Violet
I wondered if she had known, or had she been just as lost as I was?
Rowan made his way to another shelf.
"What are you doing?" I asked him.
"We have so docunts containing so details about certain houses. There might be yours there."
I watched him for a mont, then looked down at the pendant still clutched in my hand.
"Rowan."
He paused, glancing back at .
"Is it possible to look more into what this is made of?" I asked. "The material itself?"
He returned to my side, taking the pendant gently and examining it more closely.
"It’s silver," he said after a mont. "Precious, certainly, but the talwork itself doesn’t seem unusual. It’s finely crafted, but I don’t sense anything extraordinary about the material."
I frowned.
That didn’t make sense.
"The night of the eclipse," I said slowly. "Sothing happened."
Rowan looked at , waiting. "The one months ago? I am aware of it, but we didn’t exactly experience it in my region."
I took a breath, trying to find the words.
I had only wanted to let him know of the energy I had felt coming from the pendant that night, and how a large presence had appeared behind , hinting at so force existing within it. But I ended up spilling even more details about that terrible night that led up to that mont.
Rowan had gone very still.
"That energy," I continued quietly. "It did sothing to , made most aware of the pull. I could not ignore it from that point forward."
I stared at the pendant, turning it over in my fingers.
"I don’t understand how a simple piece of silver could do that."
Silence stretched between us.
Then, before I could react, Rowan’s arms were around .
I stiffened in surprise, the pendant still clutched in my hand. I had been so focused on inspecting it that I hadn’t even noticed him moving.
He pulled against his chest, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other wrapped firmly around my waist.
"Rowan?"
"You’re safe here," he said quietly, his voice rough. "You’re safe with ."
I stood frozen in his embrace, my heart pounding.
"While we do have events like that." He pulled back just enough to look at , his eyes fierce. "I will never allow sothing like that to happen to you. Not while you’re in my territory. Not ever."
The intensity in his gaze made my breath catch.
"Rowan..."
"I an it, Violet." His hand ca up to cup my face. "No one will touch you."
My chest ached.
I didn’t know what to say or how to even respond to the fierce protectiveness in his voice, the raw emotion in his eyes.
I had nearly forgotten he also had this side to him.
I looked away, my chest fluttering.
"Thank you," I whispered.
[ - ]
We didn’t find much on the Rector household. A few other houses had sowhat detailed records of their lineage, but mine had almost nothing. Just the ntion in the scroll and a damaged entry that spoke of guardianship without explaining what it ant.
It was as if my ancestry had been erased even more thoroughly than the others.
I should have felt crushed, and I did feel disappointed. But beneath it, I felt a bit happy.
I had a family na now.
Rector.
I turned the word over in my mind, wondering if I could truly claim it.
Aside the na, more questions made the pull tug in my chest, and I had paused to focus more on the sensation.
It had always been there, but I noticed when I had focused on it, the pull had grown stronger.
The realisation solidified a hunch I had carried without fully acknowledging it. When I thought about the pull, when I truly wanted to know where it led, the sensation intensified as if it was responding to .
The na reveal was nice, but I hadn’t fully found the answers I was looking for. I had especially still not found any information on the driving force behind the pull and Rowan hadn’t co across any information on that.
But I had found proof that my ancestors existed. That they had a na, an insignia, a place in history... even if that place had been nearly scrubbed away.
[ - ]
The morning had been bittersweet.
I stood beside Rowan at the edge of the capital, watching as Ana and Corin disappeared into the trees with two of Rowan’s wolves accompanying them.
They were to carry information to Fresna, along with secretly deliver my ssage.
When Corin had volunteered to deliver the ssage alone, I had noticed the slight distress in Ana, and I couldn’t bear to tear them apart like this when their relationship seed to just be developing.
So, I had suggested they go together.
They had of course protested, due to their duty to , and they couldn’t abandon that responsibility.
But I had insisted, especially since they would be returning anyway, and I was safe here. There was no reason for them to be separated.
Bei was sufficient enough to be with since we weren’t in a dangerous situation.
The night before, I had handed over a note to Corin to deliver to Kael. I had kept it brief. I was fine. I was safe. I was in Silverwood and would remain here for a while before leaving.
I hadn’t asked him to co, but I had told him I missed him.
The words had been difficult to write. My hand had trembled slightly as I ford each letter, guilt and longing tangled together in my chest.
I had wondered if Kael would actually co.
A part of hoped he would. Especially knowing it was Rowan’s territory, along with the implications.
But another part of also dreaded it, along with what might happen when he arrived.
I pushed the thoughts aside.
Today, I didn’t want to dwell on it.
Rowan’s hand found the small of my back, jolting from my thoughts.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, forcing a small smile. "I’m fine."
He didn’t look entirely convinced, but he didn’t push.
"Co," he said gently. "I promised to show you the temple. Today would be a good day for it."
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