“All right?” he asked.
“Yes, and you?”
“Me?”
“Why did you fight that man?”
He frowned. Did she not know why?
Dyna tilted her head, her knowing green eyes searching his. Oh. She had understood what Garik said, but she didn’t understand why he fought him. Cassiel didn’t either. He had been so angry that he wanted to hit him and keep hitting him until he couldn’t lift his arms.
“It’s of no concern,” He took a sip from his mug and nearly spat it out at the sweet fermented taste. “Excuse me, what is this?” he asked a barmaid passing by, lifting the flagon.
Her brow creased as though she was not sure what he was asking. “That is mead, milord. Our finest.”
“I requested water.”
“Oh … Father thought it a jest.”
“It was not.”
“Sorry, sir. I’ll see to it.” She curtsied and hurried off.
“I don’t care for mead either,” Dyna said. “I’m not fond of the taste.”
It wasn’t the taste that bothered him. His head was already pounding from the little he sipped. Celestials didn’t drink. Allegedly, it sullied their sanctity, but he suspected it was because they couldn’t hold it.
Strangely, his bond with Dyna also became muddled. Was it because of the mead?
Zev returned with the same meal and ate heartily between chugs of the drink. He enjoyed it well enough so Cassiel decided to try it again. Letting the mead linger on his tongue, he found it crisp, with hints of honey. His face flushed as the mead quickly worked its way through him. It left him feeling lightheaded, and the Blood Bond faded further. It was thin. Wrong.
He didn’t like it.
The part of him that wanted nothing to do with the bond was relieved to be free of it, but the rest of him detested the feeling. It left him apprehensive and sore as though the bond itself was warning him that something was wrong with Dyna. A fading or broken bond meant death, but she was right in front of him, alive and well. He had to fight the urge to reach across the table and take her hand to ease his worry.
Cassiel shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts and continued filling his mug. Between him and Zev, they drank two more flagons of mead. By the end, he was swaying in his chair, floating on a cloud of euphoria powerful enough to dull even his worries.
He lazily rested his chin on a hand, peering at Dyna through his blurry vision. “Why do you fear to be alone?”
“Leave her be,” Zev slurred. “She has suffered things you couldn’t imagine.” He offered Dyna a lethargic grin and gave her head a clumsy pat.
Cassiel snorted into his mug. “Haven’t we all?”
“You’re a condescending bird…” Zev garbled. He lifted the flagon. “Here. Have another drink. May it mend your terrible manner. It’s much needed.”
“Do not condescend—” Cassiel lifted a hand to point at Zev only to knock his mug over and mead spilled across the table. Dyna scooted her chair away before it poured on her lap.
Zev snickered. “You’ve made a mess, Your Highness!”
Dyna shook her head. “You’re both drunk.”
“Oh, aye, and I like it!”
Cassiel snorted, “I suppose I do as well.”
“I thought it was against Celestial faith to drink. Your brother would have a fit.” Zev sat straight in his chair with a stern expression and spoke in Prince Malakel’s self-important voice, “You have dishonored the Soaraway family!”
Cassiel leaned back in his chair and laughed at how well Zev mimicked him. But his laughter died away and he dropped his head in his hands, feeling sick. Not because of the mead but because it occurred to him Malakel was right. He was always dishonoring his family. Be it from drinking or existing.
“You are irrelevant. When you are gone, no one will care to remember you.”
With a bitter smirk, Cassiel poured himself another drink.
Cheers.
Chapter 36
Dynalya
With great effort, Dyna steered her inebriated companions through the crowded taproom and up the stairway. It took three times as long because they kept tripping over their useless feet, stumbling into each other and laughing. She was exhausted by the time they reached the second floor. Her steps faltered at the dark hallway, the hanging lanterns casting eerie shadows on the walls. The window at the end of the hall was black with the night outside.
Dyna followed behind Zev and Cassiel as they staggered along to their room. She unlocked the door with shaking fingers, and the hinges creaked as it slowly opened.
