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

Chapter 16

We’d reached Winded. Thank the bloody waters.

Poppy had finally relented and told us what happened to her on that cliff outside Feathered. My little bird. She’d been so brave, fighting off three men at once, using her magic in such a clever way to push them off the edge of the cliff. Somehow, she hadn’t seen it that way, convinced she hadn’t done enough, wasn’t worthy of this magic that was hers by birthright.

She’d been in a fog for days after that harrowing experience, but slowly, I’d lifted her out of it with my jokes and stories and teasing.

She was almost back to her normal self, and now, I couldn’t stop staring at her, at the wonder in her eyes as she took the royal city in.

She’d stayed silent as we entered through the silver gates of the city, winged guards nodding at us after they patted us down and decided we weren’t a threat. The stone road shot straight down toward the city, filled with the domed buildings native to Valoris, all shoved close together. Elementals soared above us, the sky full of wings and feathers. No one actually lived in the city—everyone’s homes built into the sides of the isle, little cave dwellings that they’d made quite sophisticated over the years. It also made it very hard to escape one-night stands. Their homes were made to easily fly into and out of. So when I’d wanted to sneak away one morning after a night with a sky elemental, I’d almost died falling off the damn cliff. She’d come upon me, hanging over the edge of her front door, and made me apologize for being a pig before she’d pulled me up and flew me to safety. I’d avoided flings with sky elementals after that experience.

Poppy arched her neck, and I didn’t miss the tight way her wings folded to her back beneath her cloak. That experience on the cliff had scarred her, and now she refused to even try to fly. I wished I could’ve faced those men, that I’d never left Poppy alone like that. I would’ve ripped their fucking throats out for what they did to her, stealing her gold and satchel, then attacking her, making her feel like she’d done something wrong by defending herself. I shook away the thoughts.

It didn’t matter. We were here now, and I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

The castle hung over the city in the distance, huge and remarkable. I’d visited a few times on diplomatic trips, and it had always been dizzying to be flown up there by the sky elementals, even more dizzying staying there as a guest, knowing your only way down was at their mercy.

Poppy ran toward a bubbling fountain that sat in a pavilion and sank onto the edge, trailing her fingers through the water. Restaurants with sweeping balconies surrounded the courtyard, sky elementals eating and drinking, their wings draped over their chairs. Others hurried through the courtyard, some on foot and others daring to fly through the narrow streets packed with businesses. Driscoll, Leoni, and I stopped and let her have a moment to take it all in. The city was easy to navigate, a simple square with four main roads that crisscrossed. From here, I could see over the edge of the isle where Winded lay, the cold blue seas far down below, the green expanse of the cliffs stretching out. After weeks of sleeping outside, trekking through the cold, I was ready for a warm bath and a bed.

I peered at Poppy as a younger sky girl landed on the edge of the fountain and kicked her foot through the water, splashing it up. Poppy laughed in delight, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Most people would be annoyed at the child, but not Poppy. She found so much joy in the world around her. Not to mention, she was incredibly smart—all those years spent reading books in her tower paying off. She also gave so much of herself to others. She tickled the girl, speaking to her and telling her some story that made the girl’s eyes light up in delight. She splashed back at the little girl, who giggled.

We’d spent weeks together now, long days walking, talking. Long nights spent around the fire telling stories. I regaled everyone with tales of my adventures with Mal and Gabby, sneaking out of our castle, riding waves in the sea, interacting with the sea folk. It had delighted Poppy, which delighted me. She, in turn, told stories about her and her gran, the books they’d read together, the things they’d make for their tower. I didn’t understand her relationship with her gran, didn’t understand how Poppy wasn’t angry at the woman for choosing to isolate them in a tower. Surely her gran could’ve come up with a better way to protect them than keeping Poppy hidden from the world.

“Prince Lochlan, what an honor,” a woman said from next to me.

I turned to see a redhead curtsying, the ends of her black wings brushing the ground. She wore a thick wool dress with boots and a jacket. She was pretty, and from the calculating way she stared at me, she knew it. She was also blocking my view of Poppy, and my annoyance fought with my urge to accommodate her.

So I’d tell a little white lie. No feelings hurt, no conflict. Easy.

“You have the wrong person,” I said, pushing past her. “If you’ll excuse me.”

She scoffed behind me but didn’t chase after. I raised the hood of my cloak over my head, hoping to stay inconspicuous from here on out.

