Eternal Palace (Sexcraft Chronicles Book 4)

by Edmund Hughes

  The dragon let out a roar and then sucked in air, preparing to scorch the life from them. A black shape landed between Hal and it just as the dragon unleashed another blast of flames.

  Karnas. And not a moment too soon.

  Karnas wrapped his wings around Hal and Laurel, shielding them from the attack. Hal could still feel the heat, enough to make him instantly break into a sweat. Laurel was hugging tight to him, and there wasn’t much else either of them could do other than squeeze each other for support.

  The fire subsided, and Karnas moved. He leapt onto the other dragon, snapping his teeth at its neck. The attack missed, but Karnas still tackled the other dragon, and the two rolled together, clawing and biting at each other in the universal, feral manner in which so many animals fight.

  It was almost hard to tell them apart, which made what Karnas was doing that much more impactful. He was fighting one of his own. He was likely still mulling over what he’d learned of his heritage, and Hal’s blood feud with his father, and yet he still risked his life to protect them without hesitation.

  A deep snarl of pain came from the other dragon, and then from Karnas. Hal pulled Laurel to his feet as he saw Karnas kick out hard, knocking the other dragon back. Hal was ready as Karnas broke into a retreat, dipping low to let him and Laurel swing onto his back as he went by.

  And then, they were in the air. Karnas was flapping his wings with heavy, desperate movements. The dragon’s balance was a little off kilter, angled to one side. Hal saw a gash at the point where Karnas’s left wing attached to the rest of his body, and it was bleeding freely, a crimson trail of it falling into the sky.

  “You can’t keep flying like this,” said Hal, half shouting to be heard over the wind. “Karnas! Don’t force it.”

  Karnas made a noise. Hal looked behind him, confirming that the other dragon wasn’t in pursuit as they passed further from the city. He patted Karnas on the back, hopefully signaling that they’d reached safety. The dragon stopped actively flying, instead keeping his wings outstretched and letting them slowly glide toward a landing.

  They were heading in the direction of where he’d told Zoria they’d meet him, though the trek would take a few hours on foot. Karnas landed on top of one of the many large hills that were scattered across the area surrounding Meldence.

  Hal climbed down, and then helped Laurel. Karnas curled up on the ground, almost like a cat, and proceeded to lick at the wound on his wing.

  They could see Meldence, to the southwest. The city was wreathed in red flames, with smoke forming a massive plume overhead. It looked bad, and Hal could tell from the tension in Laurel’s posture that it was past the point of holding out hope.

  “I’m so sorry, Laurel,” he whispered. He reached over and squeezed her hand.

  “I don’t know what I could have done,” she said. “He was right to send me away. I just wish… there was something, anything, I could have done differently.”

  Hal knew the feeling well. He’d struggled not to blame himself after his family’s deaths. The pointlessness of it only served to make him feel even more like there should have logically been a way to avoid it.

  He didn’t know what to say to her, so instead, he pulled her into a hug. She was soft against him, and without consciously thinking about it, his hand went to her cheek. He kissed her, but her lips didn’t move against his.

  “Hal…” said Laurel.

  Her tone told him what she was about to say before her words did, and he felt his heart catch in his throat.

  “What Maxim Cedric… my father… said,” she whispered. “He’s probably right. I’m going to be living a very different kind of life, once it gets out that I’m his daughter, by blood.”

  Hal nodded, trying to keep his tone casual, unaffected. “Sure. You’re like a princess almost. The daughter of the ruler of the realm.”

  “It isn’t quite like that,” muttered Laurel. “I won’t become Maxim when he dies. They’ll hold a Lords Meeting to determine the next one. But I will inherit his lands, and I’ll… have responsibilities.”

  “It’s okay,” said Hal. “I get it.”

  It wasn’t okay. It was so bitterly unfair that Hal almost wanted to spit on the ground. He’d known Laurel for less than a year, but they’d gone through so much together, supporting each other throughout. They’d grown as people together, learned to see each other differently. And once they’d finally reached a place where they could be together, the situation changed to keep them apart.

