Chapter 10
Serafina
Those who command the same element will experience a mind link, allowing them to communicate telepathically, even across great distances. The link can be formed between species, and once the mind link is formed, the potential to bond will follow.
Once the Etherbond is accepted, it can never be severed.
I close the book Ryjax had brought me, my thoughts whirling in my mind at all I’ve learned. A good distraction from the constant sting in my limbs from calling upon the flames last night.
I’ve been studying the Essentari all day, unable to fill my time with anything else.
Partly because I’m stuck in this room, but mainly because I find it fascinating.
There’s so much I don’t know, but just like with plants and herbs and how to make homemade remedies, my brain is craving the information, begging to understand as much as possible.
Telfi was the smart one. She absorbed knowledge like a sponge, but I’ve found that when the topic actually interests me, I can do the same. And learning more about what the Essentari can do—about what I can do—absolutely interests me.
The Etherbond.
When Ryjax told me the core’s magic had seeped into living beings, he wasn’t only talking about people.
I knew that.
There are certain animals, certain creatures that possess Essentari abilities as well.
The sea serpent, a beast of nightmares, commands the water. Its long, snakelike body with sharp fins lining its spine moves through the ocean with ease, controlling the currents and dominating the sea.
The yellow-tailed phoenix, a radiant bird with shimmering feathers, piercing eyes, and long talons, wields the light, just as Jax does.
The wraithwolf. One of the largest land creatures ever documented with its smokey fur and golden eyes. Far more intelligent than most beasts, keeping to the shadows which they too command.
The stonehide badger with its curved claws and stocky form, allowing it to move effortlessly through the earth, even if it was not able to part the soil, which it is.
The sky roc, an immense bird with powerful wings the size of a small house. Its sharp eyes pierce through the clouds, allowing it to see all that happens on the land below.
And the dragon. With shimmering scales that serve as armor, glowing with an ember-like heat, and when it roars, sparks and smoke follow, as though it breathes the essence of fire itself. The most powerful creature in all existence.
At least, it would be.
If the species hadn’t gone extinct over a century ago.
But they did.
Now those creatures only exist in bedtime stories, and I’ll never be able to form the Etherbond.
But I wonder if Ryjax has, although I doubt he’d be honest about it.
A bond between two beings is sacred, for when both decide to accept the bond, their lives are linked together forever.
- Essentari Bonding, page 21
If one dies, so does the other. Which would be very valuable information for an enemy of the royal family. Jax may be hard to reach within the limits of the Imperial City, but if he was bonded to an animal that lived outside of these walls…that beast could be a much easier target.
I stand, stretching my limbs slowly, carefully, trying to soothe the ache and not cause more of it. I wish so badly that I could do this beneath the heated sun, feeling the light pressure of a summer’s breeze.
Gods, I miss that feeling. I miss it more than I ever thought possible.
I wonder how far underground I am. How many feet below the surface? How many stairs would I need to climb to see the sun again?
My eyes land on the door.
The door Jax promised he would no longer lock.
Did he keep his promise?
Is it unlocked as he said?
Do I not deserve to find out?
Moving to stand beside it, I grip the knob ever so gently.
I just want to see if it will turn. That’s all. I won’t actually open it…I won’t actually…
The door swings toward me, and I jump back. My hand finds my heaving chest as my eyes land on Jax’s tall frame.
“Ever heard of knocking?” I breathe through my nose, trying to settle my rapidly beating heart.
“What were you doing?” he asks, eyeing me like I’ve committed a crime. “Why were you standing so close to the door?” He takes a step toward me, and I take one back.
“I was just…I…” My breathing is still out of control. I need to calm down.
“You what?” he presses, his voice sharp, and my fists tighten.
“I’m not the one in the wrong here,” I say, finally finding my voice.
“What if I had been naked?” I snap, and his eyes widen, but only slightly.
“Or is that what you were hoping for?” I swat at him, and his jaw flexes, accentuating his cheekbones and the rugged edges of his stupidly handsome face.
Gods, it’s like he was carved from stone.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice gravelly, which makes unwanted chills radiate throughout my body. “There was someone coming, and I figured they’d think it a bit odd if they saw me knocking on a door to a seemingly empty room.”
