The Secret Trinity: Reign (Fae-Witch Trilogy, Book 3) by Jenna Bernel
Authors: Jenna Bernel
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notice it, I couldn’t figure out how Aileen had. I thought now might be the only chance to ask.
“Aileen,” I began slowly, calling her by her first name as she had requested.
“Yes Aria,” s he looked at me , waiting patiently for me to speak.
“Would you feel comfortable telling me why you were able to see the Black Magic cloak Adam placed on me?” I finally asked in a discreetly low voice.
“I suppose,” Aileen answered in a sad voice, and she went to the paneled wall of book shelves, pretending to thumb through the titles before she began.
“It is a very long story and many from your generation don’t even know of it. I come from a well- known and proud Eartha linage in our Court. My parents were very well respected until my Father became too hungry for power. Our house was even next to the Eartha King’s, so Bryan and I had grown up together and had been friends since before I could remember. To make a long story short, my Father began to practice Black Magic with Ashen Witches outside of Draíochta . By the end, the darkness had completely taken him, and with that came much suspicion because you could see it in his soul. Once the true nature of his outside trips became known , he was banished from Draíochta forever. My Mother and I would have been banished as well if it wasn’t for Bryan. Even as an eleven year old Prince, he could be quite persuasive. He knew my Mother and I had nothing to do with my Father’s Black Magic and that we had tried to help him and had begged him to stop. I cried so many nights watching him use Ashen and he even hit my Mother a few times, drunk with power. He wasn’t the same person anymore. We wanted to get away from the darkness so badly. I was the one who turned my Father in and Bryan made sure that my Mother and I remained safe in Draíochta . I guess you could say that is the moment I fell in love with Bryan and I would always be there for him, even if he could never quite love me the same way.” Aileen sighed and continued her fake interest in the books on the shelf. Something about that last sentence was strange.
“What do you mean the King could never quite love you the same way?” I asked, knowing it was none of my business, but I couldn’t help it. I was shocked by the possibility that she could state that without a hint of resentment, even though she had been married to this man for years, had two children with him and had nursed him ever since he had become ill.
She sighed again, “Bryan lov es me, of course. However...” H er body began to shake. Even from across the room, I could tell.
“I am sorry. I can’t discuss this further. I will only advise you not to speak of Black Magic in Draíochta . It will not win you any points with the Court. Congratulations on your decision to move forward with your crowning. We will meet soon to talk about the steps leading to the ceremony. Please excuse me. I must be getting back to my husband.” Aileen said. Discreetly wiping a tear from her eye, she began to exit the room.
“My apologies for keeping you, please give the King my best,” I said, and she nodded as she left the room. I felt terrible for broaching the subject. I knew I shouldn’t have asked. No one wants to talk about why someone doesn’t love them. I should know , I’m an expert on that.
I wonder what she meant by it, though. Why couldn’t Bryan love her the same way? Maybe that’s why Clay wa s so messed up about his feelings. I didn’t want to make excuses for him, but I suddenly felt extreme remorse for shoving him in Penni’s determined direction. I knew what could happen when someone is feeling rejected and upset. It could create a kind of vulnerability that would be defenseless against a predator like Penni . I had made a horrible mistake. I didn’t want her touching one bony little finger to his defined square jaw, or looking into his
“Aileen,” I began slowly, calling her by her first name as she had requested.
“Yes Aria,” s he looked at me , waiting patiently for me to speak.
“Would you feel comfortable telling me why you were able to see the Black Magic cloak Adam placed on me?” I finally asked in a discreetly low voice.
“I suppose,” Aileen answered in a sad voice, and she went to the paneled wall of book shelves, pretending to thumb through the titles before she began.
“It is a very long story and many from your generation don’t even know of it. I come from a well- known and proud Eartha linage in our Court. My parents were very well respected until my Father became too hungry for power. Our house was even next to the Eartha King’s, so Bryan and I had grown up together and had been friends since before I could remember. To make a long story short, my Father began to practice Black Magic with Ashen Witches outside of Draíochta . By the end, the darkness had completely taken him, and with that came much suspicion because you could see it in his soul. Once the true nature of his outside trips became known , he was banished from Draíochta forever. My Mother and I would have been banished as well if it wasn’t for Bryan. Even as an eleven year old Prince, he could be quite persuasive. He knew my Mother and I had nothing to do with my Father’s Black Magic and that we had tried to help him and had begged him to stop. I cried so many nights watching him use Ashen and he even hit my Mother a few times, drunk with power. He wasn’t the same person anymore. We wanted to get away from the darkness so badly. I was the one who turned my Father in and Bryan made sure that my Mother and I remained safe in Draíochta . I guess you could say that is the moment I fell in love with Bryan and I would always be there for him, even if he could never quite love me the same way.” Aileen sighed and continued her fake interest in the books on the shelf. Something about that last sentence was strange.
“What do you mean the King could never quite love you the same way?” I asked, knowing it was none of my business, but I couldn’t help it. I was shocked by the possibility that she could state that without a hint of resentment, even though she had been married to this man for years, had two children with him and had nursed him ever since he had become ill.
She sighed again, “Bryan lov es me, of course. However...” H er body began to shake. Even from across the room, I could tell.
“I am sorry. I can’t discuss this further. I will only advise you not to speak of Black Magic in Draíochta . It will not win you any points with the Court. Congratulations on your decision to move forward with your crowning. We will meet soon to talk about the steps leading to the ceremony. Please excuse me. I must be getting back to my husband.” Aileen said. Discreetly wiping a tear from her eye, she began to exit the room.
“My apologies for keeping you, please give the King my best,” I said, and she nodded as she left the room. I felt terrible for broaching the subject. I knew I shouldn’t have asked. No one wants to talk about why someone doesn’t love them. I should know , I’m an expert on that.
I wonder what she meant by it, though. Why couldn’t Bryan love her the same way? Maybe that’s why Clay wa s so messed up about his feelings. I didn’t want to make excuses for him, but I suddenly felt extreme remorse for shoving him in Penni’s determined direction. I knew what could happen when someone is feeling rejected and upset. It could create a kind of vulnerability that would be defenseless against a predator like Penni . I had made a horrible mistake. I didn’t want her touching one bony little finger to his defined square jaw, or looking into his
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