by Ben Wolf
Axel turned back.
There, in the doorway, stood Calum.
Chapter Eighteen
Maybe he didn’t see us? Axel’s hope that Calum hadn’t seen what he’d just done overwrote his dismay at Lilly’s abrupt rejection. But the sight of Calum’s rigid jaw and lowered eyebrows said otherwise.
“Hi, Calum.” It was all Axel could think to say. He didn’t even realize he was still holding Lilly until she twisted out of his grip and stepped back. Axel glanced at her then refocused on Calum. “Did you visit Riley already?”
“We have to meet with the Premier.” Calum grabbed his sword from the inside of the door and hooked it to his belt. Unlike when they had arrived, neither Calum nor Axel wore any armor, but instead they had adopted the long robes customary for civilian life in Aeropolis. “Come on.”
After Calum disappeared through the doorway, Lilly sighed and gave Axel a frown. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah.” He found her eyes. “What just—”
“Don’t, Axel.” Lilly held up her hand. “Just don’t.”
He followed her shimmering green cape toward the door and grabbed his own sword on the way out. Calum had seen them kiss, and his reaction had confirmed Axel’s long-held suspicion that Calum wanted Lilly for himself.
Well, too late, buddy.
Then again, it hadn’t even lasted two seconds—glorious as they were.
But she had also seen Calum, so she understandably wouldn’t want to engage Axel with him around.
But she was also staying here in the Sky Realm. Axel absorbed the sunlight that shone through the crystalline hallways and exhaled a pleasant breath.
He’d have to stay here, with her. He’d do it to make her life easier. He wasn’t sure he was truly ready to give up the life of adventure he’d discovered over the last several months, but for a prize like Lilly, he’d give up anything.
Calum would just have to finish his quest alone—or at least without Axel.
He smiled. No more taking orders from Calum. No more bickering with and taking blows from Magnus. No more unending travel or sleeping on the hard ground only to wake up and have to fight off a bunch of bandits.
From now on, he’d live a life of luxury with Lilly at his side—or him at her side, anyway. She was the princess, after all.
“Hurry, will you?” Lilly’s voice pulled him back to the present.
Axel smirked at her. “Anything for you.”
She led him into the throne room again, a place to which he’d only been invited twice since their initial visit.
Premier Avian sat on his throne, still flanked by two Wisps on either side. He conversed with a female Wisp who wore attire similar to his, including a matching crown and a yellow crystal necklace that matched those draped over Avian’s shoulders. Light-brown hair coiled around her head in a style similar to Lilly’s. Axel figured she was Lilly’s mother.
Calum stood before the throne already, his arms folded.
“So did you go to visit Riley, or not?” Axel whacked Calum’s shoulder, probably harder than he should have.
Calum shot him a glare. “I realized I’d forgotten my sword in the room. I ran into Falcroné on the way back, and he told me to go to the throne room.”
“Oh, I see.” Axel smirked and watched Lilly float over to Avian and the woman he was speaking to. Lilly gave the woman a hug and they exchanged smiles. “I’m guessing you happened to—”
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not discuss it right now.”
Axel bit his tongue. He wanted to flaunt his victory in front of Calum, but he restrained himself—mostly. “Alright. Whatever you say. We can always talk about Lilly and me later.”
Calum exhaled a sharp breath through his nose but didn’t say anything else.
Within moments, Magnus and Falcroné entered the throne room. They joined Axel and Calum, along with several dozen Windgales and Wisps. About half of them wore armor, and the rest wore regal robes in a variety of ethereal colors.
One Wisp stood out to Axel more than the others. Like Falcroné, his long hair hung down past his shoulders, but it was a mix of silver and black instead of blonde, and a thick beard of matching tones shrouded the lower half of his face.
His dark eyebrows perpetually arched down, and his hazel eyes constantly scanned the throne room. Black armor with golden accents covered his hulking body. He didn’t look like he belonged with the rest of the Wisps and Windgales.
