Academy of Falling Kingdoms Box Set

by Marisa Mills

  “Tomorrow, then,” I agreed.

  “Excellent,” Eleanor said.

  “Only if you enjoy dining by candlelight,” Dorian said. “Any bright light gives me terrible headaches. Even the Academy is awful.”

  “Has light always given you headaches?” I asked.

  Dorian shook his head. “It’s this eye injury.”

  “So you aren’t half-blind?” Eleanor asked. “A pity. I was hoping I’d finally be able to best you at darts.”

  “I can still see out of it, Eleanor. Everything is just a little…foggy,” Dorian said. “Fortunately, Fran expects I’ll make a full recovery.”

  “Candlelight it is,” Eleanor said, sighing as if the lack of lighting would be an unfathomable inconvenience. “But, Wynter, the next time your plans involve lobbing glass at my dearly beloved brother? Be a dear and really disfigure him, won’t you?”

  She’s…just like your nobleman, Lucian said. I wonder if your mother had that same dark sense of humor.

  “Even disfigured, I’d be lovelier than you,” Dorian said. “I appreciate a slender-waisted woman as much as the next man, but are you sure having your lower ribs removed was wise? I’ve heard of women dying from that ghastly procedure.”

  “We can’t all bathe in the blood of virgins like you,” Eleanor said.

  “I’m sure Frederick could procure some for you,” Dorian said. “He has a way with women.”

  Eleanor’s face reddened. “As opposed to you, who can only charm one woman,” Eleanor replied. “Why don’t you just abdicate and marry Fran? It’d be doing us all a favor.”

  “Abdicate?” I asked.

  “If Dorian wants to marry a commoner, he has to abandon his title,” Eleanor said, smirking. “That’s the law.”

  “I’m afraid witnessing your disastrous marriage has dissuaded me entirely,” Dorian replied. “No offense to Frederick, all to you.”

  Viviane nudged me with her elbow. “Come on,” she said. “They’re going to do this all night.”

  Dorian and Eleanor paused their bickering long enough to say their farewells, but as Viviane and I walked away, I heard them begin trading insults once more. I thought of Guinevere. I hadn’t realized that to be with a commoner, to marry a commoner, would’ve meant abandoning her title and position. I wondered, if Guinevere had lived, whether she would’ve been willing to do it, for Nick. Somehow, I thought she would.

  ***

  Alexander’s eyes darted about the tavern as if he expected an assassin to leap from behind every table. I twirled my wineglass, more to have something to do than out of any desire to drink it. Viviane had slipped a bit of potion in hers and then went onto the dancefloor with Tatiana. Jessa had initially joined them, but she’d since tired and stood nearby, cheering them on. I’d been with them until I’d noticed Alexander brooding in a corner, looking like he’d rather be literally anywhere else.

  “You’re going to have to be a little more open to new experiences, Alexander,” I said.

  Alexander scowled.

  “I mean, you didn’t like the Scraps. You didn’t like pulling up weeds. Now, you don’t like taverns. Do you like anything that isn’t palace life?” I asked.

  As he leaned forward, his blue eyes caught the light and shined nearly silver.

  “I like you,” he said, “quite a bit, in fact.”

  Warmth flooded my face.

  Alexander’s beer suddenly tipped over. He scrambled to right it and swore as the liquid spilled into his lap, creating a dark stain. I saw a shadow dart from the wall, and inside my thoughts, Lucian laughed.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said, climbing to my feet.

  Alexander stood, too, and his eyes met mine.

  “Did I make Lucian jealous?” he asked.

  “I think a little,” I replied.

  Alexander smiled wryly and looked askance at the beer dripping off the edge of the table. “When I held Gwen’s charm,” he said, keeping his voice soft, “I heard Lucian. I heard all of them. It was such an incredible feeling. I wish I’d been able to keep that charm, so I could keep practicing.”

  He was a terrible conversationalist, Lucian said.

  A barmaid came by and quickly wiped over Alexander’s spilled beer. With an awkward smile, Alexander returned to his seat. I remained standing, leaning against the table.

  “It is incredible,” I said. “I…I haven’t really been able to talk to many demons, though. Just Lucian and Elaine. Lucian says most of them lose all reason, after time, and become dangerous.”

