He'd seen Abraxas moping for weeks now and it growing tiresome. He turned gesturing down to the valley hidden undergrowth.
"The outskirts, every village has them. The -"
"You say I'm not giving you time to mourn, to feel. Yes, sure I am. But you're not feeling Raelyn you're drowning in it!"
Abraxas rubbed at his face stalking off. Aerleas gestured to Marsaili to follow him down the gorge, Abraxas a step behind them muttering to himself.
"I would call Abraxas mad but your sister has a pull on me I can scarely control so I understand his irritation. We are at war Realyn and I don't mean in some metaphorical sense. Fae have cut us from our magic, they have destoryed our so we need those who can be strong and not break."
"Aerleas I haven't seen you around. I hear you have a mate congratulations. Is this her?"
Aerleas looked away from Marsaili his hands clasped behind his back as he dipped his head to the Madam of Briarwood.
"This is Asha, she runs the best Pleasure House here. And no Asha this is not her. This is Abraxas mate Marsaili."
Asha was old, her body toned with years of work and age. She eyed the other for a moment before she hummed.
"Abraxas is one of the good ones. Never forced himself on any of my girls, went for the old ones who never got any clients left them satisfied if that matters to you. You haven't brought me any new females in months Aerleas I was beginning to think someone finally killed you."
He grinned and ducked his head.
"No Madam Asha I am very much alive. I don't have good enough bait to help you any. Give me a list and I'll find someone. May I see my brother? He's here isn't he?"
Asha gave a nod and dissapeared inside. Abraxas wandered back to them with a low whistle.
"You're just throwing everything at her."
"Do you think she can't handle it Abraxas? And before you get on for morals Marsaili this isn't the fae. Mirella knows everything I've done and what I intended to do. It she had an issue she can very well open mouth and tell me."
Abraxas eyes glittered as he looked back at Marsaili.
"I think she can surpass every fucking expectation we have for her. Maeve would -"
He went quiet as Phelan burst through the doors. He tipped the bottle back eyeing them all before he looked to Aerleas.
"Is there a party I wasn't told of? She looks like your mate is she glamored here Aerleas?"
Phelan tisked and swerved away from them toward the forest. Aerleas pivoted to watch him stumble.
"What's the date Phelan? I need to stamp something for Father."
"Itsthursday....obviously. Are you getting slow in your old age Aera?"
Aerleas didn't react only titled his head.
"Yes I know the day. I mean the date. What's the date Phelan today?"
Phelan stilled looking into a basin of water, horror flickering across his face again. The bottle fell smashing into pieces around him as he slid to his knees.
"The 15th. I don't, Aerleas. They're gone. They're all bones and rot now! They're gone, they -".
Aerleas moved toward them. Abraxas picked at his nails, the only sign of how much he hated this was his jaw clenching and how he held himself.
"He - the war broke him in ways no one really saw coming. His mate was from here and he killed her and their children after a tour. He was found in their blood finger painting. He -"
"No! No I need to remember. I need to-"
Aerleas hushed him cupped his face. His eyes glowed liquid silver.
"It's okay Phelan you don't remember. I'll remember for you. I'll remember for you. Rest. It's okay, rest."
Aerleas caught him easing him to the ground. Abraxas swallowed and he didn't look away from them as men came to take Phelan back inside.
"Kindred can take each other's emotions and pain. He -"
Aerleas stood striding back toward them.
"Father should cut him loose but he has a soft spot for him. I and Luther check on him. He's usually fine and harmless. That is what I'm trying to explain. Don't be like him Marsaili. You want to belong, you belong to the Changelings so stop running and come home."
The invite to come at been from Aerleas, it was one of the only reasons she came. A curiosity above all else, why was her sister’s mate reaching out to her? She had found a peaceful rhythm by the ocean, able to sort through her thoughts and focus on herself.
Seeing her own mate, hearing his voice beret her once again caused her to stop in her steps. Her jaw clenched, words itching to be said but she stopped herself. Let him think what he wanted, just as she let everyone think what they wanted. Let them judge her, view her. None of them had really spent the time to get to know her, all they did was judged her at her lowest.
Marsaili turned away from Abraxas when he stalked off, following after Aerleas as they continued down the gorge. She ignored the sound of muttering behind her, focusing on the reason why she was brought there.
There was the wording again, the stab. Though at least there was no judgment in his words, but she knew better than to believe they would not come. After all, did they not realize she knew they were at war? Did they not know she understood how fragile things were? She was not some fragile little flower who would break.
Any words she wanted to stay were quickly silenced when Asha arrived, her attention drawn to her. Her posture changed, standing taller and a kind smile crossed her face. Even being introduced as Abraxas’s mate didn’t cause her to falter, cause deep down despite how they were there was some pride in that. Pride in their bond, their connection.
She allowed the conversation to progress without saying anything, she maintained herself until Asha disappeared. She turned and looked towards Abraxas briefly before she looked towards the other. His comment caused a laugh to come from her.
“Maybe before you make rash judgments and think I am about to chide you for morals, you should get to know me. Which is a feat I know all you all struggle with,” her attention turned back towards the pleasure house. “This is not the first Pleasure House I’ve been to. While my sisters found solace in places I don't know, when I was away from the claws of the Harpy, I took solace walking in the areas where the creatures lurk and many are forgotten.”
Marsaili’s attention was drawn to Phelan, her hands moved to settle behind her as she watched the scene play out. There was a reason they wanted her to see this, the lesson was not lost to her. The fact that Aerleas was revealing this must have taken a lot. A family tragedy, it was not missed her mate’s own reaction.
The explanation of the Kindred caused her to look to Abraxas. “I am aware, I have seen it with my own brothers.” She turned when Aerleas returned, the conclusion of the lesson came straight from his mouth as she rose her chin slightly.
“I respect what you did, you didn’t have to reveal this to me. You are a good brother and a good mate for my sister,” the but lingered on her tongue before she came out. “However, I already know the edge of that darkness your brother wanders in. I have seen it with my own siblings, I have witnessed it firsthand and I have seen who I could become, the nightmares I had as a child. So, I have no intention of breaking. As for a place to belong, I never said the Changelings were not my home.”
She looked towards Abraxas, her hands tightened before she looked away. “I stay away as I believe you all, even my sister, view me as an airheaded princess who is too emotional for her own good. Not once as any of you ever attempted to get to know me. Not even my own mate, despite the pull we both feel…No one has gotten to know the girl who prefers getting dirty tending to a garden or climbing trees, the girl who loves going hunting and feeling the thrill of it. Who prefers to dance and lose herself to the music, who enjoys learning how to fight so she never has to depend on anyone else. The pain and emotions you see are only a brief moment of who I am, it is because you all treat me the same as my family. You expect me to be one way, you expect me to fail, never really listening. If we are done, I will return to my cottage. I will come if summoned…”
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