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

Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

R eign

What in all the realms was King Tenebris doing here?

My pulse hammered in my ears like a relentless drum as my eyes razed over my father in slow motion.

I do not wish to see your face until your mission is complete, do you understand me, Reign?

Yes, my king .

Four long years. And, still, that voice plagued my dreams, as if it were yesterday. Squeezing my eyes closed, I banished the dark thoughts. I was not the same male that left the Fortress of Umbral Shadows all those years ago. My gaze flickered unwillingly to Aelia, to where she sat only inches away from Ruhl. She looked completely ravishing, more radiant than the blessed dawn breaking across the Umbral Court. She had changed me, perhaps even more so than my four lengthy years at the Conservatory.

Tenebris shifted beside King Elian, his familiar shadows twitching with impatience. Being forced to stand by quietly and listen to his enemy drone on must be the wickedest of tortures for Father. I nearly laughed out loud. But no, this was not the time for mirth.

This was the first time the Shadow King had crossed the divide in ages. This was no coincidence. As King Elian concluded his speech, I cast a covert glance across the dais in my brother’s direction. Had he told Father about Aelia? That sniveling, ingratiating bastard would pay if that were the case.

“And now, without further ado,” the king’s voice trounced over my murderous thoughts, “let the celebrations begin!”

The moment the king of Ethereal Light stepped off the platform with his retinue of guards, Father followed. He hadn’t hazarded a single glance in my direction, thank the gods. Now I simply had to ensure Aelia did not catch his eye either.

Before I even had the chance to leave the dais and reach the table Flare Squad occupied, Ruhl crossed the divide between the Shadow and Light students, marching a path straight for Aelia.

Curses . What was he doing?

A smooth smile slipped into place as he extended a hand, and Aelia… accepted it.

Noxus, what has come over her ?

I picked up my pace, but before I made it off the platform, Draven intercepted my escape, planting himself between Aelia and me. “May I have a word with you, Darkthorn?” he hissed in my ear.

“Right now?” I barked right back.

“Yes.” His long, wrinkly fingers curled around my forearm, and he ticked his head to the chairs lining the left side of the dais.

For the love of Noxus…

I followed him toward the seating area with one eye remaining on Aelia and Ruhl. “What is it?” I snarled as I flopped down on the chair.

“Did you know anything about this?” His beady eyes seared into mine as he waggled a long finger at me.

“Of course not,” I growled. “You know very well, per the banishment, I have no information as to the comings and goings of the Shadow royals.”

“Why do you suppose he’s here then?”

“I don’t know!”

Draven’s eyes narrowed to incensed slits. “Watch yourself, Darkthorn. Remember you remain here only while you prove yourself useful.”

Amending my tone, I whispered, “How could I forget, headmaster?” I rose, straightening to my full height so I towered over the ancient Light Fae. “Now, are we quite finished?”

“Yes,” he hissed. “But I urge you to keep an eye on the king and his heir while they are on Light Fae land.”

“Of course.” I spun toward the steps, but his hand caught my arm once more before I could escape.

“And one more thing, Darkthorn, if he appears to hold particular interest in any of our students, take note.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I do not know yet.”

“Anyone in particular?” I held my breath as I waited for his reply.

“The Kin.”

Those two words lanced through my insides like twin daggers to the gut. Draven knew. He must. And there was only one reason that could be: King Elian had charged him with finding the child of twilight. I’d suspected all along, but this essentially served as confirmation. Why else would Draven believe my father to be interested in a lowly Kin?

The answer was simple, only the royals were privy to the secrets of the sacred seers.

“There’s a reason I appointed you as her mentor.” Draven’s hushed words carried me back to the present.

“Then let me go so I may find her.”

He must have read the desperation in my expression because his own soured. “I warn you again, Darkthorn, if I catch a whiff of the slightest bit of impropriety between you and the girl…”

“Yes, yes, I am perfectly aware, Draven.” I shook free of his hold and marched across the dais and down the steps with Aelia in my sights all the while. She still stood beside Ruhl, the pair whispering like old friends.

It took every ounce of restraint I possessed to keep my shadows from lunging at my brother and forcibly peeling his body from hers. But anything I did would only call attention to her, and knowing my father, he had his shadow spies crawling across the chamber.

“Miss Ravenwood,” I called out, at least a yard before reaching her. Her head pivoted in my direction and Ruhl’s eagerly followed. “There is an important matter I must discuss with you.”

“Can’t this wait, professor?” Ruhl’s dark gaze glinted with mischief. “This is supposed to be a celebration after all, is it not? I was only just beginning to enjoy your prized pupil’s company.”

“Feel free to celebrate without her, young prince.” I couldn’t conceal the biting edge to my tone. As it was, I could barely contain my nox from ripping free. Seeing him with Aelia, and with my father here, it was tearing at every scrap of restraint I possessed. My hand curled around her arm, reveling in her familiar feel.

For once, she did not fight me. Instead, she followed obediently as I toted her toward a shadowed corner of the grand ballroom, only after confirming my father’s attention was elsewhere.