Darkness waited inside.
She stopped short at the threshold, her heart pounding as goosebumps prickled up her arms. Cassiel and Zev wobbled into the room, dropping their packs on the floor with heavy thuds. Both headed for the small bed set near the door. They flopped on it together, and the wood base groaned under their weight. They complained about the other being in the way, elbowing and kicking to claim space.
A lantern rested on the nightstand next to the bed. She took a deep breath, ran inside the dark room, and quickly lit it. As soon as a soft light illuminated the space, it loosened the threads of fear that never left her.
The room was a decent size. The bed was set against the wall and across from it were large double windows with the shutters closed. Beside it was a matching armoire with brass knobs. A folded screen divided the space, hiding the chamber pot and bath. She opened the shutters to let in the moonlight, but an adjacent building blocked most of the view, leaving only a sliver of the lake below.
The room soon filled with a symphony of soft snores. Zev slept facedown, hanging half over the bed. His messy hair stuck to his face, leaving only his scrunched lip visible. The Prince slept on his back at an angle with his legs resting over Zev’s butt. Dyna stifled a giggle, wishing to have a portrait of the spectacle they made. She was glad to have witnessed Cassiel laugh, and banter with Zev. It was nice to see for once, even if he was drunk.
After pulling off their boots, she covered them with a spare sheet. Then, she picked up the paper bundle of her new clothes and went behind the folded screen. Behind it was a large metal basin filled with bathwater. She blushed at the thought of bathing in the same room as Zev and Cassiel. But they wouldn’t wake anytime soon, and the screen was solid enough for privacy. Dyna carefully removed the emerald dress and hung it over the screen. She stroked the beautiful stitching of flowers and vines along the hem. Never had she worn something so fine.
She stepped into the tub and sank into the tepid water, sighing as it soothed her sore feet. Her head rested against the edge of the basin as she smiled to herself. It had been a good day. Cassiel could be condescending and cold, but sometimes it was interrupted by snippets of kindness. The obvious embarrassment at catching himself made it all the more charming.
Dyna stayed in the bath until the water grew cold. Once dried, she picked out a new chemise made of soft linen. The armoire contained spare blankets she used to make herself a spot near the bed. She laid down on her back and watched the shadows of the lantern sway on the ceiling.
It reminded her of her bedroom back in North Star. How was Lyra doing? Was she all right? Was her grandmother in good health? Dyna sighed, wishing to see them.
Zev mumbled something indiscernible and rolled over. The movement caused Cassiel to slide off the bed. Dyna scuttled out of the way before he dropped heavily where she’d been lying.
Cassiel groaned. His sticky eyes blinked open, and he sat up. He picked at the buttons of his coat but his fingers wouldn’t coordinate.
“Here, let me.” She laughed softly and unbuttoned it for him.
He shrugged it off and his wings spread wide, the black feathers casting patterns on the wall. He peeled off his tunic next. She quickly looked away but couldn’t help stealing a peek at his sculpted body. He stretched his arms behind his head. Lean muscle tightened along his biceps, and the warm glow of the lantern fell over the dips and planes of
his firm torso. Face on fire, she pulled her gaze down.
Cassiel yawned and laid out on her makeshift bed, wings settling on his back like a sleek blanket. She remained sitting beside him, not sure what to do. He took her bedding, and there was no room on the bed with Zev.
“Why do you fear to be alone?” he asked again, his soft words heavily slurring.
An embarrassed flush rose to her face. “Only when it’s dark.”
“You fear the dark?”
She looked up at the writhing shapes swarming the ceiling. “It’s not the dark I fear, but the things that may lurk within it.”
Cassiel squinted through one eye then rolled onto his side and lifted a wing as though to invite her in. She fought the blush rushing to her cheeks. Surely, that was not his intention—
He grabbed her arm and yanked. She fell with a yelp against him, and he covered her with his wing. It was warm. Soft as silk. And much too close for her comfort.
