Essence of the Throne (Shadows of the Crown #2)

3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Caspian

I follow Ariella through the winding corridors, my arm throbbing with each step. The wound isn’t as deep as she believes, but it stings like a bitch. I can’t shake the image of that… thing we found in the library. What was it? What has my father done?

Ariella moves with purpose, her steps quick and sure. I notice the tension in her shoulders, the way her finger taps against her blade—a nervous habit, I’ve surmised. She’s on high alert, scanning every shadow we pass.

The little wraith cares for me. The thought lightens my souring mood.

“You don’t have to worry so much,” I tease, trying to get something from her. I’m fucking tired of her ignoring her feelings and pushing me away as a result. “I am not going to keel over from a minor cut.”

She doesn’t turn, but I watch as her shoulders stiffen further. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not worried about you.”

I can’t help but smile. Even now, she maintains her prickly facade. But I saw the concern in her eyes…fleeting, but very much there .

We round another corner, and I find myself studying the graceful curve of her neck, the way her silver hair catches the dim light. She’s beautiful, dangerously so, and I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I know I should be more cautious, more guarded, but I cannot help the way my heart races when she’s near. Nor can I lessen the intensity of emotion under my skin, begging me to stay near her and keep her safe from anyone that would dare harm her.

I would do anything for her— anything .

That haunting discovery is a war I’ve been fighting since the moment I first saw her; the Silver Wraith, or loyalty to my kingdom? Somewhere deep inside, I have known the answer from that day in the training room, but it’s something I still refuse to acknowledge. It's far more difficult to accept the truth than it is to shove it to the back of my mind.

My eyes close for a moment as I picture the confident assassin that challenged the prince of Eldoria without a second thought. Fuck, she was beyond anything I could find words for.

As we near the healer’s wing, my thoughts drift to the tunnels, to the creature we encountered. What other horrors has my father unleashed? The wrongness I felt oozing from that thing…a deep shiver seizes my body. I’ve always known my father to be a harsh ruler, but this? This is something else entirely.

I clench my fist, wincing as the movement pulls at my wound. How long has this been going on?

I’ve been blind. Ignorant of the darkness festering at the heart of my kingdom. How many other atrocities has my father committed in the name of power? How many more of those things are hidden away in the tunnels beneath our feet? What in the Aether is he even doing to them?

I’ve always known politics was a dangerous game, especially for our family. But this goes beyond political maneuvering or whatever the fuck my father is doing with his essence.

This is a perversion of nature itself.

And yet, a small part of me whispers that perhaps there’s a reason. Maybe my father believes he’s doing what’s necessary to protect the kingdom. To keep us strong in the face of external threats…

But even as I form the thought, I know it’s a lie. There is no justification for what we saw in the library. No greater good that could come from twisting a human being into such an atrocity. We need answers, and this has put a whole new strain of urgency on my shoulders.

Getting my father to let me in his inner circle will be difficult, though I’m certain I’ve made progress already.

I’ve made a conscious effort to engage more with the ruling side of politics. Attending council meetings, offering opinions on trade agreements, showing interest in the day-to-day operations of the kingdom. It’s tedious work, but I can see my father’s approval growing with each passing day.

Varrick has appeared suspicious of my sudden interest, but the man has never been anything but a snake and I’ll not allow him to sabotage my efforts .

The king has even started inviting me to private dinners, just the two of us. We discuss matters of state, and sometimes, when the wine flows freely, he hints at greater plans for Eldoria’s future. But he’s still guarded, still keeping his deepest secrets hidden inside his sick fucking head.

It’s a far cry from my childhood, when I was content to spend my days training with the royal guard or exploring the castle grounds. Back then, the weight of the crown felt distant, abstract. Now it looms over me, a constant reminder of the responsibilities that await.

We reach the healer’s wing, and I lead Ariella to Elowen’s workspace, knocking lightly on the door. The healer greets us with a warm smile that quickly turns to concern when she spots the blood on my sleeve.

“Caspian! What happened?” She rushes over, her sage green eyes almost too wide.

I wave off her concern with my good hand. “It’s nothing serious, El. Just a minor mishap during training.”

Ariella snorts softly beside me, and I catch her eye. She raises an eyebrow, questioning my lie. I give an imperceptible shrug. No need to worry Elowen with the truth—most of it, anyway.

“Well, let’s take a look, shall we?” Elowen says, already guiding me to a nearby cot. “Shirt off, please.”

I comply, wincing as I pull the fabric over my head. It sticks to my wound, the blood already drying, and I watch as the threads lift the already scarring skin off with a painful ease.

Tossing the shirt aside, I study the familiar space .

The room is lit by flickering candles, casting shadows on the numerous shelves filled with jars and bottles of various herbs and ingredients. A small table in the center holds a mortar and pestle, where Elowen spends much time mixing and grinding her medicines.

