I cupped her face in my hands. “You may be right, but it doesn’t change what I need to do. The longer I avoid this, the worse it will get. I am leaving in the morning.”
Kalin put her hands over mine. Her touch sent a wave of heat through my arms. “I understand, but you need to make me a promise. You have to come back here at sundown every other day. It’s the only way I will know you are safe.”
“I promise. I will be here.” I kissed her again. Softer this time. Tenderly. The way you kiss someone when you really want it to matter. The first time I kissed her tonight, it was all about need and want. The fierce desire I felt for her deep down in my bones. This kiss was totally different. It was me saying everything I couldn’t get out in words. How much I cared for her. How much she meant to me. I would die to protect this girl.
I couldn’t say how long the kiss lasted. But when it was over, I was lying on the ground with her head on my chest. I stared into the night sky while she slept, running my fingers through her soft curls. I smiled each time she giggled in her sleep. She must have been having a great dream. I probably should’ve attempted to sleep, but there was too much on my mind. Everything Kalin had said about the fire court was true. I didn’t know if there was a trap waiting for me. Or if Valac had amassed an army to stand with him.
But I will not stand by idly while he destroys the world. I should have killed him long ago when I had the chance. I have to make up for my mistakes now. I will return to my home in the court of fire. And even if I stand alone, I will defeat him.
Chapter Four
Kalin
The night had passed too quickly. The moment we said goodbye, a dull ache formed in the pit of my stomach. I had a bad feeling about Rowan returning to the fire court. He hadn’t been there since his mother forced Marcus to tear off his wings. Prisma deserved what she had gotten. I just wish Rowan hadn’t been the one to end her. Had the other fire elementals ever learned the circumstances surrounding her death? I doubted it. Valac has had plenty of time to fill their heads with lies, gaining supporters for his army. We had no idea how much of the fire court already supported him.
During the night, Rowan told me he had depleted all of his energy trying to put out a massive forest fire. He had no idea how long it would take before he was back at full power. Or if he would need to go back to the mortal world and help the younger elementals. Was this all part of Valac’s plan? Was he trying to weaken Rowan before he returned to the fire court? My only solace was knowing Marcus insisted on going with him. The hounds were the strongest of all the fire elementals. If it came down to battle, he would protect Rowan.
As I approached the stone archway, I noticed a collection of elementals just outside the castle entryway. Thunder crashed in the skies while lightning flashed within the clouds. This didn’t look natural. Cheers rang out as I pushed my way through the crowd. Then I saw the reason for the uproar. My father stood in the center of the commotion with his hands raised toward the heavens. His long blonde hair was tied in the back, his pale skin visible under the sun’s rays. I could clearly see the new wrinkles beneath his lavender eyes. Had the other elementals not noticed how much he had aged?
All of my concerns washed away when I realized he was using his powers to control the weather. A sliver of hope grew in my chest. Had something changed overnight? Maybe I was right all along and he just needed time to recuperate. When I reached him, I threw my arms around his neck. “Dad, I can’t believe it. How are you feeling?”
His arm wrapped around my waist, but something was off. Dad was shaking. “I woke up this morning with a burst of energy. I just had to get out of bed and come outside.”
I pulled away so I could take a better look at him. Sweat pearled on his forehead, his eyes strained as he concentrated. His reaction reminded me of my training with Rowan. That was the day I tried to use too much power and ended up passing out right on the beach. Rowan told me that using too much energy could cause an elemental to go into a coma or even die. “Dad, you’ve been out here for a while.” A knot formed in my throat and I swallowed it down. “How about we go inside and get some breakfast?”
Dad ignored my concern. “Patience, my girl.”
When he reached into the sky again, his arm was trembling. He was going to hurt himself. Or even worse. I had to do something fast, but I didn’t want to make a scene in public. If I had, I would basically be confirming the rumors going around. I grabbed his other hand and focused. I had spent time over the last week training with Ariel. We had practiced power transformation. As I squeezed his fingers, a surge of energy shot down my arm, settling into our joined hands. When he jolted, I knew the power transfer was complete.
