My Darling Katherina

Chapter Nine

Katherina has burn marks on her thighs and back that are formed like hands where her mother burned her with the power of the Autumn Court.

Her arms have a few cuts, but they're faded enough that they don't draw too much unwanted attention.

Katherina averted her gaze from the mirror, refusing to see her scars and stretch marks she bore. She let her thoughts drift away as she stepped into the hot water that smelt like coconut and listened to the wood crack against the fire.

***

Katherina took her time closing the door to the bedroom behind her. When she was finished drying herself, she noticed a note on her now-clean bed, inviting her to come down for breakfast. Including a map so she knows where she's going.

Katherina wore a white sundress with puffy sleeves that she drew down, exposing her shoulders. But not so much that her scars were visible.

The dress tightened around her waist like a corset, yet it hung freely over her chest and lower body.

She also wore a little necklace that came to a stop right below her heart. The citrine gemstone in the shape of a sun. It comes with matching gold rings and earrings.

Katherina completed the appearance by wearing her hair in a messy bun with a sunflower crown on top. Unknownling to her that it was replacing the golden spike crown her mother loved wearing. 

Following the map, she came to an end in front of two towering doors. The voices seemed to die as soon as she came to a halt. Waiting for her to unlock the doors.

Fear curled up inside Katherina, tightening around her heart. Her hand trembled as she went to open the doors to the unexpected that awaited her.

Katherina took a deep breath, hoping it would help to settle her nerves. Praying that the voices in her head that yelled at her to run would stop.

They didn't.

***

Her father sat in the middle of the long shedua wood table. His Mate is on his right. Offering Katherina a warm smile. Though, Nyx was nowhere to be seen.

She drifted her gaze from them, focusing on a female with short black hair and silver eyes seated at the far end of the table.

Katherina immediately recognized her as the Angel of Death. The previous God who was imprisoned then was made into the body of a High Fae.

The goddess looked at Katherina up and down, as if considering whether or not she was worthy of her time.

It appears so, because the female did not turn away.

A man with cocoa skin, white hair, and icy blue eyes sat to her left, his hand entangled in hers. With the same cold expression his lover wore.

Elain sat next to the High Lady, joined by a man with dark orange hair and tanned complexion. When she locked her gaze on him. She realized he had only one eye. The other was a mechanical eye with a gold plating. A scar runs down the side of his face, over his metal eye.

When he noticed she was watching him, his metal eye swirled and clicked, while his genuine eye gazed up and down before offering a tiny smile.

She didn't return it.

Instead, she frowned and furrowed her brow. Wondering about how he got his scar.

A female with beautiful blonde hair and rose red lips sat next to him. Smiling at Katherina as if they'd been friends for a long time.

She didn't know why, but, at this female, Katherina did smile back.

Two Illyrian warriors and a High Fae female sat about two seats distant from the smiling female.

The female who sat in the middle of the two males, looked at Katherina with surprise. As if she was sure Katherina wasn't going to show up.

Turning her sights on the muscular male next to her, Katherina couldn't help but feel as if she had seen him before.

Though when She finally looked at the other male, Katherina's eyes widened.

He was absolutely beautiful.

It would have been unlawful for a male to be so seductive if she had her way. She couldn't seem to stop her heart from pounding so fast.

Katherina resisted the urge to touch his wings for they were so big and looked so soft. She noticed he was surrounded by shadows at that point. They moved quickly and gracefully. As if they had a specific reason for doing so.

He seemed surprised when she finally caught his gaze. The male's face changed into emptiness when he caught her watching. He appeared to be bored.

Did she imagine it?

A sudden voice broke the silence and when she looked up, her father was suddenly in front of her; indigo eyes colliding with his violet. Except instead of hate in them, she saw sadness and... love.

Just when her heart had finally returned to its normal beating, she felt it speed up again.

"Hello Katherina." her father spoke softly. His hand extended for her in greeting.

She felt her hands trembling- her heart now beating hardly against her chest. Air was then suddenly hard to take in but when he smiled at her... maybe, just maybe... everything was going to be okay.