“Did you just reject the advances of a beautiful woman?” Driscoll asked, coming up on one side of me with a fried potato on a stick that he was eating. Apparently these were a popular street food in Valoris.

“Are you feeling okay?” Leoni asked from the other side.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine. I just don’t want to draw attention. We’re on a mission. Remember?”

“If you say so,” Driscoll said. “But that woman looked like she wanted to do a lot of very bad things to you.” He glanced at Leoni and snapped his fingers. “A stranger fantasy. You’re walking on the street, and a dashing water elemental walks up to you and whispers in your ear that he wants to stick his hard?—”

“No,” Leoni cut him off. “I’m a royal guard. You think I’m going to just go to bed with a random stranger? They could be a murderer or a thief.”

“You take the joy out of everything,” Driscoll said flatly.

“I don’t have time for a fling.” I waved my hand dismissively, watching as Poppy used her magic to create waves in the fountain.

“You don’t have time for a fling?” Leoni asked. “You? The playboy prince? You once bedded a woman in the stables on our way to the fire court when we’d stopped for five minutes to switch out our mares.”

I snorted, remembering how the hay had poked me everywhere. “Your point?”

“You always make time.”

My gaze lingered on Poppy. “Well, not today.”

“If you say so... I’ll ask around about booking passage on a ship,” Leoni said. “We have a long journey down the isle, and hopefully we can secure some horses or donkeys or something.”

We’d tried to get horses when we arrived in Feathered, but the sky court was in low supply. Their citizens had no need, for obvious reasons, but they did use horses to pull carts and transport goods, and they had no extras for us to use, making our journey harder and longer than we’d anticipated.

Poppy gasped as another younger elemental, a boy, flew down and offered her a flower. She brought it to her nose, inhaling the scent like it was the best thing she’d ever smelled, then handed it to the little girl.

Leoni made to move to go on her mission, but I shot out my arm and blocked her. She gave me a questioning look.

“Don’t. Book a passage. Not yet.”

“Why?” Suspicion filled her voice.

Poppy leaned back and lifted her face to the sun. “She just got her freedom. She deserves a chance to enjoy the city, to live a little before she boards a ship and is carted off to the shadow court.” I shuddered at the idea of Poppy stuck on that island, of her shadow getting taken like mine had. She’d be trapped again, a prisoner just like she’d been in that tower. I wasn’t sure I could stomach that.

Leoni’s eyes darkened. “Prince Lochlan, your shadow?—”

I glanced down at the blue lines, now inching closer to the top of my chest. “It’ll be fine. A few days in the city isn’t going to hurt anyone. Don’t tell me the idea of a bed and three hot meals a day doesn’t tempt you.”

Driscoll raised a finger. “I’m sold.”

Leoni bit her lip. “I’m supposed to be protecting you. I understand what you mean about Poppy. I want her to be able to enjoy herself, too, but your life is on the line, and it’s my job?—”

“Leoni.” I let that familiar charming smile slip over my lips. “It’s just a few days. I promise.”

I hoped she’d drop it, that this wouldn’t turn into an issue between us.

She hesitated, then glanced at Poppy and said, “Okay. A few days.”

I clapped my hands together. “Good. Glad we settled that.” I slung my arms around Driscoll’s and Leoni’s shoulders. “Let’s have some fun, and then to the shadow court we go.”

“Do you swear it?” Leoni asked.

I rolled my eyes and raised my hand. “Swear it on my good looks.” She cocked an eyebrow, and I sighed. “I swear it on my mother. Good enough?”

She hesitated but finally gave a curt nod. Her gaze swept over the courtyard, and she frowned.

“What’s wrong, shorty?” Driscoll asked.

Whatever was bothering her, it was alarming enough that she didn’t even protest at Driscoll’s nickname for her.

“Do either of you notice the way everyone keeps glancing at Poppy? I’ve seen it a few times now. Here and in Feathered.”

I frowned, watching as Poppy and the little girl sat together, heads huddled, the little girl now chattering away while Poppy listened intently. Then I noticed the man walking past the fountain, the way his gaze kept darting to her. Leoni was right.

My stomach clenched, but there were others who passed her without a second look. I thought about what she’d told us of her gran, that she had enemies who would come after Poppy if they knew about her. If only we knew who those enemies were and if they were confined to the shadow court or not.

My gaze shifted. “Let’s get to the inn.”

And get Poppy out of sight. I’d been so worried about the shadow court and its dangers to Poppy, I hadn’t considered the real threat might already be here, in the sky court.