31. Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-One
Ariella
I shove Caspian into my room, slamming the door behind us as Gavriel flings it open again. I scowl, but wait for him to close it, my fingers flying through the motions of setting wards—I don’t care who sees anymore. The king announced my abilities to everyone, anyway.
But then I remember the king is dead, and it would waste energy I don't have to weave wards right now.
“How are you so calm?” Caspian asks, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The usually pristine strands stick up at odd angles, and I hate how endearing it looks.
“Because panicking won’t help anything.” I stride to my wardrobe, yanking it open to grab my blade gifted from the Seer, lifting away the griffin egg I’ve kept hidden since the trials. I'm about to speak when the egg jerks in my hands, almost slipping through my fingers. What the fuck? I jump back, throwing the damn thing on my bed, watching as hairline cracks spider across its metallic surface.
“Ariella…” Caspian moves closer, his eyes wide. “Is that…moving? ”
Another crack appears, this one deeper than the others. “It’s hatching.” The words come out barely above a whisper. I knew I had a feeling that keeping the egg safe was important. There was never any indication that something grew inside, but fuck me, it’s hatching.
The mother knew. That’s why she let me live—though why she would ever trust me with her child, I’m not sure. Definitely the worst decision she’s ever made.
A small piece of shell falls away, revealing something dark underneath. My breath catches as more fragments break off, scattering across my bedding. Dropping to my knees at the edge, I watch with pure awe as a tiny beak pushes through, followed by a head covered in obsidian feathers that shimmer with hints of deep purple.
“By the Angel,” Caspian breathes, shifting to stand beside me. His leg brushes mine as we watch the baby griffin struggle free of its shell.
It’s nothing like its mother. Where she is pure white and sharp edges, this little one is darkness incarnate. Its feathers seem to absorb the surrounding light, creating an effect similar to my shadows. Bright violet eyes blink up at us as it shakes off the last bits of shell.
When my jaw dropped, I’m not sure, but this has to be the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed.
The baby chirps, the sound so innocent that my chest actually aches. It stumbles on unsteady legs, wings spreading for balance. The wingspan is impressive even at this size—easily as wide as my outstretched arms would be.
“She’s beautiful,” I murmur, unable to stop myself from reaching toward her. A knowing deep inside tells me she’s female. The griffin watches my hand approach, tilting her head in a way that reminds me so much of the mother. When my fingers connect with the soft feathers on her head, a jolt of…something…races through me.
Protection. Care. Trust.
Mine.
The overpowering feelings aren’t my own, but they flood my system, anyway. The baby leans into my touch, making that sweet chirping sound again.
“I think she likes you,” Caspian observes with a warm smile. He reaches out as well, but the griffin hisses and backs away, tumbling off the bed in her lack of coordination. I catch her before she can fall, and the large creature burrows against my chest.
I can’t help but laugh. “Seems she inherited her mother’s attitude.”
He rolls his eyes but smiles once more. “I’ll win my way into her good graces, eventually.” His expression sobers as he studies the baby griffin. “What are we going to do with her? We can’t take a baby griffin with us while we hunt for artifacts.”
The griffin’s head snaps up at that, her piercing eyes finding mine. Another wave of foreign emotions drifts through me—determination and…purpose? She pushes from my chest to sit straighter, wings extending to their full span .
Incredible.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” I respond, watching as she preens her feathers. “Besides, I will do whatever the fuck I want. And I say the griffin can go where she pleases.”
The ground trembles again, but it’s gentler this time, as if the realm’s power is saying goodbye. Through my window, I can still see the massive crack in the sky, but the earlier chaos seems to have settled. I have a feeling this is not the last of the realms’ tricks, though.
I glance down at the griffin. She fits in my arms like she was made to be held by them—probably just for the next hour if she will be anything close to her mother’s size.
Her feathers shift in the light, appearing iridescent. She chirps and hops onto my shoulder, careful to keep her talons from piercing my skin—smart little thing already. The weight is substantial but not uncomfortable. Her wings brush against my hair as she settles into position, and I swear she looks proud of herself.
“You should take her outside where her kind belongs.” My eyes roll at Gavriel’s not-shocking choice of words. But the creature on my shoulder stiffens, clicking in the guard’s direction.
“Can she understand what we’re saying?” Caspian asks, his brows furrowed.
I shrug, though I’m certain she can. I cannot explain how I know such things about her. I just do.
He studies the griffin with new interest. “But how? She’s just a baby. ”
The griffin makes an offended sound and snaps her beak out, nearing the prince’s face. He jerks back, cursing, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“She doesn't seem to appreciate your commentary, prince.” I reach up to stroke her silky chest feathers, marveling at the hidden colors within. “Besides, we’ve seen stranger things these last few days. Honestly, this is the most natural thing to have happened in weeks.”
As if to prove my point, the griffin spreads her wings and a soft golden light emanates from them. The glow travels down her body and into me, warming me from the inside out. My essence responds instantly, reaching for the connection like it’s found something it’s been missing.