“Your attention, please.” Avian raised his hands, and the assembled Windgales fell silent. “I have gathered you here today to make an announcement that will shape the future of the Sky Realm for generations to come.”
Axel craned his head to get Lilly to make eye contact with him, but she didn’t. Was she avoiding him on purpose?
“Lilly, come forward.” Avian nodded toward her, and she hovered over to him. “My wife Zephyrra and I are eternally grateful to the humans Calum and Axel, the Saurian Magnus, and their Wolf friend Riley, who is recovering from a critical wound, for returning our daughter to us.
“We feared the worst when Lilly disappeared, but she is back, and she is safe. The four of you are to be commended for your service to the Sky Realm.” He extended his hand toward Axel and Calum. “Please come forward.”
Axel glanced at Calum, but he didn’t make eye contact, either. Instead, Calum stepped up to Avian and gave him the Windgale salute, complete with a deep bow.
Axel and Magnus mimicked Calum and stood behind him, almost shoulder-to-shoulder, and Axel couldn’t help but think that he might actually be on better terms with Magnus than Calum for once.
Then Axel remembered how Magnus had knocked him unconscious and tied him up like a prisoner while they traveled to Aeropolis. He scowled.
“I’m still mad at you,” Axel muttered.
“I still do not care,” Magnus muttered back.
Avian nodded to Calum then motioned toward the big Wisp in the black armor, whom Calum turned to face. The Wisp took a medallion made of blue crystal and gold and fastened it to Calum’s robe.
“Axel, come forward.”
Axel approached Avian, whose gaze hardened until Axel performed the Windgale salute as Calum had. Better to do it properly now, seeing as though Avian might end up becoming a family member in upcoming years.
As with Calum, Avian directed him to the big Wisp, who pinned an identical medal onto Axel’s robe. Avian called Magnus forward next, but since he hadn’t taken off his breastplate to change into robes, the Wisp just handed it to him.
“These badges grant you the protection, authority, rights, and privileges afforded to all citizens of the Sky Realm, even though you are of different races,” Avian said. “Whenever you visit our realm, you are always welcome guests, worthy of the highest consideration and treatment.”
Axel looked at the medallion. A gold ring encircled two spread wings of stamped gold, set into a blue crystal background in the center—quite a display of craftsmanship and artistry, among the best Axel had ever seen.
“Behold your people.” Avian outstretched his arms toward the crowd in the throne room, all of whom performed the Windgale salute and bowed to Axel, Calum, and Magnus, and then applauded them. After a long moment, Avian said, “Please stand aside, my friends. We have more to discuss.”
Axel followed Calum and Magnus back down off the throne platform and waited by the nearest steel pillar among several Windgales and Wisps in the crowd. Axel caught Lilly looking at him, and he winked at her. She gave him a small, polite smile, then turned her gaze back to Avian.
Axel smirked. Truly a princess.
“Now that Lilly has returned and we are reunited as a family, Zephyrra and I are pleased to make one final announcement on our daughter’s behalf.” Avian clasped Zephyrra’s hand in his. “Falcroné, please step forward.”
Falcroné grinned and floated over between Lilly and Avian.
“You all know that Falcroné is both Captain of the Royal Guard—the second y
oungest in our illustrious history—and that he is Lilly’s cousin—” Avian motioned toward the big Wisp in the black armor. “—the son of General Balena and his late wife, my beloved sister, Evangeline.”
Axel glanced at Lilly, then he elbowed Calum. “Did you know that?”
His face still stoic, Calum shook his head. “No.”
Avian listed Falcroné’s numerous accomplishments and feats in battle and described his fighting prowess, intelligence, and speed, emphasizing how Falcroné had all but singlehandedly stopped Condor’s insurrection.
None of it mattered to Axel. He leaned in to Calum again. “Come on. Don’t be so bitter. Just ’cause Lilly wants me doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends.”
“Just drop it, alright?” Calum hissed. “I don’t want to talk about it. Especially not here while we’re listening to the Premier.”
“Alright, easy. It’s not a big deal.” Axel folded his arms and rolled his eyes.