  Meldence is burning and I’m mad that I can’t kiss her. No, I need to focus on what matters.

  “Come on,” said Hal. “We should get moving.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Karnas insisted on attempting the rest of the flight. Hal let the dragon carry them, though he regretted it as soon as they were in the air. Karnas struggled to maintain enough height to keep them in the swift moving air currents high above, and it was obvious that his wing was hurting him.

  Hal gave him the signal to set down a little over an hour later, as they passed above the destroyed farmhouse where he’d dropped off Zoria. Karnas let out a sigh of relief as Hal and Laurel climbed off again. He immediately moved to take to the air again, but Laurel called out to him.

  “Hold on,” she said. “You should rest.”

  “Too… big…” said Karnas.

  Laurel frowned and shook her head.

  “He means he’s too big and too conspicuous to stay nearby,” said Hal. “And he’s probably right. It would attract attention if any scouts are in the area, especially if he goes hunting and later comes back.”

  “I guess…” said Laurel.

  “Is your wing going to be okay?” asked Hal.

  Karnas made a noise that didn’t sound like a yes or a no. “Need… rest.”

  He made another noise, and then jumped upward, flying off in the direction of the dense, northern forests. Hal watched him disappear over the distance, and then looked around at their surroundings.

  It was late afternoon, though the murky sky overhead made it feel later. Zoria had been waiting inside the destroyed farmhouse and came out to greet them at the sound of their arrival. She looked tired, with her tight black valkyrie clothing smudged with dirt, and her hair loose and tangled across her shoulders.

  “I saw the smoke,” said Zoria. “What happened?”

  “The elven army attacked,” said Hal. “Made it past the wall. The city has fallen.”

  Zoria nodded. There was no surprise in her reaction, and Hal suspected that she’d had a better sense of the balance of power than he had, given how close she’d been to Tessianna’s inner circle.

  She looked out of place, an elf amidst humans, dressed in the colors of the enemy. She was his friend, and they’d both risked their lives for each other many times before. She’d sided with him against the daughter of her Empress and put her own family at risk in doing so. And maybe because of that, Hal felt hesitant to ask for more from her.

  “I waited for you, master,” said Zoria. “Do I get a reward?”

  Her tone was playful, and it brought a smile to his face, despite the somber circumstances.

  “That depends,” said Hal. “I need your help, Zoria. I’m not sure what I could offer you as a reward in return, but if you can name something, I’ll try.”

  She walked closer to him, lifting her chin up at a defiant angle. Her tight clothing emphasized the curves of her breasts and hips, the dark color making her look sexy in a very dangerous kind of way.

  “You’ve heard me speak of what I think of the Upper Realm before,” she said. “It’s my homeland, but there are… so very many things that I hate about it. Everyone is willing to lie and betray, if the stakes are right. It’s all about power, bloodlines, and domination. I have no love for eklid culture, master…”

  She hesitated, and Hal felt as though he could understand why.

  “I’m not asking you to betray your people,” said Hal. “Well… okay, maybe I am. But I don’t t
hink the Upper Realm will be destroyed, from what I saw in the crystal archive. It will just be brought down to the surface. Down to reality, where it isn’t so easy to raid and enslave the other races without consequence.”

  “Then yes,” said Zoria. “I am with you. Though I expect you to heed my advice and opinions. I have my own reasons for lending my aid, master.”

  “We all have our own reasons.” A new voice came from behind the destroyed farmhouse. Hal glared in that direction, watching as Cadrian slowly stepped into the conversation.

  She looked annoyingly fresh, as though the chaos of the past night and morning had barely affected her. Her black hair was in one of its usual intricate braids, without a single strand out of place. Her face was passive, pale, and beautiful, and she watched him with both eyes. There was something open, almost vulnerable, about her posture and demeanor.

