’s like it’s not a dream at all, but... a memory.

But whose?

Who is this Temi?

I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry. I got up and went to the bedside table, where there was a carafe of water. I poured a full glass, feeling the coolness of every facet of it. Of course, now I would love to drink something hotter, but it’s not bad either.

I raised the glass to my lips, took a sip...

And abruptly spat out everything.

My mouth was on fire, the pain was as if my tongue, palate and lips were being torn alive by the skin. The glass fell out of my hands and shattered into pieces, scattering shards at my feet.

Can I still sleep?

How can water instantly turn from cold to boiling water?

I frowned in puzzlement, taking small breaths through my open mouth, trying to ease the pain from the burn a little.

What should I do now? Should I call someone? And if I do, what should I say? Will they believe me? Or maybe it’s not safe to talk about it at all?

My head was bursting at the seams from the flow of questions and self-examination.

But I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t feel like drinking anymore.