by H M Angues
“Hate to burst your bubble, Kainan, but we're a vegetarian empire.”
The playful banter plasters a smile on my face. I haven’t had an effortless and fun conversation with anyone in years. Whether or not Calla and I ever end up together, I know this cursed bond means I’ve been gifted something I have never truly had before—a friend, as corny as that sounds. It almost makes the incessant pain in my chest bearable.
Chapter 15
Calla
After taking Kainan to my apartment in Drakonis, I return to the hangar and climb inside a waiting hoverjet, the Nighthawk I usually fly.
When Talon died—which, surprisingly, was barely more than a month ago—it felt like part of my heart had been shredded, leaving a gaping and empty hole. A hole that was widened by the loss of my father. Only Rysen had helped soothe the ache. Now, though I still feel that pain, the rest of that emptiness is filled with Kainan’s presence.
Even though I’ve shut romantic feelings out of my life for the past nineteen years and am betraying the supernatural bond between us, I’ve at least found another person I can trust.
I climb into the cockpit and sit down, flipping switches and pressing buttons, the engines of the hoverjet humming to life, the power coursing through its metal hull.
When I finally look to my right, I jump in my seat. Huddled into the corner, long dark legs tucked up against her chest, is a young woman. She’s younger than me, perhaps sixteen, but her face is hardened with whatever obstacles life has thrown at her. Her eyes are what truly catches me off guard. They burn a fiery and bright amber shade.
“Hey. I’m Bellamy... Clarke. I’m the one that helped your friends catch Kainan,” she says, extending a mocha-colored hand. She’s at least half Mordan, that much I can tell.
I take her hand in mine. “Calla Renald. Emperor of Namari.” Something about the last name Clarke tugs at a distant memory. “Do I know you?”
“So, it’s official now? Neat. And no, you don't know me. But you might have known my mother.”
I draw a blank, unable to picture a face to match the surname. “What are you doing in here?” I ask her.
“I want to see Stonefire Palace. My father lived there, you know.”
It dawns on me in that moment. Andromeda Clarke, one of my father's former mistresses, and the daughter of King Tiber's brother. A Mordan woman. “And who is your father?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she says quickly, even though I know the answer. Andromeda, though I had called her Andy, disappeared suddenly from the palace one day many years ago, when I was very young. Perhaps four, maybe younger. My father never spoke of Andy again, and last I heard, she had died in the freak Airtrain accident that killed dozens last year.
Ryse trusted this girl enough to bring her to Drakonis. She helped facilitate Kainan’s capture and freedom from the mental and physical prison Ramsey held him in. The bright amber of her wolfish eyes, striking in resemblance to my own and my father's, is enough to tell me that, perhaps, her motives were borne out of familial loyalty. Or, just the hope for an opportunity to meet me.
I tilt my head at her. “I always wanted a sister,” I murmur, which takes her by surprise.
“How did you know?”
I offer her a smile. “How many people have yellow eyes, Bellamy? The glowy nature of them is strictly a Primori trait, and the fact that Andromeda, who I assume is your mother, was once my father's mistress was enough for me to put two and two together.”
“I thought you'd be more surprised. Angry, even.”
“I'm well-aware of... our father's promiscuity, and part of me always wondered if some other half-sibling would show up one day. In fact, I'm relieved.” I had thought every piece of my family was gone. Yet, here sits Bellamy, a sister, like a blessing. A ray of hope.
∞∞∞
Rysen is sitting in the foyer of my apartments when I arrive after showing Bellamy to her own rooms next door. I’m glad he’s here; it saves me the effort of hunting him down myself. “Rysen,” I call when he still hasn't noticed my presence.
He tenses at my voice. “Your father’s adviser, Valek, came to me today. He wanted me to tell you that Ramsey Renald is staying in Darinthe Manor, but it’s heavily guarded. She cut off all communication between the Province and the rest of Namari and has assumed control of the military installments there.” His tone is harsh, making me flinch.