  “No,” said Hal. “You’ll have no part in this, Cadrian. I can’t trust you.”

  “Can’t?” she asked. “Or won’t?”

  “It makes no difference.” Hal shook his head, feeling his anger bubbling up. “You aren’t coming with us.”

  Her presence, alone, was enough to make Hal feel like he was being taunted. Looking at her triggered so many different emotions, enough to make him feel confused and exhausted. She represented the unfairness of the world, the lack of consequence when it mattered most. She’d been his teacher, his lover, and his nemesis. He didn’t know what she was now.

  “You can’t do this on your own,” said Cadrian.

  Hal gritted his teeth. “You don’t know what I’m capable of, anymore.”

  “No,” said Laurel. “She’s right.”

  Hal turned to look at her, feeling almost like he’d been stabbed in the back by the remark. Laurel had her arms folded, and her expression was serious.

  “She isn’t coming with us,” said Hal.

  “The Maxim commanded me to investigate the Upper Realm’s weakness,” said Laurel. “It’s my decision, not yours.”

  Hal felt his mouth fall open slightly. He’d forgotten how much more assertive the new Laurel was from the old one. He felt his anger reacting to the way she’d snubbed him, and had to force it down, knowing that the bulk of it wasn’t directed at her.

  “Laurel,” said Hal. “I understand where you’re coming from, but–”

  “Halrin,” she said, speaking over him. “You are the Heart Holder, and you’re central to the task we face, and you know that you’re my dearest friend. But your emotions are a mess right now. You aren’t in a state where you’re thinking clearly and making good decisions. So I’m taking charge.”

  Hal didn’t have a response to that, and Laurel apparently took his silence to be a concession.

  “I would welcome your help, Cadrian,” said Laurel, in a respectful voice. “All I ask is that you make an effort to keep things from growing too… volatile.”

  Cadrian nodded, her lips turning up into a modest smile. “Of course.”

  The decision had been made, and Hal was disgusted with it. His anger was left without a target and holding it in only intensified it. Laurel was probably making the right decision in accepting Cadrian’s help. Cadrian had apologized him, and there was little else she could do, short of turning back time, to make up for all she’d taken from him.

  “We’ll camp here for the night,” said Laurel. “I think all of us could use a chance to rest. In the morning, we can discuss what comes next. Hal? Where are you going?”

  “Gathering firewood,” he said, without looking back.

  I need to be away from people. Away from all of this, for a while.

  CHAPTER 30

  None of the three women stopped him or said anything as he left. Hal let himself wander into the forest, barely paying attention to the trees and pine needles underfoot. He felt overwhelmed by everything that had happened. He felt like he needed sleep, but his emotions were surging too much for him to slow down.

  He’d need to enter Jessa’s sanctum again, before the next morning. She could give him an idea of where the crystal anchor was, and then he’d travel with Laurel, Cadrian, and Zoria to reach it. On paper, it seemed easy and straightforward, at least compared to some of the other challenges he’d been up against in the past few months.

  His hands were still trembling. They had been ever since he’d entered Ruby Ascension, to one degree or another. He didn’t want to think about what it had felt like, the way his emotions had expanded and forced the rest of his awareness out. It was too much, too raw of an experience. It had left him feeling naked, vulnerable in a way that he couldn’t handle.

  He stopped and sat down against the trunk of a tree, trying to return his focus to gathering firewood, as he’d said he would. The forest rattled as the wind blew, fallen leaves rustling, and branches brushing against one another.

  He heard footsteps coming from the direction of the camp. Zoria had followed him, and walked slowly over to where he was, kneeling down next to him, her expression soft and non-judgmental.

  “Are you okay, master?” she asked. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”

  Hal sighed, and forced himself to nod.

  “What happened?” asked Zoria.

  “I… entered Ruby Ascension,” said Hal. “While we were escaping the city. During my time in Jessa’s crystal, she taught me about what it means to be the Heart Holder, and the lesson suddenly just… clicked together, right when I needed it.”

