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

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

A elia

Professor Reign Darkthorn .

I stared at the glittering letters penned across the parchment and released a groan.

“What’s wrong?” Rue darted over, peering over my shoulder as I continued to gape at the mystical scroll stretched out across my nightstand. A faint chuckle escaped her lips before she clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, A, but it was inevitable that Reign would be chosen as your mentor, don’t you think?” She folded down beside me on the soft mattress.

“No,” I gritted out. “I did not think.” Or, at least, I’d prayed to the goddess it wouldn’t be. Every time I attempted to draw space between us, fate bounded in and erased every damned line. It truly seemed as if destiny was drawing us together.

Then why in all the realms did I continue to fight it?

“Well, better Reign than Professor Litehaus,” Rue huffed. “He’s so ancient it takes him a half hour simply to get out one sentence.”

Squeezing my roommate’s shoulder, I offered a smile. “Just think of all the wisdom you’ll glean from the centuries of knowledge he holds.”

Rue snorted on a laugh. “Right. Or he’ll simply bore me to death, severely cutting short my time at the Conservatory.”

“It’s certainly not the worst way to go.” I tossed her a smirk. There were countless more gruesome ways to meet your demise at the academy, and I feared I’d only witnessed a select few.

“Enough of this dismal chatter.” Rue bounded to her feet and hauled me up along with her. “It’s time to see the king!”

This time, I managed to suppress the groan of dread. In my time at Luce, I’d learned the Ethereal royal was well-loved by the people. It seemed I was the only one skeptical of the bright and shiny male. Or perhaps, it was only that I’d been spending too much time with his Shadow Fae enemy.

How could I have not seen the truth about Reign’s royal blood earlier? All the insider knowledge he held of the courts should have been a clear give away. Noxus, I’d been so blind.

Forcing my feet toward the armoire, I selected a light tunic and a pair of comfortable leggings before peeling off my nightgown. “Why do you suppose he’s returned?” I mumbled over my shoulder. “I thought Heaton said King Elian didn’t often bless us with his divine presence.”

Rue sauntered from her closet in a sumptuous gown crafted from the finest gossamer silk. The fabric was so delicate and translucent that it caught and reflected the light with every movement, creating a soft, glowing aura. I stared at my friend for a long moment before I realized she’d been talking, and I’d missed it entirely.

“Are you okay, A?” She waved her petite hand an inch from my nose.

“You look beautiful!”

“Oh, this old thing?” Rue twirled around in a circle and the mesmerizing color of her trailing skirts shifted subtly between hues of pale gold, ivory, and a shimmering silver, reminiscent of the first light of dawn breaking over the tranquil horizon of Feywood.

My tattered tunic and worn leggings suddenly seemed terribly inadequate. “I thought we were training after the audience with the king?”

She shrugged. “Maybe, but I can always change if that is the case.”

I eyed my friend as she smoothed down her voluminous skirts. “Is there something else going on that you haven’t told me about, Rue?”

Fingering the intricately adorned iridescent crystals across the bodice, her smile slowly crumbled. “It’s Devin,” she breathed out. “He’s been seeing Mariana from Burn Squad.”

My brows furrowed as I attempted to conjure an image of the girl. Not that it mattered what she looked like, all the Fae were beautiful. “But I thought things weren’t serious between the two of you.” I bit my tongue instead of pointing out that she’d spent the evening with a Kin only a few weeks ago.

“They aren’t supposed to be serious.” She flopped down onto my bed with a sigh. “And then I saw them together yesterday after dinner and I was… jealous. It’s not a feeling I am at all familiar with, and now I simply don’t know what to do.”

“Oh, Rue, I’m sorry.” I drew her hand in my lap as I sat down beside her. “Maybe you should tell him how you feel. Perhaps, he too, would like an exclusive relationship and is afraid you’d deny him.”

“Maybe…”

“Regardless, once Devin has a look at you in that gown, he’ll surely dismiss any thoughts of plain old Mariana.”

