Word Count: 1493

~Aspen

It's strange, looking at those golden eyes, knowing he just tried to kill me.

Ellard once was my escape. The thought of being with a Noble was exciting, fun, and I dreamt of him taking me away from my life, from my abusive relationship.

And most nights, that thought kept me company. Especially when he would visit for political talks with Oliver.

But never once, back then, would I have thought he was capable of killing...

"I'm sorry, Aspen," he breathes, getting to his feet as I stumble back, still clutching his knife. He looks frantic, that he has been caught before he could successfully snuff me out.

I brandish the knife in front of me, as he takes a cautious step at me. "Please...please don't."

I may have the upper hand with his weapon, but I'm still in danger of being overpowered by him. His magic allows him to touch certain items and have subsequent visions, but he still towers over me with his large stature.

If I need to, I will kill him, though.

My mouth opens to speak, but the feeling over someone moving to stand next to me has me pausing.

"What are you doing?" Kastriv says, folding his arms over his chest as he regards his brother, another Noble.

Ellard steps back, holding his hands out defensively. "Kastriv...I can explain."

"Can you? Because it looked a lot like you were trying to murder Aspen," he growls.

Clearly he's seen enough to notice that, considering I'm the one now holding the knife at Ellard. Instinctively, I inch closer to Kastriv, knowing his brother wouldn't dare start a fight with him.

"I have to do it. You don't understand," Ellard insists, sweeping his hands through his dark, messy hair.

This isn't who he is. He's battling with something...

Kastriv shakes his head, not about to let him off without a clear reason. "Why? Because of what she said?"

I'm not sure who she is, but the mention of her has a shadow of fear passing over Ellard's face. Kastriv even sounds uncomfortable bringing it up, even as the one doing the accusing.

Ellard lets out a long, slow breath. "No. I had a vision."

"You touched something?"

"Yes, and it revealed to me Aspen touching a mirror, or some kind of version of herself. It all had dark connotations, like it would have world-ending consequences," he says darkly, looking at me with so much distrust I feel like the one who attempted murder.

I can feel Kastriv looking at me. What Ellard described sounds identical to the vision I had. Somehow, the two of us were connected through the horror of it.

"So you came here to kill her?" Kastriv seems to be growing more impatient. Were I not standing here, I get the feeling this interaction between the two would be far different.

"I can't put people at risk. If she lives, there is a chance of my vision coming true," Ellard insists.

I shudder, a dark feeling curling over me.

What if I am putting people in danger? There is a spirit trying to communicate with us that looks exactly like me. It can't be an innocent coincidence, and Ellard now having the same vision as me confirms that.

"You should have came to me first," Kastriv growls, suddenly advancing on his brother.

Ellard stumbles back as Kastriv pushes his chest. "I'm sorry Kastriv, but I can't risk this."

"I will hurt you, brother, if I must." Kastriv grabs the collar of his shirt. "Don't think about coming anywhere near Aspen again."

"But-"

"We will talk later. Now leave." Kastriv reluctantly releases Ellard, turning his back to him.

He trusts him not to make a foolish enough decision like coming to strike me again. Ellard is just as aware as anyone else here that the only reason he was spared from Kastriv's wrath is because he's his brother.

Ellard's golden gaze drags to me, as I hug my torso, still trembling from the shock of being attacked.

"I'm sorry Aspen," he whispers, and then vanishes.

I stare at where he once stood, still in shock. Did that just happen? Did I really nearly get killed by a Noble?

Kastriv rests his hand on my back. "Are you okay?"

"I can't believe that happened...He tried to kill me," I murmur. All because of that vision, that he perceived to mean the world is going to end. He may be right...but he didn't even speak to me, just came to take my life.

Kastriv examine my face, seeing what haunts me. "It won't happen again."

"He saw me touching the spirit version of me, right?" I say, turning to head back inside. Kastriv follows me, running his hand down his face frustratingly.

"He must of. I don't know what it means yet, I'll have to speak to him more."

I fall down onto one of the chairs at the dining room table, slumping down upon it's surface. This is tiring, being thrust into a world I have no control over.

But anything is better than being in Oliver's clutches.

"But he has foresight from touching some objects, right? They aren't just random dream-like visions," I mumble. There has to be some kind of trust to it.

Kastriv sighs, filling a glass of water for me. "It's hard to tell accuracy, when the future can change so rapidly."

"I don't think this is going to change..."

"I wouldn't worry. He won't try that again, and last time I checked, you aren't going to end the world."

Kastriv smiles at me, trying to find the humour in all of this, but for me, it's impossible. I nearly got murdered, and now, I'm facing a horrifying reality that I'm going to be the key to a world changing event.

"How do you know?" I ask softly, wishing I had his optimism.

He watches me as I drain the glass of water. "I just do."

***

I stare into the fire, seeing Ellard's golden eyes staring back at me.

It's impossible to get him out of my head. Now, sitting in front of the fire with Kaia and Kastriv, I'm trying to keep my mind pinned to their conversation, but it's nearly impossible.

"Way too many people want to kill me," I mumble.

"Because you're powerful. It's a compliment," Kaia says lightly, stretching her legs out in front of her, enjoying the warmth from the fire.

I glance at my friend, seeing her fading bruises and cuts. "I just want everything back to normal. I want us all safe."

"We have a big, scary Noble to protect us, remember?" Kaia nudges my side.

Kastriv raises his brow. "Scary?"

"You're tall, muscular and have magical powers. You're definitely scary." Kaia giggles, even as I shoot her a warning look.

She doesn't mind teasing Kastriv. She knows she doesn't have to be scared of him, not after everything he has done to protect her for nothing in return.

"Well, you're right about me protecting you. Both of you," Kastriv exclaims, rubbing his hands together in front of the fire. It's no particularly cold here, in this Territory, but it's comforting to sit so close to everyone, to talk like this.

Kaia tilts her head down to look as Kastriv sitting next to me. "Kastriv, do you have a mate?"

"Not one that I know of," he muses.

Kaia holds out her hand expectantly, wiggling her fingers.

"Touch me, just in case," she offers. My eyes widen, surprised by her boldness. Kaia hasn't demonstrated much interest in finding a mate before, and she told me she didn't want to pursue Kastriv in any way.

"If you insist." Kastriv tugs his glove off, reaching out to her hand.

Kaia sighs. "Hmm, that's a shame. Your turn, Aspen."

Instinctively, I shove my hands between my thighs, as if Kastriv may reach out and touch me without my permission. "Oh...ah, Kastriv isn't my mate?"

"How do you know?" Kaia presses.

I narrow my eyes on her. She knows what she is doing, setting this all up to lure me into the trap. Kastriv doesn't move, watching me with careful eyes.

"I just do," I growl.

"Come on, what's the worst that can happen?" She nudges her shoulder against mine, as if to push me right into Kastriv.

"Aspen has been through enough today," Kastriv excuses. I don't think it's because he doesn't want to touch me, but because he can see how uncomfortable this is making me.

I mean, a mate? Even if it's not guaranteed, something feels permanent about the decision to establish whether Kastriv and I are mates or not.

"Fine. But it's happening tomorrow...I mean it," Kaia grins, getting to her feet before skipping off to her room.

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