“Oh, fuck,” I gasp, steadying myself against the bedpost, fighting the dizziness. The sensation is overwhelming but not unpleasant—similar to how I felt when I healed Caspian, but still so different.
“What’s wrong?” Caspian shifts to help me, but the griffin clicks again. He throws his hands up in a placating manner. “I’m not going to hurt her, you overprotective little beast.”
The griffin considers him for a moment before chirping what sounds suspiciously like acceptance. I could laugh at how ridiculous this is. A griffin hatched in my room, attached herself to me, and somehow understands what we’re saying, as if she wasn’t just born into this realm. She hops from my shoulder to the bed, leaving me with an unexpected chill in her absence .
“I’m fine,” I assure him, though I’m not sure that’s true. I watch the griffin, who is now systematically shredding my blanket with those talons. “We need to name her.” Where did that come from, and why do I care?
“We need to figure out how to get to the artifacts and then to the Aether realm,” he counters. “Names can wait.”
The griffin pauses her destruction to give him what can only be described as a withering look. Gavriel crosses his arms, widening his stance as he stays watching the interaction.
“I think she disagrees.” I sit on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb the mess of eggshell fragments. “Besides, we can’t keep calling it ‘her.’ That seems rude.”
Caspian sighs, dropping next to me as his arm slides around my waist. The griffin's wary eyes study him, but she doesn’t protest, continuing her dominion over my bed. “Not sure when you began caring about being rude, but fine. Any ideas?”
I study our new companion. Her feathers remind me of the night sky—endless darkness scattered with hints of light. But there’s no name that would fit her more than the one pounding into my head, as if the realm itself is demanding what she be called.
“Oranya.” The griffin’s head snaps up at my announcement, and I know I’ve chosen correctly.
“Oranya,” Caspian repeats, testing the name. “I like it—it suits her.” He reaches toward the griffin again, moving slower this time. Oranya watches his hand approach, not hissing or retreating again. When his fingers connect with her feathers, I feel a remnant of that earlier warmth .
Oranya chirps and pushes into his touch, deciding he’s adequate for her attention, after all. The sight of them together does something strange to my insides that I refuse to examine too closely.
“Now that that’s settled,” I announce, pushing to my feet as I ignore Gavriel, “we need to figure out our next move. Everything seems stable for now, but that thing in the sky isn’t going away.” I gesture to the window, where the tear between realms cuts through the sky like jagged glass, shimmering with impossible colors. The air hums faintly, vibrating with a persistent energy that prickles against my skin. “And I very much doubt things will remain calm forever.”
The griffin makes a sound that might be agreement, launching herself from the bed to land on my shoulder again. Her talons catch my hair, but she quickly adjusts her dangerous grip.
“We should gather supplies while we determine where to find the artifacts you need,” Caspian states, his royal self showing through. “We don’t know how long we’ll be gone or what we’ll face in the Aether realm. Nor do I have the first clue where to find what's needed for the new Accord.”
I nod, already mentally cataloging each task. “Leave the artifacts to me. You can gather food, water, medical supplies—the basics. Though I’m not sure how much we can carry while still having the freedom to move as fast as we need to. I don’t believe we’ll be able to jump to the Aether, so we’ll have to go south to Whisterra where the only known entrance is.” I vaguely remember a tale my mother told me many years ago about a woman and her son who'd often visit the Aether. She’d said there was a ripple between realms that—I pause, considering. “Do you think Oranya needs anything specific?”
The griffin tugs at a strand of my hair and chirps. I get the distinct impression she’s trying to tell me not to worry about her. I have a feeling I will, anyway.
“Right. Magical baby griffin probably doesn’t need our help.”
I run my fingers through Oranya’s feathers, watching Gavriel shift uncomfortably near my door. His eyes dart between me and Caspian, his expression betraying the words he wants to say, but doesn’t know how to voice after everything that’s happened.
“Just fucking say it,” I snap, done with his hesitation. The prince's arms cross as he regards Gavriel.
He clears his throat. “I know you won’t believe me, but I am sorry. Not just to Caspian, but to you as well.” His voice wavers on the last word. My eyes narrow. “I was…wrong about many things.”
Caspian scoffs. “You went behind my back and tried to have her killed, even knowing what she means to me.”
“I know.” The guard’s shoulders slump. “I thought I was protecting you, but I was just being selfish. I couldn’t stand watching you fall for her when I—” He cuts himself off, but we all know what he meant to say. At least, I do. Caspian still hasn’t figured out that his best friend wishes they could be more. Or perhaps he has and refuses to ruin their friendship by voicing the truth.
Oranya makes a low clicking sound that somehow manages to convey judgment. I stroke her head, the movement feeling a little too natural, as I consider the guard’s words. “You’re right. I don’t believe you.” Gavriel’s face falls further. Good. “But I understand why you did it.”
Both men look at me with surprise. “You do?” Gavriel asks.