Having grown up together, I often found myself in this wing while she trained for the day she would claim the position as the royal healer. I’d question why in the Aether the healers would need to know anything about preparing healing concoctions when they could just weave their vital strand.

And each time she would tell me: all essence has limits .

I’ll never question it again—not even as a joke—after she saved Ariella’s life when she was poisoned with hallow. Without the saida, my conniving little assassin would have died.

Essence may have its limits, but I do not. My debt to Elowen will never be paid for what she did that night.

Clearing my throat, I lean back on my good arm and continue perusing. On the wall across from me hangs a tapestry depicting a lush forest, likely a way to comfort the injured that find themselves in this room.

Or perhaps it is just something nice to look at—not everything has a hidden meaning.

“Okay,” Elowen sighs, drying her hands with a clean towel before walking over to me. “This is going to—”

“Be cold, I know,” I deadpan, feigning outrage at her subtle jab in my ribs. She narrows her eyes before focusing on my arm once more .

“Perhaps I should just sew the skin together without any pain relief. See how funny you find that .” I chuckle and shake my head. Despite her words, Elowen’s hands are gentle as she cleans the blood from my arm and inspects what needs healing.

My eyes slide over to Ariella, who leans against the door while she glares at the woman next to me. She twirls a blade through her fingers, not seeming to pay any attention to the action.

What a captivating fucking specimen she is.

I run a hand over my mouth to hide a smile when my angel’s eye twitches, as if she’s fighting every instinct in her body to not slice Elowen’s throat right here.

The healer’s spine stiffens as she pauses her work and peers over her shoulder. She hums, repressing a smile and returning to my wound.

“It’s okay, El; she’s just jealous.” I study Ariella as she processes my words before running her tongue too slowly over her bottom lip.

“Is that so?” she challenges, pushing from the door and dropping her head back. “That would imply there’s something to be jealous of.” She pins me with a wicked look, her eyes saying more than her mouth ever will.

I fucking love this game.

She continues before I can reply. “I think your friend is wise enough to not touch what doesn’t belong to her. Isn’t that right, Elowen?” Ariella stops next to the shelves, her brows furrowing as she runs her fingers over the wilted plants at the top .

“Ariella,” I berate, remaining calm. Her brows snap up, the surprise of my tone evident in her unmasked reaction. “Fuck with anyone else, I do not care, but you will refrain with Elowen. She is off-limits to you.” Her jaw and fists clench, the white of her knuckles increasing with each second. I level her with an admonishing look, warning her to test me on this; I almost think she will before she exhales and mutters under her breath—something I’m sure is not her listing every way she would kill me if she could.

Elowen smiles as if this is amusing, and she has not just been threatened by the realm’s deadliest assassin. “That is correct, Ariella. You’ve nothing to fret over with me—the Angel would sooner fall from the sky before I ever approached Caspian in such a manner.”

Ariella’s eyes narrow as she continues to study the shriveled plants. “These herbs…are you not caring for them?”

Elowen glances up from my arm, her brow furrowing. “No, I am. Well, trying to —I’ve been having trouble keeping them alive lately. It’s odd.”

“Odd how?” Ariella presses, her fingers ghosting over the dried leaves.

Elowen sighs, applying a salve to my now closed wound before answering. Strange, I didn’t even feel her heal it. “It’s like they do not want to be alive. Of course, I've tried using my flora strand, but I’m so desperate I’ve resorted to mundane methods like watering them and providing sunlight. Nothing is working, and I can’t explain why.” She tosses my shirt at me before joining Ariella by the shelves and crossing her arms. “It’s affecting my ability to provide proper treatments, so if you have any ideas, I’m all ears.”

I watch as Ariella’s posture stiffens, her eyes darting to meet mine. There’s a silent communication between us—this isn’t a coincidence. I nod at the unasked question in her gaze, trusting her to decide how much to divulge.

She faces the healer, the intensity in her gaze enough to make most men fall to their knees weeping. And I’ll gladly be one of them if that’s how she wishes to be worshiped.

Ariella’s voice is low, measured as she asks, “How long has this been happening?”

Elowen scowls, considering. “It started gradually, maybe…three months ago? But it has gotten worse in the past few weeks.”

“And it’s not just these plants?” Ariella presses. “You’re having trouble with all your herbs?”

The healer nods. “Yes, even the hardiest ones are struggling. It’s like…” She pauses, searching for the right words. “It’s like the essence itself feels different. Wrong, somehow. I don't know how to explain it, but I can just feel it.”

I watch the exchange intently, trying to follow Ariella’s line of questioning. Where is she going with this? This is information we already know.

“Have you noticed anything else unusual?” Ariella continues. “Any changes in your essence, specifically?”