Dyna’s heart caught in her throat. “C—Cassiel.”
“There.” He sighed in content. His breath trickled down her neck, still wet from her damp hair, sending a nervous shiver through her. He brought an arm around her waist and pulled her close, holding her hot cheek against his bare chest. “It’s odd … why do you put me at ease?”
Dyna was too startled to speak. She tried to calm the wild gallop of her heart, but she failed.
“So long as I’m with you… you have nothing to fear …” he mumbled, his words thick and slow on his tongue as sleep pulled him. “I’ll protect you from the dark and the shadows. My blood proved I can.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll slay your demon …”
“What?” she breathed. Discomfort replaced itself with bewilderment. She leaned her head back to look up at him. “Your father said that your people could do no such thing anymore. That your sanctity had diminished.”
“It is true, but only for those who have taken human lives …” he mumbled. “I have not.”
She widened her eyes. “Why are you telling me this now?”
His brow furrowed. “For once, I realize I’m not as sullied as they led me to believe … I have the ability to do something that many others cannot do. Perhaps there is a reason for my being here, in this world …”
He peered at her sleepily, and again she saw the makings of a smile on the edges of his mouth. A feeling rose in her chest, light, and airy. Wistful. Cassiel’s hope. It was new, but raw and so frail as if he feared wanting it.
And Dyna realized then it was because others told him he didn’t have the right to a thing such as hope. They didn’t allow him any happiness. All because he was half-human. Her eyes welled in anger. She regretted not throwing that fig at Malakel’s face.
But Cassiel barely survived the Other. The Shadow would be too much for him. Too vicious and merciless. She couldn’t ask him to fight it for her.
“There is a reason for your existence,” she said. “But not to fight the Shadow.”
“But I can—”
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
“Do you not wish … to return home?”
“More than anything, but I can’t involve you in this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Cassiel scoffed and shook his head. “You are the most incredulous person I’ve ever come across, maddening even …” The way he was looking at her made her heart do all sorts of flips. “But I find I do not mind it in the least.” His hand rose and brushed the hair from her face, faintly trailing over her cheek, leaving behind a tingling trail on her skin. “You have beautiful eyes,” he mumbled as his own slid closed, his breaths deepening. “They remind me of …”
“Of what?” Dyna whispered.
His only response was a faint snore.
She smiled, well aware of her heated face. He liked her eyes? What had gotten into him? He had never said such things to her before.
Cassiel held her captive beneath his arm so there was nothing to do other than watch him sleep. His features were smooth of any irritation, long dark lashes kissing his cheeks. He looked serene, happy even.
It wasn’t often he let her get this close. Reaching out tentatively, Dyna brushed her fingers along his sleek black feathers. She traced the outer edge of his wing. Carefully, lightly, moving over the margins to where the wing met his back. She trailed her hand over his shoulder layered in muscle, fingertips stroking his smooth jaw. A current pulsed where they touched, fluttering in her stomach.
Whatever this energy was, it didn’t feel wrong.
Ignoring her blush, Dyna closed her eyes and settled on his chest. She listened to his steady heartbeat as hers slowed to match his rhythm.
At times it was a difficult thing to believe Cassiel was real.
He was starlight, and wonder, and questions without answers. But she was willing to wait to uncover them.
His soft breathing lulled her, chasing away all her fears. One day she would have to face the shadows. But at this moment in his arms, it was the furthest thing from her mind.
She slipped into a peaceful sleep with his soft feathers against her cheek, and his scent lingering in her dreams.
Chapter 37
Lucenna
Lucenna woke up in a strange place with a foul headache. She moaned, pressing the heels of her palms against her pulsing skull. It was equally unbearable as the hard bed she laid in. Someone had graciously provided her with a coarse blanket and an itchy straw mattress. A spike of alarm went through her at finding herself in an unfamiliar house. It was small and dark, the fireplace providing some light. The window shutters were closed, but she sensed that night had fallen.
