Chapter 31 - Luna
CHAPTER 31 - LUNA
S tage lights blinded me, and I squinted against the glare. Sweat peppered my neck. My breath came in short bursts, and my chest ached. Screw tussling with golems, teaching goblins who was boss, battling elementals that invaded the Academy, or grappling with my grandparents for the fate of the world. Easy feats compared to being up on stage under the hot spotlight, fraught with nerves and stage fright. Old habits died hard, all right.
A warm palm squeezed my hand, reminding me to breathe long and deep to calm the wave of nerves. Muscles in my face froze, and I couldn’t smile at Cole and pump his hand in return.
Okay, so I was wrong about the whole infamy thing. Turned out that when we returned to the Academy, the headmaster declared the five of us heroes, called his superiors and notified them of the good news and to investigate all known Brotherhood assets. Thrilled, he threw a little party in his office, pouring us all whisky, even hugging Gable. Weird.
Now, my four men and I lined up to receive a gift and thanks from the headmaster for our service to the Guild and Academy. Students and teachers packed the ceremony in the Academy’s auditorium, and I was grateful for the lights depriving me of their resentful stares and begrudging whispers, admitting they were wrong about me.
Talon, Cole, and Blaze clutched their awards, proud smiles wide, backs straight, chests out. A badge of honor and the Armor of Gallantry for Talon, which he proudly wore over his uniform. Blaze received the Amulet of Fire for his heroism in battle, and Cole, the Sword of Courage and Strength.
Full pardons were granted for the lot of us for committing offenses, going into battle without the Council’s approval.
Gable and I stood at the end of the line, waiting for our awards and the sweet vindication for misjudgment and lies. Not that I really cared what the students or staff thought when I knew the truth in our hearts.
Mary waved and smiled from the second row, looking radiant in her green spring dress, her hair long and curled. The sixth elemental removed all her trauma and transformed her into a confident, smart young lady.
Her brother, Luke, sat with her, handsome in his slacks, button-up shirt, and tie, hair slicked back. A younger, softer version of Gable.
Having the two of them back in his sphere made Gable the happiest brother and boyfriend of the lost, which was ironic, given he was the cynical one of the bunch.
One person was missing from the procession of heroes. Astra. Despite my request to the elemental to free my friend from the Guardians, she remained locked up. Boy was I salty and wished I didn’t let the damn thing return to its home when it failed to deliver on its promise. That little slip-up made me wonder what else remained unchanged. I guess we’d find out.
My chest ached at her absence and her plight of being sent to the Guardians for a crime my grandfather coordinated. She deserved to be up here with us or in the audience cheering us on.
The headmaster instigated proceedings to grant her clemency, but red tape bound him, just as it always did, and it might take longer than we anticipated to get my bestie out of hell. For now, I hoped she somehow met Cole’s mother, and got taken under her wing. Though, I doubted it, since she didn’t know anything about that story.
“Smile, Princess.” Gable nudged me from my opposite side. “We’re the heroes for once.” And didn’t he soak it up, waving to the crowd like a rock star being knighted by the damn queen.
I couldn’t help but smile at his redemption. Misunderstood villain to hero. Or was it vigilante to hero? I went with Vigilante Prince, his new nickname.
The headmaster stepped in front of him, speaking low enough for Gable to hear, but not the audience. “We’ve certainly had our differences, son,” he started, and I sensed a satisfying groveling apology coming on.
“Have we ever,” Gable muttered, and this time, I crunched his hand, warning him to be nice. “You’re lucky I don’t take it personally anymore.”
I snorted and covered my mouth. Understatement of the year.
“Lady-like,” Gable chided, never one to miss teasing me.
The headmaster ended any chance of banter, silencing us with, “I want to apologize for misjudging you. You’ve come through for us three times now, and I want to put this animosity between us to bed.” He tugged at his suit jacket like it hurt to acknowledge his error in judgment.
“What the hell.” Gable thrust out his hand. “I’ll bury the hatchet.”
The headmaster smiled cordially and lifted a small, jeweled ring from a red velvet pillow carried by his secretary.
“The Guild and Academy is in great debt to you, Gable.” He raised his voice for all the students and teachers attending the ceremony in the Academy’s auditorium to hear. “For your service protecting us from dark forces, the Guild awards you the Ring of Friendship.”
He slid the gold ring with a ruby on Gable’s finger.
Gable’s classic smirk gave the stage lights a run for their money. “Thank you, sir.” He twisted the jewelry back and forth to admire its clarity.
The headmaster gathered Gable’s hand in his, shaking it, then moved to me. Gable’s brother and sister cheered, and he waved to them.
I felt the weight of every eye in the place, and my first instinct was to cringe and bow my head. But I was a Dark Princess, for fuck’s sake. A queen to a fallen empire. And I didn’t cower from anyone. I lifted my head like true royalty, staring at the center of the auditorium like I owned it.
“In honor of Miss Prince’s service to the Guild in eliminating our enemy, the Brotherhood of Serpents, we gift her the Cobra of Isis.” He lifted a broach shaped into a crown with a snake head, pinning it on my shirt.
I stroked the gift and smiled triumphantly, feeling freer and lighter than I ever had in my life. “Thank you, sir. I’ll wear this always.”
He hummed and turned to address the crowd. “Today is a historic day for the Guild. We honor our five brave members who killed the serpent Queen and King and ended a millennia-long war, sealed the breaches of the Veil, preserving our legacy and the barrier between the worlds.” He glanced back at the line of us. “They may have also put us out of a job.”
The crowd tittered at his joke.
“Please put your hands together for our brave warriors and friends of the Guild.” He led the chain of cheering and clapping for us, the sound deafening in the space with terrible acoustics.
