“It cannot be…” Nyx whispered, and kneeled to the white ice dragon before him. He reached around me for Ash’s cloak and yanked him down. Ash stumbled but kneeled. His mouth was slack, while his wide eyes looked at Avra.
“Dragon Lord,” Nyx said reverently, bowing his head. “I was not aware you were alive—” he seemed out of words as his eyes reached mine. “None of the scrolls or books in the Royal Archives has any mention of him surviving the cataclysm,” he hissed the last to me, seeming shocked and appalled that the information hadn’t been at his fingertips. Knowledge was my brother’s religion, and he believed to have mastered it.
“As it was my intention. After I was forced to end the lives of those who chose to break their vows and sought to destroy humanity, and after suffering the loss of my brothers of the temple I retired here. Looking over all and waiting for our time to come again.”
His deep voice boomed through the cave and what seemed like thousands of torches ignited all over, giving us the full view of the place in which we stood.
“The Holy Temple!” Nyx gasped standing. “It has been here, in the White Haunted Mountain, all along.”
My stunned eyes roamed the space I had visited a million times but never entirely saw. The temple was enormous, it spanned over a third of the mountain. We stood in the pavilion part of it, where large white quartz columns—that reached over two hundred feet tall—lined it in each direction. They mixed with the intricately carved walls of ice and stone that shimmered as though bursting with magic, the arches, and balconies on the floor above us. The tribal snowflake carvings found over the doors of our castle were also here, forming elaborate ice chandeliers that fell from the ceiling, ignited with magical flames.
My gaze returned to Avra, as he remained still. A satisfied and prideful smile rested on his lips. He seemed honored to show this to us.
“I have waited a long time for this moment, my princes.” He answered my thought, and my gaze moved behind him.
What resembled massive thrones—carved out of pure white Quartz—sat nestled towards the farthest wall in front of us, above the steps as though overseeing it all. The thrones of the Holy Dragons. Rows of pews sat before them, reminding me of the royal cathedral where mating blessings were performed.
This was a place of worship. The carvings surrounding us depicted the history of Dragon and Fae alike, since the beginning of the universe.
I was speechless. My eyes went to Nyx, who was touching one of the carvings on the wall. When he looked at me, his eyes shone with emotion. “Is there a library here? I would be honored to visit it.”
I smiled at my little brother and gripped his shoulder affectionately. He was special indeed.
“One day you shall, my prince.” The Dragon Lord answered him before his gaze shifted to our right, he seemed to repress a chuckle. Nyx and I frowned, our eyes following his.
Ash walked out of a corridor, while Ora held his hand. His hair was disheveled, and his shirt fell over his unbuttoned trousers. Ora pulled him down and kissed his lips passionately. Ash straightened, winking at her, and pushed his shirt back into his waistband, buttoning his pants. His fingers plunged through his short hair, brushing it. When the hell had my brother disappeared with her?
“Ash!” I hissed, mortified as he returned to our side. He grinned, standing next to me again and I dragged my hands down my face, taking a deep breath. This wasn’t the time, nor the place.
Avra lifted a hand motioning behind him, and our attention returned to him. “These thrones shall one day be filled again, that is the purpose of your quest, my princes,” he announced, and the words brought me back to why we were here.
“What happened to me during those two weeks, Dragon Lord?”
He moved closer. “You must find out for yourself. Commence your pursuit at once, for your destiny lies at the end of this road.”
I breathed, feeling the weight of his words. When I gazed at my brothers, I noticed the same look of determination in their eyes. I would not be alone in this journey. Nyx and Ash gasped as Avra suddenly pierced his skin and lifted his hand above us.
“Drink, my princes.” He ordered.
I stepped closer first and took hold of his finger, drinking the blood that dripped from his claw, showing my brothers what to do. Although shocked, Nyx approached next, eager to drink from the Dragon Lord, Ash drank last. We looked at each other. Our eyes briefly glowed as the dragon’s magic rushed through us becoming part of our cells. My brothers never had dragon blood before, as Mother only ever fed me from Avra, and once she became ill, I came to him on my own. They never knew. No one did.
