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

Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

R eign

A giggle escaped through Aelia’s pursed lips as she wriggled in my arms. Her hand caressed the back of my neck, sending a wave of goosebumps cascading down my spine. Oh, Noxus , this female would be the death of me.

I never expected to spend the last portion of our trek to Melisara’s cottage riding a tree with Aelia cradled in my arms, but I supposed it was much better than the alternative. As it was, my nox had reached dangerous levels of depletion. If it wasn’t for my sheer determination, we would have had to endure the length of Aelia’s hallucinations in that forest surrounded by vandals.

From the looks of her starry-eyed gaze, they had already begun. Her fingers found their way beneath my tunic and danced across my shoulder. The light touch had nerve-endings I had no idea existed springing to life.

“Aelia…” I growled.

Another high-pitched giggle. “What?”

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?” She withdrew her fingers from my back only to crawl them up my nape and tangle in my hair. “Did you know that your hair feels like silk?” Her warm breath blew across the pointy tip of my ear, and heat raced to my breeches.

I cleared my throat, adjusting my position on the thick branch before a certain part of my anatomy became blatantly thick.

“I just want to run my fingers through it all the time, Reign. Can I, please?” Before I could reply, her fingers delved deeper into my hair and a groan erupted from her lips. “Oh, yes, just like I imagined it, the softest locks I’ve ever touched.”

“Aelia, please…” I rasped out. I could already feel myself hardening, and every wiggle was only further tearing at my restraint.

Her hypnotic silver-blue eyes lifted to mine, a pout curving her full lips. “What? Do you not like it when I touch you?”

“No, I like it too much, princess.”

Her head fell back as a cackle pierced the thickening air between us.

The lumbering gait of the tree slowed, and I released a breath of relief as the small cottage nestled deep within the heart of the enchanted forest came into view. The small, ivy-covered structure seemed almost a part of the forest itself, with its stone walls covered in vibrant green moss and creeping vines that bloomed with vibrant flowers.

“Thank the gods, we made it.”

As the tree slowed to a halt, it lowered the branch we sat upon and gently deposited us onto the moist earth.

“Thank you, Mister Tree.” Another giggle dribbled from the silly smile plastered across her face.

Shaking my head, I cradled Aelia tightly against my chest and walked up to the door, carved from ancient oak and etched with intricate runes that pulsed with a soft, amber light. It stood slightly ajar, so I peered through the opening.

“Melisara?”

“Is that you, Reign?” A female voice whispered from the depths of the cottage. “That was quicker than expected.”

“Yes, it’s us.”

“Please, come in, I will be right out.”

I stepped through the threshold, pushed the door open with my shoulder and scanned the deceivingly large space. Shelves lined the walls, overflowing with ancient tomes, scrolls, and jars filled with mysterious ingredients—dried herbs, glittering crystals, and rare artifacts. A large, circular table dominated the center of the room, its surface covered with an array of mystical tools, runes, crystal balls, and alchemical vials, each item humming with lys .

In the far corner of the cottage, hidden behind a curtain of shimmery crystals, a female stood at a bubbling cauldron. The scent of burning incense and fresh herbs hung from the beams of the low ceiling as she hummed a tune. Melisara’s long, silver hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, catching the light like moonbeams.

“Wow,” Aelia murmured. “This looks exactly as I’d imagined it.” She unlaced her arm from around my neck and wriggled free of my hold. Despite my body aching from the loss of hers, I was thankful for the space. If I hoped to survive these next few hours, keeping my distance would be safest for us both.

“It’s almost ready,” Melisara called out over her shoulder. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

Thank the gods.

After a quick stroll around the living area, Aelia plopped down on an upholstered divan then patted the cushion beside her. “Come sit with me, Reign. I’m exhausted.” She leaned back, exposing the delicate column of her neck.

My feet moved of their own accord, helpless to deny her, despite my proclamation of keeping my distance from only seconds ago. This female truly had me in a chokehold. I folded down beside her, and her head immediately dropped to my shoulder. A faint sigh pursed her lips, and the enticing sound had another wave of heat blossoming below with another type of warmth expanding in my chest.

“Can I sleep, Reigny?”

I snorted on a laugh, the unexpected sound shocking both of us. “No, not yet, princess. Wait until Melisara gives you the antidote.”

“But I’m so tired…” She batted her lashes, the long, dark strands fanning porcelain skin. A rosy hue had settled over her cheeks, whether from the exertion or the poison I wasn’t certain. The askalia plant from which the toxin was derived worked as a sedative on Spellbinders but had a wildly different effect on Fae, causing hallucinations, loss of inhibitions, and a general feeling of ecstasy. I couldn’t imagine what it would do to Aelia.