  “But have you tried speaking to others?” Alexander asked. “Really tried?”

  “No,” I said slowly, “I suppose not.”

  “I’d offer you a trip to the palace, so you could practice with our enchanted objects. But somehow, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Alexander said.

  I winced. “How is your father taking all this?”

  Alexander’s eyes darkened. “He’s expressed an interest in personally apologizing to you because of Celeste. When she reports back—or even if she doesn’t—he’s certain there will be more agents from Aubade.”

  “In the meantime,” he said, “he’s allowed me to return this to you.” He took out a long parcel from beneath the table and set it on the table. I unwrapped the leather bundle, revealing the familiar golden hilt of my rapier. “I also pressed him for this,” he said, placing a stack of gold coins on the table. “It was the bounty my father offered for my body, after we fell from Reverie. I thought, maybe you could give it to Claribel.”

  “What about the demons in the chamber?” I asked. “What’s he planning to do about them?”

  “Nothing, for now. At least, until we figure out if we are really under attack from Aubade,” Alexander replied. “If Oberon is right, if we are sinking, we will need more demons to keep us afloat, or we will be too vulnerable to defend ourselves.”

  “More demons,” I repeated slowly, the blood chilling in my veins. “How you promised Lucian—”

  “I know,” Alexander cut in. “And I expect to honor that promise, someday. But we can’t fight a war and also be falling from the sky. If Aubade invaded, they’d simply steal and enslave the demons we have.”

  My chest tightened. Inside my head, Lucian bristled with fury.

  I told you… some things never change.

  “We could evacuate Reverie and—”

  “And slowly destroy her?” Alexander asked. “That’s what Nick wanted.”

  “Maybe he was right.”

  I sighed, suddenly anxious about all that lay before us. We knew the truth, and had discovered the secret power sustaining the kingdom. Reverie was falling, but today, for now, we were safe. I still had to find a way to get Lucian home, which meant finding out which of Alexander’s brothers had incarcerated him. And then we had to figure out how to free the demons powering Reverie, while also dealing with Celeste and the threat from Aubade. She was gone for now, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before new dangers revealed themselves.

  Alexander squeezed my hand, then raised his fingers to his lips. I melted at his touch, leaning forward to brush my lips against his. I hesitated, just before we made contact, as I realized the music had stopped and a hushed murmur was rippling through the tavern. Someone was pushing towards us through the crowd. I tensed, reaching for my sword, and felt Lucian’s magic charge the blade.

  Jessa stumbled against the table, with tears in her eyes. Viviane and Tatiana were right behind her, looking worried.

  “What is it?” Alexander asked, standing up quickly. “What’s happened?”

  “My parents,” Jessa said, her voice shaking. “They’ve finally arrived, but they were detained at the border.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “They were declared enemies of the state,” Viviane said coldly. “The king, he just announced it. We’re at war with Aubade.”

  BOOK 3

  One

  IF YOU LIKE, I CAN
set him on fire, Lucian’s voice, soft and dark, drifted through my mind. Just a little. For the trouble he’s caused us.

  Lucian’s favored solution to any and all problems was setting people on fire, a suggestion I’d never once indulged. Except maybe for in the forests beneath Reverie when I’d caught my uncle’s sleeve on fire, or when the king’s coat ignited during my public whipping. But it didn’t seem appropriate here, in Headmaster Markus Du Lac’s office, with my sword sitting on the desk between us. My fingers itched to grab it away from him. Originally, the sleek, decorated blade had served as Lucian’s prison. Now, it was just an ordinary blade that Lucian could possess at will. But that sword was still mine. I wanted it, and it was just out of reach.

  “By order of King Gregory, I am returning this to you,” Du Lac said, eyeing the sword. He leaned back in his chair, gazing down his long nose at me. His unusually pale skin looked clammier than usual, and his black hair shone like raven feathers. His blue eyes cold and accusing, almost predatory. I wondered if he were waiting for me to pick up the sword, but it felt like a trap of some kind, as if he were doing me a great favor in returning what was already mine. The bare wall behind him bore no trace of his predecessor’s warmth.

