Tower of Tempest: A Steamy Fantasy Romance (Stolen Crowns Book 3)

Chapter 15

I’d thought our journey to Winded would be long and arduous. Technically it was both those things. But it had also been fascinating so far. Fun, even, as I traveled with this ragtag group.

Driscoll hummed as he walked next to me, all of us walking along the stone road, which wove alongside the cliff’s edge. The long golden bridge that connected Feathered to Winded was in the distance, and we were just a day away from arriving at the royal city.

We’d been traveling for weeks now. I’d spent the days gossiping with Driscoll, training with Leoni, and letting Prince Lochlan flirt with me while maintaining my distance, my conversation with Leoni during the Day of the Storms a constant in my mind. He flirted with everyone. Would probably flirt with the sheep that populated these highlands, given the chance. It didn’t mean he felt anything more for me than the friendship blossoming between us.

A gust of wind rammed into us, Driscoll losing his footing and stumbling slightly. I grabbed his arm to steady him. He shuddered. “I truly hate it up here.”

“Well, that makes sense. You are from the earth court. I expect you like to be more grounded,” I quipped, then snapped my fingers. “I have an idea. Why don’t you use your magic to produce something that would make you feel more at home? A small plant or a vine.” I gasped. “Or maybe a flower.”

I’d love to see earth magic, all the magic of the seven courts. I frowned. Well, six now, since the star court no longer existed.

Driscoll snorted and gestured ahead to Leoni, who walked next to Prince Lochlan. “With little Ms. Rule Follower here? I don’t think so.”

Next to the bridge, the rocky cliffs rose up, and carved into them were the faces of the Seven Spirits. Gran had shown me pictures of this famous monument, but seeing it in person... it was incredible. I stopped, and Driscoll came to my side, both of us stopping and staring.

“I’ve never seen it in person,” I said.

“Me neither.” Driscoll didn’t seem like someone impressed by much, but awe filled his voice.

“You know, in school, we learned that humans were the ones who made this.” He gestured to the seven faces. Spirit Earth looked so serene, eyes closed, mouth tipped in a smile while Spirit Fire’s brows drew together in a fierce scowl. Spirit Star smiled like she knew a secret no one else did. Spirit Shadow also smiled, but his smile was more cunning, more dangerous. Spirit Sky, a flat line to his mouth, looked bored, like he was above all this nonsense, while Spirit Water’s nose was raised in the air ever so slightly, like she was fed up with the lot of them. Spirit Frost’s eyes squinted as if he didn’t trust a single one of them. They’d captured what we knew of the spirits’ essences so perfectly.

“Humans?” I echoed. “Why would humans make this? They don’t worship the Seven Spirits.” They’d have no reason to since they didn’t inherit any of their powers.

“Slavery,” Driscoll said. “Our ancestors used humans as slaves when they first came here, but eventually the humans revolted, and our ancestors worried about the conflict, about angering the spirits by entering into a war. So they freed the slaves and created peace treaties with all the human lands.”

I hadn’t known that. It was an interesting piece of history, to be sure. Gran’s voice echoed in my mind, a memory surfacing of me asking her about why the elementals were so afraid of conflict, of the spirits’ wrath, should they misuse their magic.

“Bah. Those idiots. The spirits don’t hate conflict. They crave it. No one is getting smited from this continent for starting a war.”

She’d told me to think critically, to really study the spirits and what I knew of them, and I’d come to the same conclusion as her.

“Are you two coming?” Prince Lochlan called from ahead.

I marveled at the structure for one more minute before turning and resuming our walk.

“What did you mean?” I asked Driscoll, who was by my side once again. “When you said you can’t use your magic to make a vine or a flower. What would be wrong with that? Why would it bother Leoni?”

He flung his hand out. “Oh, it was decreed by our ancestors three hundred years ago. The Law of Moderation.”

I’d heard of that in a book I’d read, but I hadn’t paid it much attention. There were so many laws and treaties, they all tended to blend together. Plus, given I was trapped in a tower and didn’t know how to use my magic, I never much cared about learning more. Now it seemed like something I should know.

“What is the Law of Moderation?” I asked.

“The rulers of the seven courts came together and decided that no one should use magic unless necessary.” He gave me a look. “I suspect they left it vague so that they could deem what’s necessary. Anyone caught misusing their magic in Arathia is at risk of being imprisoned. Elementals across the courts are encouraged to report any egregious activity. It’s created a culture of fear—everyone so afraid of using their magic in the wrong way that they use it sparingly. So I can’t just produce a flower for fun. Now if I’m growing a flower to make a garden, that’s deemed okay. If I’m using magic to defend my life, that’s okay. Using magic to attack someone unjustly? Not so much.” That much I knew. I’d used that same argument against my attackers who’d stolen my gold. Driscoll shrugged. “It’s pretty inconsistent. Those who have favors with the kings and queens or council members get lenience, while others are not so lucky.”

I gave him a look. “Aren’t you best friends with the queen of the earth court?”