Oh.
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
But still.
“Don’t let it happen again.”
He holds up his hands in surrender, his eyes moving from me and landing on the book that lays open on the desk.
He walks over to it, and his fingers glide over the pages. “Learn anything interesting?”
“It’s all interesting,” I tell him, returning to the chair, hating the flustered feeling that’s settled in the pit of my stomach, desperate to focus on anything else.
“Question, though, what of the hybrids? The book states that you can only form the Etherbond with one beast that shares the same elemental connection. What of those who can command two? Those like you. Could you bond twice?”
“I wouldn’t know.” He scans the pages lazily. “I’ve never come across a phoenix.”
He says it so plainly, as if in doing so I’d miss what it was he wasn’t saying.
“But you’ve come across a wraithwolf.”
He doesn’t respond, and now I have so many questions, but before I can open my mouth to ask the first one, he’s already moving toward the door.
“A conversation for another time. I came to tell you that I won’t be able to come by later for our lesson. Something came up, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
And then he’s gone, not even allowing me the chance to say goodbye.
But why would he?
He is the prince, and I am no one.
Suddenly, the room feels bleaker than before. Darker. Smaller.
I’m not used to being alone. I rarely ever was.
And although I can’t say that I truly like the prince…his presence is still better than none at all.
How will I survive another two months of this?
Walking to the bathroom, I move to turn on the shower, but before I can, the door to my room opens for a second time, and I know it’s not Ishla because Ishla always knocks, and I’m fuming.
“I thought I told you—” The words die in my throat as I leave the bathroom behind because it’s not the prince standing in my room, and my heart falters.
He’s tall. A similar height to Jax with that same thick, onyx hair, sharp jaw, and straight nose. They’re related. I can tell that much. But this man appears a few years older and wears a devilish grin, one I’ve never seen on Jax before.
Alarm bells ring in my head.
He closes the door behind him and leans against the wall, his hazel eyes scanning me slowly, deliberately.
His grin widens.
“Do the men of this palace simply not know how to knock?” I cross my arms, keeping my voice steady, refusing to be afraid or feel threatened.
“Sorry, darling,” he says in a sexy drawl that makes me want to roll my eyes. He scans me once more before tilting his head. “I was expecting to find my cousin. But I must say, I much prefer this view.”
Cousin.
Which means this is… “Theo Bray, I presume?”
Son of the king’s younger brother, a man I’ve heard countless rumors about, but with the way he’s looking at me—like the hunter who’s found his prey—they may not be rumors after all.
Theo Bray, the shameless flirt.
Theo Bray, the womanizing rake.
Theo Bray, the man who can drop your panties with little more than a wink.
“How unfair of you to know my name when I haven’t had the pleasure of learning yours.”
His smile grows impossibly bigger, showcasing perfectly straight teeth. Gods, do all Bray men have to be so attractive? As if being born a royal in a crumbling society wasn’t a great enough prize, they’ve also been gifted looks that other men would kill for.
“Serafina,” I finally say, but I don’t move toward him, not that I’d need to. He’s already pushing himself off the wall and standing far too close for a stranger I’ve only just met.
He extends his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Serafina.” He dips his head and squints his eyes, analyzing me the same way Jax always seems to. I take his hand, hiding a wince behind a sigh, attempting to mask the pain the sudden movement causes. “Now tell me, what are you doing in my cousin’s secret room?”
“Not so secret if you know about it.”
He smirks at that. “Even so, my question remains. Are you two…” He cocks his brow, and my eyes widen at the mere thought of what he’s implying.
“Of course not!” My face heats as the words fly out of me, and I rip my hand away.
What a preposterous thing for him to even think, let alone say.
He chuckles. “I did not mean to offend you. It’s only…
I’ve never known Ryjax to allow a woman into this room.
Other than the servants, of course. I was starting to think he enjoyed denying himself certain…
” His eyes rake over me again. “Pleasures a companion such as yourself might provide. Pity to hear that may still be the case.”
He lets out a long sigh as my mind tries to make sense of his words.
Does the prince not have lovers? I would expect him to have countless.