“It is a big deal to me, which is why I don’t want to talk about it here.” Calum glared at him. “So stop.”
“Fine.” Axel had to get one more jab in, so he said, “Like I said before, we can talk about Lilly and me later.”
Calum’s jaw tensed, but he didn’t say anything else.
“In light of Falcroné’s many successes, his integrity, and his quality of character, I am pleased to announce the continuation of our royal blood line—” Avian clasped Lilly’s and Falcroné’s hands together within his own. “—through a holy union of marriage between Lilly and Falcroné.”
Axel sucked in a sharp breath and stared at Lilly with wide eyes.
Chapter Nineteen
“The wedding will commence in three weeks, and we will host an engagement party for the happy couple in two days’ time, in the evening.” Avian patted Falcroné on his shoulder. “I couldn’t have asked for a better son-in-law or a better match for my only daughter. Together, you will rule the skies when Zephyrra and I are gone.”
Axel’s stomach sloshed with grief, almost to the point of vomiting. How could Lilly have done this to him? And after their kiss only minutes ago?
Or had Calum’s entry into the room not been the reason she pushed away from him?
Falcroné bowed and saluted Avian. “We will make you proud, Premier.”
Unbelievable.
Axel glared at Lilly, but she did not—or would not—make eye contact with him. Instead, she smiled at Falcroné—at her fiancé—and her father as if that kiss had never happened.
“The very day that Lilly returned home, we sent envoys to Solace, Reptilius, and to the Desert of the Forgotten with word of the good news that their courtship could now continue.” Avian’s smile widened. “Perhaps you all didn’t know this, but Falcroné has had his heart set on Lilly since they were children playing among the clouds.”
A murmur of laughter swelled from the crowd around Axel. Falcroné had been after Lilly since they were children?
And they were cousins?
Creepy, to say the least—if not downright disgusting. The nausea in Axel’s stomach returned, and he had to fight it from rising to his throat.
“Before Lilly’s disappearance, Falcroné asked me for her hand in marriage. I hesitated to give him a response, and then she vanished from the safety of our realm.” Avian shot a glance at Lilly. “But while she was gone, Falcroné organized dozens of search parties for her, and he stayed late into the night collecting information as to her whereabouts, all without neglecting his duties as Captain of my Royal Guard.
“It was then that I knew—though perhaps I’ve always known—that he was the perfect fit for my precious daughter. When she returned to us safe and sound, he asked me again, and I agreed immediately.”
Axel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Forming search parties? Collecting information?
That was the standard for what passed as “love” in this backward place?
He’d fought for Lilly. Bled for her. Killed for her. He’d saved her, and she’d saved him. They’d battled monsters together, fended off bandits, and escaped from a pirate ship.
And Avian thought that forming search parties and collecting information somehow trumped that? Axel’s insides shifted from nausea to boiling fury.
Avian draped his arms around both Lilly’s and Falcroné’s shoulders, and he grinned at Lilly. “You know it took my direct orders and three strong men, including General Balena, to keep Falcroné from flying in search of you when you disappeared?”
Axel’s mouth hung open. If Falcroné had truly loved her, he would’ve gone after her regardless of Avian’s orders and the three men trying to hold him back. Nothing would’ve stopped him.
Lilly smiled at Falcroné again, and he smiled back.
Unbelievable. Axel grunted.
“What’s your problem?” Calum asked, his demeanor noticeably improved.
“Did you really just ask me that?” Axel wanted to knock the smug look off Calum’s face, but he’d draw too much attention in such a public setting. He pointed toward the throne. Despite his rage, he managed to keep his voice low. “Lilly and I, we were—she—”
Calum patted Axel’s shoulder and smirked. “Don’t worry. It’s like you said before—we can talk about Lilly and you later.”
Axel clenched his teeth and his fingers curled into fists.
Late that night, Calum sat on the edge of a balcony near the top of the Sky Fortress.