Gable took full advantage of it, bowing like a rock star about to exit the stage after a concert. I laughed at him, more at ease than I was moments ago.
The headmaster lowered and raised his palms to quiet the crowd. “We’ll have a ball to celebrate our good fortune in two weeks, and I hope to see everyone there.”
He marched off stage, a man on a mission to lavish in the praise of his superiors, who attended today’s ceremony and sat in the front row seats. Handshakes, congratulations, and potentially a promotion followed as he progressed along the line. A few of the high-ranking members ventured onstage to thank us, and we pasted on our polite smiles.
One man in a tweed jacket from the seventies and a golf hat came up to me. “Miss Prince, may I have a moment in private?”
This one question told me he wasn’t like the other ass-kissing bluebloods that made up the Guild’s elite echelon who fawned over my men and me, posing for pictures like the politicians they were. He was a man of principle and discipline, rather than using his heritage to earn him rank.
“Who are you?” Cole asked for me, always by my side, claiming my hand, showing his allegiance.
“A concerned friend,” the man replied, his fuzzy brows heavy over his weary gray eyes.
I took over the questions. “Friend of who?”
He glanced at his peers and spoke low, “Miss Nomical.”
At the mention of Astra’s surname, Cole and I moved backstage, away from the rest of my men and the Guild members. I wanted to know how she was holding up in a strange environment when her Asperger’s was at odds with major changes in routine.
I shoved my hands in my uniform pocket to warm them out of the frost setting over my body. “What about Astra? Is she okay? When is she coming home?” And why the fuck didn’t the elemental get her back to me?
“I want you to know, I’m taking care of her,” the man reassured, though it did nothing to warm the cold shadow in my heart. “She won’t be harmed.”
“Do me a favor and get her out,” I demanded, more Dark Princess than student. “That’s the least you can do, can’t you?” I removed the cobra broach and offered it to him. “You can have this back. I’d rather my friend’s freedom.”
His brows came down in a hard line that said, “No can do.” “I’m sorry, Miss Prince, but I need her.”
“What for?” I asked. “And who the hell are you?”
The man’s gray eyes slid to Cole in a way that said he was used to dealing with conflict. “I’m Vartros, warden of the Guardian’s prison in Broken Hill where your friend and Mr. Mathieson’s mother are currently stationed. And you would be wise to watch your tone with an ally.”
“Ally?” Cole’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “The Brotherhood is gone and all the trafficked gantii are returned to their worlds. You don’t have reason to detain my mother.”
“That may be the case, Mr. Mathieson, but Guild traitors have seized control of Brotherhood trafficking operations, and your mother and I must ferret them out,” Vartros said.
Cole prickled at that, his jaw grinding like he crushed pebbles with his teeth.
That didn’t explain why he wouldn’t clear my friend of wrongdoing and release her. “Why do you need Astra?”
Vartros scratched his forehead. “I’m afraid I can’t say, other than I need Miss Nomical’s help for this.” His lips pressed together with sympathy. “And until this is done, she is my asset.”
Fuck this guy. “She’s not your asset, she’s a person.”
“Thank you for your time, Miss Prince and Mr. Mathieson.” Vartros moved away then stopped, glancing back at us. “Do not pursue her appeal. I won’t approve it.”
Double fuck him. I wouldn’t leave my friend in a dangerous environment to do dirty secret missions to apprehend Guild criminals.
Cole caught my shoulder to stop me from collapsing on the floor. “We’ll get her out any way we can. In the meantime, I’ll find out what I can from my mom and ask her to watch out for Astra.”
I sank into the comfort of his arms and chest to stop myself from screaming down the auditorium for justice for my friend.
Talon found us backstage, stroking my shoulder. “What happened?”
Cole filled him in because I didn’t have words… well, none that weren’t angry and loud.
Talon put his hand under my chin to lift my gaze to his. “She’s safe for now and that’s all that matters.”
“Is she?” I asked. “She’s in with dangerous inmates.”
Talon chuckled despite the seriousness of the situation. “Something tells me that’s up Astra’s alley.”
I glared at him for a second until his meaning sank in. “She does love bad boys in her romances.” I pictured her finding her dark, sexy harem in the place where she least expected it.
“See what I mean?” His thumb wiped soothing motions across my cheek.
Okay, so he had a point. I chose to think that my friend was safe, well, and surrounded by her harem than the alternative, since it hurt too much to think she was in this situation because she tried to help me.
Blaze hadn’t stopped apologizing since the news broke. It wasn’t his fault. My grandfather used him as a puppet, taking control of him with his snake tattoo. Now that the elemental erased the marking, Blaze would never be subjugated to another’s will.
Talon’s arm curled around my shoulder. “Come on, we have a party to attend.”
I groaned. “It’s not with those high-ranking, elitist snobs is it?” I rubbed my cheeks. “My face is aching from all the fake smiles and platitudes.”
“No, this is private.” Talon fit me into his side. “Just you and me. We’re cooler than the rest of those losers.”
I laughed and sniffed, getting that Talon joked to cheer me up.
Cole punched his arm for that. “Speak for yourself, Superman Pants.”
Talon patted his cock through his uniform. “I don’t have that problem anymore, thanks to the snakey.”
“Come here and I’ll punch you in the snakey.” Cole squared off with him and play-boxed him.
“You’re jealous my snakey is bigger and shoots lava cum.”
I lost it at that one and laughed so hard it caught the attention of the elitist snobs dwelling in the auditorium.
Gable swaggered up to us. “We’re out of here, Princess. Drinks at my place and some Dark Queen bedroom play afterward. I’ve got this hot new outfit for you to wear.”
“Excellent orders of business,” I said. “Especially the last one.”