Well, my plan to tell him and Blade about everything myself is no longer a valid course of action. I can already feel his trust in me waning.
“I wanted to tell you about her, but I—”
“I don’t want an excuse, Calla,” he snaps. “I want an explanation. Not to mention you’ve spent the last ten hours visiting Kainan. Care to tell me what that was about?”
I suck in a deep breath and, reluctantly, I explain everything. Jax and Kainan’s confessions to being innocent and the revelation of Ramsey’s existence. Sybella’s true identity and her roles as both my brother’s assassin and as the real leader of the Uprising. Her part in my father’s death—how she forced Jax to plant the explosive at the threat of slaughtering Kainan, the only family the boy has ever had. And, finally, her imprisonment and eventual escape mere days later.
“There’s one more thing,” I say as I finish my explanation. “Her ability...”
“What is it?” he bites out.
I narrow my eyes. “I am your emperor, Rysen, and don’t appreciate the tone you’re taking with me.”
He sighs, hanging his head, but he doesn't apologize. “If you want a real friendship with me, Calla, you need to understand that your political role means nothing between the two of us. You told me once that you wanted to be just Calla. Well, you won’t get that if you try to throw your status in my face. We’re equals outside of politics.”
I sigh, frustrated. I've heard something similar from Blade a few times before, but this has to do with politics and my empire. “Yet this issue involves the safety of my empire, and those around me. You don't get some entitlement card that grants you access to confidential political information whenever you want it. We may be friends, but when it comes to issues like this, we are not equals.” When he doesn't say a word, I continue. “Her ability. It’s called Sanguinus. She can control the very essence of a person; their blood, their mind, their body, their actions—all of it. That’s why I didn’t tell you and Blade anything; I want to keep you two out of the thick of things as much as I can. She can hurt you, Ryse, and she can use you both to hurt me,” I continue.
He moves closer. “I don’t care if she can hurt me, Calla. You need to tell me everything, because I want to help you with it all. No more secrets, please,” he says, eyes pleading. I meet his gaze, a fire burning within my own.
“No more secrets,” I lie. I don’t want to hide things from my friends, but I haven’t told him about my newly discovered affinity for controlling metal. Or the wind, for that matter. Besides, I said myself that he isn’t entitled to any information that I'm not willing to give. I still don’t know how much I can trust anyone.
And I don’t know if I can muster the strength to tell Rysen and Blade about the bond. It will break their hearts, something I cannot bear to see.
I disappear into my closet to throw on some comfortable sleeping clothes—shorts and one of Talon’s old t-shirts—before bidding Rysen goodnight. As he goes to leave, he turns his head to glance at me from over his shoulder.
“Maybe fewer people would die if you stopped shutting everyone out,” he murmurs.
The words sting and he knows it; that's why he dared say them. Stubborn and fiery as I am, I bite back. “Maybe you should learn your place here, Dane. You are not a prince in my palace, or anywhere else, for that matter.”
His eyes fo wide and he almost looks like he wants to apologize, but he doesn't say a word. The door slams behind him. I storm into my bedchamber, frustrated and annoyed as I climb into my monstrous bed.
As I doze off, I feel my subconscious being yanked int
o one of Kainan’s nightmares. I brace myself for whatever horrors I’ll have to experience next.
∞∞∞
It’s odd to look at myself through someone else’s eyes. I’m standing across from Kainan, whose point of view I’m experiencing the dream from. I don’t understand what’s going on, and my confusion intensifies as my dream-self pulls out a long, menacing dagger.
“Calla,” I—Kainan—gasps as I make my way toward him with the weapon.
“I’m not sorry,” the eerie, dream-me whispers as she plunges the dagger deep into Kainan’s abdomen. I feel the pain, sharp and unbearable, as it sears through his body like fire running through his veins. He cries out as the other me lifts the dagger and stabs him again, this time piercing his heart. “I could never love a man like you.”
I lose count of how many times the other me stabs Kainan. The pain is too much to bear.
