Note: So, omg The Oath Forge has a cover thanks to the amazing Sp1c3M0nst3r! www. artstation artwork/ ZGymg1 (remove spaces). Please check out all their art! I simply adore their style so much.
Also, I've had a huge dip in updating. I have a new housemate moving in so I've been dealing with cleaning and organizing for the last few weeks. So updates are just on the back burner right now. Thanks for all the reviews and support! Have a great week!
Chapter Nineteen
The Serpent Stops Biting its Tail
There was a small part of Phobos that didn't want Elyon to leave. Not for any other reason than he didn't want to be alone with his thoughts. His conversation with her was troubling, now unable to ignore the true depth of his affection for Wilhelmina. He had told the Keeper, recently, he couldn't deny she cared for him.
Superficial, he called it.
That wasn't true then, nor was it now.
But Phobos wanted his freedom more than he wanted to see how deep their affections now burrowed for the other. Wanted a life of his own making. And, the longer he spent with her, the further he fell into her wanting embrace and became addicted to her… everything. The more he doubted himself and the actions of his past.
Was all of this preventable? Once Weira was dethroned, was there a better option for him? For even Elyon? The sense of regret he felt after the beach trip, haunted by companionable memories of them, was festering in him now. Knowing he could have done better for them both. Before, Elyon was an obstacle to his goal, given access to power than should have been his. And now, with everything said and done, she was clinging to those few pleasant moments between them, letting them cloud her judgement, letting him become an obstacle to her.
Every day she did not kill him was another day she fought a pointless battle with her kingdom. Another day she was seen as sentimental and weak. As replaceable.
He couldn't possibly be worth this trouble? She gained far more with his death than to let him live. Even her 'kindness' had to have its limits, as everyone had their breaking point. It was a matter of time before she faced hers. Before she succumbed to the wants of the common folk and rid herself of the burden of him. Like she should. Like he would.
Troubled at the thoughts in his head, he retreated to his chambers, intent on resting before whatever nonsense he faced at the communal dinner, only to stumble back as a small body crashed into him.
"Master!" Achilles called, voice breaking, enormous eyes blinking up at him as tiny fist bunched his robes.
Quickly, Phobos closed his bedroom door, hoping his guards didn't hear the frog and investigate.
"You are too loud," Phobos chided, staining to hear movement in his waiting chamber. It seemed luck was still his friend, as he heard no movement.
Achilles sniffed, tears welling in his eyes. Phobos frowned, both concerned at the cause of the emotions, and annoyed at the display.
"I am sorry!" Achilles called out, still far too loud, pulling at his light blue robes urgently. "But I did not know what to do! We were not connected, and she found me! I tried to run, but she said she can track me so I did not know what to do-"
As that was all a quick, jumbled mess now accompanied by falling, fat tears, Phobos firmly shushed the frog. Achilles closed his mouth, sniffling, large eyes staring up at him, clearly waiting for his reprimand.
Damn Elyon's blasted magic.
Phobos had only granted the frog knowledge and power during their contract. Elyon's presence, as the magic was funneled through her, was granting the shape-sifter humanity. And with that came emotions. So many blasted, useless emotions.
Phobos, recalling how he handled similar outburst from said girl, was surprised to find it easier this time around to calmly state, "Take a breath, and then tell me what troubles you have found."
Achilles nodded, taking a few deep breaths before saying, "I tried to call you, to ask what to do, Master." He paused, looking forlorn. "But the connection was severed. Lady Wilhelmina found me."
Oh, that was unexpected.
Phobos nodded, not seeing a direct problem with that. She had no reason to question a half-breed noble child in the castle. Achilles blended in well enough. He was quiet and well spoken when interacted with. He knew enough to keep a low profile and was dressed in a way no one would bat an eye at.
"And what came of it?" he asked, curious about their second interaction, as the first did not go well. Phobos never got to question why she reacted the way she did, to what was just a simple frog to her. Vaguely, he recalled her having a fondness for the creatures while he was on Earth. Yet, that was years ago. She couldn't possibly still have that youthful obsession still.
Achilles frowned and answered, woefully, concern thick in his voice, "She told me to stay away from Elyon's office. And that she can find me wherever I am."
