Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 280: Fire, Ice, Water

Chapter 280: Fire, Ice, Water

"Your guess is as good as mine," Daphne said with a sheepish look. "I was actually hoping you would have an idea since you’re the only person I know with two magical affinities at the same time."

Atticus hummed thoughtfully to himself. "Perhaps that kelpie had something to do with it. Or the fire affinity in you simply overpowered the ice affinity inside you, causing its conversion. Daphne, this could be why you didn’t show any powers as a child."

"They canceled each other out?"

"Possibly." He nodded. "I have another theory though." Atticus pursed his lips, his eyes suddenly turning harsh and cold.

"What is it?" Daphne asked worriedly.

"It’s all Alistair’s fault!"

Daphne blinked in surprise at his vehemence, and Atticus continued to speak.

"From what you’ve told me before, Alistair attacked you with fire as a child while you were defenseless. He tried to kill you! If not for the kelpie jolting your memory, you would never have remembered this incident― which clearly showed how traumatizing it was for you. That encounter with Alistair must have led you to develop some form of mental block, causing you to be unable to access your magical abilities."

Understanding dawned in Daphne’s eyes, and her fingers trembled as she remembered Alistair trying to kill her in the dungeons. Even as a child, his eyes were full of malice and sadistic glee, and he treated Daphne like she was no better than a butterfly squashed under his hand to torment at will by plucking out wing after wing.

Daphne took a deep breath. If she focused, she could still recall how his flames were dangerously close to her face despite her screaming for him to stop.

"Daphne?" Atticus asked, gently squeezing her hand. "Am I bringing up bad memories for you?"

"No, no," Daphne said distractedly, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "I think you have a point. I didn’t recall anything about that time, but I do remember Alistair bullying me more in the years after that incident. He would shove me around and threaten to burn off my face."

Atticus growled, holding Daphne protectively in his arms. Daphne nestled into his hold, tucking her face into the crook of his shoulder, comforted by his presence.

"That bastard must have remembered, but of course, he wasn’t going to tell you that you bested him in a fight," Atticus stroked Daphne’s back. "Bet he was a prideful little shit even as a child."

"You got that right," Daphne agreed tiredly, "And he kept on scaring me with his flames too..."

"I knew I should have chopped off his cock in addition to his hand!" Atticus brightened up, "Wait, maybe I can still do it over dinner. Provide some good old entertainment."

"Please don’t mention another man’s manhood in front of me," Daphne said, pulling a face. "Especially my brother’s."

She didn’t want to think about any other cock other than her husband’s, even in the context of Atticus cutting it off like a sausage during dinner time.

"Yes dear," Atticus said obediently, "I forgot my wife is possessive."

Daphne let out a pleased noise as Atticus continued to speak. "It’s no wonder you couldn’t produce a single flame in Reaweth. Not only were you given the wrong stones, you were so terrified by him and his powers that your brain simply refused to do it, even if you could. There’s simply too much trauma and negativity associated with fire here."

"Then it’s really lucky that I ended up in Vramid, wasn’t it? A land so cold that a single tiny flame counts as a blessing." Daphne smiled and burrowed further into Atticus’s chest."You kidnapping me was the best thing to happen to me."

"Sunshine, when you say things like that, it makes me feel very heartbroken for you," Atticus said jokingly, but his eyes were gentle as he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "You have suffered a lot."

"I don’t know why your mother didn’t let you know you had water powers though," Atticus said with a heavy scowl. "How could she let you believe you were a failure all your life? What on earth was she thinking?"

Daphne tilted her head, giving Atticus a wry smile. "Looking at Blanche, I can guess the reasons why. Mother doesn’t want to be accused of having an affair. If she revealed I could control water as a child, Father might simply toss the both of us out on the streets!"

After all, Blanche’s cyromancy already raised several eyebrows. If Daphne was revealed to have hydromancy at a young age, her parentage would immediately be under scrutiny since it was not an element from any parent.

If her father was kind, she would have been disowned. If not, she highly doubted she would live past her sixth birthday.

"Your family has so many screws loose," Atticus complained, shaking his head. "I am truly cursed with this set of in-laws."

Daphne laughed. "Well, the heavens are fair. They had to balance out the blessings they’ve given you somehow."

"And what are these blessings, pray tell?" Atticus gazed at her meaningfully as he leaned closer to drop a quick peck on her lips. If he had a tail, Daphne could imagine him wagging it like an excited puppy.

"You just want me to flatter you again," Daphne grumbled, but there was no heat in it. "Do I need to sing your praises?"

"You don’t need to sing, my ears can’t survive that torment― ouch, ouch, Daphne, my ears!"

Daphne pulled one of Atticus’s ears, causing him to wince. Daphne might have learned how to master magic, but the act of singing in tune still eluded her. But that was fine, Atticus loved her anyway, warbly tunes and all. When they had children, they would appreciate their mother’s bad singing or they’d be disowned.

"I’m sorry my most beautiful and gracious wife, please forgive me!" Atticus gave her sad puppy eyes as he pretended to sob into his hands, and Daphne couldn’t help but smile. His dramatics were always amusing to witness and play along with. She pretended to scoff.

"Is this the attitude of someone begging for forgiveness?" she asked haughtily.

"My deepest apologies," Atticus murmured, his voice suddenly low and sultry as he nipped at the sensitive curve of her ear. "Let me make it up to you."

Daphne squeaked, and Atticus tugged her by the waist, pushing their bodies together, hip to hip, thigh to thigh.

A blush bloomed on Daphne’s face as she realized what her husband had in mind. It was in the middle of the day, but something as trivial as daylight never stopped Atticus.

"Fine, but if you’re unsatisfactory, I’ll demand compensation!" Daphne said haughtily, only to shriek as Atticus picked her up, a predatory glint in his eyes as his hands hiked up her skirts, a motion made flawless with years of experience.

Daphne swallowed as she felt the heat of his hands on her bare thighs.