Chapter 31
Starbloom petals, when boiled, can be consumed as a tonic to heal most maladies. Great caution should be practiced, however, as too great a ratio of petals can cause the opposite effect, worsening the affliction or even causing asphyxiation.
Medela Head Philosopher at Virellia University of Healing
“I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE issue,” Astraia said flatly as she tore into a sweet roll, her mouth watering from hunger.
She sat across from Caelan at the ridiculously posh oak table in the dining hall as Graves served them breakfast. Her fingers traced the intricately carved design along the edge of the table, vines and flowers whittled into the wood in a beautiful array to match the manor’s elaborate gardens.
“You cannot just go back out there. We were almost slaughtered, burned with shadow and fire. I will not allow it,” he fumed, leveling his eyes on her. She could see his jaw tick in the morning light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
She chuckled softly before setting down her roll and leaning forward in her chair.
“I am not sure which is more laughable—the fact that you believe me ignorant of the risk, or the fact that you truly believe you have authority over me.” Her voice lowered as she willed her Power bond to flash in her eyes, white light glowing in a challenge.
He slammed his fist on the table, giving her a start, the dishes rattling in protest. “I will not lose you again. If you are so determined to go, then I go with you,” he asserted, his own eyes pulsing green in defiance.
The potted plants in the room exploded from their holding vases, dirt spilling onto the carpet and roots shooting out like fingers. But Astraia did not break his stare as she rose deliberately from her chair, hands clenched on the table’s carved edge.
“You are not yet recovered from blood loss. Your shoulder is also not fully healed. It needs to be worked, stretched. You would be a hindrance, not a help. I am going. Alone,” she snapped, her hands glowing white as Power fed on her anger, ready to split the table in two.
The chair crashed to the floor as Caelan stood, hands shimmering green. A vine outside broke through a windowpane, twisting itself through the hole and creeping up the wall. Astraia clenched her teeth, watching his mouth open with a retort, just as the dining hall door flung open.
Draven waltzed into the room, halting mid-stride when his eyes landed on Astraia’s, then flickered to Caelan. His eyebrow rose as he assessed the scene unfolding before him—two Starborne ready to unleash their fury over the breakfast table.
“Should I even ask?” he drawled, ignoring the glare from Caelan as he sat down in the chair nearest Astraia. He grabbed an apple and leaned back as he ate, unperturbed.
Astraia huffed before she sat back down, pulling on her tether to allow her bond to calm. Caelan hesitated, clearly irritated at the interruption, but reined in his own bond before resetting his chair and sitting.
“Traia wishes to leave on another scouting mission to find the wraiths. Alone,” Caelan muttered, staring into his teacup, refusing to make eye contact with her.
Draven peered up from his apple, eyebrows lifted as he looked at her.
“Tell Draven about your men’s report from the scouting mission.” She glared at Caelan, spearing a poached pear with a fork far more aggressively than necessary.
He glared back at her, clearing his throat.
“The men we sent east did not discover any new wraiths or evidence of burning villages. It appears the wraiths had attacked the village south of Asynjur and moved west toward the first village we encountered. Keyser and Taurus were able to evacuate the people in time, but the entire village was razed to the ground. Burned with shadow and fire. Then the wraiths just vanished without a trace…” His voice trailed off, a flicker of regret in his eyes.
She knew he harbored remorse for any deaths and destruction, though it was not his fault. A guilt she knew too well.
“All the more reason to seek more information. We cannot allow this evil to spread unchecked. They will not stop with Virellia. They will consume all of Astradeon. And I cannot let that happen. Will not let it happen,” she stated calmly, resolutely, rebuking any challenge.
Sitting straighter in her chair, hands resting on the armrests, she narrowed her eyes at him.
“The Stars are with me. Are you, Lord Vireaux?”
Caelan turned three shades of red, mouth agape, then snapped it shut. His mouth pressed into a thin line as he sat stunned. Draven smirked, sipping on his tea as the room became very quiet.
Seconds passed until Caelan finally sighed, slumping back into his chair. “Fine. But at least take my men with you.”
“I will go with her,” Draven interrupted, casting Caelan a sideways glance.