  I felt a sharp pang in my chest when I thought of Celeste, who’d filled this office before him. Before she’d tried to kill my friends and me in the chamber of demons beneath the city. I knew now that any warmth Celeste had was fake, a ruse to win everyone over. I’d been such a fool for falling for her hugs and nice words, but it still stung a little that she was gone.

  “I don’t believe for one second that this isn’t another one of Dorian’s outlandish schemes at work,” Du Lac said. “I’ve never seen such a disgraceful excuse for a nobleman. His poor mother was such a classy, elegant woman, too.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek. Dorian’s most recent scheme had involved not telling me I was his niece, letting King Gregory expose me as a fraud, and allowing me to be tortured by prince Alexander in the kingdom’s forum. My friends had saved me, and even thought we’d barely survived the confrontation with Celeste, we’d saved Reverie, for now. I still held onto a smoldering anger that Dorian had used me, and yet I couldn’t help but feel a strange sort of loyalty towards him, which may have been the source of the deep-seated indignation I felt when Du Lac insulted him. It wasn’t as if Du Lac was the epitome of grace and honesty either.

  “Wynter, Lady Rosewood.” Du Lac spat my name and newfound title like they were poison. “What a joke.”

  “I’m as surprised as anyone, Professor,” I said, crossing my fingers in my lap. “I’d have never guessed I was Guinevere’s daughter, but I’m told the resemblance is uncanny.”

  Du Lac’s nose wrinkled as if he’d just discovered me in a garbage pail, which I’ll admit wasn’t above me. The mages throw out so much good stuff, it was usually worth getting my hands dirty. I’d spent most of my life in the Scraps, and my initial welcome to the floating city had been less than warm at first. But I was Guinevere’s daughter and Dorian’s niece, and snobs like Du Lac were just going to have to get used to it.

  The headmaster’s scowl deepened. “Regardless, if you do anything out of line, I will have you expelled. If I had my way, you wouldn’t be even allowed within these walls, but because the rest of the Council agreed to your admittance, I don’t have much of a choice. But I’m not going to make apologies for doing my job. I have to keep all the students safe, after all. Our policies have always been firm: no special treatment for noble families.”

  “I don’t expect special treatment, or an apology,” I said, reaching for my sword and pulling it toward me. He frowned as the blade scraped against the wood. “I don’t expect anything at all.” I stood to leave, but Du Lac coughed when I reached the door and I turned back to see him smirk.

  “I’m told Prince Christopher will be arriving to speak with you sometime this afternoon,” Du Lac said. “Try not to ruin the Academy’s good name when he’s here.”

  Kit was here? Why did he want to talk to me? My stomach lurched as I pulled the door open.

  “Thank you, Professor,” I said.

  Du Lac waved me away, turning back and shuffling through a pile of papers on his desk, like he couldn’t get rid of me quickly enough. Once I left his office, I let out a breath and relaxed my shoulders. I’d survived Du Lac. Now, I just had to survive everyone else. I buckled the sword belt around my waist, feeling Lucian move from my shadow and into the blade.

  I felt safer with the weapon at my side. Lucian had saved Alexander and me from what would have been a fatal fall from Reverie, and also helped us fight Celeste, but freed demons were still forbidden in the magical city. Hundreds of them were safely contained in magical objects mages relied on for their power, and thousands more were at this moment holding Reverie in the sky, but I had no doubt if Du Lac or the other professors found out Lucian was roaming around the halls of the Academy, they’d lock him in a jewel and take him away from me.

  When I turned the corner, Viviane and Alexander were waiting for me. Despite Du Lac asking just for me, Viviane and Alexander had insisted on accompanying me to the headmaster’s office. Alexander stood beneath one of the Academy’s crystal windows. The sunlight drifted in and caught in his hair, making the gold shine. His blue eyes seemed nearly silver in the light. Not for the first time, my breath caught in my throat as I gazed at the sixth prince of Reverie. He was so handsome that my stomach tied itself in knots every time I saw him.

