Chapter 32
LEON
All day and night I dream of Izadella. Her tears of betrayal haunt me, the agony I’ve caused stark on her beautiful features.
I run after her endlessly through the haze of my guilt, hallway after hallway, but she is never within reach.
Her sobs echo inside my head as the dream fades and reality returns.
I wake with the grip of contempt for myself, my magic slowly leaving me.
How long will it take ’til I am empty of everything that makes me fae, freeing me of my own torment?
I must find her. I have not begged at her feet for forgiveness yet. I have too much left to redeem myself for before I leave the land of the living so quickly.
When I rise, I tie my black-and-silver strands back and find new clothing waiting. Boots of fine leather shine, dark breeches stitched with impeccable quality. A green high-collared shirt with a long row of emerald buttons and golden embroidery that swirls down my arms.
This clothing is fit for royalty, but I miss what I wore in Ellova. Who I was there.
Not a king, not a healer.
Just hers.
This was not how I thought my triumphant return would be.
Instead of joyous cheers of arriving with a dying Jedrick freely ready to give me his crown, I find myself drowning in guilt and anger, shame and longing for Izadella.
I go in search of my brother. When I knock on the door of his private study, the guards that flank its entrance let me pass.
Callen is writing a long letter, his desk neatly organized with official papers and scrolls, his royal seal on them all.
His hair stands at odd angles from his hands running through it.
He keeps this place immaculate, so unlike the chaos of our father before him.
A grin tugs at me at the reminder he is a far better leader than our apathetic father ever was.
He greets me with kind curiosity. “How are you feeling?” He glances down at my chest, frowning at the hidden scars he knows are there.
“Better. Please know I have no intention to abandon this family. Izadella needs time away from me, and until she seeks me out again, I wish to assist you in any way you need.” It is possible she will never attempt to find me, but I refuse to give up hope.
“I am sorry yesterday was not the reunion you may have hoped for.”
My brother nods. “You must do whatever it takes to get your mate back in the time you have left.” His eyes soften.
“You will always be a prince here. In the meantime, I would like to make you my advisor. You have valuable insight on Adreania we can use against them. Once this war and Grayden have been dealt with, Kalvorn can enter a new era. I delayed a great many things in your absence. Decisions for this kingdom I felt were your place to make, since I was not its true king, but now…” His words fade and he does not need to speak of the grief we both share.
“There is no time for me. Make this kingdom your own. I hope I live to see it continue to flourish.”
“You would have made a great king. Once Kalvorn knew of your sacrifice, your bravery to try and retrieve our ancestor’s crown, they would have loved you. Please know even if you never sit on the throne, you will always be its true ruler.”
I am touched by his words. “Thank you. You have stewarded this kingdom with honor. Tales of your kindness and prosperity are known in every corner of Adreania.”
“I have many grand ideas for the future of Kalvorn and will want your thoughts on all of them.”
Pride shines within me. “I look forward to hearing your plans.”
“I think it is best that we reveal our deception to the kingdom. They will understand and you will be seen as the hero prince you deserve to be. Prince Zilas—”
“Just Leon. I would like to go by Leon.”
His answering grin makes me chuckle. “Prince Leon then.”
“Where is the current prince?” I’ve missed my younger brother, but I have another reunion I am eager to have with my cousin, Sailon, who has been masquerading as the youngest prince.
Callen sighs. “About a month ago, a ship arrived from Adreania, one specifically meant for you. Imagine my disappointment when it did not hold my brother as intended but a myriad of malnourished orphans. A mortal named Cyanna was escorted to the family estate per your request. Estelle has been ensuring they are all treated well and received everything they need. Sailon has been accompanying her. They returned this morning.”
The Tullewood Estate, the place our mother hid Callen, Sailon, and me for enough years that she was easily able to switch us before sending me away, the rest rejoining the court.
The estate where I intended to send Izadella and her false family. My stomach tightens with the reminder of nights I spent twisted in guilt over my feelings for a married woman.
How greedy I was to have my future Zemra all to myself.
I cared little for her husband. If she wanted me in the ways I needed her, nothing was going to stop me.
I imagined sending her to Kalvorn, finally revealing myself as king, hoping she would agree to be my personal jewelry maker.
I would continue to commission countless pieces I had no need for, just to spend time with her.
Hours for us to be alone, to get closer, dishonorable as it might have been.
A thundering boom from inside the throne room put us both on alert.
Callen and I both take off running. Some of his guards try to protect him, standing in his way, but no one makes any attempt to deny me entrance.
A large crack runs down the center in front of the dais.
Roots rush upward through the malachite tile, branches swirling around themselves to form a tree in the center of the throne room, small purple buds blooming.
