YOUNG GOD | RHYSAND [ON HOLD]

1.13 | BETTER LEFT UNSAID

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The scraping sound was the only noise that could be heard in the Chamber. Feyre combed through every inch of that fireplace, there were always more lentils, more and more that she'd somehow not spotted.

Feyre's let her eyes drift over to the corner of the room, where she could see Aadya, hunched on the table and flipping through a book that looked, ancient. The book was not torn but, the ends were withered by constant use. The human tried to beg for Aadya's help, but all she received was a silent dismissal.

Two hours later, feeling that Feyre had done enough of Amarantha's test that was for Aadya and Rhysand who still hasn't returned, Aadya stood up from the desk as she walked to the corner of Rhysand's bed which was in front of the fireplace and sat at the edge of it.

"Tamlin told me your mother died," Aadya began, and Feyre winced at the question but it was better that scraping the fireplace. The human couldn't help but wonder, why would Tamlin share this to Aadya, but she pushed the thought down as she faced Aadya who was patiently waiting for her answer.

"She died because of Typhus. I was eight," Feyre said and blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall as she thought about her mother and the promise she made. Aadya didn't know what to say to that, didn't know how to comfort her so she asked an other questions that had been nagging her.

"How did your family lose all your fortune?" Feyre couldn't help but curse Aadya in her head, for asking such questions but compared to being trapped in a dark cell, this was better. Feyre swallowed before she turned away from Aadya as she said what happened.

"My father was called the Prince of Merchants," she said plainly. "But that title, which he'd inherited from his father, and his father before that, was a lie. We were just a good name that masked three generations of bad debts. My father had been trying to find a way to ease those debts for years, when he found an opportunity to pay them off, he took it, regardless of the risks." She swallowed. "Eight years ago, he amassed our wealth on three ships to sail to Bharat for invaluable spices and cloth."

Aadya frowned. "Those waters are a death trap, unless you go the long way."

"Well he didn't go the long way. It would have taken too much time, and our creditors were breathing down his neck. So he risked sending the ships directly to Bharat. They never reached Bharat's shores. When the ships sank, the creditors circled him like wolves. They ripped him apart until there was nothing left of him but a broken name and a few gold pieces to purchase that cottage." Feyre pulled her legs closer for some warmth as she placed her head on her knees.

"That's when you started hunting?"

"No; even though we moved to the cottage, it took almost three years for the money to entirely run out," Feyre said. "I started hunting when I was fourteen."

Aadya just raised her brows showing Feyre she was impressed, but she could still she the understanding in her eyes as she gave her a small smile. Feyre wiped a lone tear that fell out as she directed the attention towards the woman in front of her. "Tell me about your family."

Aadya winced at the question, the first thought was to go back to doing her research but a she felt it would be disrespectful if Aadya didn't say something to the girl in front of her, who just poured her life to her. If Aadya had to admit to herself, she saw herself in the human girl.

"Well," Aadya began. "I have two younger sister, twins. Zoya and Zivia. They both live in their own world. Then there is Malik." A small smile appeared on her face. "He is my brother, probably the only decent person in my family. My Mother and Father are not worth mentioning." This was the most hesitant Feyre had seen Aadya be, from their first meeting.