∞∞∞
Bellamy, of all people, jerks me out of the dream, shaking my shoulders furiously. “Calla?” she gasps, exasperated.
I’m drenched in sweat and my hands are trembling. I can still feel ghosts of pain all over my body from where I felt myself stab Kainan, and my heart feels like the lifeblood is being squeezed out of it, making my chest ache terribly. My newfound sister stands over me like a protective lioness. Blade and Rysen are behind her.
I don’t say a word as I get up to splash icy water on my face in the bathroom.
Bellamy follows me in. “You were saying something. Yelling it, actually. I heard it from my rooms.”
“What was I saying?” I ask as I pat the water away with a soft towel.
“Stuff about wanting to stop, not wanting to hurt him anymore.”
I can almost feel my heart stop in my chest, the ache worsening. Bellamy continues, “Was it Kainan?”
“No, I... yes. It was,” I admit. “Don't tell them,” I add, and she seems to understand that I mean Rysen and Blade. I return to my bedchamber, the boys overly concerned, and seemingly competing over who gets to comfort me. I shoo them both away, but Bellamy stays. Her presence is comforting, and so she sleeps in my rooms for the rest of the night.
The next morning, I receive a comm from the Underground. I grab the small tablet from my bedside table to silence the notification sound. I check the incoming message; it’s from Fayette.
I’m sorry, but you need to get your ass in Drakonis. Now, Your Majesty, it reads.
“Crap,” I mutter.
I start to get out of bed, Bellamy already up and watching a movie on the telescreen in the foyer. She barely glances at me. “Where are you going?”
“There’s an emergency. Stay here; I’ll be back soon.”
I scramble out of bed and throw on some leggings before stumbling half-asleep through the palace. Blade finds me in the halls, on his way to do whatever it is the Guardsmen do on Saturday mornings.
He tilts his head in silent question, slowing as the distance closes between us.
“Fay needs me in Drakonis. I should be back tonight,” is the only explanation I offer before darting the rest of the way down the hall and several flights of stairs.
As I make my way to the hangar, I resolve to take the Golden Eagle instead of my usual Nighthawk. It’s a smoother flight, though it adds some time to the journey. I need to catch up on some sleep on the way there. I'd rather be late than exhausted and unable to concentrate. I climb into the larger, more comfortable and luxurious cockpit and fire it up, the engines roaring to life with a steady hum. I fall into the motions, opening the face of the rock, and guide the vessel into the air.
When I arrive in Drakonis, one of the women working on the hoverjets in the hangar informs me that Fayette is at my apartment. I slow my pace. So, that’s why she sent the comm. She found Kainan at my place.
I walk into the small, cozy living space to find a frustrated Fay with crossed arms leaning against the kitchen counter, and a smug-looking Kainan lounging on the sofa like a sly cat.
“What the hell is he doing out of prison?” Fayette demands, adding a quiet, “Your Majesty,” to make herself sound a little more respectful. I brush it off. Her sharp tone doesn’t bother me considering our history. I’ve known her most of my adolescent life, so she’s able to get away with more.
“He’s innocent. It’s a long story, Fay,” I groan, grabbing a mug and making myself a cup of steaming coffee.
“Oh, then what’s this?” she tosses me a bag of gelds, the silver coin currency used in the Underground to separate their economy from Namari’s.
I glare at Kainan, who sits smirking at me from the living room. “What?” he shrugs. “You didn’t leave me any money, and I was hungry.” As if for emphasis, he shoves a handful of fries into his mouth from a bag of food sitting beside him.
“Then you make something,” I snap, taking my coffee and resting my elbows on the counter across from Fay.
He forces out a groan. “But that takes so much effort, Cal. You know, it’d be easier if you stayed here with me. I can picture it now: My little Flame cooking me a hot plate of waffles in the morning, wearing nothing but her underwear, and I wouldn’t have to steal gelds from her room,” he jokes, giving me a wink and a flash of pearly white teeth.