A half smile flashed across Rue’s sullen face before she leaned her head on my shoulder. “I hope you’re right. I don’t enjoy this feeling at all.”

“Love is certainly not for the faint of heart.”

Rue glanced up at me, glittering eyes meeting mine. “Oh, goodness, I cannot love Devin, it’s simply impossible.”

“Why?”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever loved a male, nor had I planned on it happening any time soon. In the life we’ve chosen, forming meaningful relationships is nothing more than an inconvenience.”

I nodded slowly, feeling the truth of her words but hating them all the same. “Come on, we must get going, or we’ll be late.”

Light cascaded from the high, vaulted ceilings of the Hall of Luce, refracting through prisms of crystal that hung like chandeliers, casting a thousand rainbows that danced across the marble floors. As we filed into the glistening chamber, a familiar head of blonde hair popped up among the masses. Heaton’s gentle smile lit up the deep azure of his eyes. I’d barely seen our team leader since my return to the academy, and as he strode toward us, I was surprised to realize how much I’d missed him.

“Hello, ladies.” Heaton dipped into a dramatic bow. “You look beautiful today, Aelia,” he said before pivoting to his sister, “And you certainly dressed up for the audience with the king today, Rue. Did you believe there to be a ball?”

“Where have you been, Heat?” Rue’s lips puckered as she stared up at her brother, completely ignoring his comment. “We’ve barely seen you all term.”

The warm smile fell away, replaced by a cold mask I’d often seen on many a Light Fae, but never our team leader. “Some of the fourth-years have been tasked with extra duties as of late.”

“What sort of extra duties?” I blurted.

The icy mask hardened. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Not you too, Heaton? First, Lawson acts all secretive, refusing to divulge anything of importance, and now you?”

“I apologize. Truly, I wish I could.”

An apology? Raysa, this must be serious. Even the affable Heaton rarely offered those words.

“Come, I’ve saved Flare team a row in the front.” He motioned toward the dozens of impeccably lined rows of gilded chairs.

Curses, of course he had.

Reluctantly, I followed our team leader to the second row where the rest of Flare Squad already sat waiting. I squeezed by Belmore and Ariadne, half expecting a dagger in the back as I passed, but when none came, I found an empty seat beside Symon while Rue was sandwiched between Zephyr and Silvan, her billowing, iridescent gown cascading over the edges of the seat. She immediately picked up a conversation with Silvan, grinning wickedly as she ran her fingers across his arm.

I hazarded a peek over my shoulder and, sure enough, found Devin only a few rows behind us seated with the traitorous Mariana. In truth, I had nothing against the girl up until this very moment. Unlike some of the other Fae females, she’d never been overtly unkind. But if she was Rue’s enemy, she would automatically become mine.

Casting one last disapproving glance in Devin’s direction, I swiveled around to face the front.

Sy leaned over and whispered, “Is there a formal ball you and I were not invited to?” His mischievous gaze lanced in Rue’s direction.

Shaking my head, I bit down on my tongue to keep from giggling. “She’s only trying to look her best to outshine a certain member of Burn Squad.”

“Ah, more trouble in paradise for you females, then?” He cast a quick glance back at Devin and Mariana. “Why you girls insist on these silly dalliances is beyond me. We males like to keep it simple.”

“Is that why you prefer the company of males?”

“In some respects, yes. But as you know, I do not discriminate. At times, a purely sexual encounter is much simpler with another male. There isn’t all that pesky emotion involved.” He shrugged and sat back in the chair.

“Perhaps I should attempt a meaningless sexual encounter.”

Symon’s head fell back, a sharp cackle piercing the hushed murmurs of the hall. Dozens of curious glances whipped in our direction, sending a wave of heat across my cheeks. Sy lifted an apologetic hand before returning to our conversation. “You could never pull it off, my little Kin.”

“How do you know?” I huffed indignantly.

“Because I know you.” His fingers lifted to my ear, trailing the rounded curve. “But if by some miracle, you decided to give it a try, I am more than happy to oblige.”