Ash and Nyx’s astounded gazes were on me and I wondered how it felt for them. I took their hands and squeezed reassuringly, then looked at Avra. “We shall do as you request, my lord, no questions asked.” We bowed to him and turned on our heels.
“Princes!” he called, before we reached the entrance.
We turned to see the lights blow out once again until the Holy Temple was concealed in shadows. The Dragon Lord strutted towards us.
“There are many truths this journey will bring forth. You must all receive them with an open mind, but above all, an open heart.” My brothers and I exchanged a glance. “The road before you shan’t be safe or easy, and you must only take with you one thing. That which does not weigh you down, but lifts you, and lights the way.”
And with that, Avra turned and disappeared into the darkness.
“You shall never tell anyone you were here or that the Dragon Lord is still alive. He has trusted you with his life on this day.” Ora said, her delicate voice chiming around us and we bowed our heads.
“We swear.” My brothers and I answered in unison.
I walked through the west wing of the castle, reminiscing about the events of the day. Tomorrow, the Yaevastra orfay Bellirosmae would officially begin, bringing all fated together, and I would be gone on Avra’s mission. My gaze fell on the twilight flower I held in my hands, while my feet took me wherever they wished. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Avrielle’s room.
I opened the door, letting myself inside. The room was empty. She was busy with the palace’s event coordinator, finishing ceremony arrangements. With Mother being ill and asleep most of the time, these types of duties often fell on Avrielle. Luckily, celebrations were something she enjoyed, although maybe not this particular one.
I walked to her bed and reached for the nightgown that rested on it. Bringing it up to my nose, I inhaled deeply and sat on her bed. It smelled of fresh snow with a hint of flowers. A smile grazed my lips as I remembered her calling me a ‘pervert,’ this definitely qualified under that classification, yet I couldn’t help myself. Perhaps Mother was right. The time away from here could be just what I needed.
Placing the nightgown back on the bed, I rested the twilight flower on her pillow, accompanied by a handwritten note.
*
Avrielle,
*
I know that I have no right to ask anything of you. But before I lose you to another, I’d like to spend a night with you. You mustn’t fear, I only mean to feel you close, and hold you in my arms. I would never dare take away from you that which is not mine to take… that which is meant for your fated alone.
*
If you desire as I do, please join me in my chambers tonight, after midnight. If you don’t show, I’ll understand, but I’ll pray that you do.
*
Eternally yours,
K.
*
The soft material of my sleeping trousers brushed against my skin as I paced the length of my room. It was an hour past midnight, and Avrielle hadn’t come. I stopped before the vanity and looked at myself in the mirror.
The paleness of my skin was accentuated by the sheen of the night over my face and bare chest. My hair was a bit disheveled from running my hands through it so many times as I waited, and my heart tore from the realization that she wouldn’t come. What I had asked of her was wron
g in many ways. I had no right even to think she would agree. I had no honor for suggesting that to her, but I still wanted her to come.
I turned around and faced the door. Perhaps she had misunderstood my note and was waiting for me to go to her quarters. I walked to the door and opened it but stopped myself as the empty corridor stared back at me—I had sent my guards away for the night, so that no one would see her come. I looked towards the direction of her room, but there was no sight of her. Her light was off.
Maybe she wasn’t waiting for me.
It was possible she thought I meant to take advantage of her, and had decided to remain away. It was also feasible that she didn’t find my note at all, but one of her maids had, throwing it away after realizing how inappropriate it was.
I closed the door and walked towards the vanity. My hands dipped into the crisp cold water and splashed it on my face. The droplets ran down my skin while I stared at myself once again. What was I doing? How desperate could I be? I took a deep breath and resigned myself to her absence. Patting my face dry with the towel, I turned off the lanterns and got into bed, closing my eyes.