“So if you and my dear cousin are not enjoying each other’s company in the most scandalous of ways…then what exactly are you doing in here, Serafina?”
“I…uh…” What the hell do I say? What the hell do I…
A sharp knock sounds at the door, the most welcome interruption I’ve ever heard.
“Serafina.” His deep voice washes over me, and Theo turns so he’s standing just beside me. His arm brushes against my shoulder.
“Well, this just got interesting,” he whispers, more than entertained by this particular turn of events. “Why don’t you come in, Cousin? We were just talking about you.” He raises his voice, but the door doesn’t open.
One. Two. Three seconds pass, and still, it does not open.
Until finally, it does.
Ryjax enters, every muscle in his face appearing tight as he takes in the scene, eyes moving from me to Theo. Me to Theo. His nostrils flare, but neither of the men say a damn thing.
“I thought you said something came up?” I say before glancing up at Theo, whose face is consumed by a shit-eating grin.
“You’re looking at it,” Jax says, and my eyes flash to him instead. He is not grinning. He looks quite furious actually. “I was surprised to hear you’d already left Bragunda.”
Bragunda.
The country across the ocean.
I’ve only ever heard stories of Bragunda, and none of them have been pleasant. It’s a place of merciless cruelty, even more so than what the people of Velegoria face.
With the country being so much larger than ours, they’ve employed additional means to curb the population, forced famine in certain regions and water denied to entire cities.
Not to mention their trials are far more brutal than what we experience here. For in Bragunda, the nation’s youth are encouraged to kill when competing in their trials, and only after significant blood has been spilled are the trial winners announced.
“Not by choice, I assure you,” Theo says, unmistakable anger weaves its way into each of his features. “My mother requested my return. You know how she gets around this time of year. She demanded I be home for the celebration.”
“Celebration?” I blurt out.
“The third trials will be starting soon.” Theo shrugs, as if that response is all I need to understand, and I feel sick because I do understand.
“You celebrate the murder of nearly half the—”
“Murder?” Theo turns to me, and I want to vomit because what do they call it? Salvation? Surely they must if they believe it worth celebrating.
“Yes, murder, you entitled, narcissistic, piece of—” I stop myself, trying my best to control my anger because I cannot speak this way to a royal. Even though I really, really want to, and I have a very hard time not doing what I want. Screw it. “Shit. You narcissistic piece of shit.”
His eyes widen and something that looks an awful lot like realization crosses his face. He lets loose a choked laugh, as if he truly can’t believe what he’s seeing.
“You aren’t from here,” he says, and then he laughs again, which only further serves to ignite my rage. “Oh, Ryjax, tell me you didn’t.” And now my insides feel hot. Everything feels hot, and I don’t have to look to know my hands are on fire. “Well, this just got even more interesting.”
He steps away from me and my flames.
“Theo, I think it best you leave now,” Ryjax grinds out, everything about him still looking tense. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard, as originally planned.”
“Sorry, Cousin. I didn’t mean to stumble upon this delectable secret of yours. But I must say, I’m very glad that I did. Until next time, Little Flame.” He bows his head before exiting the room.
Jax just stands there looking about as dumbstruck as I feel.
“Am I in danger?” I ask, because Jax has reminded me several times that no one but Ishla can know that I’m here.
Finally, the muscles in his face seem to relax, and the crease between his brows disappears.
“No. Theo is harmless. Annoying. Arrogant. And, at times, painfully invasive.” He runs his hand through his thick, unruly hair. “But harmless.”
“You’re sure?” Because that man with his intense gaze and cocky smirk seemed anything but harmless.
“Yes. I’m sorry, Serafina. That wasn’t…he wasn’t…” His jaw tightens. “He was out of the country, and I only just learned he was back. I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Celebration.
Of course, they would celebrate the death of us. Why would I ever expect anything different? But hearing him say that word out loud? Something snapped in me.
My sisters are dead.
All three of them.
Dead, and they celebrated while I mourned.
“Consider it done.”
Then, off he goes.
I sink to the ground, clutching my necklace. A necklace that should have belonged to Drea. She was the eldest after all. And if not her, then maybe Lucia or even Telfi.
But not me.
This necklace should not belong to me.
But it does. Because unlike them, I lived.