Elowen hesitates, her eyes darting between Ariella and me. “Well, now that you mention it, my vital strand has felt strained for some days. Like it takes more effort to access and control. I assumed it was just stress from all the extra work.”

Ariella nods, her eyes distant as if piecing together a puzzle. “And have you noticed any changes in the patients you treat? Anything out of the ordinary?”

The healer’s brow furrows deeper. “Come to think of it, wounds have been taking longer to heal, even with my assistance. And there’s been an uptick in strange ailments—things I’ve never seen before.”

I can’t help but interject, “What kind of strange ailments?”

The healer shakes her head and bites the inside of her cheek. “It’s hard to describe. Fevers that won’t break, inexplicable pain, hallucinations. Probably just a sickness floating around the city.”

Ariella taps a finger against her thigh, her eyes distant. I can practically see the wheels turning in her mind, connecting dots that I’m still struggling to see. I want to traverse every corner of her head and learn how she thinks—discover every little thing that makes her tick.

But that will have to wait as she nods at Elowen before stalking from the room, disregarding all formalities. Not that anyone in this room expected her to partake in such trivial matters. I mumble a thank you to my friend and move to follow Ariella, but the healer’s voice gives me pause.

“Caspian.” I peer over my shoulder and catch her hardened gaze. She’s nervous. “Whatever you two are planning…please be careful. I don’t know what’s happening, but the flora whisper things sometimes and the coming change is unmistakable.” She sh ifts on her feet, seeming torn before skipping forward and pulling me into a tight hug. My arms instinctively wrap around her small body—a comfort I’ve needed after this last week. She buries her face in my shoulder and mumbles, “Just be careful. You are an impulsive idiot, and I’ll not have word of your death because of it.” She pulls back, gripping the sides of my arms. Her eyes flick over my shoulder so quickly I almost miss the awe that glimmers in their depths. “Stay with Ariella, Cas. She’s going to need you—but as stubborn as she is, do not leave her side until this is over. The realms’ survival depends on it.”

Elowen has always had impeccable intuition, though I've found those that possess the flora strand usually do. I somehow believe her claims that the flora whisper, which is strange as I've not felt such a connection to the land myself. Perhaps it is different for the strands in the elemental affinity.

I open my mouth to ask what she means, but someone clears their throat behind me and I jolt, spinning to find a composed assassin waiting against the wall. She’s too calm…it’s eerie. I give Elowen what I hope is a friendly smile before walking from the room and passing a still-waiting Ariella. Her steps are silent as she follows, but I do not need to look to know that she’s there. Her essence is like a beacon to mine—the longer I’m around her, the more aware I am of her presence.

Sometimes I’m certain I could locate her with a mere thought, but that’s a foolish hope. Such essence doesn’t exist.

I flex my fingers, the familiar tingle of my elemental affinity waits so patiently under my skin. The dual affinities— kinetic and aqua—have always come naturally to me, though the water and force often partake in a dance of power as they attempt to be my primary source of essence. It has been just those two my entire life, yet lately, I’ve felt…something else. A hint of darkness at the edges of my consciousness, elusive and intangible.

I shake off the thought. Now isn’t the time to dwell on strange sensations—especially considering how terrible I’ve felt recently. We have more pressing matters to attend to.

“Have you fucked her?” I’m so taken aback by the question that I pause in the center of the hallway. Ariella must have been close to my back as she immediately spins around my left side and walks backward, continuing our journey.

A soft vulnerability settles in her eyes, both of them studying me while awaiting an answer. If this woman has any insecurities, they certainly are not about me, so I break our stare and continue walking.

“Come again?” I ask, though I’m confident my ears heard her correctly.

“Have. You. Fucked. Her.” Ah, she’s wondering if there’s more than platonic history between Elowen and me.

“Who, exactly, are you referring to?” The tapping against her thigh stops as her palm clenches around the hilt of her blade. It is too easy to provoke her. As entertaining as it is, part of me wonders if her reactions indicate her lack of experience.

Not with men, much to my absolute dismay, but with feeling anything other than anger .

From what I know of Ariella’s past, I suspect she’s never truly had the chance to experience these softer emotions. Lust, sure—her preternatural beauty would ensure no shortage of admirers, even if the color of her hair gives them an immediate lock on her identity. But love? Genuine affection? Those are foreign to her, as if she’s never allowed herself to be vulnerable enough to feel them. She made that very clear the two times we’ve been intimate.

And I want to be the one to show her what she’s missed

I want to break down those walls she’s built, to see the woman beneath the mask. To be the safe harbor where she can let her guard down, even if just for a moment.

But I know pushing too hard will only make her retreat further—I need to continue unraveling her slowly. So I play along with her game. For now.

“Ah, you mean Elowen,” I say, feigning realization. “No, I have not fucked her , angel.” It’s difficult to hold in my laugh, but I manage.