“Yes, but that won’t stop Leoni from arresting me on the spot. She’d probably put me in cuffs and make me stay in them until this journey is over,” he grumbled, which made me laugh. “Normally, I’d be all over getting handcuffed—but not by Leoni. That’s a mood killer if I ever heard one.” His eyes brightened as he glanced at the former captain of the guard. “What about a handcuff fantasy?” he shouted to her. “You’ve got the cuffs, about to arrest someone, then they turn and cuff you... to their bed.”

Leoni stopped, spinning to face us and frowning, while Prince Lochlan stopped with her, a smirk on his face. Over the last few weeks I’d learned of Driscoll’s little challenge to figure out a fantasy that would... intrigue Leoni. So far he’d failed miserably.

“Why would I be arresting someone near a bed?” She wrinkled her nose. “And what if it’s just a mattress on the floor, which is what the majority of those who aren’t nobles use?” She frowned. “Also, I’m good at my job, and no one is going to be able to take my cuffs and use them against me.”

I laughed as Driscoll glared at her. “I’m going to find a fantasy you can’t ruin. I’m making it my personal mission.”

Leoni stuck out her tongue. “Good luck with that.”

Prince Lochlan slowed to a stop. “Let’s scout out a place to sleep for the night.”

I sank down onto a rock, staring out at the carved monument in the distance.

“I’ll go hunt for dinner,” Leoni said.

“I can make the fire.” I tugged off my boots, massaging my painfully sore feet. I wasn’t used to walking these long distances like they were.

“No.” The prince crossed his arms. “Stay here. Enjoy the view. We’ll take care of the rest.”

I bit my lip. “Are you sure?”

Driscoll opened his mouth, but the prince cut him off before he could speak. “Yes.”

He nodded his head at the other two, and they melted away into the distance. I turned to stare at the monument, thinking about all the amazing things I’d seen on this journey so far. To think, it had only been a few weeks.

The grass rustled behind me, a scraping of boots on the ground.

“What did you forget now?” I smiled and turned, freezing at the sight before me.

Three familiar men leered at me.

The men who’d taken my gold and satchel, whose cart I’d destroyed.

Stubbled Chin clucked his tongue. “Well, well, look who it is,” he said.

I scrambled off the rock, only wearing my socks, boots still lying on their sides. “What are you doing?” I asked.

Narrow Eyes glared. “You little bitch. You cost us everything when you pushed our cart off the cliff’s edge. All our goods gone.”

The hairs on the back of my neck rose, but I crossed my arms. “Well, luckily, you had my gold to spend.”

Missing Teeth stroked his jaw. “That gold ain’t worth even a quarter of the goods we had to sell and trade. The cart alone cost us easily quadruple that gold.”

“Well, you did attack me. You have no one to blame but yourselves.” I tried to remain calm, but my shaking voice betrayed me. “Let’s call it even.”

“Oh no.” Stubbled Chin took a step forward, flames dancing over his fingertips. “Your little tales about the spirits and their wrath isn’t going to save you this time.”

“Then I’ll fight back,” I said. “I’ll defend myself.”

They stepped toward me, and I realized I was backed up on a cliff. I had nowhere to run. I could shout for the others, but I didn’t want to put them in danger. If they even heard me, that was.

Missing Teeth held out his palm, and a whip made of fire unfurled. “See, we think you was telling those tales because you can’t use your own magic.”

My blood ran cold. “That’s ridiculous,” I said.

“Then show us.” Narrow Eyes summoned a ball of fire that he threw from hand to hand.

Wait a minute. I could show them. I’d been training for weeks. I wasn’t some poor, defenseless girl. I hadn’t been then, either, but now I knew how to use my magic.

I felt for the thread of power inside me and yanked hard at the same time that I pushed out my hands. Wind barreled toward them, blowing out the fire in their hands.

Missing Teeth stumbled back, glancing at the two others. “So she has magic, after all.”

The wind died down, and they all stepped closer.

“Three against one,” Stubbled Chin said. “Maybe you do have some power, but you’re no match for us.”

“Why ain’t she flying away?” Narrow Eyes asked.

I swallowed. The one thing I couldn’t yet do.

Stubbled Chin laughed. “So you don’t have all your magic then.”

My confidence faltered. No. I wouldn’t let them get to me. I could do this. I braced my legs just like Leoni had taught me during our lessons. This might be easier if I had an actual weapon on me, but my magic would have to be enough.

I lifted my hands up, summoning wind. I twisted my wrists, the wind circling around the men, who tried again and again to summon their fire to no avail.

“The wind is too strong!” Narrow Eyes yelled.

“She won’t outlast us. Her magic will weaken,” Stubbled Chin shouted back.

They were right. I didn’t have the stamina that took years of practice to build. They fought against the wind, inching closer to me, backing me right up against the edge of the cliff. I glanced behind me at the sharp drop. The dark sea raged far below, crashing against the side of the cliff.

I turned back to them, letting the wind die down as I summoned lightning. It crackled over my fingertips, and I launched the sparks at them, but the men easily dodged my attack.

Narrow Eyes slipped a dagger from his boot and pointed it toward me. “We don’t even need magic to finish her. She’s got nowhere to go. Let’s cut off her wings first, then cut her to little pieces.”