I quickly released his hand.
Within seconds the noise from the storm had ceased. Darkened skies melted away, brightening into a creamy blue. Dad raised his palms above his head. The clouds floated higher into the sky, allowing us to see beneath the mountains. For the first time, the woodland forests came into view. It was a rare sight for everyone to enjoy. Dad kept the castle hidden within a blanket of clouds—most of the time—for our protection. A shield from what, he never said. The crowd cheered loudly, some patting Dad on the back. It was obvious they were happy to see him. He was well loved by our court.
I tugged at his hand. “Come on, show’s over.” After a few more minutes, he was finally ready to go. We strolled toward a side entrance that few ever used. It was utilized mostly by Dad. As usual, two knights trailed us. Before Dad was kidnapped, his knights had allowed him private time—moments in the day when he could truly be alone. But after everything that happened, they now refuse to leave his side. They even stood outside his door while he used the bathroom, which I thought was overkill.
Unlike the grand foyer with its exquisite marble, the side entrance was simple gray brick with rusting wall sconces holding lit candles. The cold, musty air made me shiver as we made our way down the dank walkway. There was so much I wanted to say to Dad, but I needed to get him alone. I didn’t trust anyone to hear the concerns I had over his weakened power. Down here, everything echoed. The clicks of our shoes sounded more like an army when it was actually only four sets of feet.
When we finally reached Dad’s quarters, I turned to the two knights. “You can wait outside the door.”
They hesitated, as if they were afraid to take their eyes off their king. I imagined that they felt responsible for what had happened to him. But they weren’t the only ones fooled. No one could’ve imagined that Jarrod—the leader of his knights and trusted friend—was the traitor. As well as Dad had known him, he was unaware that Jarrod had children. Everything about Jarrod was a well-kept secret. Even now, I could tell Dad still hurt from the sting of his betrayal.
In my entire life, I had never wished death on anyone. But I was happy that Jarrod was dead.
Dad pointed toward the door and the knights bowed. The handle clicked when they exited the room. We were finally alone in his private space. Almost. His over-sized brown owl sat perched on a wooden post. Bright yellow eyes watched me. Dad ran his finger over the back of his head, the bird nuzzling in response. They had clearly bonded. The creature left me unnerved, but he also led me back to the castle when I was lost in the woods. It wasn’t until Dad was in recovery and moved back into his room that I learned the owl was his pet.
Dad’s relaxed demeanor made me feel like this was a good time to talk. “You have to be more careful.” I said, as he turned his attention to me. “You were struggling to control your power and I was afraid you might hurt yourself.”
Beneath the owl’s perch sat a silver box on top of a chest of drawers. Dad opened the box, pulling out a chunk of what looked like fresh red meat. He fed it to the bird. Blood dripped down his beak. Gross. “I know what you did back there, but it wasn’t necessary. I had it under control.”
There was no way he was okay. Why wasn’t he being honest with me? How could I help him if he refused to see what was right in front of him? “No, you di
dn’t. Your hands were trembling.”
“Trembling?” he repeated as if I had said a joke. “That doesn’t mean anything. I’m still recovering from the iron poisoning. Trust me, in a few days I’ll be as good as new.”
Dad put his arm around my shoulders, squeezing me closer. The sense of security that came from his embrace was instant—knowing I was safe and loved. Memories of him from my childhood flooded my mind. They were only dreams, but even then I knew his power was boundless. But those thoughts vanished when I wrapped my arm around his waist and I felt his ribcage. He had lost a considerable amount of weight—at least thirty pounds. He was saying all the right things, but the physical evidence was undeniable.
“Please Dad; tell me what’s happening to you?” I pinched his side for dramatic effect. “You’re losing a lot of weight and you’re obviously weak. I want to help you, but I don’t know what to do.”
