The knife of betrayal had cut deep into Elvira's heart. Sleep continued to elude her that night. When her brain finally shut off, she found herself in a recurring dream world.
As usual, Elvira was in the body of her childhood self and was chasing her sister Valaine on a busy street. The childish chase went on for a while until her sister vanished, and her uncle appeared out of nowhere.
They smiled at each other wholeheartedly. It was so soothing and relaxing to be under the protection of the coven and her loved ones again. Elvira wrapped her tiny arms around his legs, and he lifted her in his arms.
Everything was perfect until two strange men suddenly dragged her uncle away. She was quick to pick on their familiar energy, and they were none other than wizards. She tried to stop them but got distracted by something else around her. The buildings were ablaze, and the sky above was covered in black smoke. People were running and screaming helplessly all around her.
The horrors of a hostile attack saddened her so much that she sat on the ground and started sobbing. Moments later, someone grappled her hair roughly and forced her to stand. That man was Everard. He looked healthy, and his eyes contained the same anger from the fight in the forest.
"Did you think I would be gone for long, filth?" he said. He tightened his grip on Elvira's hair and gave it a rough pull. "It was all a plan, and now everyone knows who you are. Be prepared to rot in a cell for the rest of your life."
Right then, Elvira's eyes opened, and she sat up, gasping for air. Having felt so real in her dream, she was on the verge of panicking.
"What happened?" Wivior rushed to her.
"I had a very real-looking nightmare," Elvira answered.
"Dreams like that can be frightening. Don't pay much heed to it," Wivior said, pouring water into a glass. "Unless they are controlled by an outside force, dreams are meaningless." He handed her the glass of water.
She took a sip and put the glass aside. "What do you mean? Who could invade my dreams?"
"Considering that you're a human being. It would be a piece of cake for vain and formless creatures like spirits that travel in the winds. However, that's impossible in this castle. No spirit can enter it."
"What about you?" she asked. "Do you believe this can happen to magical creatures as well? Do you think a stronger power can send you a message through your dreams?"
"Hasn't happened to me yet." Wivior clicked his tongue. "Also, it would require great strength to do that from a distance. The possibility would be higher within a closer range, but I don't know because I have never heard of it."
Elvira shook her head and forced the entire glass of water down her throat. She must be out of her mind to believe that Everard was sending a message to her via a dream. It was just not possible. Her nightmare was merely a manifestation of her inner fear and a guilty conscience.
"If you want to, you can share your dream with me," Wivior offered with a sweet smile.
Elvira traced her fingers around the empty, cold glass. "Warlocks attacked me. Don't worry about it because, as you said, dreams are meaningless."
"They are. But you know me." Wivior rolled his sleeves. "I am not someone warlocks and witches want to come near. Never be afraid. As long as I am around you, I won't let that dream of yours manifest into reality."
Wivior's intentions were kind, but his detestation for her species added to her fear.
"It's very kind of you," said Elvira, avoiding eye contact.
"I think you need a change of clothes. You have been wearing that dress for so long that it has changed color," Wivior pointed out.
Elvira dropped her gaze to her skirt and found it wrinkled and worn out with a few mud stains.
"I lost all my clothes when I was eluding soldiers," Elvira lied.
"I knew there must have been some fashion tragedy that forced you to stay in a dirty dress for days. That's why I bought some dresses for you while I was away. They are hanging in a bedroom I have prepared for you. I thought you might need it at some point."
Elvira was beyond words for how considerate he was in even the tiniest details.
"Thank me after you see those dresses," Wivior said with a dimpled wide grin. "Now come with me."
Elvira got up and followed him out of the room. A man's cough startled them in the corridor.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" remarked the stranger.
"Cornelius, my brother," said Wivior, grabbing a chunk of his curly brown hair. "What are you doing here?"
Brother! Elvira studied the man before them. He was of average height and had beautiful olive skin, unlike Wivior, who was very pale. His eyes were the same piercing grey color as his brother's. The facial features of Cornelius were average, while Wivior's wide eyes and charming smile made him look handsome.
"News spread quickly, Wivior," said Cornelius, looking at Elvira from top to bottom. It made her uncomfortable because it was a look of judgment. "So it was true that you indeed have a woman. I had to come to see for myself."
"I trusted Lawrence not to say a word to anyone." Wivior rolled his eyes. "I am going to kill him the next time we meet."
"He kept his promise by not saying a word to the king. You expect him to keep quiet after telling him about something as scandalous as you going to bed with a woman while on duty in this castle? That is cruel, my friend, even by my standards, and you know how I am," said Cornelius.