Now I was the one suppressing the wild cackle. “I could never risk what we have for one meaningless night.”

He breathed out a dramatic sigh. “I cannot say I’m surprised, but still, thoroughly disappointed.” Bumping his shoulder against mine, he offered a reassuring smile. “Still, the offer stands.”

If he only knew I’d yet to lie with a male, I was sure he’d be less willing. Everyone knew a female’s first time was important, a moment not easily forgotten.

Dark tendrils of power permeated the air an instant before heavy footfalls resounded across the marble floor. My new mentor strode down the aisle, his overwhelming nox filling the immense hall. I could feel his burning gaze lancing across my cheek as he stalked by, but I refused to meet it. I would be forced to submit to it soon enough since Reign was to be my mentor. According to the headmaster, we would spend countless hours with our special counselor leading up to the Umbral Trials and beyond. Not that I was unfamiliar with one-on-one training with Reign, but I’d foolishly hoped to keep it at a minimum this term.

A shiver of awareness suddenly darted up my spine, and I canted my neck toward the back of the hall. The grand double doors, carved from luminous whitewood and inlaid with gold, swung open of their own accord as King Elian crossed the entryway. His presence was like the dawn breaking over the horizon, an aura of pure, radiant light surrounding him. A troop of Royal Guardians moved into step behind the royal as he strode forward. His tall, regal figure was clad in a robe of the finest silk, woven with threads of sunlight, shimmering in hues of gold and silver.

As he walked by, the very air seemed to hum with energy; a soft, melodic resonance that matched the quiet power that radiated from him. When the king reached the dais, he paused, his gaze sweeping across those assembled, his presence commanding. Those piercing turquoise eyes pivoted, finding my gaze and holding for an endless moment. A crackle of energy pulsed in the air. Or had I imagined it? The light around him intensified, casting the entire hall into a brilliant glow, as if the very walls reflected his inner radiance, as if the hall itself bowed to his presence. And most of the Fae already had. I was the only one still standing.

“Aelia,” Heaton hissed from a few chairs down. “Bow.”

Forcing my chin to dip, I drew free of his gaze long enough to attempt a curtsy. Once I straightened, the king had moved up the steps of the dais. Reign’s dark eyes met mine, and a wicked smirk touched his lips. Had he bowed to the king? What an insult to the enemy royal, and all this time, Reign was compelled to play the game.

“Welcome your Ethereal Highness, King Elian.” The headmaster’s voice boomed across the silent chamber. “We are once again honored to behold your presence.”

King Elian offered a half smile before taking Draven’s place at the pulpit. “Students of the Conservatory of Luce, my brothers and sisters in light, today I stand before you not as your king, but as a guardian of all that we hold dear. The air grows heavy with the whispers of conflict; the shadows lengthen at our borders, and the Wilds—once a distant menace—now stir with dark intent. The time has come for us to face the truth that we have all felt looming on the horizon: war is upon us.”

A wave of gasps rolled across the assembly.

“The Court of Umbral Shadows, our ancient adversary, have gathered their strength, honed their dark arts, and now they seek to plunge our world into darkness. They believe that by extinguishing our light, they will secure their dominion over all the realms. But they are mistaken. For every shadow they cast and every blow they strike, we shall meet with unwavering strength.”

Reign’s dark gaze chased to mine, his head slowly turning from side to side. The move would have been imperceptible had I not been so attuned to the male. Why would the king lie about an upcoming war?

“But it is not only the Court of Umbral Shadows that we must contend with. The creatures of the Wilds, long a threat kept at bay by our vigilance, have grown bolder. They sense the discord between our courts, and like predators smelling blood, they seek to exploit it.” He paused, reveling in the awe inspired by his words. “It is time to stand together. We must harness the power of our blessed light, not just to defend, but to drive back the darkness. So let the Court of Umbral Shadows come. Let the creatures of the Wilds rise. We will meet them with the fury of a thousand suns, and we will show them that Raysa’s light cannot be extinguished. Not while we stand together.”

Wild applause rang out, echoing across the cavernous space.