Above and all around him, white stars sparkled in the cloudless sky, much brighter than he’d ever seen before, even on the clearest night from on the ground. The half-moon cast silver light on him and illuminated the rest of the Sky Fortress sprawled out before him with an ethereal blue glow.
Absolutely beautiful.
He looked down at his boots dangling over the chasm of clouds below. What a rush it must be to fly—twisting, turning, looping, spiraling. It had to be incredible to leap off such a platform, to free-fall through the layer of white fluff that swirled below, all the way down to the ground with a quick upturn near the end to keep from slamming into the dirt.
“Calum?”
He turned and found Lilly hovering behind him just a few feet off the platform. She still wore the same evergreen-and-blue robes she’d worn to Avian’s assembly in the throne room several hours earlier. Her boots touched down on the platform and she started toward him.
“Oh. Hi, Lilly.” Calum knew his tone was too sullen, but he didn’t care. He’d had his heart broken twice in the same day. That hadn’t happened since his parents’ murders.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
Calum considered telling her he wanted to be alone, but a huge part of him still longed to be near her. Perhaps he shouldn’t have given in, but he patted the cool flat crystal next to him, and she sat down.
“I need to talk to you about what happened earlier today,” she began. Unlike other conversations they’d shared in the past, this time her tone was decisive—formal, even. Though it was her voice, it didn’t sound like her.
Calum huffed. “Which one?”
“Both of them.”
“I’m listening.”
“Falcroné and I were courting long before I was taken from my home. Like my father said, he’s my cousin, so we’ve known each other our whole lives. With royal families and bloodlines being what they are, and with Falcroné and me being close enough in age, it was only natural that my father and my uncle, General Balena, would make such a match.”
Calum sighed. As much as he didn’t want to know any of this, he knew he had to hear it, if for no other reason than to turn the page on this part of his life.
“How old is he?”
“Falcroné is twenty-one,” Lilly replied. “I’m seventeen, so we’ll be married on my eighteenth birthday in three weeks.”
A light breeze chilled Calum’s face. “And this is what you want?”
Lilly stared out across Aeropolis and the cloudy night sky beyond. “I want what’s best for my people.
A marriage to Falcroné will ensure stability in the transition from my father’s reign to ours, because Falcroné is my cousin. It couldn’t have worked out any better.”
Calum exhaled a long, vaporous breath through his nose and clenched his teeth. Even if that were true, it brought him no consolation. “If you say so.”
She took his hand in hers. “Calum, look at me.”
He didn’t react at first, at least not outwardly. Her hand was warm and soft in his, and it sent familiar shudders down his arm and into his chest, quickening his heartbeat.
“You will always be important to me. You’ve saved my life more times than I can count. You’re a great friend, but we aren’t meant to be. I’m sorry.”
“That’s not the impression I got when we were traveling.” Calum finally turned to look at her. “Call me crazy, but I was starting to think you liked me.”
“I do like you.”
“I guess you like Axel more.” Calum looked out across the void again. Part of him wanted to scoot over the edge and be done with the pain of this conversation, the pain of this entire day, but he banished the thought as soon as it appeared in his head.
Lilly squeezed his hand. “Hey, are you going to let me explain that to you?”
“Didn’t look like there was much to explain,” he mumbled.
“He kissed me, and I pulled back.”
“Because you saw me in the doorway.”
“No. I pulled back because I didn’t want him kissing me. I’m betrothed to Falcroné now, and I was then, too. He didn’t know that, but I did, and I couldn’t let him kiss me.” Lilly showed Calum a half-smile.
Calum met her eyes and studied them, searching for the truth. “I want to believe you.”
She nodded. “Whether you believe me or not, I am betrothed to Falcroné. I’m accountable to him and no other.”
“Have you told him about it?”
“Not yet, but I will. Falcroné isn’t the forgiving type. I’d hate to think of what he might’ve done to Axel if he’d seen it happen.” Lilly chuckled. It might’ve been her way of trying to lighten the mood, but it wasn’t working on Calum. “If I tell him after the fact, Axel has a better chance of surviving the—”