The other two smiled in agreement, and a chill skittered down my back. It couldn’t end here. Not like this.

Driscoll had said it was okay to use magic to defend oneself, and Gran had always told me to do whatever was needed to save myself if I were in danger.

An idea formed as the men closed in on me. It would be risky. It would be terrifying. I also didn’t have any other options.

During one of his lessons, the prince had taught me how to manipulate my magic to do what I wanted. How to use hand movements along with intention to bend my magic to my will. The same way Gran had always done with shadows. I’d watched her reach out and twist her hand this way and that and command the shadows to stretch or reach or turn. I could do the same with the wind.

My gaze darted to the thick rock I’d been sitting on before these men happened upon me.

Missing Teeth chuckled. “Aw, look at her. All frightened now that she’s cornered. You’re not going to use your magic again?”

“I say after we cut off her wings, we push her from this cliff just like she did our cart,” Narrow Eyes said.

Stubbled Chin nodded. “I like that. But let’s rough her up first. Just to really teach her a lesson about destroying other people’s things.”

I pushed out my hands, wind railing against them. The three men fought against it, digging their feet in the ground.

“You’re just delaying the inevitable,” Stubbled Chin shouted. “There’s nowhere for you to go now.”

I took a deep breath, then slammed my hands back toward my chest, directing the wind to come right back in the opposite direction. I dove behind the rock, feeling the wind crash against it as the men screamed. All of them stumbling forward and over the cliff’s edge. Their shouts echoed up, the terror in their voices shooting through me.

Tears welled in my eyes at what I’d just done. I’d killed them. I’d taken not just one elemental’s life. But three.

My entire body shook, and I curled my arms around myself as my magic died down and the wind stopped raging.

A whimper sounded from over the cliff, and my head snapped in the direction of the sound. I crawled across the grass, mud spreading over my hands and knees until I came right to the edge and peered over. I gasped.

Stubbled Chin gripped onto the rock, feet kicking wildly, reminding me of how I’d felt hanging from my tower after the prince had yanked me out.

“Help me,” he said, fear flashing in his eyes.

I didn’t even hesitate as I reached for him.

“Take my hand!” I yelled, and right when he grabbed for it, I knew I’d made a mistake.

Instead of pulling himself up, he heaved me down. I flipped over the edge of the cliff, grasping for the slippery rock. I managed to slip my other hand from Stubbled Chin’s grip and clutched to the mountain side, the sharp stone cutting into my palms. Without the use of my hands, I couldn’t summon my magic. The wind swirled and howled, making it nearly impossible to pull myself up, to do anything but just hold on for dear life.

Stubbled Chin looked over at me. “If I’m going to die,” he shouted, “I’m making damn sure you die with me.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Stubbled Chin kicked at the mountain, his feet clambering to get some kind of foothold. The mountain rumbled, and my heart thundered in my chest.

The rock above us loosened, and I realized what was happening before Stubbled Chin did.

“Quick,” I yelled. “Move your hands over. The rock?—”

But it was too late. The rock shifted under his hands, breaking loose and crumbling. Stubbled Chin let out one blood-curdling scream, and then he was falling down toward the vicious ocean far below.

I tensed as a gust of wind collided with me, and my fingers slipped just a little farther. Soon I’d be joining him down there.

“Poppy!” The prince’s horrified face appeared over me. He stretched out his hand, but I wasn’t within reach. “You have to fly,” he said. “You have to try or you’re going to die.”

“I can’t.” I wasn’t worthy. He didn’t understand, but I did. Spirit Sky didn’t deem me worthy of his magic. Why would he? I couldn’t even use it to defend myself properly.

“Poppy, please,” Prince Lochlan said. “You have to try.” He glanced behind him. “Where are Driscoll and Leoni? We need their magic. We need help.”

My wings twitched, but I couldn’t get them to flap, to lift me up in the air. It should’ve been the most natural thing in the world, but not for me.

The prince shimmied forward on his stomach.

“Stop!” I yelled. “You’re going to fall!”

“I will not let you die,” he said, inching farther.

He couldn’t lose his life because of me. Couldn’t risk himself like this. Shame swept over me. He gritted his teeth and stretched his arm out once again, his hand brushing mine.

“Let go and grab tight,” he commanded.

I had to do this. I had to try, or he’d keep inching forward until he fell right over with me. With a shaky breath, I reached up, and he clamped his hand tight around mine.

“I’ve got you,” he said, and then he started pulling. It was slow, steady, but I was able to get my feet into the grooves of the rock, and I pushed myself upward as he tugged.

“We’re almost there,” he said. “Just a little farther.”

I walked my feet up the side of the mountain, my entire body damp with sweat, struck through with fear. One misstep, and I’d fall. Prince Lochlan gave one last final heave, and I flew upward and back over the edge, barreling into him.

He brought his arms around me, didn’t even ask what happened, and for that I was thankful. I wouldn’t be able to speak even if I wanted to.

He shushed me and stroked my hair, and that’s when I finally let the tears come.