by G. Bailey
Cyrus' features darken. "King Ulric hanged them. He had only use for you, it seemed."
Bile rises from my stomach and I swallow it down dispassionately with a sip of wine. "Damn him."
"Damn him indeed. Continue on, brother. What else has happened since?"
I go on to tell him about Izora and how she is the rightful heir to the Throne of Helios. This news, however, is not unknown to him.
"Two bastards destined for the thrones," he says, drumming his fingers on the armrest, "one blue of hair and the other the brightest starlight. This prophecy has long been foretold."
"Then you know we must help them claim what is rightfully theirs in order to protect the Forest?"
He slowly shakes his head. "I do know, but my kingdom is not part of the prophecy. Long has Draconia suffered at the hands of the Light Fae. If they wish to battle amongst themselves..." He waves his hand dismissively. "That is their business. I have no desire to wound my kingdom for a cause that does not affect us."
A shadow of unease creeps over me. I know more than anyone how stubborn King Cyrus can be. No matter what I say now, I will not be able to pressure him to fight this war unless his royal advisors do, and they only care about Draconia. But not all hope is lost. Izora might be small, but her spirit is fierce and unyielding. I have no doubt she'll fight a strong case in convincing Cyrus to fight with her. He may still refuse, but it's a chance, and the only one we've got. With this in mind, I resort to other pressing matters.
"To bind the Titans and open the portal that’ll send them back, I require the key. From what I recall, it was secured in the palace vault. Is that still the case?"
The king shakes his head again. "I'm afraid not. But I will explain all at the feast. You and I have something else to discuss in the meantime. Zander."
My pulse spikes at the mention of my son. Zander is here? In the same place as me? Excitement and dread twists my guts into knots. For eighteen years, I've thought about him. I have wondered what he looks like and the dragon he came to be. I had wanted to reach out to him, to send him a letter, but each time I tried, the words vanished from my mind and the parchment remained blank. Now he's here, in the palace?
"Just like you were sent on behalf of your princess, Zander was sent on behalf of his." The king takes another sip of his wine, his gaze brimming over the glass. "It appears Selena guided you here for a reason."
I frown at the emotion that slithers through me and twists into a coiled snake.
Cyrus leans over the table, his expression shifting from king to the brother I grew up with. "Let us stop this talk of war. Why don't you go to him in the training hall? He'll be joining us for the feast but must leave at first light."
I stare down at my reflection shimmering within the glass of wine. "I cannot disrupt his life. Now isn't the time."
"Is there ever a time?" The king's eyebrows draw together again. "Go to your son, Zavier. You have waited long enough."
"But my mate—"
He lifts a ringed hand to preempt me. "We will discuss during the feast. For now, I want you to meet your son. Valessia has not stopped fussing over him since he arrived some days gone. She thought you had died in the prison and Zander was all she had left of you."
I lift my gaze. "Does Zander know that I’m here?"
"No. We thought it best he discovered it on his own."
A surge of relief trickles down my spine. "Thank you."
The king tilts his head and side-eyes me. "Are you going to see him?" When I answer with a nod, he adds, "Then go and make haste."
I stand from my chair and bow to him. He extends a hand so that I may kiss his signet ring: a reminder that I have been accepted into my kingdom once again. A whirlwind of emotions churns inside me as I depart the throne room and make my way to the training hall.
Zander is here. My fucking son is here.
Every step to the training hall feels like I'm in a dream. When the guards move aside and I step over the threshold, I almost pinch myself when I see the young man fighting with another dragon. Crowds of other soldiers move around them, their hand-to-hand combat filling the hall with incessant noise. It reminds me of my own combat days. But right now, all I'm focusing on is my son as he flips a much larger dragon onto his neck and pins him down effortlessly. He has the same hair and features as me, except for his eyes; they're his mother's.