He lowered his head, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know, sweetheart. In all my years, nothing like this has ever happened before.”
Fear strangled me. I could barely get the words out. “Are you…dying?”
“I don’t know.”
I was sick of feeling helpless. There had to be something I could do. If I was the akasha, as Dad believed I was, shouldn’t I be able to give him some of my power? Couldn’t I regenerate him or permanently transfer power to him? What was the point of being this all-powerful elemental if I couldn’t save my own father? “I need to learn more about these powers I’m supposed to have. There has to be a way to wake them up. Maybe if I had them, I could save you.”
“Don’t worry about saving me. If this is meant to be, it will be. But if you truly want to learn more about your powers, I have a possible solution.”
My eyebrows knit together. “What do you mean?”
“Our court protects the sacred texts. Within those documents, you’ll find all the records of our existence back to the creation of this world. Some of those books you’ve already read.”
Of course. I’d spent half my childhood reading those books, and then Dad would come into my dreams and explain anything I didn’t understand. I learned all about the formation of the courts, the decrees we lived by, and the systems we lived within. “None of those books mentioned akashas from the past.”
“Within those halls, we have many books and objects unknown to most of the elementals. Only the heads of the royal families can access the hidden areas. The knowledge within those books has been a well-guarded secret.”
This last week was a nightmare for me. I had tried everything I could think of to come up with a way to ignite my akasha powers, and all along he had the answer. “Why didn’t you tell me about the secret books before now? I’ve been going crazy trying to figure this out on my own.”
His voice turned stern as he replied, “You were meant to gain the knowledge once you ascended to power. Just telling you of their existence breaks our laws.”
More about the rules? The council took great pleasure in explaining the rules to me. I may have rescued Dad earlier if these so-called rules weren’t in place. “Will these books tell me how to turn my power on?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He sat down on the side of his massive bed. “Several of the previous akashas kept journals. You might find the answers you’re looking for in their words.”
I was dumbstruck. “You’ve never read them?”
“They aren’t in a language I understand.”
Oh this just gets better and better. “Okay, let me get this straight. There are books that may have the answers I need, but no one can read them?”
“An akasha can read them.”
An akasha who could access their power. Unfortunately, that wasn’t me. Frustration overwhelmed me, but I was out of options. “Please take me to these books.”
Chapter Five
Rowan
It had been nearly two years since I last stood outside the fire court castle. My last visit was one I would never forget. I was carried out on Marcus’s back—mutilated and close to death. I still have nightmares. Almost every night since, I see my mother watching with delight as my best friend was forced to tear off my wings. A punishment for not killing Kalin. But I wasn’t the only one who suffered. Marcus couldn’t deal with what he was made to do. He stayed away for over a year, trying to cope with his own emotions.
Although he went away, Marcus returned when I needed him most. Ariel had kept in contact with him, sending him an urgent message for help. He arrived in time to assist in Taron’s rescue, saving countless lives in the process. Unfortunately, we couldn’t save everyone. Many fire elementals—including Liana—were killed. Tensions with the air and woodland elementals are at an all-time high. I was determined to put an end to the turmoil by claiming the throne.
Marcus led me toward a portal at the base of the inactive volcano. The pathway took us inside the castle. We headed down one of the many dimmed hallways. I expected to hear the usual racket: screams from pleasure, screams from pain, or just general excitement. To my surprise, there was dead silence. The only noise I heard was the tapping of my leather boots against the black obsidian flooring.
I ran my fingers down one of the walls, still warm from the surrounding volcano. Instead of the normal smoothness, a layer of grime covered some areas. Glancing at my fingertips, I saw something I wasn’t expecting: blood. I stopped so I could take a better look at the wall. It was smeared with dirt, ash, and dried blood. I bent down and noticed more blood on the floor. “Check this out.” I said to Marcus, pointing out the splotches. “Can you tell how old this is or who it belongs to?”