“Love makes people do stupid fucking things.” I ignore how Caspian’s eyes snap to me at the word love . “Though if you ever try something like that again, I won’t hesitate to slit your throat.”
A knock at my door saves Gavriel from responding. Elowen enters without waiting for permission—poor decision making on her part—Jessenia close behind her. They both freeze at the sight of Oranya.
“Is that…” Jessenia starts, and I look over her form. She’s foregone the dress from before in favor of tight-fitted pants and a burgundy jacket. The woman would be attractive in anything, it seems. She could wear one of the hideous royal uniforms, and I'd still find a way to appreciate her appearance.
“A griffin? Yes.” I smirk as Oranya preens under their attention, not offering any other explanation. “What news do you have?”
Elowen tears her eyes from the little creature, her wavy hair jostled by the movement. “We found some of the children.” Her voice hardens. “They were in cells beneath the eastern wing of the castle. Most were unconscious, though alive, thankfully.”
“How many?” Caspian asks, his hands clenching into fists as he steps forward.
“Seventeen,” Jessenia answers, refusing to look him in the eye, instead finding mine. Her loyalty for my previous threat would be sweeter if it weren’t happening while the realms fall apart. “We took them to the guild.” She glances at Elowen before swiping a tongue across her lips and continuing. “Marek was furious. It was quite frightening actually. But he said he’ll personally ensure each child returns to their family.”
“Good.” I nod, pleased that the children will be cared for. Marek is a different issue I do not wish to think about. “What else?”
“The cells were…” Elowen pauses as her voice cracks, swallowing hard. Seeing that must have been rather difficult for her, considering her proclivity to heal anyone she can. “There were marks on the walls. Tallies. Some had been there for months.”
My stomach sours. That fucking bastard of a king.
“We’ll need to search the entire castle,” Caspian mutters to Gavriel, who nods his head in quick succession. “There could be more we haven’t found yet.”
“Already started,” Jessenia replies, looking between me and the griffin. She moves closer to examine Oranya, but Elowen steps between them.
“We shouldn’t crowd the griffin,” Elowen states, her tone leaving no room for argument. “They’re dangerous creatures.”
Jessenia’s eyes narrow. “I think I can handle myself.”
“Like you handled yourself in the tunnels?” The healer's voice drips with sarcasm. “If I hadn’t been there, Jess, I swear to the Angel—”
“I had everything under control!”
“You nearly walked into a trap!”
“Ladies,” I interrupt, fighting a smile. The tension between them is obvious, though I'm not so sure they realize that. “Perhaps we should focus on more pressing matters?”
They both flush and step away from each other. Oranya clicks again.
“What do we do now?” Jessenia asks as her hands wring together.
I exchange a heavy look with Caspian. “The prince and I need to leave Valoria.” The ambiguity in my words is intentional. “There are things we must find.”
“When do we leave?” Jessenia asks, not caring to question why. Strange woman.
“We?” I raise an eyebrow. “This isn’t a group expedition.”
“You can’t go alone,” Elowen protests, her arms crossing. “You’ll need a healer.”
“I can heal myself.”
“And what about Caspian?”
I glance at him, remembering how it felt to connect our essence. “I can heal him, too.”
Her eyes widen. “But—”
“No,” I cut her off. “The fewer people involved, the better. Besides, someone needs to stay and help search for more children, among other things.” I look pointedly between her and Jessenia. “Perhaps you two could work together on that?” Elowen’s eyes narrow in my direction as if she sees right through my words, and I have to bite back another smile .
“Fine,” she concedes. “But you’ll send word if you need anything?”
I nod, though we all know I won’t. Caspian moves to stand beside me when I force everyone out, his hand finding the small of my back. Gavriel lingers in the doorway, looking like he wants to say more, but eventually follows Elowen and Jessenia out to the crumbling walls of the castle. My prince’s touch grounds me, reminding me that I’m not alone in this anymore. It’s a strange feeling—one I’m not wholly comfortable with yet.
“We should rest,” he murmurs as a hand brushes through my hair. “Tomorrow we can begin gathering supplies and planning our route.”
Oranya bounds from my shoulder to the bed once more, already claiming it as her territory. She begins methodically arranging the blankets into what appears to be a nest, ignoring us.
“At least someone knows what they’re doing,” I mutter.
Caspian's answering laugh is comforting. “We’ll figure it out.” His arms slide around my waist, pulling me against his chest. “Together,” he adds with force, and I chuckle. I may make light of it, but the truth is, I do not believe I could get through what's coming without him. Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be possible.
I allow myself to lean into him, just for a heartbeat. Maybe several.
My eyes drift to the window, the crack in the sky seeming to pulse, as if responding to his words. Whatever we must handle next, I have a feeling our lives are about to become significantly more complicated .
But for now, I savor this moment of peace. We’ll need to find the artifacts, figure out how to enter the Aether realm, and somehow restore balance before both realms collapse. Oh, and find Oranya's mother.
Easy. And terrifying.