I stand by the water fountain to get a better view of him. The badge flashing on his leather uniform tells me he's a Shadow Warden. His mother had been training to become a High Warden, so I'm not surprised to find my son followed in her footsteps. I am, however, proud. He's made something of himself. And he's here on behalf of Izora's friend, the Dark Fae Princess?
It's a small fucking world.
When Zander moves away to help the soldier off the floor, he glances in my direction and I freeze to the spot. I have two possible solutions. Either I go over and tell Zander I'm his old man, or I walk away out of this hall and never look back. Zander gets to live his life without the father who abandoned him before he was even born.
At the sight of Zander laughing and clapping a comrade on the shoulder, I decide on the latter. He doesn't need me to come into his life right now, especially during a war. He's here on a mission, the same as I am, and the last thing I should do is tip his world upside down. That'd be so fucking selfish of me. It doesn't matter how greatly I want to walk over and hug my boy. Now isn't the time, contrary to what the king said.
I will go to Zander as soon as the war has been won; for now, he's perfectly content without me.
Turning on my heel, I leave the hall and head back to the guest chambers. Izora is the one who needs me right now.
She's my priority.
Chapter 8
Izora
The fragrant oils invade my senses as I sink down into the warm bathtub. Gods, I've needed this. I lean back in the water and breathe in the pleasant fumes. The queen's lady-in-waiting, Ximena, said the oils have incredible healing properties. I sink back in the tub with a sigh and drape my arms over the edges. My mind drifts to my guys and how I wish they could be here with me.
Luke would love the Dragon Kingdom. It's so beautiful and unlike the rest of the forest, yet there are glimmers that are distinctly part of Zorya which feel like home. The freedom and fresh air are what I imagine Axel would enjoy most after so many years in captivity. Scott would no doubt love the many soaps and herbs, as well as the flowers I have never seen before. They must grow them all here, and I wonder if their medicine or magic is different to our own. I’m sure Scott would have a million questions for their healers.
Hopefully, once this is all over, we can come back here on vacation. Queen Valessia didn't appear to hate me, despite that I'm Light Fae. I wonder if King Cyrus will feel the same way. I don't know much about him other than what I've read in the Book of Zorya. He can be an unjust king with a quick and violent temper—contrary to his frail appearance—and is known for his ruthlessness toward outsiders. I don't think Gold would have left me alone if he thought I'd be in any danger.
Closing my eyes, I press my head against the back of the tub and allow myself to savor this moment. Guilt threatens to snake its way into me. I know I shouldn't be enjoying such luxuries while so many innocent magics are being killed at the hands of Eva and the Dark Fae Queen. However, I don't know when I'll next be able to do this, and after everything I've gone through, I deserve it. If all goes well at the feast, I'll be one step closer to collecting all the Titan keys.
A knock on the door forces me to open my eyes.
"Your Highness, it is time to get dressed. Would you like me to assist you? Master Gia’s gowns can be a little difficult to manoeuvre."
"No, I can do it myself," I quickly reply, not wanting Ximena fussing over me again.
I don't think I'll ever get used to this royal malarkey. When I take my throne, I'll dress and tend to myself, thank you very much. If there's one thing my mother taught me well, it's how to be self-suf
ficient.
Once I've dried myself with the fluffiest towels in all existence, I step out into the chamber. My eyes are immediately drawn to the gorgeous silk gown draped over a manikin. I tighten the towel on my head and hurry over, brushing my fingers over the royal blue material. Silver embroidery adorns the halter-neck bodice and trickles all the way down into the a-line skirt. The sun and moon embroidery is such a small detail, and yet the fact that the designer included Zorya and Helios brings tears to my eyes.
My kingdom isn't alone anymore; this gift is a testament of that.
And it gives me hope that tonight's feast will be a success. I don’t just have Danica on my side, but also Selena.
Gently, I pull the dress off the mannequin and slip it onto my body. I can only fasten the back so much, especially with my wings, so when my arms can't reach any higher, I let Ximena in. She fusses over my dress and hair, then my make-up, and then turns me to the oval mirror for approval. I hardly recognise myself. My hair has been curled and braided to form beautiful ringlets over my left shoulder. I pull out a strand from above my other ear and let it curl down. Complete with the diamond earrings and dragon necklace, I look every bit the Princess of Helios now.