Elvira shared an awkward look with Wivior. He scratched his head and lowered his eyes in embarrassment.
"Don't listen to him," said Wivior to Elvira. "I have an explanation."
"So, you deny saying that?" Cornelius folded his arms.
"Yes, and I had a fair reason to do that," Wivior defended himself. "Elvira, trust me, there is nothing to worry about. If I had told him the truth, then Lawrence would have removed you from the castle immediately by informing the king."
"Why lie? What are you hiding?" asked Cornelius.
"Would you just let her speak? Stay quiet!" Wivior yelled at him.
"You don't have to worry about it. If you had told me about it earlier, we could have avoided this," Elvira spoke calmly.
A baffled look spread across both brothers' faces. They weren't expecting her to be so relaxed about it. What could she have said? It was best to avoid arguments of any sort. She needed to stay with Wivior, as it was the only way to be safe for the time being.
"She must have let it go, but I want to know more," Cornelius demanded.
"Elvira, go downstairs and find Jasper. He'll provide you with a rich breakfast. You barely ate yesterday," Wivior said to Elvira.
A playful smile played on Cornelius' lips while listening. Wivior didn't let him speak one more word. He immediately grabbed his arm and took him away.
Elvira was curious as to what they would talk about. He could have brought news about Everard. There was no way she was going downstairs. It could be dangerous, but she had to eavesdrop!
She waited for them to enter a room before entering the one next to it and using the same magic to eavesdrop.
"You made her so uncomfortable. You didn't have to say all that in front of her!" Wivior shouted at his brother.
"How was I supposed to know? I am a victim because I believed in the lie you told Lawrence. I thought you two were only pretending to be distant," said Cornelius.
"Cornelius," began Wivior. "Her situation is very different. She is a lord's daughter, betrothed to an old king against her will. She ran away on her wedding day, and warlocks are hunting her. The only way to keep her safe is to keep her in this castle."
"Warlocks and witches have no honor!" exclaimed Cornelius. "They would do just anything for power. This poor woman has no idea what she has gotten herself into."
His statements made Elvira's blood boil. It was only a made-up situation, but they were quick to blame the warlocks involved in that situation and had nothing to say about the humans who had hired them in the first place!
"You understand why I lied now?" asked Wivior.
"Yes, because grandfather would be furious to know that you're giving shelter to someone who has warlocks on her tail, our greatest enemies. He would never allow you to put yourself in constant danger, and it would also put the hidden castle and other valuable secrets at risk," answered Cornelius.
"That's why I had to lie about having an affair with her," said Wivior.
"You have always been a hopeless romantic. I was shocked to hear that you are sharing a bed with a woman that you don't love. Because if you did love her, the entire kingdom would have heard about it," Cornelius commented.
Wivior laughed. "I would announce it to the world if I were in love with a woman. Maybe I would even inform the witches by carving my name with hers on a tree in their territory."
"That is more like you." Cornelius joined in the laughter. "But I suspect there is more to it than just that. The woman you have in the castle, Leera, uh, what's her name?"
"Elvira," Wivior corrected him.
"I have never doubted your saint heart, but the woman living with you is an absolute beauty. Just by judging the way you look at her and talk to her. I feel you want something more besides protecting her," said Cornelius.
Since Wivior's intentions were still unclear to Elvira, she was eager to know his answer.
"Wouldn't you be attracted to her? She is indeed breathtakingly gorgeous, and I enjoy her company, but I don't think that she is attracted to me as well. She is too sad and distressed about her situation to notice and catch feelings for someone as desirable as me."
Wivior's attraction toward her was no surprise to Elvira. It was her bad luck that a desirable prince who was kind to her was none other than a wizard. If he were a warlock, she would have probably married him, but since such a man was her enemy, it was best not to encourage him.
"I don't know about her, but you, my friend, enjoy saving damsels in distress so much that I am afraid that you might catch powerful feelings for her. Also, it's silly to call yourself desirable, so let the ladies do that," said Cornelius.
"There is one thing I need to ask," began Wivior. "Everard has not returned to the castle. Do you know where he is? He told me that he was going to follow me, but there has been no news of him since. It's so unlike him."
"Wait for another day. He might be around," Cornelius advised him. "However, there have been some strange activities..."
Unexpectedly, Elvira's room door opened. She almost jumped and moved away from the wall.
"What were you doing leaning against that wall?" asked Jasper, standing on the threshold.
Elvira froze in place. Now that he had seen her eavesdrop, what should she say?