Caelan opened his mouth to counter, but Astraia put up her hand in protest.
“He’s going with me. No other men. We cannot risk being seen by the wraiths. And you cannot risk your men. I fear there will come a day when you will need every able-bodied man in Virellia to defend against the evil seeping into the realm. But today is not that day.”
She stood, the scrape of her chair across the marble floor echoing through the hall. Giving Caelan a curt nod, she strode from the room without another word.
***
Astraia stood poring over the maps of Virellia she had unfurled across the library table.
The smell of old books and parchment made her heart ache for a time when she would escape from Elion and Caelan, burying herself in the pages of ancient texts.
She ran her finger along the Njord River, retracing the path of their previous failed mission.
“So, care to elaborate on your plan, Starborne?” His husky voice filled the room, causing her skin to pebble and heat to rush to her face.
The tension from their unfinished conversation of the previous night hung in the air. She still had questions, a lot of them, but for now, they would have to wait.
“I believe I told you once that you do not get to be privy to my plans.” She smirked, casting him a sideways glance.
His gaze was already locked on her, ablaze with more than just the anticipation of their hunt. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.
“Given your plans always end in bloodshed and near-death encounters, I would rather save myself the trouble of saving you again and have some insight as to what I should anticipate.” He smirked back at her, arms crossed.
She rolled her eyes, refocusing on the map.
“You are embellishing, but I will humor you.” She pointed to Asynjur on the map, just over the Njord River that bordered north Virellia.
“Caelan received correspondence from Asynjur weeks back about wraith sightings. It was sent from someone called the Bear. He has not been heard from in weeks. Caelan does not know who this mystery informant is, but I believe we start there. Perhaps we can corroborate his claims and see what he or anyone else at the fort may know about the origins of the wraiths.”
Draven only nodded, peering down at the map where she plotted their course.
They would take a different route than the previous scouting party to save some time, cutting straight across the Virellian hills northeast to Asynjur, rather than following the river.
It would take a little over a day’s journey to get there.
“We will need to be cautious. The Shardborne bandits are known to lurk in the mountains closer to Asynjur. They can be almost as disagreeable as you,” he added, glancing over at her, a tendril of his hair falling across his forehead.
She had the urge to either move it behind his ear or tear it from his scalp.
“You truly know how to make a woman feel exceptional,” she quipped, yanking the map away from the table. She turned and made to walk out of the library only to feel a tug on her arm, a rough hand wrapped around her wrist.
She stopped, turning to look at her wrist, then at Draven.
His eyes were wild as he closed the distance between them. She attempted to pull away, but he only held her tighter. She tried to control her breathing, willing her lungs to inhale and exhale slowly, but it was no use. Just his scent alone made her feel faint.
He tugged her toward him, all her willpower evaporating at his touch. His lips grazed her ear as he whispered, sending a shiver down her spine.
“One day, Starborne, you will finally wake up and realize how exceptional you truly are. And I hope I’m there to witness that day. When not even the Stars would question your glory.”
Her heart stopped. The air between them heated, and her bonds screamed, begging to be set loose.
Draven pulled away from her, standing only a hand’s breadth away.
Astraia could see the end of his tattoos peeking out of his shirt collar, the faint pink lines painted along with the black—mysterious scars that marred his beautiful skin.
A small tick on the side of his neck pulsed, his heart beating just as fast as hers.
Her gaze landed on his lips, smooth and soft, parted ever so slightly, and finally, she met his stare. Longing stared back at her, pure and unfettered. She leaned toward him, overwhelmed with the desire to feel his lips on hers, to feel exceptional by his touch.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, then he dropped her wrist. “Someday soon, I will make sure you never second-guess your worth again.” Moving away from her, he strode for the door. Hand resting on the doorknob, he turned his head back toward her. “I will meet you at the stables.”
The door clicked closed, and air rushed back into her lungs.
She gasped, bracing herself on the table.
It took several moments before she could no longer feel her heart beating wildly in her chest and her skin cooled.
Her body was a symphony of exhilaration and undeniable desire, but her mind was a storm of frustration and uncertainty.
The combination of both only led her to one conclusion: Draven was more dangerous than she thought.
Cursing under her breath, she left to gather supplies.