  Zoria listened. She didn’t say anything, and that felt like just what he needed.

  “The power of it was almost too much,” said Hal. “I couldn’t think. Couldn’t gauge the consequences of my actions. I lost control, Zoria. I might have killed innocents, I don’t know.”

  She reached out with her hand and ran it through his hair. It felt incredible, his emotions still raw and primed to make the tiny gesture into an ocean of comfort.

  “Master,” she whispered. “Halrin. I’m worried for you, and I’m not sure what advice to give. Maybe…”

  She hesitated. Hal turned to look at her.

  “Maybe you should ask Cadrian,” she finished, her voice hesitant.

  “She shouldn’t even be a part of this,” said Hal. “It’s ridiculous that Laurel can justify overlooking everything she’s done to me. She… she shouldn’t even be alive.”

  The words felt right as they left his mouth, even though they horrified him.

  “Does that make me evil, Zoria?” asked Hal. “That it’s all I can think of, when I look at her? How much I wish that she was dead, and my family, my sister, was alive in her place?”

  “You’re emotional,” said Zoria. “I won’t say that you aren’t yourself right now, but maybe… you should sleep on these feelings. Try to see things from another perspective in the morning.”

  “Cadrian never had any qualms about killing, when she had to,” muttered Hal. “And now I don’t, either. Is that the real lesson I learned from her? How to kill, and not care?”

  He felt foolish for dumping it all on Zoria, but she listened, and chose her words carefully when she spoke.

  “You do care,” said Zoria.

  “Not enough,” said Hal. “And if I went to her now and asked her for guidance. Asked her to teach me again. What else would I learn? Who would I become? Someone like her? Someone I hate?”

  Zoria shook her head. “You’re Halrin, and she’s Cadrian. You’re different people, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you could ask for advice from her without losing who you are, master. You are your own man, and you’re stronger than you realize.”

  She stared at him, and Hal let the moment linger, staring back. The forest was so quiet, but his emotions were still a storm, though now of a different kind. He saw the look in her eyes, noticed the tightness of her clothing, and the closeness of her presence.

  Zoria leaned in and kissed him, and Hal kissed her back. He pulled her body against his, feeling a surge of arousal as his emotions recognized what they needed. He he
sitated, forcing himself to think instead of feel.

  “Hold on,” said Hal.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Zoria. “It’s okay. You’ll have to pick one of us to bed with for the journey, if only for the sake of your heartgem.”

  Hal blinked. He hadn’t stopped to think about it, but she was right. He thought of Laurel, of what the Maxim, her father, had said. Of what she, herself, had said on their trip out from Meldence. He thought of Cadrian, and then stopped himself, hating that she’d even come to mind in such a context.

  Zoria’s hand was running over his shirt. His clothing was singed from where the fire had danced across his clothing during his time in Ruby Ascension, but she didn’t seem to notice anything other than the muscles underneath.

  Hal kissed her again, feeling his lust surge. Zoria moved against him, her body willing and open. A second level of communication opened between them, physical, rather than verbal. It was what he needed, a compelling outlet that gave clarity to his volatile emotions.

  He pulled at her clothes, moving with more aggression than was probably necessary. Her tunic only reluctantly came loose over her head, her breasts bouncing loose as they pulled down from the fabric. Hal spread it across the pine needle covered ground and pushed Zoria down onto it.

  He practically tore her leggings off, his arousal becoming just as unbearable as his other emotions had been. He was as hard as a rock by the time he got his own clothing off, and pushed his cock against her tight opening.

  Zoria pulled his mouth to hers as he slid in, and Hal could feel her trembling with pleasure through the kiss. He took her by the waist, sliding himself halfway in, feeling the way her hot, tightness rewarded him for pressing into her.

  It was exactly what he needed. He moved against her, his hands running over her breasts, feeling and caressing her body. All of his frustrating emotions fed into the passion of the moment. He pumped into her fast, burning off the weight on his shoulders.