"I do not see how she can track you," he said, trying to put the creature at ease. "The Heart of Kandrakar most likely alerted her of your presence, as you are full of magic from an opposing Heart." Phobos placed a hand on his own chin in thought. "Actually, it is the nymph that may pose a problem to our plans. She would be able to sense your connection to Elyon. Right now, it seems childlike, not able to comprehend the meaning of what it is viewing."
Phobos looked down at his new familiar, who was still clinging to him, still looking distraught. Phobos sighed. "Do not worry yourself. If the nymph saw you, or I, as a threat, we would have been found out long ago. And she would not have brought the Keeper here, to me."
Achilles slowly nodded and then carefully asked, with annoying child-like innocence, "Why did you want me to try removing your bonds so soon, Master? When Lady Wilhelmina was here?"
Phobos knew, rationally, it wasn't a child before him. It was just one of three forms it now held. If anything, it was a simple frog that had lucked itself into more magic than most high mages were graced with in their entire lifetime. Still, he was absolutely not about to answer that question with his large, inquisitive eyes peering up at him in earnest.
"That is none of your concern," Phobos said evenly, leaving no room for further questions on that topic. But he added, "You did well today, Achilles. You are farther along than I had planned on. And it sounds as if you handled the interaction well with the Keeper all on your own. You are showing both sound judgement and promise."
Achilles blinked a few times before smiling softly, his earlier distress melting away. "I am happy," he simply stated, voice low and contented. Then he morphed into his original form as a moon opal frog and jumped on him. Settling like normal into the crook of his neck and shoulder to feed and rest after using a great deal of magic that day.
Phobos knew he should also rest, but he walked out to the balcony, stepping out into the hot beams of sunlight, where he gazed down over the expanse of capital city of Meridian, wondering where he could even go in his soon to be had freedom.
Yet, he could only see warm, honey brown eyes gazing back at him.
"Wilhelmina," Phobos greeted, pleasantly surprised to see the Keeper. He had expected her companions to tie her up, somewhat literally, and keep her preoccupied for the rest of the day.
She opened her mouth, probably to correct him to call her by her shorter name, but stopped, a slight frown on her face at some thought in her head. Still, Phobos made a mental note to try to not make that slip often. He was use to calling her by her title. Now that they achieved a new level of intimacy, it felt odd to keep calling her as such.
Phobos stepped aside, letting her into the room, his guards keeping their gaze forward, away from them. At least these two knew proper etiquette with their position.
Wilhelmina entered, still in her green beach dress, pulling the hem down as she walk.
"Hey, I just wanted to talk for a sec before dinner," she said, explaining her presence, a smile pulling at her lips as he closed the door to face her.
Once there was a knock on the door to his chambers, Phobos woke the frog and sent Achilles off to his own devices in the castle. So Phobos didn't worry for an audience as he pushed Wilhelmina against the closed door, mouth descending to hers with no hesitation.
Her back hit the door with a soft thud as he pressed fully against her, kissing her with every bit of longing that he was tortured with for weeks. The memory of her kissing him by the lake, and him unable to embrace her back with the overwhelming heat he felt for her, was still a bitterness that twisted in his chest. That look of rejection still haunted him, even if it was not his fault.
Phobos gasped, heat pooling in his gut, as she eagerly responded, biting his lip, and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Phobos," she whispered against his lips, dark eyes now lidded, body rubbing his. "Phobos."
And then, wonderfully, "Your bed, please." Whatever she came to talk about was quickly forgotten.
It was a blur, stumbling to his inner chamber, her pushing his robes open just as they fell to the bed. Him pulling up her dress and moving aside her under garment. Both moving with jerky, needy actions like they had only seconds before the other dissolved into an aching dream.
They clung to each other, mouths not parting for long as they reunited with blasting heat across their skin and prickling electricity down their spines. Without his magic, and her in her human form, they found completion faster and, for the moment, were content with one round.
Pulling back, it confused Phobos to see her smiling, trying to hold in her laughter, mirth twinkling in her warm eyes.
"Nice to see you too." She laughed now, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, pulling him down to press her forehead to his, rose red hair tickling his face. "You would think you didn't just see me a few hours ago."