"Well, I think that's all we can do here," I say, turning for the door.
Ximena beams, clearly pleased by her work. "You look ever so beautiful, Your Highness."
"Thanks to you."
She giggles. "No, it was all natural. Fae have always been the most beautiful of the Forest."
I bite my tongue. It's not like I was born a full-blooded fae; I was tortured into one.
"Time to go," Ximena says, gesturing to the door. "The king and queen are ready for you."
With that, I follow her out of the chamber and down a maze of hallways. Armoured guards flank the entrance to the throne room. The doors trickle like a waterfall, but when the guards open them, they peel aside like a veil.
I step through them and scan the grand hall, surprised to find only one table laden with delicious-looking food. Queen Valessia sits at one end with King Cyrus at the other, his hands draped over the armrests. Beside him are three handsome triplets who are clearly the young Dragon Princes; they couldn't look more disinterested in me if they tried. A little girl with long white hair sits across from them, and beside her is the cloaked man from before. My stomach churns when he trains his cold gaze on me. Each of the men push their chairs back and stand when I approach the table. I bow to the royals before claiming the seat Gold has pulled out for me.
"You look beautiful, Izora. Danica herself would be envious."
I blush at the compliment and sit down, skimming my eyes over his three piece suit. The dark grey material with the gold cravat really brings out his eyes. "You don't look too bad yourself, Governor."
He chuckles quietly and settles back in his chair; there’s a vacant seat beside him. Turning to the guests at the table, he says, "Allow me to introduce Izora Dawn, the first of her name and the rightful Queen of Helios."
It's the king who responds to this. "Welcome. It is an honor to have you with us this blessed evening.”
I incline my head respectfully. "Thank you. And thank you for welcoming us so warmly into your kingdom."
"Zavier will always be welcome here," Valessia says, lifting a glass of red wine to her pursed lips. "And we are the ones who owe you thanks for bringing him home."
Gold shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "I have already told you that I’m not staying for long. Izora and I will be leaving in the morning."
I glance at him, wondering why he's frowning when he should be happy. "You found the key?" I ask quietly, but before he can answer me, the little girl taps the man beside her on the shoulder.
"Who is this girl again?" Her question was intended to be a whisper, but everyone hears it and I can't help but smile.
The man clears his throat. "I am Sir Julius Griscor, the king's royal advisor. I have been informed that you wish to collect the Titan keys. Is that so?"
I nod, looking him dead in the eye. "It's the only way we can stop the Titans from destroying the Forest."
He smacks his lips together and narrows his gaze on me. While others quietly eat their food, except for Gold, I keep my eyes pressed on the dragon. I'm not going to be the first one to look away.
"The Titans are not really our concern," Julius says at last, lifting his chin. "Our border is protected by ancient magic that not even they can penetrate. Whether the Titans wreak havoc beyond it is really no concern of ours."
My heart sinks a little when I look around the table and see that no one is disputing him.
"Just because the Titans are no threat to your kingdom, that doesn't mean you should turn a blind eye," I say firmly. "Hundreds, if not thousands, of magics have already been killed at the hands of Eva."
"Yes, the Princess of Helios." He drums his fingers on the table. "Light Fae are also no concern of ours."
“Watch that tongue of yours, Griscor.” Gold grips the knife in his hand, his knuckles turning white. "For it sounds like you’re suggesting my mate also doesn’t matter.”
By now, the tension around the table has reached a tipping point.
"I believe what Sir Griscor is saying is that the Light Fae have caused our people nothing but suffering," Valessia says, her voice gentle enough to partially defuse the growing tension. "Why should we open our kingdom to a war that, for once, has nothing to do with us? Why sacrifice lives for those who have only taken them?"
