The Husband With many Identities

Ch 9 - I Am Akeel Veer Corvain

The storm arrived without warning.

Dark clouds rolled over the Valcrest estate, swallowing the last light of evening. Within minutes, rain struck the tall windows hard enough to make the glass tremble.

Lightning flashed across the sky.

The estate's protective barrier answered.

A pale blue wall of energy rose around the outer grounds. It absorbed the lightning before it could strike the buildings, then released the remaining force into the ground beneath the estate.

Another flash followed.

Thunder shook the halls.

Danaya sat in the eastern reception room with Rowan and the two captains of her guard standing nearby.

She had barely spoken since Rowan gave her the final report.

Akeel Veer Corvain was not her missing fiancé.

The records proved it.

He had lived in Havenrock. He owned the Second Spark Workshop. He had worked in several towns during the same periods when her missing fiancé had been living under House Valcrest's protection.

Two men.

Two lives.

One face.

One name.

Danaya had spent the last hour trying to understand how that was possible.

Another thunderclap rolled across the estate.

Danaya looked toward the windows.

"The weather is quite pleasant."

Her voice was calm.

Rowan immediately stopped moving.

Cael Mercer and Daren Mercer, the two captains responsible for the household guard, looked at each other.

Then all three men dropped to one knee.

They knew Danaya well enough to understand what her calm words meant.

She was worried.

She simply refused to say it directly.

Danaya glanced toward the staircase.

"Send someone upstairs to check on him."

Neither captain moved.

They were still trying to determine whether she wanted a healer, a guard, or an entire medical team sent upstairs.

The old butler, Orwin Marr, understood first.

He turned toward a nearby maid.

"Go to the eastern guest room. Check on Mr. Corvain. Make certain the thunder did not disturb him. If he is awake, inform us."

The maid bowed.

"Yes, Master Orwin."

"And have the kitchen prepare a full meal."

The maid hesitated.

Orwin continued.

"He has not eaten properly since arriving here."

She bowed again and hurried away.

Orwin then looked toward Danaya.

"Would you like medicinal ointment prepared as well, Lady Danaya?"

Danaya nodded.

"Send it with the meal."

Orwin bowed.

"Understood."

The maid disappeared up the stairs.

Danaya returned her attention to the storm.

She told herself she only wanted to make certain Akeel had not suffered another collapse after healing her grandmother.

That was all.

She did not admit that she had checked the eastern corridor twice during the past hour.

She did not admit that she had asked Rowan to investigate Akeel before she had even finished thinking through the decision.

And she certainly did not admit that the man had occupied her thoughts far more than he should have.

Akeel Veer Corvain.

The name still felt strange.

Her missing fiancé carried the same first and last name. The only difference is that this man has a second name, 'Veer'. His fiancée doesn't have. They have the same face, yes. But they have different traits. Different ways and moves.

The two men could not have been more different.

One had disappeared before their wedding.

The other had stood in front of a dying woman and brought her back to life.

Danaya closed her eyes for a moment.

Another flash illuminated the room.

Then the storm moved farther across the city.

The thunder weakened.

Danaya remained where she was.

Upstairs, Akeel finally opened his eyes.

His body felt heavy.

Every muscle carried the dull exhaustion that followed the use of too much healing energy.

He remained still for several seconds.

Then his memory returned.

The guards. The Valcrest estate. Seraphine's collapsed core. The ten Core Needles. Danaya holding him when his legs failed.

Akeel slowly sat up.

A cool sensation touched his throat.

He raised his hand and felt a layer of ointment beneath the edge of his collar.

He recognized the smell.

It was a medicinal compound used to reduce swelling and bruising.

Someone had treated the injuries caused by the binding restraints.

Akeel looked around the room.

Several maids stood near the door.

They immediately bowed.

"Mr. Corvain," the head maid said. "You are awake."

Akeel looked at her.

"How long was I asleep?"

"Nearly three hours."

He frowned slightly.

That was longer than he had intended.

The head maid smiled.

"Your meal is ready. Lady Danaya asked us to bring you downstairs once you woke."

Akeel looked toward the window.

Rain still covered the glass.

He remembered Danaya's guards dragging him from his workshop.

He remembered the restraint around his wrists.

He remembered being brought here because they had mistaken him for another man.

He had every reason to remain angry.

Instead, he stood.

"I'll eat downstairs."

The head maid stepped forward.

"Would you like us to call you Mr. Valcrest?"

Akeel's expression changed.

"No."

The maid blinked.

Akeel adjusted his collar.

"My name is Akeel Veer Corvain."

The maid hesitated.

"But Lady Danaya's fiancé was—"

"I'm not him."

The words were quiet.

The maid lowered her head.

"Of course, Mr. Corvain."