Crown of Flames and Ash (Courts of Aetheria #2)

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

A elia

“I love you guys,” I slurred, holding up my flagon of berl, a sorry rendition of the lager Heaton had brought from the outskirts of the Court of Ethereal Light. The Kin version was distilled from the remnants of the wheat we harvested for the Fae. It was much less potent, but tonight, I’d consumed more than my body weight in the stuff.

“We love you too!” Rue and Sy smothered me in a tangle of arms. They’d also enjoyed copious quantities of the Kin specialty.

A happy jig hummed along in the background, two of Feywood’s famous fiddlers striking up a tune that had the entire pub on their feet. Holding up my skirts with my free hand, I attempted the intricate steps. Step, step, turn and kick. In my mind, I was the star of the dancefloor, but judging by the squeals coming from Sy as I stomped on his toes, perhaps I wasn’t quite as coordinated as I imagined.

But none of that mattered right now, because for the first time in a week, I could breathe. My heart skipped along happily, and all thoughts of Reign were pushed to the corners of my hazy mind.

“By the gods, Aelia, is that you?” A familiar voice spun my head to the outer rim of the circle that had formed around us.

A head of fiery crimson emerged from the crowd, a smile forming across freckled cheeks. “Edgert?”

Dropping the tankard on the bar top, I launched myself at my old friend. His arms laced around my waist as he spun me in a circle. “I cannot believe it’s really you, Aelia. We all heard you were sent to that gods’ forsaken Conservatory, and I’d feared the worst.” Gently lowering me to the dusty ground, he held me out to arm’s length. “I’m so relieved to see you alive and well.”

“I’m relieved to be alive.” I snorted on a laugh. “I can quite honestly say I’m as surprised as you are to find myself still breathing.”

Rue cut in between us, a beaming smile on her face. “Oh, Mother Raysa, is this the Edgert?”

I nodded quickly, snagging my bottom lip between my teeth. I still couldn’t believe I’d told Rue the sad story of my first kiss with none other than the redhead standing in front of me.

“Edgert, this is my roommate at Luce, Rue Liteschild?—”

“Roommate and best friend.” She held out her hand as Edgert stared at her pointy ears.

“And I’m Symon Light—” Sy’s jaw snapped shut. He was likely remembering the trouble he had last time he’d visited, simply because of his last name. The Lightspires owned much of the farmland in Feywood, which meant most of the Kin here spent their lives working his family’s fields. “Just call me Sy.”

“Pleased to meet you both.” Edgert eyed my new friends warily, and I couldn’t really blame him. All our lives we’d been raised with this idealistic notion of the Fae; that they were greater than us and we were barely worthy to stand in their radiant presence.

A few other males I’d grown up with approached, emboldened by Edgert’s advance. They each offered me their greetings before circling Rue, watching my Light Fae friend in utter fascination.

As we all chatted, catching up with my old acquaintances, Rue curled her hand around Edgert’s friend Myron’s bicep and tugged him to the center of the dancefloor. “Come on, Ron, show me how it’s done.”

His head twisted toward me, hazel eyes alight in fear as my friend dragged him away.

“Don’t worry, Myron, she’ll take it easy on you.”

Sy chuckled, weaving his arm through mine. “A hundred gildings says she’ll have that Kin in her bed before the night is out.”

“I may be slightly intoxicated, but I’m no fool, Symon,” I slurred. “And only a complete idiot would take that bet.”

Sy’s finger traced the rounded tip of my ear, and a faint sigh pursed his lips. “Touché, my friend. Since you are slightly intoxicated, should we make this the night we take our relationship to the next level?”

“I’d have to be much more inebriated for that to ever happen.”

“You are an evil, little thing, dashing my hopes like that!” He pouted, pushing out his bottom lip, and I couldn’t deny how utterly adorable he appeared.

“Oh, Sy, you know I love you.” I curled my arms around his neck and backed him to the dancefloor. “Fear not, I’ll find the round-eared Kin for you.” Scanning the gathered crowd, my gaze landed on a chestnut-haired female. Gertrude Hollowood. Perfect.

Shimmying my way toward the girl, I pulled Symon along with me. Her eyes widened at our approach, a sharp breath hissing past her fuchsia-tinted lips. “Hi Gertie, nice to see you again.”

“Oh, Aelia, I’m so glad you’re all right.” Her curious gaze flickered between Sy and me.