The king nods, tapping his lip thoughtfully, his eyes pinning me. "I am willing to help you find the key. But for now, this war is not ours to fight."
The words 'for now' catch my attention. "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?"
He takes a sip of his wine, his frail hand clutching the glass tightly. "My cousin's relationship with Eva is already deteriorating. It won't be long before Narah turns the princess away. When that happens, her enemy will become my enemy, and then we will battle alongside each other. Until then, my kingdom will play no part in this war."
Anger flares through me. I know I shouldn't ask it, but the words tumble from my lips before I can catch them. "So if Queen Narah chooses to fight with Eva, you'll just kill innocent magics because you share the same blood as her?"
A fork drops onto the table as silence descends upon the room.
“Yes,” the king answers calmly. “You will understand when you rule your kingdom and your allies dwindle due to those who betray you at every turn. Helios has never supported us, and so I will not sacrifice my people just to protect them.”
I shouldn’t be surprised by his reply. Sickened, yes, but not surprised. The Draconians fought in the Sans Enfant War alongside Queen Narah. They like to pretend their actions are just, but unlike the centaurs who remain neutral, the Draconians always choose a side. And it’s always that of the Dark Fae.
Gold slips his hand under the table and squeezes mine. I’m not sure if it’s to silence me or comfort me, but I open my mouth anyway.
“Helios may never have supported you in the past,” I say, keeping my voice low and controlled, “but times have changed now. Helios didn’t have me. And if there’s one thing I want, it’s peace among everyone in the Enchanted Forest. I want to stop the wars and the bloodshed. My sister, your niece, is the rightful Queen of Zorya, and she wants the same too. Right now, your decision to help or abandon us will dictate the rest of your kingdom’s future.”
Julius chokes on something. “You dare threaten the king like that?”
“I’m not threatening. I’m simply saying that right now, at this exact moment, we both have the opportunity to change our kingdoms’ future. Don’t we both want that?” I turn to the king. “Don't we want to make them safer as well as stronger? We can’t do that if we keep attacking each other, whether that be through violence or abandonment."
The door opens and another dragon enters. Except, this is one I have met already.
"Zander..." I stand from my chair, stunned t
o see him here. "Hey."
He stops in front of me and smiles. "Hey." Then he clears his throat and drapes an arm over his middle. "Your Highness," he says with a bow. "'Tis my pleasure."
I just manage to stop myself from laughing as I settle back in my chair.
Gold shifts beside me and I peek up at him. To the untrained eye, he's not paying Zander any attention, but I can tell by the way he clenches his knuckles and tightens his jaw that he's affected by his son's presence. I still can’t believe it, even when Gold told me earlier. Does Zander know the man he’s sitting next to is his father?
Going by the way Zander reaches for food, oblivious to the tension circulating around us, I highly doubt so. I wish he'd been here earlier and witnessed the awful things that were said.
"You know of Zander?" the king asks me, his voice the same emotionless timbre as always.
"We both go to Shadowborn Academy," Zander answers for me, cutting a piece of his steak off and shoving it into his mouth. "Well, we did go there. It's in ruins now."
My jaw drops, causing my heart to lurch. "Ruins?"
He nods, shoving more food into his mouth. He finishes before answering, "One of the Titans attacked it and nearly killed Corvina. It's why I'm here, to ask for the king's help."
A glimmer of hope swells inside me. So I'm not the only one seeking the dragons' help? If Corvina, the rightful heir to the Throne of Luna, is asking for her uncle's help, surely he can’t refuse her.
The king glances at me as if he can hear my thoughts. "Our discussion tonight has been somber. I told Princess Izora exactly what I told you, young Zander: I am not sacrificing my kingdom for a throne that turned its back on my kin."
Zander nods, but his grip tightens on his silver cutlery. "As I said, Your Majesty, I respect that more than anything. The only problem with that is the fact that Corvina Charles will ascend the throne, and when she does, she will not forget those who turned their back on her."
Gods, it takes everything in me not to smirk at the king.