Sleep eluded me as the light of the two moons of winter shone through the window. I wasn’t sure how long it had been since I went to bed, but it seemed like an eternity without her in my arms. I closed my eyes again just as a noise came from the door. I sat up abruptly and watched entranced as Avrielle slowly walked towards me. The light coming through the window seeped through her silk robe, illuminating her body within. The curves of her waist, and hips, her breasts… the silhouettes danced against the fabric until she stopped before me.
We remained silent as her hands reached for the collar of her robe and pulled it down. She let it fall to the floor, leaving only the thin silk of her sleeveless nightgown to cover her body from me. Her nipples strained against the silk as she lifted the sheet and lay next to me. I moved back, giving her space, but she followed my body. Taking a settling breath, I rested my head on the pillow, and let my eyes bask in her.
The back of my fingers caressed her cheek as we held each other’s gazes. “I thought you wouldn’t come. I thought I had asked too much of you.”
Her lips closed around mine, and she slid closer until her body was intimately pressed against mine. “You haven’t asked enough, Kyr.”
“I can’t make love to you, Avrielle. You must remain pure for the man who wi—” she shushed me, placing her fingers on my lips and looked into my eyes. I wanted to be inside her more than anything in this realm, but I couldn’t fool myself. She wouldn’t open up to me, she wouldn’t truly feel me in her like her mate, and she wouldn’t alleviate my need. I couldn’t do that to her. I had already hurt her enough.
My lips closed over hers, kissing her deeply while my hands pressed her to me, taking in the feel of her soft body against my hard one. My leg slipped between hers, and I pulled her impossibly close. She moaned in my mouth as our bodies flushed against the other and I took comfort in feeling her like this, although the silk still stood between us. She relaxed in my arms while our lips moved together, and her hand cradled my neck, pulling me to her.
I couldn’t feel her, but that wouldn’t stop me from holding her.
I couldn’t taste her, but that wouldn’t stop me from kissing her lips.
I couldn’t have her as my mate, but that wouldn’t stop me from loving her for the rest of my life.
*
The rays of the sun filtered through the crystal as I stared at Avrielle in my arms, I smiled, seeing the true nature of her splendor.
Her lips were slightly parted, while the most endearing little snores that I had ever heard slipped through them, her hair was in disarray over the pillow, and she had managed to pull the covers to her side, but I was in pure bliss. She had spent the night in my arms, and there was no other feeling like it. My fingers played with her hair, tucking it behind her delicate pointy ears, and I reached for the silk hair band she had tied around her violet strands. Pulling on the ribbon, it came loose and fell in my palm. I lifted it to my nose and inhaled. It smelled like her.
I hid it under my pillow and kissed her neck. “Good morning, my Avrielle,” I whispered against her skin, and she moaned. Avrielle was going to kill me.
She stirred in my arms, and I held her to me. My lips closed on hers and began to move. Her hands gripped my arms as she woke up and her mouth danced with mine. Her hand slipped behind my neck and pulled me down, then continued over my chest as we kissed. Her touch was sensual and filled with need. I pulled away from her, kissing her forehead.
“You should return to your room before the guards come back. It’s still early enough that they are not around, so you’ll be able to leave without anyone seeing you.”
Melancholy filled her eyes, and I kissed her again, pressing my forehead against hers. “Everything shall be all right, Avrielle. After today, I want you to be happy and enjoy the love you will share with him. You shouldn’t think of me or feel guilty in any way. If you forget about me, which you probably will, it will be okay because the love you felt for me made me happy. This night together was everything to me, and I want you to know that, before you step through those doors and out of my life.”
I kissed her again, passionately, deeply and overwhelmingly slow, hoping it would seep through my bones, and she’d remain with me forever.
*
The leather sole of my boots slapped against the marble floors as my cloak dragged after me. Kah lead the way, silent and ready to defend me from anyone or anything. I took steeling breaths with each step, approaching the veranda where my king and queen waited for my brothers and me to arrive so that the festivities could begin.
