The Touch of Demise │18+

51: The Worst Pain

GRACE

She smiled as Xerxes got out of his town car. She went to him with her mate, giving Xerxes a hug. Demise shook his hand with a small smile. Since the battle, Xerxes and Demise grew closer than previously.

Her eyes brightened as she saw Espen get out from the other side. He held his hand in the car for someone, and when another woman stepped out, Grace ran to the other side. "Espen, is this her?"

Espen's smile grew. He looked...relieved. Bright even. "This is my mate, Althea."

Althea bowed and Grace offered a similar respect. "Prima Grace, it is an honor to meet you."

"And I, you. I am so happy you are alright."

"How is Goliath doing?" Espen asked lowly.

Grace's smile wavered. "As best as one could." Her gaze returned to Althea. "I hear you are an excellent healer."

"Espen told me that you command life. How exceptional that is," she nodded.

"It certainly keeps things interesting."

"I brought Althea because she wanted to speak to you about Adalind."

Grace's brows furrowed. "But Goliath is-"

"Espen told me what happened in Arden-"

"I'm sorry," she interrupted. "Arden?"

Althea started over as if she forgot much was unknown about the world she came from. "Arden is what we consider all of the Houses within the fae realm. Espen told me what you think you saw, but I just...I believe you saw what you did...but," she paused again, struggling to explain herself.

"How about we go inside to speak some more?"

Once inside, Grace asked Althea to continue. Tea was provided as Grace sat down.

"Adalyndra is a kind woman," she started again. "She's empathetic."

"She was also almost entirely responsible for the murder of our wolves," Grace responded in a soft rebuttal. That silence Althea.

Althea's eyes dulled and she nodded. She began to pace for a moment before taking a breath again and turning toward Grace and Demise. "When I was sixteen, I stole some soup from a wealthy family in Capricornius. I was starving - my family was impoverished, and I needed it," she sighed, shaking away the thought. "When I was caught, I went on trial. For four days, I was beaten, starved, and hurt because I stole. On the fifth day, Adalind helped me escape. She was young - younger than me - and she helped me. She gave me money and food and provided asylum for me within her lands. I don't know her well," she admitted. "In fact, after that incident, I never met her again, but she is a good woman. She is a great Regent."

"I am sorry Althea that all of that has happened to you," Grace started. "But that does not mean she hasn't committed these crimes."

"How can someone turn evil after being so good," Althea asked. "Perhaps she was responsible for those deaths and if she was I will apologize, but Prima Grace, I feel as though Goliath is writing her off based on a circumstance he doesn't know all the context of. She deserves to be happy, and I think your Segundas does as well."

»»————-　　————-««

Each Regent seemed to have something that differentiated them. Their Houses correlated with an attribute, a season, and an astronomical sign. House Libra represented harmony and peace, which was why their lands were considered neutral by the Houses. Regent Kallum himself was the epitome of diplomatic and judiciousness. Grace felt safe with him, although sometimes she wondered if it was all a show.