  Viviane tossed her dark hair over her shoulder and narrowed her green eyes. It was a look full of noble arrogance, but I was glad to see it. In the past few weeks, Viviane had learned that her entire life had been a lie. She hadn’t been the first-born child of Frederick and Eleanor, Baron and Baroness of Sherrinford. Instead, she was just a human child, taken from the Scraps as a baby because Eleanor had mistaken her for me. That couldn’t be an easy realization to live with.

  “So you’re good?” Viviane asked.

  “More or less,” I replied. “Du Lac isn’t happy I’m here.”

  “Du Lac isn’t happy anyone is here,” Viviane replied.

  “At least, I’m used to Du Lac. Kit wants to talk to me, too,” I said.

  “Really?” Alexander asked.

  We turned down a corridor that went outside to the gardens and the sparring ground. I couldn’t help but notice how several of my classmates openly stared as we walked past. Becoming Wynter, Lady of Rosewood, had simultaneously changed so much and nothing at all. It had done nothing to dispel the rumors. If anything it was worse. I was so many things now; the girl who fell; the girl who whispered to herself; who’d been attacked by demons on multiple occasions; who’d been whipped by Alexander and exiled by the king, and escaped my own sentencing, only to end up back at the Academy, walking with Vivianne and Alexander like we were all friends, which I guess we were, now.

  And despite my new title, I still hadn’t earned my place back at the Academy. Not really. I’d cheated my way in the first time with a bit of mage tech. The second time, I’d been accompanied by a free demon; a thing so rare and unexpected none of my teachers had suspected it. The stain of public whipping ran deep. The scars had healed almost immediately, and even the old ones I’d received from my uncle Gabriel seemed less sharp than before, muted somehow. But I knew the king wasn’t finished with me. I’d been dreading our next meeting, but he’d gone back to the palace almost immediately after the botched punishment. Alexander had returned my mother’s charm to him, but I knew he couldn’t open the chamber again without my blood. Now, suddenly, we were at war with Aubade. It would only distract him for so long.

  ***

  A few hours later I had my audience with Kit. I curtsied and averted my eyes, like I’d been taught. I kept the position for a few seconds, counting them out in my head. My knees trembled beneath the voluminous skirts of my purple gown, but at least the layers meant Kit wouldn’t see. We were in a spare apartment on the top fl
oor above the ballroom. The ceiling swept upwards into the rafters like an upside-down boat. In one corner was a four-post bed, shrouded with thick veils.

  Kit saw my eyes dart towards it, and he smirked as the realization that we were alone in his private chambers brought a blush to my cheeks.

  “Your Royal Highness.” As I spoke, my throat strained against the amethyst choker I wore. “What a pleasant surprise.”

  I’d cleaned myself up as nicely as I could for my first day back at school—even putting on my long-neglected corset—in the hopes of making a good impression. I needed to look like an ingenue, Viviane said. An innocent, young woman. Not at all like the mage who’d destroyed a large portion of the forum with my mother’s magic. For our first day back at school, Viviane had demanded I dress according to my station, though I didn’t see the point. I would have been more comfortable in muted tones so I could disappear into the throng of brightly colored mage garb.

  Prince Christopher, called ‘Kit’ by his brother and those who he deemed pretty enough, sat ten feet away in a small parlor area, with a couch and low table. He was an elegant-looking man with high cheekbones, sly blue eyes, and hair that looked as if it was spun from gold. I thought—quite suddenly—that Kit was an exceptionally handsome man, and Alexander would look a lot like this when he reached his mid-twenties. My face warmed again, hopefully concealed by Viviane’s expertly applied cosmetics.

  “Have a seat,” Kit smiled disarmingly, gesturing to the single chair across from him.

  I squeezed myself between the wooden handles until I felt the soft upholstery, carefully spreading my skirts around me. Sweat was already gathered at the base of my spine; sticky and uncomfortable, held in place by the fabric of my corset.

  “You’re looking very lovely today,” Kit said.

  “Thank you, Your Royal Highness.”

  Kit reached for a decanter, filled with an amber-colored liquid. He poured out two glasses and handed me one. I took it and tried to replicate how Dorian always held his wineglasses. Kit settled back against his chair and took a sip. I feigned taking a sip of mine but instead let the wine brush against my lips and didn’t swallow. Even so it burned against my tongue. Would the king poison me? Probably not. But I wasn’t taking any chances.