Only one person has the exuberance of power and enough confidence to arrive in a potentially hostile kingdom in the middle of their damn throne room.
Nueena.
She steps out from the beautifully twisted tree, Tavien standing protectively behind her.
Guards surround my brother, swords drawn. Archers hold their bows high.
My heart lurches in my chest. “Don’t attack her!” I yell, but it is too late. Panic shoots through me as fast as the arrows flying towards her. If we have killed the heir to the Ellovian throne and Izadella’s best friend, Kalvorn will be nothing but ash by the time Nyvenah is done with us.
Tavien waves his hand effortlessly, a shield of sapphire flames swirling around her like shadows and smoke. The arrows hit his protective magic with powerful precision, but they collapse into dust at his Zemra’s boots.
“Thank you, my love,” she says, not looking back.
I turn to my brother. “If you do not wish to start a war, tell your men to lower their weapons.”
He nods in confusion. “Stand down!”
The guards obey their king and step back.
Nueena does not even glance in his direction. She only stares with an annoyed glare, approaching me.
My heart beats rapidly. Whatever reason she is here must have to do with Izadella.
Rage and power come off her in waves. Following Nueena is an amused Tavien, who looks around the room, soaking up the details, and speaks before Nueena does. “Beautiful castle. Can’t believe you roughed it in Adreania for so long.”
I give him a small smile. I didn’t think I would ever see him again, so I choose to be thankful for whatever has brought them here.
“Where is she?” Nueena asks me, her tone sharp.
My stomach twists into painful knots. Dread spreads down my body.
Did Izadella try to find me and Nueena managed to arrive before her?
I don’t dare hope Izadella came after me, but why else would Nueena be here?
My love’s heartbreaking last words make her chasing after me seem like exceptionally foolish wishful thinking.
“Nueena…I haven’t seen or spoken to Izadella since I left Ellova. She told me she never wanted to speak to me again. I left with the Adreanian rebels and—” This is clearly the wrong answer to give her.
She shakes her head. “Don’t play dumb with me, Your Majesty. I know Della is here. Now go get her and tell her she belongs with us in Ellova. She can come willingly, or I can sling her over my shoulder, but either way I’m not leaving without her.”
“I swear, if she is here, she has not revealed herself to me. Believe me, right now I’d want nothing more than to see her, speak to her, explain everything.”
“You think I believe that for one moment?” She laughs but it has no humor in it.
“She has not been seen since you left. She was spotted on her horse, leaving with your little army, following you! Save whatever bullshit lies you have. Tell Della that I already forgive her for bringing a lying spy into my realm. We have fought before and we will fight again, but I’ll be damned if she does not stand in that room with me when I’m crowned Realm Keeper. ”
“Nueena, I—”
“We have been talking about that day for a hundred and twenty fucking years, and I might be livid at her for running away but she will return with me. If you have taken her against her will, do not be surprised when I march every soldier under my command back here to retrieve her the very second I’m in full control of the Ellovian army! ”
The knots at the bottom of my stomach tighten. How can Nueena not know where she is?
Lost for words, I stare at her. It has always been obvious that their friendship ran deep, but starting a war is loyalty beyond words. She takes after Zarella in that way. It is a comfort to know Izadella will be so loved by those in her life after I fade from it.
I wanted to be one of those people to love her like that. “I promise you I haven't seen her.”
She narrows her eyes. “Della loves Ellova. So, I understand how distraught she would be, knowing she led an enemy into our home and shared far too much information with someone who could turn around and use it against us. First, she says she never wishes to see you again and the next moment she’s riding off with your army.
Something I would never have believed if I did not see it with my own eyes!
I cannot fathom why she would have changed her mind so easily after what you had done. ”
How can no one know where she is? What if she’s not safe? What if she’s alone in the forest?
“I am not your enemy, Nueena. No one here is, but we need to find her, immediately.” Panic bleeds into my being. Air is harder to take in. Something is wrong; I know it.
“He hasn't shared anything with us, if that's what you are implying.”
Nueena glances at Callen in obvious irritation at our conversation being interrupted, a bold move to stare like that at a king in his own castle.
I didn’t want to bring him into this conversation yet, but introductions are inevitable. “This is Nueena and her Zemra, Tavien.” I turn to face my brother, dreading this interaction. “And my brother, King—”
“Still pretending to be Leon?” Nueena laughs dryly. “Little late for that now, isn’t it?”
I take a deep breath. “No, he is the king of Kalvorn. I abdicated the throne shortly after I arrived home yesterday, so any war you wish to start will be with him, not me.’’