I walk over to the couch and hit him with one of the throw pillows. He barks out a loud, intoxicating laugh, and I can’t help but smile. I’m so distracted by our interaction that I forget Fayette is watching us intently from the kitchen.
I don’t need to look at her accusing glare to know she heard Kainan’s comment about me being his Flame, his mate. She, like most others that have been educated, knows enough about my kind to know what that means.
When Kainan gets up to go to the bathroom, Fay takes his seat, kicking up her feet on the ottoman. “I’m over the whole Blade thing, by the way. Part of me knew it was never going to last long.”
I don’t know how to respond, so I take a sip of my hot coffee. Fay takes my silence as an opportunity to keep talking.
“I can see it, y’know. You and Kainan. Just now, the way you two were around each other—it’s obvious. Not to mention, you took his word when he said he was innocent. I'm not saying he was lying, but the Calla I know doesn’t have enough faith in people to trust someone’s word, especially the word of a man you thought murdered your brother.”
She pauses, contemplating her next words. “He suits you better than Blade or Rysen. Not to mention, he’s pretty damn good looking. Have you even looked at his ass? No? You should. It’s exquisite.”
I choke on my drink, hot coffee spilling on my chest. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m just… not into him. At all, really. Didn't you hate him a second ago?”
She narrows her blue eyes. “Is it because of your brother and father?” she says, her tone darker than before.
I only shake my head. “I don't want to talk about this, Fay.”
She falls silent for a moment. “It's Blade, isn't it? I know ho much you two care about each other.” Fayette's eyes drop to the floor. She doesn't say another word, and neither do I.
Chapter 16
Rysen
It doesn’t take much for me to convince Blade to fly me to Drakonis. He’s just as worried as I am.
It’s nine o’clock in the evening, the sun sinking behind the mountains and casting shadows over the land. In the fleeting time it takes us to reach the capital city of the Underground, night has settled over the empire.
Calla said she would be back later in the day. When we didn’t hear from her, we began to worry. She never explained why she had to rush to the city; for all I know, she was rushing into a dangerous situation.
After I climb out of the hoverjet, Blade falls into step beside me, his shorter legs easily matching my brisk pace.
I expect a lot of things when I walk into her apartment, having prepared myself for the worst on the flight here. The one thing I didn’t anticipate was to find her crashed on the sofa, my brother lounging like a lazy alley cat, and Fayette casually cooking somet
hing in the kitchen like this were a normal, everyday occurrence.
Fay startles when she sees me, a metal spoon caked with food plummeting to the rug-covered stone floor. She mutters a few curses as she bends down to retrieve it. Calla stirs awake from the noise, stretching her arms over her head, and Kainan finally discovers me and Blade standing in the doorway around the corner.
“Well, isn’t this a lovely surprise?” he snarks as Calla sits up straight.
“Guys,” she gasps and checks the time on the ticking clock hanging above her head. “I’m sorry, I fell asleep. I meant to head back a few hours ago.” She yawns and makes her way toward us.
Blade doesn’t pay attention to her. His eyes are on Fayette. “I’m sorry,” is all he says before shifting his attention to his emperor.
I take a step back as she nears us. I can’t contain my anger as I snap, “What the fuck is he doing in here, Calla? Bastard needs to be behind bars!”
The emperor before me blinks, taken aback. “Your brother is innocent, Rysen. I explained that to you last night.”
“I don’t give a shit if he killed Talon or not! He’s still guilty of a lot of things, no matter what you say.”
My word choice was not a good one, made obvious by the look on her face. Her expression hardens into something cold, and the voice she uses is not one I’m used to hearing from her: The voice of an emperor.
“As your emperor, Rysen Dane, I will make many decisions you may not like. But, my word is law, and don’t you dare bring that to question, do you understand?” she snarls, her powerful tone reverberating off the stone that surrounds us.
I lean in close to her, refusing to acknowledge the concerned glares coming from the three observers. “Don’t you dare think that you’re above me just because you’re the emperor, do you understand? I thought we had come to an agreement about that,” I whisper so harshly that she flinches.