The Demon Lord and his Hero

Syryn walked back to the house with Alka. His thoughts were full and flighty. The mage's imaginations took him through several scenarios that included Lillith telling him that she was already married to Rowan and she had come to say goodbye in the blond's stead. 

"You look stressed. Loosen up, Syryn." 

"Am I the mistress?" Syryn woodenly asked his friend. 

Alka frowned at him. "Banish the thought. You're the only one in Rowan's heart." 

Syryn had believed that but the doubts wouldn't leave him alone. He had no prior memories to rely on for information. 

"Did she say why she came to visit?" 

Syryn had no clue what Lillith was like. 

"She just said she wanted to meet you. The good princess asked for Syryn Nigh'hart so here we are. I'm gonna leave you two alone so introduce yourself to her I guess." 

The mage was feeling a little anxious. What if everything Rowan had told him was a lie. He berated himself mentally. 

'You can do this Syryn Nigh'hart it's just a bloody meeting with the princess who wants your man.' 

Syryn saw Lillith in the distance. She was standing outside the manor in an elegant rose pink dress. Her long dark hair was beautifully braided down her back. And when she turned towards the arriving Syryn, he saw how beautiful she was. Silver eyes like pools of mercury were lit up by the sunlight. High cheekbones were naturally pink and lighter than her deeper coloured lips that were full and supple. She wasn't just beautiful, princess Lillith was breathtaking. 

"You are Syryn?" She asked when he stood before her. 

"I am." 

Lillith's gaze swept over him like she was noticing every feature and flaw of the man before her. Syryn felt dirty from the sweat and mud that caked his clothing after he had taken part in the corpse retrieval activity. He suspected he smelled nasty too. It wasn't a good look to wear while meeting a guest. 

Contrary to what he believed he looked like, Syryn looked like an exotic beauty in Lillith's eyes. Despite the mud and dishevelled look, Syryn's skin appeared to glow like a lamp that shone from within. His hair tied back in a high ponytail looked youthful and elegant. But the most striking of his features were his expressive violet eyes, a bit feline like, that cautiously regarded her. Lillith felt sick inside with jealousy because Rowan's lover was just as electrifying as Rowan himself. 

"I'm Lillith," she introduced herself in a steady voice. Her speech was refined and sweet. 

"You already know who I am," Syryn replied. "Why have you come to visit me, princess?" 

Lillith had a small smile on her face that came off as bitter. "I wanted to see you," she responded after a few seconds of silence. "I didn't believe it when I heard that Rowan had fallen in love. But seeing you now, I suppose it must have some truth to it." 

Syryn was at a loss for words. What could he say to that? 

"I also came to tell you that Rowan is destined to marry Eos' chosen. If he deviates from his path, there will be hell to pay for everyone." 

"Eos' chosen, you?" 

Lillith looked away from Syryn and up at the sky. It was a sunny cheery day for a gloomy affair. 

"That's what we all believe," she said softly. Then looking back at Syryn, Lillith's silver eyes met his violet-hued irises. "I love Rowan," she said to the mage. "I've loved him since we were children. Rowan and I are better suited to each other than you are to him. Why I say that is because our families are nobility, and because our faith in Eos will make Rowan stronger than he could be if he was his own, or with someone who isn't blessed by the goddess."

Syryn was numb. He felt like the third wheel in this relationship because Rowan and Lillith truly were good together. She could give him children too which was impossible for Syryn. 

"Do you love him like I do, Syryn?" She asked him in a soft tone but it sounded sharp and loud in his ears. "Can you give him what I can?" 

Syryn, don't let that woman walk all over you. A voice reminded him. It was the sage. 

"Do I love him?" Syryn repeated Lillith's question. "I don't know yet. But I know that Rowan loves me." 

"And so what?" Lillith answered looking a little agitated. "I can also make him fall in love with me. I only need a chance which he won't give me." 

Syryn felt sorry for her. To be in love with a man who was in love with someone else, that kind of heartache had to be just as bad as losing a loved one. 

"You should talk to Rowan, not me," Syryn told her. 

"I've tried, but he told me that he's set on you. What does he see in you, Syryn?" She asked as she looked closer at him. "You have a face that can topple all the beauties in the kingdom but that can't be it, right? Rowan must see something in you that I cannot." 

Did she just come here to insult you by calling you an empty flower vase?

[I don't think so...I'm not sure exactly what she wants.]

Just ask her. 

Syryn sighed. "What did you hope to achieve by coming here and telling me all this, princess?" 

She had dimples on her cheeks which deepened when Lillith smiled or frowned. And right now as she frowned, her dimples appeared on velvety smooth cheeks. 

"I came here to let you know that I'll fight for a place in Rowan's heart. You have had a head start but I have more ammunition. Rowan is a good man and he wants what is good for the kingdom and for the world, so prepare yourself, Syryn. He will not remain yours for long."

Well, that escalated. Princess Lillith is determined, Syryn. What are you going to do?

[I'm going to poison her with wolfsbane.]

Really?

[No. This is Rowan's mess so I'm not gonna touch it. He already has me so I'll leave it to him to deal with the royal family.]

Wise.

"Thanks for visiting, princess. The gate is that way. Now excuse me, I have business to take care of." 

Saying this, Syryn left Lillith watching his treating back. When he disappeared into the house and closed the door, she began to slowly walk out of the gate where a royal carriage was parked.