As I turned the corner, Ash and Nyx fell into step behind me. Like me, they wore their ceremonial outfits and cloak. They were ice blue with silver thread embroidery along the neck and lapels, as well as the cuffs of our sleeves. The royal jewel-studded necklaces lay on our chests over our raw silk suits—each jewel depicting our accomplishments in battle. They held our long, snow-white fur cloaks, which hung from our shoulders. The edges of which were embroidered with a silver thread as well, and the magic of our royal blood buzzed over them.
These outfits were only used for official rites, and we had also worn them during the High Priests’ of the Order of the Druids wedding. Cynwrig and Brina had called upon my brothers and I once more to assist them, and it had been our honor to initiate the ceremony and strengthened our liaison forever.
I stopped at the double glass doors in front of the balcony, while Kah turned taking her place next to the king’s guards. I faced my brothers. “Are you ready? Today you become men and find the one who shall spend eternity with you.”
Nyx grinned, fixing his glasses and I could almost feel the excitement flowing through him. I chuckled and looked at Ash who seemed like he would throw up at any second. I hooked my arm around his neck playfully pulling him forwards. He grunted and pushed me away.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he murmured turning to the mirror to fix his cape and hair. “Let’s just get this over with, shall we?”
I nodded, and we faced Laurel as she approached us with our crowns. We lowered our heads for the maids to place the carved silver wreaths on our heads, and straightened. I took one more breath and released it slowly as Kah motioned the usher to open the doors for us. My brothers grasped my shoulders and squeezed firmly trying to provide support. I had told Father I wouldn’t be here today, but he had ordered me to come. I wasn’t sure how I would handle witnessing Avrielle be claimed by her fated, but I was the son of King Laeroth, next in line for the throne, and it was my duty to be here.
Ash, Nyx and I walked through the doors, and the crowd went wild. Mother stood beside Father, having just arrived before us, and we waved to our people. The whole kingdom was here to celebrate with us. My grandmother had made it a tradition that everyone should attend the Blooms Ceremony at the castle—to make it easier for fated to find each other once the ritual was perfor
med. If I was sincere, it was a beautiful experience to witness. Most couples did discover each other on this day. The remaining ones had a full year to find their mates, until their essences once again closed.
I looked at my kingdom before me and felt honor and pride like I never had before. Avra’s words returned to me.
“You shall be the next to rule over these lands. A king, the likes of which this realm has never seen…”
I hoped he was right. My gaze went to my king, and he smiled. I wanted to make him proud. I wanted to be better than he envisioned I would be. Everything I had done in my life had been to please him, and become the ruler he wanted me to be.
Father stepped closer to the handrail, and we all took our seats. The crowd quieted, waiting for him to speak. My treacherous gaze went to the terrace on the floor below us to my left, and I found Avrielle looking up. I offered her and her parents a head bow, pretending it hadn’t affected me to see her there, stunning while dressed in royal blue, shining like a queen, and waiting for the man who would take her away from me.
Father commenced his speech while my eyes roamed the bleachers below us, where the members of the royal court and nobles of our kingdom sat with their spouses, accompanying daughters and sons who would find a mate today. Dukes, lords, earls and every other member looked around them excitedly, waiting for the prestige and position it would give them to mix their wealth with that of their peers. It was a monopoly of sorts, only it was ruled by the Goddess.
Ash and Nyx stood as our king waved them closer and Ash gave his speech, officially initiating the celebrations and announcing it was their blooming year. The word had probably burned his tongue on the way out. I chuckled as Ash once again turned to sit behind me and made a gagging gesture. Mother discreetly smacked his arm as she repressed a laugh.
“Incorrigible,” she whispered to him.
The trumpets sounded, and the court’s sorcerer stood on the next veranda to our right. He raised his staff to the sky and recited the ancient words while the blooming women and men stood from their seats. The magic shot out of his staff towards the sky and bright sunrays traveled down, gleaming over those waiting to be paired. The magic buzzed around us as their gasps arose, their essences opening. A small smile grazed my lips but instantly disappeared as I remembered my experience. The trumpets sounded once more, and thousands of blue flower petals rained down from the roof of the castle into the courtyard.
Forgotten Kingdom (The Winter Court Chronicles Book 1) Page 10
