Chapter 11 #2
Next to Caelian, Sarelle stiffened. She ducked her head as the conversation carried on around them, twisting the skull ring around her finger.
“I know Prince Aspen is innocent in all of this. This violent discourse is not the nature of his magic. He is grounded too closely to the earth. He cares for the world around him too much to see it destroyed.”
Caelian glanced over at her sister. She dropped her voice lower, lifting one hand to her mouth to disguise her words. “You think the queen is to blame?”
“Perhaps.” She lifted one shoulder, then shifted, rolling it back. “But we all bore witness to the same event. At Novalise and Asher’s wedding, Prince Aspen did not create the corrupt creatures of twig and vine. He destroyed them.”
Though Sarelle spoke the truth, the prince’s triumph over the grotesque creatures did not eradicate him from all guilt.
In fact, there have been whispers among the five houses of Aeramere that it was done on purpose, that his participation was willful in order for him to play the part of the hero.
In an effort to distract from the truth of the matter—that unrest was once again spreading through the realm, except this time it was as though the land itself was being turned against them. Like it was being poisoned.
“You should make your sentiments known, Sarelle.” Caelian fiddled with the sheer sleeves of her periwinkle gown, running her finger back and forth along the inside hem. “I’m certain Ariesian will hear you out on the matter.”
“It’s possible,” she murmured, tucking her inky hair behind her ear as flecks of stardust fell around her like glitter. “Though I would prefer to wait until I have hard evidence, undeniable proof of his loyalty to Aeramere.”
Again, Caelian tugged at the roughly annoying hem. “And when do you think you will have such proof?”
“Not soon enough.” Though Sarelle’s deep blue gaze was trained on her lap, the corner of her mouth quirked slightly, tugging upward into a smirk. “But I have a plan.”
Well, at least one of them did.
Caelian’s current plan consisted of abandoning this family meeting as soon as possible in favor of her bedroom, where she could remain out of sight and avoid having to spend any more time in a shared space with Kjeld.
“Ah yes, and Caelian.”
Her head snapped up at Ariesian’s lackadaisical tone. “Yes?”
“You should go pack for your travels, you’re set to leave at dawn.
” He smoothed the navy and gold threaded lapel of his vest, his cold silver gaze drifting to the corner of the room where Kjeld stood in the silence of shadows.
“It appears you and General Holtstrom have quite the adventure set before you.”
Tomorrow. She was leaving tomorrow. She wouldn’t even have time to breathe, much less pack.
“Adventure,” Caelian repeated numbly. She’d nearly forgotten the fact that she was meant to accompany him to Brackroth, and that he’d agreed to take her to Wenfyre to help her uncover the truth behind her mother’s violent deception.
She swallowed the knot of nervous energy building in the back of her throat. “What sort of adventure?”
“The kind where you go to Brackroth and learn what you can about this new witch queen while playing the part of a proper lady whose reputation would never be doubted.” Ariesian ran his thumb along the edge of his smooth jaw.
“I’d rather avoid having to deal with another queen who poses a threat to Aeramere. One is enough.”
“Let me make sure I’m understanding you correctly. You want me to spy on this new queen?” Caelian rose from the couch, clasping her hands before her. She’d never been asked to do anything that could possibly put her life in danger. It was both thrilling and terrifying all at once.
Ariesian chuckled, shaking his head softly.
“Stars above, Caelian. I would never ask you to take such a risk. It is General Holtstrom who will be performing the dangerous task of eavesdropping and gathering what information he deems worthy of note to relay back to us. You, on the other hand, will serve as a pretty distraction.”
Kjeld coughed. Loudly.
Lovely.
Once again, she was being relegated to a position of little worth.
She didn’t want to think Ariesian was angry with her for the loss of her magic, but his disappointment was certainly palpable.
The mere fact that he was willing to ship her off to Brackroth with Kjeld while she missed the entirety of the Midsummer Season spoke volumes.
He didn’t think she would succeed in finding a husband, and without magic or really anything to offer, he was probably right.
All the more reason for her to go to Wenfyre and return with any information she could find regarding their mother to prove she was both deserving and competent, even without her magic.
“Fear not, Caelian.” Creslyn stood from her perch on Drake’s lap and closed the distance between them. She clasped her twin’s hands tightly. “You will be doing far more than serving as an elegant distraction.”
Caelian canted her head to one side. “What do you mean? Ariesian just said that—”
But Creslyn lifted one hand between them, quieting her argument. “Pay no heed to our brother, he is far too focused on only one aspect of this journey.”
“It’s true.” Drake unfolded himself from the chair, the sunlight splintering through the windows never quite reaching him. “You will be in charge of the dragons.”
Caelian paled and her stomach flipped.
“The eggs,” Creslyn corrected, cupping Caelian’s face with one hand. “You’re going to protect the eggs until they hatch safely. We’ve decided the nest is no longer safe and until we can determine the cause of the rotting earth, we want the eggs as far away from Aeramere as possible.”
“They’re coming with us?” Caelian couldn’t quite understand how she’d been volunteered as a babysitter. She knew absolutely nothing about baby dragons, or eggs for that matter. “And what if they hatch? What do I do then? I’m not their mother, I wouldn’t even know the first place to start.”
“Don’t worry, Caelian.” Drake gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Kjeld will be with you. He’s trained whelps from the day they’ve hatched until they’re fully grown, his knowledge is limitless. Any question you have, he will be able to answer.”
Caelian pressed her lips together to keep from expelling a dramatic sigh.
She didn’t want to have to ask Kjeld anything.
In fact, she would much prefer it if they weren’t required to speak to one another for the entirety of the trip.
Not after he yelled at her in the forest when she discovered him…
relieving himself of tension. Unfortunately, that notion was growing rather bleak with each passing second.
Not only would she have to talk to him, but now she would have to rely on him to explain things to her.
Under normal circumstances, she could manage, she would find a way to make things tolerable.
But knowing he was capable of torture, mostly when his hand was between her thighs, she wasn’t entirely sure she would survive.
Especially not when her mind drifted to the way he lazily pumped his cock while staring at her the whole time.
Simmering heat spread through her, and she glanced up to find Kjeld’s summer blue eyes piercing her.
“Pack lightly.” He spat the words out. “Between you and the dragon eggs, Odryss won’t be able to carry much else. Bring only what is necessary. Everything else can be purchased in Brackroth.”
His gruff demands hung in the air as he stalked out of the room, leaving Caelian to deal with the pitying glances of her siblings in the aftermath of his abrupt departure.
“Well,” she said to everyone and no one in particular, “this is going to be a wonderful trip.”
In truth, Caelian was only certain of one thing.
It was going to be an absolute nightmare.