Phobos was struck with how… happy she looked. How happy she was being there with just him. He knew how much her role was weighing on her lately. How she was being pushed to make choices that would alter the course of many lives, that would shape her image as the Light of Infinity. She was already losing people from her life that she hadn't counted on. Already going against the want of the Council of Kandrakar by letting the nymph awaken.
And here she was, in the middle of the greatest upheaval of her life, finding solitude with him.
Wilhelmina kissed him, her lips soft and gentle, and he felt that twist again in his chest.
What was this? Why was she like this with him? Why was this somehow almost better than what they just did? More meaningful?
"Also," she said, as she pulled away, gentle hand rubbing his cheek. "I don't mind if you call me 'Wilhelmina'. I actually kinda like how you say it."
Phobos kissed her fervently, his body dropping to hers again, needing to push aside the damned emotions that were bubbling up more and more at her words, at her sweet touch.
He had spent so long not feeling anything. Not wanting anything. Living in a fog.
And now she was here, filling him with her blinding electricity, making him feel in ways he had repressed long ago.
Making him stupidly think she might be… enough.
Once they parted the second time, Wilhelmina told him she had a few conversations with her companions. While she didn't go into details, she admitted he was the major topic. Overall, Irma, Hay-Lin, and Taranee had vouched for him, saying he didn't appear to have ill intentions. And, after Elyon talked with him, the queen was willing to not intervene in their courtship.
It seemed like Elyon kept the exact details of their conversation private, as Wilhelmina asked about the interaction. She, somewhat disappointingly, accepted his refusal to speak of it, as most of it was forbidden by his bonds to speak of, anyway. He appreciated her willingness to not pry, as the swirl of emotions still troubled him in his chest.
Then, with a drastic down turn to her tone, she said simply, "I spoke with Matt. Um, it's best you stay clear of him. He's not… it's a lot…"
"Understood," Phobos said, giving into the urge to pull her to him as they sat at the head of his bed. She willingly moved, gliding across the cool red silk, leaning slowly on his chest, and sinking down into the loose embrace. She placed her hands on his chest, fingering his robes as she placed her head on his shoulder. "I have no reason to converse with him." Then he added, remembering her confession of their recent kiss that overlapped with her pursuing him. "As long as he understands his new, lesser, position with you."
She sat back, a small frown on her face. "That's the shit I'm worried about," she said, eyeing him. "You like playing word games with people. Digging at them. Leave Matt alone. He's dealing with enough."
Phobos smiled, a chuckle making his chest bounce. "Like I said; it is understood."
Still, she watched him before sighing. "Just, like, don't be a dick at dinner. Can you manage that?"
This time, Phobos let out a full laugh, pulling her to him, kissing her neck as he pulled at her hips. "I have no interest in conversing with anyone. You worry for not."
Wilhelmina blushed as he sat back, his hands rubbing her bare thigh. At this rate, he was going to have her again, as he enjoyed seeing her skin flush at his touch.
"Uh-huh," she said, doubtfully.
Phobos was pleased. She was right. He was absolutely planning on seeking the Earth Regent out and making sure he knew to keep his distance. It was a good thing; she saw him for who he was, and didn't fall for his false words. She was worth his interest in every way possible.
"How about," Phobos started, knowing she would be disappointed if he followed his instincts, and made a deal that even he would want to uphold. "If I keep myself from making this offensive scene you are so concerned about, you join me for a hot bath after dinner? That seems like a prize that is guaranteed to keep me in line, no?"
Wilhelmina flamed red from her face to her neck, hands on his chest clenching his robe tight.
"Oh," she said, eyes glancing at him before looking down, biting her lower lip. Seeing her behave this shyly was a treat on its own. "That sounds… that works," she agreed, ducking her head to rest on his shoulder for a moment, fingers slipping beneath his robe to trace circles on his bare chest. "I should get ready for dinner. Cornelia says I need to start 'playing the part'. Whatever the hell that means."
Right, he needed to prepare for dinner as well. While he still did not want to attend as, Wilhelmina informed him, it was more formal than the previous meals Elyon had shared with the Guardians, he knew his behavior would reflect on the Keeper now.
They parted, sharing a lingering kiss, and she left, smile on her lips and a light bounce in her steps.