“Ah, yes, here we are.” Melisara emerged from the shadows, a figure of ethereal grace and quiet power. “You must be Reign and Aelia.” She offered a pleasant smile. Though I’d never met the female, I’d heard many tales of her prowess from Gideon. He was utterly taken by her, and though they rarely saw each other anymore, the impression she’d left on my friend had been bone deep. And now, I understood why.

Melisara glided closer, moving with a fluidity that made her seem almost like a shadow drifting through the forest. She glanced up at me through the curtain of silver hair, and I met a face that seemed ageless, with high cheekbones and skin that glowed with a faint, inner luminescence.

She folded down beside us, cradling a stone chalice in her hands, and offered it to Aelia. “Drink this, child. It will hasten the effects of the toxin through your system.”

Aelia’s lips screwed into a pout as she eyed the vile-smelling concoction. “Do I have to?”

“If you do not, I’m afraid the effects could last for as long as twenty-four hours.”

“And with it?” I asked.

“She should be back to normal in an hour, at most, and hopefully she’ll sleep through the worst of it.”

Taking the goblet from the female, I eyed the murky gray substance, and a stab of unease filled my gut. I was being foolish, I knew it well, but the sense of protectiveness over Aelia had been growing by the day. But if Gideon trusted Melisara, then so would I.

“Come now, Aelia, you must drink it.” I brought the cup to her lips, and wary eyes met mine over the rim.

“It smells awful.”

“The sooner the toxin is expelled from your system the quicker we can focus on the real reason for our visit.”

“Okay,” she huffed out. Her hand closed around mine as I tipped the contents into her mouth. Her lips contorted into a dramatic grimace as she swallowed it all down. “Oh, Raysa, that was disgusting.”

Another goblet appeared in Melisara’s hand before Aelia finished the sentence. “Water will help.”

“Thank you for this,” I whispered. “If it hadn’t been for your warning, I never would have expected to encounter vandals on our journey.”

“Yes, unfortunately, my sanctuary has been overrun with them the past few months. The disquiet in the capital has sent the less powerful castes seeking solace away from Eldra.”

“What is happening?” With all the turmoil in Aetheria, the political rumblings of Mysthallia were the least of my concerns.

“The covens are always arguing about something, Reign, and it is the weak who suffer. Surely, you are familiar with the struggles, having grown up at court.”

I slowly dipped my head. Melisara had no idea who I really was; to her I was merely Gideon’s former schoolmate, and that was how it would remain.

“Oh, goddess, why is my head spinning?” Aelia’s voice drew me to the present predicament. She crawled into my lap and my arms instinctively encircled her trembling form.

“Is this supposed to happen?” I barked at the Spellbinder.

“I’m afraid the poison’s effects are unpredictable when it comes to Fae. It isn’t often your kind ventures into our woods.” She motioned toward an arched doorway. “Come, bring her into the guest sleeping quarters. If her powers have truly been bound by a spell, I will be unable to perform any examinations until she’s recovered.”

Dipping my head, I cradled Aelia in my arms once more and followed Melisara down the dimly lit hallway. With her head on my shoulder and her palm resting on my chest, my heart slammed against my ribcage in a desperate attempt to reach her. Good god, how much longer could I deny the obvious truth?

Are you familiar with the cuorem? Elisa’s question from last term echoed in my mind, repeating in time with the slap of my footfalls. It is said that those bound by the cuorem are predestined by the gods themselves, their spirits eternally entwined .

And if Aelia were my mate? It wouldn’t change a gods’ damned thing between us.

How could the gods in their infinite wisdom do this to us?

The sound of a door creaking open stilled my dismal thoughts. Melisara stood in the doorway, motioning to a quaint chamber. Candles floated in the air, casting a soft, flickering light that danced across the room, illuminating the intricate patterns woven into the rug on the floor. In one corner sat a small, wooden bed covered with a colorfully embroidered quilt. Like the rest of the cottage, the scent of pungent incense and herbs clung to the air.

“Aelia may rest here for the night. I have a few matters to attend to while we wait for the effects of the toxin to pass. Please make yourself at home.”

I found myself wanting to thank the female again but held my tongue this time. Despite the connotation of gratitude being different among the Spellbinders than the Fae, it was a hard ingrained habit, difficult to break.

Aelia’s head lifted off my shoulder, her eyes widening as they took in the floating candles. “Wow, magic.” Another giggle erupted, sparking shards of silver to come alive in her bright eyes.

I gently deposited her onto the bed, but her hand remained fastened to my own. I attempted to wiggle it free as I hovered over her, but her fingers only tightened around mine. “Stay with me,” she whispered before she scooted to the corner of the bed.