Three little girls peeped at her from behind the footboard with wide curious eyes, whispering to each other.
“She’s pretty.”
“I like her hair.”
“Is she to be our new mama?” the youngest one asked.
Lucenna glowered at them, and they giggled.
“Father,” the oldest one called over her shoulder. “She’s awake.”
There was shuffling from the other side of the room. The ferryman rose from his table and approached.
He handed her a cup of water. “How are you feeling, lass?”
“What happened?” She sat up. Her vision spun, and she gripped the bedpost to keep from keeling over.
“You lost your footing on the shore and hit your head. The man helped me carry you up the hill to my home.”
“The man?” she hissed, recalling Commander Von’s last words before he struck her. “He’s the one who rendered me unconscious!”
“Did he?” The ferryman frowned skeptically. He hadn’t seen it, his back had been turned.
Lucenna stood, swaying on her feet. “I need to leave Corron immediately.”
“Rest. You can’t go out now. The Azure Guard patrols increase at night.”
“I cannot be here. Please take me out of this city. I must leave tonight.”
He sighed. “Forgive me, lass. I cannot risk it. If I’m detained, who will care for my daughters?”
She glanced at his little girls quietly listening. A layer of freckles sprinkled their cheeks. Their unkempt blonde hair was tied back in braids, and they wore clothes too small.
“I work from sunup to sundown,” he said, exhaustion and sadness weighing on him. “I hardly have time to spend with them. I walk out that door with a prayer to the Gods to protect them for me while I’m gone, but I know better than to ferry the waters at night.”
“There’s no help for it then, I’ll find my own way out.” She had to risk using more magic. With an invisibility spell, she could sneak out the front gates. But how close was the nearest Enforcer? Lucien would know.
“There are your belongings,” the ferryman said, pointing by her feet. He had set her satchel against the bedpost. A sack laid on top of it.
“What is this?”
“Is it not yours? The man said it was.”
Lucenna grabbed the sack, hearing the
jostle of coins inside. It was full of gold. Why would the commander give her gold?
She smacked a hand over her chest where the weight of the Lūna Medallion once rested. It was gone.
“No!” she screamed, making the girls flinch. “Where is it! Where is my medallion!”
Rage and anguish surged her Essence forward in an aggressive wave. Its effervescent glow radiated out of her skin, casting a purple hue in the room. Electricity crackled around her, charging the air as an unnatural wind howled through the ferryman’s house, creating a violent vortex. His daughters screamed and cowered behind him as furniture crashed across the room. Essence spilled from her in a thick mist, crawling across the floor and up the walls.
“What medallion? I didn’t see one!” he shouted desperately, clinging to his children. “I swear it! Please don’t hurt my family!”
Lucenna quickly reined in her emotions, dissipating her magic in a puff of smoke. She slumped back on the bed, dropping her head. “Be at ease. I mean you no harm.”
Commander Von.
He must have stolen it. He paid her far more than the value of the medallion was worth, but not what it was worth to her. Lucenna scowled at the glittering coins scattered across the room. She didn’t want his filthy money.
Oh, but he will pay.
At dawn the next day, the residential street outside the ferryman’s house was quiet. A few people ambled about, heading to their daily business. The rosy sunlight gleamed on the rooftops at an angle, casting the homes in the shade. Lucenna breathed in the crisp air, preparing herself for the day.
“Are you sure about this, lass?” the ferryman asked from his doorway. He held the sack of gold unsurely.
“Yes, it is yours. Take it as a pardon and my thanks for your help. As well as your silence.” She held his gaze. “We never met.”
He nodded. “As you say.”
“You must leave this place.” She was sure the Enforcers would come, and they would track her to his home first. “Tell no one of your newfound wealth lest they try to rob you. There is enough gold there to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” She glanced past him at his sleeping daughters curled in the bed together. “Buy an estate. Hire housemaids to mind it, and a nursemaid to mind the needs of your children. Pay well for their education and teach them to be strong. In this world, women need to be.”
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