CILLIAN’S POV
There wasn’t really much I could do about the date Aunty Celia had set up for me. She was a mother to me, the least I could do was to take up her advice right?
Oh well. Deep down, I knew exactly how this was going to end but it wouldn’t hurt to do this even if it was just to please Aunty Celia.
Every blind date I had ever gone on had the same pattern. The women tried way too hard. The dressing, the scents, the approach, the way they batted their eyes lids, thinking they would get a reaction from me or something.
It was almost sad and usually frustrating. But I knew Aunty Celia. As far as she was concerned, I was the most eligible bachelor in the pack. A daughter of a noble had won the princess trials and was to be mated to me, but I had rejected her.
I knew what she was trying to do.
From the way she had suggested it, I knew she was beginning to have suspicions. She did raise me, so she was familiar with the way I behaved. If I flat out refused to go on this date, that would only help to fuel her suspicions and soon she would start searching for the reason why I was still unengaged.
Nobody came close to reading people like Aunty Celia. It was almost like she could see through people at times. Once she started asking questions and found out about Rosalind, I’m not sure I would be able to keep it from her.
The best option was to just keep going on dates and rejecting, I guess. I honestly wasn’t sure how long I could keep that up. We would have to find out then, I wasn’t ready to give up on love.
The servants dressed me up in my royal colours and I rode to the venue.
I took a deep breath before walking into the hall. It was a dinner lounge and from the looks of things, it must have been specially reserved for this date.
Golden lights, candles, flowers, fragrances, it was the full package. Aunt Celia had gone all in. I was impressed.
I pulled a chair and made myself comfortable. There were some appetizers already set up on the table so I helped myself to some cashew nuts and waited for things to unfold.
A lady walked into the lounge and headed towards the table where I was seated. I stood and pulled a chair for her.
She seemed a bit taken aback by my gesture but regained herself very quickly, then she curtsied and.
“You are too kind, My Prince.” She said, and smiled softly at me.
Her eyes were emerald green and seemed to glow in the dim light, she was very beautiful.
I smiled back. “I’m just trying to be a gentleman. I’m Cillian.” I said.
I wondered why I introduced myself when she had just called me, ‘My prince.’
She chuckled at my words. It was a little cute with her head bowed and fingers over her lips
“Elizabeth.” She smiled and gave me her hand.
I reached for her hand and kissed it softly. She smelled like white roses.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Elizabeth.”
“I feel the same way, My Prince. Umm… Shall we order? I’m afraid I’m rather famished.” She whispered.
I wasn’t expecting this but I didn’t mind at all. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as cringe as my previous dates.
I clapped my hands and a waiter appeared.
I could see her from my side eye trying the cashews in front of her. This was going to be interesting.
ROSALIND’S POV
I couldn’t focus for the entire day after jolting awake from my nightmare.
What did it mean? Was it a sign? Or was I just overreacting?
I couldn’t think straight either. I went to the orchard to pick fruits. Maybe some apples would make me feel better.
When I got there, I was thankful that the garden was empty. I saw the apple trees and plucked some of the fruits into a basket. The apples were so big and shiny. They looked so enticing, I closed my eyes for the aesthetics and sunk my teeth into the apple in my hand.
It was juicy, there was a burst of flavour in my mouth.
Suddenly I heard the sound of wings behind me, like a bird had just perched on the tree behind me.
Goosebumps attacked my skin, I remembered my dream and turned around swiftly. Only to see a little pigeon. I shuddered and tried to shake off what I was feeling. I turned back to see that there was a worm in the apple I had just taken a bite out of.
Oh shit.
I spat it out in horror and the bird flew away, frightened.
I left the basket there and went back to my chambers feeling out of it. I washed my face in warm water in the bathroom and dried it with a soft towel.
My breakfast tray was still on the table, untouched. I had no appetite but I couldn’t bring myself to waste the food.
I packed the food in a nylon and sent it to the kernels.
I knew what I had to do to feel better again.
When it got dark, I snuck away from my chambers through my usual route and waited at my normal spot. I hadn’t heard from River for a while but he had a way of turning up any time I waited for him.
In a few minutes, he appeared out of thin air.
“Miss me?” He smirked.
I smiled back. I did miss him, not that I had any intention of saying that though.
“You wish.” I scoffed and hit him on the arm.
“I know you missed me, River. It’s alright to come clean.”
He grinned, rubbing his arm.
“Shall we?” He stretched forth his hands
“Alright.” I took his hands, felt the usual turning feeling and the next moment we were in another place.
We were now on the training ground in the witches region.
“Okay today we are going to learn something a bit more challenging.”
My face straightened at that. Excited that I was learning new things I’m magic but also dreading because I was sure I wouldn’t be able to concentrate.
“You okay?” River asked with a worried look on his face.
“Yeah, yeah… I’m fine, just a bit tired.”
“You are not fine, Rosalind.” He said seriously.
There was no playfulness in his eyes now.
“I just had a weird dream, that’s all.” I shrugged, trying to make it sound casual.
“Dreams are important for people like us. But you are the one that has to interpret them yourselves to fully understand. Don’t think too much about it.”
I nodded.
“But right now, it is time for training.” He said and stretched his right hand and the rod floated straight right into his hand.
“Today we’ll learn the art of telekinesis.”
According to River it was simple; you have to concentrate on the object you want to move, then visualize it moving.
He showed me a few examples then let me try.
I sucked horribly at it.
The least I got off my stick was a wiggle. I couldn’t even lift it up. Quite hopeless.
For some reason, I thought everything would come easily after last time. Apparently not.
“You’re not concentrating, Rosalind.” River’s voice rang for the umpteenth time.
“I’m trying! I’m trying my damn best here.”
“Try harder.”
“What the fuck do you want me to do?!” I stared at him, annoyed that he couldn’t see how much effort I was putting in.
“Rosalind…” River’s voice trailed off. He was looking behind me.
I turned around slowly to see every single rock on the grounds floating.
“Am I…”
“Yes, Rosalind, this is all you.”
I was shocked. I wasn’t even doing anything.
“How do I bring them down?” I asked, not knowing exactly how I managed to do all of that by mistake.
“Just breathe, try to relax. Then imagining the stones going down.”
I highly doubted that I could undo this but I tried anyway.
Nothing happened. I calmed my muscles down, relaxed. Still the stones kept floating.
“Try using your hands.”
I stared at the army of stones in front of me. They were being controlled by me, so somehow I should be able to get them to do what I wanted, to move where I wanted them to move.
I felt a sudden surge in my body. A spark in my veins and the stones moved. They descended slowly to the floor.
Awesome.
We decided to call it a day after that. I felt so much better than I did when I came. I didn’t know exactly how long I had been there but I knew it took quite a lot of time.
“Good job, Rosalind. It’s only going to get easier from here.” He said with bright eyes.
When I got to the pack, it was already getting dark. I still wasn’t used to how differently time moved over there.
I snuck through my normal route, glad that everywhere was calm and free.
“May I ask where you are coming from?” A voice sounded beside me. It was sharp like a sword, crisp and direct.
I turned around to see Aunty Lily staring back at me.