Chapter Thirty
I glanced over frommy spot on the couch at our bags packed and waiting by the door, ready for us to leave the dragon lands today so we”d make it back to Faligrey before the king grew too suspicious. We never returned to bed after the drama with the wannabe assassins, too wound up and not wanting to leave Elora alone while her kindred got to know her new one.
Watching all of it made me glad I was the core of our group. It was strange how it worked. Since I had more than one, my other kindreds wouldn’t have any but me. Same with Elora, Lysander, and the dragon. I really needed to learn his name since I guessed he would be my brother-in-law. If I were in Elora’s position it would drive me mad with jealousy. Though I didn’t begrudge Sky and Saber their relationship and it didn’t bother me in the slightest that they had something separate from me. But they already had a relationship before they found me. It wasn’t like they decided to start one up with someone new. I sighed at my ridiculous and rather maudlin thoughts.
Sky had finally reemerged from the bedroom not long after the fiasco and hadn’t released me from his arms since then. Something was going on with him, but I decided to leave it alone until we were back at the palace in Faligrey.
It was hard to tell what time it was or even what day it was trapped inside the mountain with no sight of the sun and sky outside. The days bled together into an almost never-ending night. It was only by following the lead of the dragons that kept me on any sort of schedule. Kira claimed usually dragons spent plenty of time outdoors, but I’d been trapped inside since my arrival and it had begun to wear on me.
Saber and Aster pushed through the door, their hands loaded with trays of food. I jumped up to help them settle them onto the table while Sky knocked on Indigo’s door, calling out to tell her breakfast had arrived.
Kira knocked and entered not too long after we began breakfast, an anxiety hovering over us. “The vote is in. The Assembly requests your attendance once you’ve finished your breakfast.”
We all froze, the anxiety pulsing stronger around the table.
Indigo dropped her fork onto her plate with a clang and dabbed at her lips with a napkin. “I’d say we’re finished now.”
The rest of us followed her lead and nodded. I wouldn’t be able to eat another bite without knowing the answer to the vote. Kira gave nothing away with her expression as she led us through the cavernous halls.
I gripped Sky and Aster’s hands, holding on tight, trying to calm the nerves rampaging through me. They had to agree. If they didn’t, how would the princess overthrow the king with no allies? They had to realize it would be in their best interests to have Indigo on the throne instead.
The Assembly waited for us at their table just like every other time, except there were no chairs for us to join them. We spread out in a half circle, standing at attention, and waited for their answer.
Cala, the usual mouthpiece for the Assembly rose from her chair. “We counted the votes twice. Unfortunately, the majority of our people decided they didn’t want to get involved. They are willing to open borders if you succeed, but not helping you gain the throne and it was almost unanimous that our borders will remain tightly closed while your father remains as king.”
They weren’t going to help. It was all for nothing.