Marcus approached the wall, taking in a long inhale. “It’s hard to say. Some of the blood is new. Other spots are older.” He moved farther down the hall, sniffing as he went. “It’s definitely from fire elementals. Multiple elementals.”
The battle with the other courts took place in our territory, but they never reached inside the castle. That meant something happened after the fighting had ended. A cold chill ran down my spine. Something told me Valac was to blame for this. I couldn’t come up with any other way to explain it. There had to be someone here who could tell us what went down. “We need to find the council members.”
Marcus nodded. “Let’s start with the throne room.”
“Agreed.”
My mouth fell open when we reached the entrance. The golden door was held on by only one hinge, blocking our way inside. It took both of us to pry the heavy metal out of the way. Once we reached the interior, I noticed the piles of ashes scattered all over the floor. The ashes of deceased fire elementals always returned to the eternal flame. Why were they still here? Marble statues that stood for thousands of years lay in broken pieces. The lava rock throne appeared to be intact, minus a few cracked steps. “What the hell happened?”
“I have no idea.” Marcus said, scratching the back of his neck. He looked as stunned as I felt. “But whatever it was, I’m glad I missed it.”
“Prince Rowan?” A weary voice called out.
I turned around. It was Xavier, one of Liana’s elected council members. He was an incubus. One of the few left in the world. He wore a tattered red council robe with gloves over his hands. An incubus could enslave mortals with a simple touch, making him one of the most dangerous of our court. His seduction didn’t work as well on elementals, but he could certainly influence us if he wanted.
The centuries-old incubus came toward me but stopped when Marcus moved to block his path. He was protecting me. Xavier cowered. Most elementals feared the hounds. They could be vicious killers when prompted…and sometimes even when not prompted. But Xavier was no threat. Mother had punished him long ago for tempting a mortal. He had not known that the mortal was one of her favorites. The mortal died under his seduction. In retribution, Mother mutilated his hands. I was told he hasn’t taken off his gloves in public for centuries.
I put my hand on Marcus’s shoulder, letting him know it was okay. “Xavier, what happened here?�
� I asked.
“Valac, your highness. He arrived with a group of followers after the fighting ended, demanding to be crowned king. The council rejected his claim, of course. He has no ties to the Djin bloodline.” Xavier nervously smoothed the loose blonde hairs that had escaped his low ponytail. “After he was denied, they started attacking everyone. Elementals ran away in every direction. I came back only yesterday and discovered what he had done.”
I clenched my teeth. Of course Valac was responsible for all of this destruction and loss of lives. I expected him to make a move, but I never thought he would take it this far. I had no doubt that he waited for Liana’s death, thinking he could claim the throne while the court was weakened. I was sure he was expecting that I would die from my injuries, leaving no one to stand in his way. I only wished I had been here when he was denied. Not just for the amusement of his rejection, but so I could have ripped his throat out with my bare hands.
“Were the other council members killed?” I asked.
Xavier looked away, tears welling in his eyes. “Only three remain.”
“What are we going to do?” Marcus asked.
This was so much worse than I had anticipated. And I went in expecting it would be bad. Now I would have to be the one to put it back together. The one they needed to lead. Was I ready for this? Under the circumstances, I didn’t think it mattered. We had finally reached the worst of the worst. The fire court could not continue to exist in constant turmoil. It was time to man-up. “Xavier, I want you to send out word to the remaining fire elementals. Tell them it’s safe to return to the castle.”
“Shall I announce your return?” Xavier asked.
I pressed my lips together. I wasn’t sure if they would see my return as positive or negative. They had been attacked by Valac, but what did they know of me? I had spent most of my life in the mortal world. They would only know whatever my mother had told them or whatever rumors they had heard. There was a good chance that they saw me as an enemy, but what choice did I have? “Yes, let them know I will address them once we have gathered.”
Fragile Reign (Mortal Enchantment Book 2) Page 3