“I’m alive, at least.” I gave her my best smile. “I’d like to introduce you to my friend Symon. He’s an excellent dancer, and I was hoping you could teach him the steps? I seem to have two left feet tonight.”

“Of course, I’d be honored.”

Sy’s brow arched, a mischievous gleam in his lilac irises as he extended a hand. “A pleasure, darling.” Gertie’s hand closed around it, her cheeks burning a bright crimson as she led him to the center of the bustling dancefloor.

With both my friends happily occupied, I turned toward the bar to reclaim my flagon. I was suddenly parched. As I squeezed through the twirling bodies, the boisterous atmosphere perked up my dwindling mirth. I reached for the tankard and a hand closed around my own.

“I believe you owe me a dance, Miss Aelia.” Edgert grinned at me, a drink in his free hand.

“Miss?”

“Well, I’m not certain how to address you, now that you’ve become one of them.”

My head whipped back and forth. “I am not one of them .”

His gaze raced across my chest to where a sliver of my Light Fae mark was exposed. It glimmered beneath the flickering candlelight overhead. “That gods-blessed symbol would say otherwise.”

How could I tell him I had no idea who I truly was? I no longer felt like a mere Kin, but I was not Light Fae either. Would I ever fit in anywhere?

“Does it matter what I am?” I brought the mug to my lips and gulped down the remainder.

A grin lit up his amber eyes as he watched. “Of course not. You’ll always be Aelia Ravenwood to me.”

In that moment, that was all I wanted to hear. A smile melted across my lips as I glanced up at good old Edgert. “Let’s dance.” I wrapped my hand around his and tugged him onto the dusty, wood-planked floor. After only a few steps, the lively tune slowed, and his arms circled my waist, pulling me into his chest. He felt safe and familiar. Perhaps, I’d been foolish before in not giving my faithful friend a chance. He’d always made his feelings for me obvious, unlike a certain lying, bastard Shadow Fae professor.

We danced for a while, our bodies moving to the sharp twang of the fiddle. I kept one eye on my friends, each one completely enthralled by their partners. At least Rue and Sy would make unforgettable memories on this trip to Feywood. I could only imagine what they would say about finally bedding a Kin, because the way things were going, neither was far from their goal.

“It’s so good to see you again, Aelia.” Edgert’s words drew my attention back to my partner. His palm cupped my cheek, his light touch, sweet and gentle. “I must admit, I feared I’d never see you again. It was quite a sobering thought.”

“I had moments at the academy I believed I’d never see anyone ever again,” I admitted. The berl had certainly loosened my tongue.

His gaze dipped to the Light Fae mark once again, and a rueful smile flitted across his face. “It appears Raysa truly has blessed you.”

If he only knew what I’d endured, I’m not certain he’d feel the same way. I shrugged, not wishing to delve into the tumultuous past few months. The only thing that interested me in the moment was the bottom of my flagon.

Maybe if I drank enough, Rue and Sy wouldn’t be the only ones with a memorable stay in Feywood. Perhaps it was time to rid myself of this cursed virginity, once and for all. If Reign wouldn’t take it, I’d offer it to a more worthy male.

Tipping my chin up to meet Edgert’s warm gaze, I convinced myself this was what I wanted. He’d always been kind and respectful, and he certainly was pleasing to look at. Why shouldn’t I?

“Aelia, all this time apart and the terrifying thought of losing you, it made me think—” Edgert’s words fell away as his lips brushed mine.

The touch was so light I barely felt it. Not only had my lips felt little, my heart felt less still. It was nothing like the fiery surge I’d experienced simply standing within Reign’s proximity. Goddess, how could I be so stupid? As if one drunken night with Edgert could possibly erase my feelings for Reign?

I could never be so lucky. Nor could I be so unfair to Edgert.

I pressed my palms to my friend’s chest, slowly shaking my head. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

He froze beneath my touch, cheeks burning a rosy hue, eclipsing the familiar freckles. “No, no, it’s my fault. I never should have been so bold.”

Staggering back a step, I pointed over my shoulder to the door. “I need a bit of fresh air. I may have overdone it with the berl.” Signaling toward my friends, I murmured, “Would you let them know I’ll be outside if they look for me?”

Edgert nodded, his mouth a grim line. “Of course.”

Spinning around, I sprinted for the door, bumping into warm bodies, my steps more unsure than the ragged beats of my heart.