“Don’t angel me. You looked quite cozy together.” I watch as she blatantly avoids my gaze, and I cannot help but chuckle this time.

That pisses her off, if the grinding of her teeth indicates anything. Stubborn fucking woman.

“Even if I wanted to, angel ,” I tease, turning right down the hallway that houses our rooms, “she wouldn’t ever agree. But lucky for you, you seem to be the only thing I can ever think about. ”

She scoffs hard and runs that fucking tongue across her lip. Angel, what I wouldn’t give if she’d just allow me another bite. “And why wouldn’t she agree? Does she know of some secret of yours I’m not yet privy to?”

“You truly are the most obstinate woman I’ve ever met,” I mutter under my breath before doubling my stride and pivoting to a halt just in front of her. She rolls her eyes dramatically, moving as though she’s about to step around me. I catch her shoulders as I close the distance between us and shove her face into my chest. She stiffens at the forced hug, but doesn’t move to push me away.

Actually, she remains completely still.

I rest my cheek on her head and savor the feel of her silky hair as I run my fingers through it idly. “I haven’t fucked Elowen because she prefers the company of women.” Did her muscles relax a bit, or is that just wishful thinking? “I have indeed fucked other women—” I grunt as she half-heartedly attempts to leave my arms. I hold tighter. I need her to hear this—because as much as it frustrates me that all my other declarations have gone un-believed, I will continue to reassure her of my truth even after she begins to trust it. I’ll tell her every day, if that’s what she needs. “But they are in the past. You are my future, Ariella, and I don’t fucking care how much you fight or deny it. You’re mine. Every other woman in both realms is but a drop in the ocean compared to you.”

She pokes at me again, and this time I release her. It’s so difficult not to smile when I look into her eyes. The feeling is beyond euphoric and so right that my body lights up at the simple action.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because you continue to push me away and fight every single feeling you have telling you to do otherwise. Crazy or not, you’re it for me and I will not allow you to forget it.” I lean forward and press a light kiss to her nose before turning toward my room. “Now, care to share what brilliant deduction you made back there?”

She remains silent for a moment, her eyes fixed ahead as I close the door to my room. Just as I’m about to prompt her again, she speaks. “The Palmluvela.”

I blink, caught off guard. “The what now?”

“The Palmluvela,” she repeats, her tone impatient. “They reside in the Verdantia Forest, not far from Ebonwood, I believe.”

I’ve never heard of them, and I feel clueless as I wait for her to continue. But she doesn’t. “Why are they of importance?”

She sucks on her teeth before dropping into a chair. She looks exhausted. “Their people are made of the strongest living affinities. They specialize in flora and fauna. Marek sent a student there once to train, though I haven’t seen them since. Said the child was some sort of prodigy with how potent their living essence was.” Something unsettling festers in my abdomen. “Whatever—that’s not important. All I know is they consider themselves one with the realms, and I think they could help us.”

“Okay,” I breathe, dragging the word out.

I sit with the idea for a moment, mulling over the implications. A community of powerful living affinities, hidden away in the Verdantia Forest …

It could be exactly what we need. But something doesn’t sit right.

“How did Marek know about them?” I question, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice. “And why haven’t I ever heard of them?”

Ariella’s eyes close as she shrugs and leans her head against the back of the cushioned chair. “He has his sources. And they’re not exactly common knowledge—they prefer to keep to themselves.”

I nod to myself, shifting on my feet. “And you think they could help us understand what’s happening with the essence and balance?”

“It’s possible,” she says, her fingers drumming against the arm of the chair. “At the very least, they might have knowledge we lack. Their connection to the realms is…unique, I’m told.”

I pace the room, considering our options. If she believes this is our best chance at answers, I will not doubt her. But it means I will need to leave the castle for a time—something I’m not very comfortable with. I could lose all the influence I’ve gained with the king, but I also will not have her venturing through the Verdantia Forest alone. Especially to a place neither of us knows much about.

A chill runs down my spine as I recall the tales I’ve heard of the forest. It’s said to be a place of ancient magic, where the veil between realms grows thin. Where time flows differently, and hasty travelers find themselves lost for years, emerging unchanged while the world has moved on without them .

Those may be mere stories, but there’s a reason people do not wander through those woods. The stories must have been created from somewhere.

“It won’t be an easy journey,” I say, voicing my concerns.

She nods, meeting my eyes once more. “I don’t expect anything my parents’ writing discussed to be easy.” She’s right. There was never a thought in my mind that whatever we were searching for would be as simple as scouring a few texts.

“What’s your plan, then? How do we find them?”

Her gaze hardens as if she wishes to fight whatever she found offensive in my words, but she holds back. “I don't need Marek to know anything yet, so I’ll need to pay a visit to an old friend .”

The way she said friend makes me think this will be far more than a pleasant visit across the city.