To Steal A Bride: An Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance: Entangled with the Enduar by Daniela A. Mera

Author:Daniela A. Mera [Mera, Daniela A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Golden Glow Press
Published: 2023-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Fluorite

ESTELA

Enduar escorts are waiting for Arlet and I. One of them is the woman, Neela, whom I was rude to earlier. Her eyes carefully avoid mine as we walk. My wariness of her holds me over as I cross the bridge again, pass through the residential section, and into a new tunnel I do not recognize.

The air here is thick with moisture, making it difficult to breathe. I know we have gone deeper into the mountain, away from the freshness I had grown accustomed to. The sound of water echoes through the tunnel, and I imagine a river flowing nearby.

We don't speak. I think back to the conversation with Arlet, about being the king's mate. As if summoning magic, the gem embedded into my chest hums. Pictures I didn't conjure appear—like painted scenes of him touching my skin had goosebumps rising on my arms. I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts, but they persist, unbidden. It is a strange feeling, a mix of revulsion and curiosity, of wanting to know more but also wanting to run far, far away.

Eventually, we arrive at a set of large stone doors which are already wide open, marking the source of the water. A massive waterfall crashes down the stone, misting the entire area. They are adorned with intricate carvings of animals and people, all unfamiliar to me, and purple stones glitter in the wall. It's like staring at walls of stars.

Those same spell lights glow overhead, showing hundreds of Enduares. Crystals are organized around the space for the singers to lift up a song. This one is nothing like the joyful ones I've heard, nor the peaceful ones. It doesn't even compare to the ballad of heartache the king asked the singer to play while we danced.

This is agony. These are the emotions I've locked up tightly for Mikal. For my sweet brother.

The mournful tune fills the air with a weight that settles heavily on my chest. Even without understanding the lyrics, the sorrow emanating from the voices of the Enduar singers is clear. I am led to the king's side where he sits at the front of the gathering. His eyes are closed as he listens to the song, his face carved with pain. He's... vulnerable. So beautiful.

I feel a pang of sympathy for him, that fades quickly when I remember the arc of his sword. Then the song between us starts up. This time, I really pay attention. There are no words, but the melody tells me to touch him and find comfort.

My eyes widen. No. I’m mistaken. There’s no cosmic force tying us together. Mourning the dead is ugly business. It changes people irrevocably.

In this moment, I’m merely swept up in the fact that the Enduares are not so different from my own people. They too have lost loved ones, have known pain and suffering. Humans can still be evil and monsters can have consciences.

The tears sliding down my face are wet betrayals. I grasp the phial again, feeling the smooth, cold glass in my fingers as I trace the line of the cork.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.