The moment we were alone, I called upon my nox , drowning us in a sea of darkness. Her shoulders trembled as the onyx tendrils danced across her skin, and goosebumps rippled down her bare arms. I couldn’t help but stare now that we were alone, away from inquisitive gazes. “You look like a goddess draped in starlight, Aelia,” I breathed. “Every movement you make sends ripples of light through the room, as if you were made of the essence of the stars themselves."

Her wide eyes lifted to mine, mouth curving in surprise. “Th—thank you,” she finally whispered. “Is that the urgent matter you had to discuss with me?” Her lip twitched, setting off a sparkle in those silver-blue eyes.

“I wish it were as simple as that.”

“Then what is it?”

“First of all, I couldn’t stand the sight of you in my brother’s presence,” I growled. “What were you speaking of?”

“Ruhl was apologizing, actually.”

I barked out a laugh, unable to control my tongue. “The heir to the great Shadow King? Apologize?”

“Yes, about the mishap with Mordrin that night on the island. He honestly seemed genuine, sincere even.” Her slim shoulders lifted.

“Don’t tell me you were naive enough to believe it?”

“I don’t know,” she murmured. A beat of silence passed before her jaw worked once more. “What else was so urgent? Was it about your father?”

I nodded slowly. “I believe he’s here for the same reason King Elian has been snooping around the academy.”

“So… not because of your brother?”

I shook my head. “Father would never be so paternal, not even for his grand heir.”

“I hate this, Reign. I feel as if I’m walking on eggshells, constantly waiting for the sky to fall. So what if I am this child? Perhaps, I should just throw myself at King Elian’s mercy.”

“ No ,” I snarled. “Never.” My hands moved of their own accord, gripping her arms more fully.

“What could he possibly do to me?”

“It’s not Elian I’m worried about, it’s Tenebris.” Because, gods, if he knew the truth…

“There’s something else, something you’re still not telling me, isn’t there?”

“No,” I gritted out, forcing a tempered mask. “I simply cannot fathom what either ruler would do if they discovered the truth, and I cannot risk it.” My hands moved lower of their own accord, drawing her closer. “I will not lose you.”

She heaved out a breath as her body grew closer to mine, and stunningly, she melted into my hold. “I’m so tired of fighting this, Reign.”

“Then just give in.”

The hard line of her lips softened, a faint smile appearing. Perhaps, it was that bout of unexpected jealousy at seeing me with Liora that had caused this change. Had I known envy was the way to get her to come around, I would have started flirting with other females long ago.

Her head tipped up, eyes meeting mine. “What are we doing, Reign?”

“Dancing?” I took her hand in mine, holding it close between us, then laced my other arm around her waist, drawing her even closer. The melodic hum of the mystical orchestra permeated my shadows, and I began to sway to the tune.

A rueful chuckle parted her lips as she reluctantly moved with me. “My life is in peril, once again, and you want to dance?”

“Aelia, in the short time I’ve known you, it seems as if your life is always, and will constantly be, in a state of peril.” I dipped my forehead to hers, so our breaths mingled. “If you do not allow me moments like these, how will I ever prove myself to you?”

“It isn’t your prowess on the dancefloor that needs to be proven.”

“I know,” I gritted out. “And I believe there is a way I can demonstrate my trustworthiness.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes, actually, it was Liora’s idea.”

“Excuse me?” she squealed. “You’ve spoken to your new acquisition about us ?”

She tried to pull back, but I simply tightened my arm around her, continuing our dance.

“No, of course not. But you have no idea how happy it makes me that you still believe there is an us .”

She shook her head, rolling her eyes with a wry smile, but she stopped her attempts to flee, so I called it a victory. “So what is this grand idea from your illustrious new acquisition?”

“The female knows a surprising amount about spellcraft. She hails from the northwestern part of the court, near the border with Mysthallia. I’d considered taking you to see a Spellbinder once but feared it to be too risky—but now, it might be our only option.”

“You still believe my powers are bound somehow?”

“I do. And I think that whatever is holding them back is the key to discovering more about your origins, and in turn, the prophecy.”

“So what do you suggest?”

“In between the Umbral Trials, I will request for Draven to allow us an expedition off campus. As your mentor, the person responsible for your ultimate development, he will surely comply.”

“You certainly have it all figured out, don’t you?”

“Mmm, princess, I do.” I pulled her closer still so our bodies were flush, and a faint gasp erupted from her perfect lips. Nuzzling the rounded curve of her ear, I breathed in her heady scent. “Now, upon the eve of yet another battle, for just a few moments, can we pretend to only be Reign and Aelia, like we did for that fateful night before we were interrupted?”

“I don’t know…”

I pressed my finger to her lips, drowning her objections. “Try.”

Her shoulders fell, body rounding against mine. I could feel the strain in her posture finally relax as she fully sank into me. It was oddly satisfying to feel how much she too had to fight this growing beast between us. It had been a while since I’d considered the effects of the cuorem, choosing rather to ignore the signs, but it was nearly impossible when I held her so close.

Everything else faded away as we clung to each other, swaying slowly to the soft, haunting melody that, along with my shadows, wrapped around us like a protective cocoon. Tomorrow, the trials would begin, and once more Aelia would be thrust into the heart of danger. I would be forced to mask my fear and watch her face every peril alone. But tonight, with her in my arms, I could hold on to the illusion that time had stopped, that dawn would never break, and that we could stay like this, safe and entwined, for eternity.