Chapter Eight
Reign
Aelia’s smile grew wider with each wing flap, every dragon-length closer we came to the Conservatory of Luce. After all she’d endured under the hands of her fellow Light Fae students upon her arrival nearly a year ago, I never imagined the bouts of happiness roaring through the cuorem at returning.
She was truly thrilled to be home.
Her word, not mine.
Aelia may have been a child of twilight, a perfect amalgamation of rais, nox and zar, but her heart was pure light. It was unwavering in its warmth, defiant in its glow, and capable of illuminating even the darkest corners of this entire realm.
Not that I’d ever truly believed she could be that harbinger of oblivion the prophecy spoke of, but the more I understood her, the clearer it became that one day, all of Aetheria would kneel before her flame.
If you’re quite finished brooding over your incredible mate, where would you like me to land? Phantom’s irritated snarl sailed through my thoughts as the alabaster turrets of Luce streaked through the serene azure sky.
My, my, what’s gotten you into such a mood, old girl?
Perhaps it’s the constant state of vexing giddiness rushing through our bond. From your end.
I thought you’d be happy for me…
She huffed out a breath, plumes of smoke curling around her nostrils. I’m trying, Reign.
What’s wrong? Things aren’t going well with Solanthus? You seem to be spending a lot of time together.
We are, but unfortunately, that dragon is a stubborn, blasted beast. You’re lucky your mate has a more forgiving nature than mine.
I can have Aelia speak to Solanthus on your behalf, if you’d like.
No, we’ll sort things out eventually. You know how I hate to grovel, Reign…
A laugh erupted from my lips unbidden. Phantom, grovel? I never thought I’d live to see the day.
You’re not the only one. She snorted, flames licking across her snout. Well, shall I land in the cover of the Lightwood Forest?
Yes, that will be fine. Thank you, old girl.
Before I could signal to Solanthus, the enormous golden dragon’s wings angled toward the forest Phantom had just pointed out. The pair of feuding dragons may not have been in the best place in their relationship, but clearly, the mental link that connected them was still at full strength.
As soon as Phantom’s talons grazed the earth in the small clearing of the forest just west of the campus, I scanned the designated meeting spot for any sign of my half-brother. But he was nowhere in sight.
Aelia’s friends, on the other hand, had shown up as instructed.
Judging by the sound of their boisterous laughter, they were more than thrilled with her homecoming.
She’d already slid off her dragon and the three best friends now huddled in a circle, chatting and giggling as if they hadn’t seen each other in months.
And if that Lightspire male didn’t get his hands off my mate, I would—
Inhaling a deep breath, I fought back the surge of zar that twisted with the wild possessive urges ignited by the cuorem. Extending my wings, I leapt off Phantom’s back and landed beside Aelia. Gently, much more gently than the urge demanded, I drew her into my side and away from the handsy male.
I’d stupidly thought that now that my mate’s ears had sharpened into glorious points, that Lightspire fool would leave them alone. But no, he seemed as obsessed with them as ever.
“Where’s Ruhl?” I barked at the Liteschild female, ignoring the male completely.
My attempts at keeping her at arms’ length ever since Aelia’s astral possession incident had proven futile. She wasn’t at all embarrassed by the fact that I’d nearly mauled her in the kitchens of Duskridge Manor believing her to be my mate. Which I had in fact been right about, but still…
“Haven’t seen him yet, but I could have sworn I felt an influx of nox pervading the dormitories a few hours ago.” Rue’s light brows knitted. “In fact, I thought you’d arrived early, professor.” She shrugged before continuing to chatter on with Aelia, essentially dismissing me.
Noxus, where was he?
I preferred to have the conversation about our father within this secluded area of the forest as opposed to inside the campus. Who knew what sort of prying eyes and ears still roamed Luce?
“All of you, wait here. I will steal across campus and search the dormitories for my brother.” Could he have misunderstood the meeting spot?
The three friends barely spared me a glance as they chatted away.
“Lightspire,” I growled, grabbing the male by the shoulder.
“Yes, professor?” Panicked, lilac eyes found mine.
“Aelia’s safety is in your hands. Do you understand?”
“Yes, of course. She’s perfectly safe.” He grinned from ear-to-ear, throwing his arm around her shoulder, oblivious to the danger he was putting himself in, per the usual.
“I never said you could touch her,” I snarled, a frenzy of shadows coiling around the fool.
His arm snapped back, a tremor rolling through his entire body. “Right, of course not.”
Satisfied, I commanded a wave of my shadows to peel away and remain with Aelia and allowed the others to conceal me in a blanket of night. With a quick goodbye to my mate, I headed toward the edge of campus.
Draven would only know I was here when I wished it. And before I let the headmaster in on our return, it was crucial I knew where my father stood on the Helroth matter.
Cloaked in shadows, I flew across the property, passing the slew of students practicing with luminescent weapons on the training field.
As I watched the inept first years, it occurred to me that in Aelia’s absence, she, along with Symon and Rue, were now halfway through their second year.
Aelia had missed the entirety of her third term and now the fourth was well under way.
It could very well be the last for every student on this campus.
If Helroth had his way, we’d be plunged into war for another hundred years. I could not allow that to be our fate.
Finally reaching the fountain in front of the Hall of Glory, I couldn’t help my thoughts from flitting back in time to the day I’d brought Aelia to the Conservatory.
I’d been terrified as she stood poised at the threshold, at the Veil of Judgement, awaiting the verdict of the gods.
Only a few hours with the sharp-mouthed little Kin, and already, the overwhelming urge to protect her had taken root.
If only I’d known then what that incessant tug had meant…
Shaking my head with a rueful smile, I ascended the marble steps and skulked into the foyer. The grand entry was quiet, most students in the midst of lessons. Loosing tendrils of shadow, I sent my messengers through the building ahead to find my brother.
By the time I passed the third level climbing up the endlessly spiraling glass staircase, one of my shadow minions curled around my ear.
“No, it can’t be…” I hissed.
Racing up the remaining steps, I darted down the hallway of the second-year dormitories, still cloaked in concealing shadows. My dark messenger halted in front of a familiar door, and a potent mix of anger and disbelief flooded my senses when I pressed my ear to the light timber.
The moment I opened the door to Liora’s chambers, I was certain I would be sick.
The stench of spiced wine hit me like a blow to the face, potent, cloying, and far too strong for early afternoon. Shadows stirred restlessly at my back, feeding off my rising irritation as I stepped into the dimly lit room.
“Ruhl?” I called.
No answer.
Then, I heard it, a soft giggle. Definitely not Ruhl.
I moved deeper into the room, past discarded leathers, an overturned goblet, and what I prayed to the gods wasn’t someone’s undergarments on the floor. The heavy curtains had been half-drawn, and the mattress was a tangled mess of sheets and limbs. One of which was very much not Liora’s.
Ruhl.
Damn it.
My newest acquisition was now sitting upright in bed, clutching the sheets to her chest like they were armor, her golden hair a tousled halo around her flushed face. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw me.
“Oh, stars,” Liora breathed, attempting to disappear into the mattress.
Ruhl, of course, was sprawled beside her, shirtless and grinning like a drunken fool. “Brother!” he slurred, raising his half-empty wine bottle in greeting. “I was wondering when you’d show up. Thought you might want to join the party.”
My jaw clenched so tight I heard something crack. “What in the realms is this?”
Liora groaned. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“Really?” I snapped. “Because it looks like my brother is in bed with someone I’m fairly certain he knows is off-limits.”
“She wasn’t complaining earlier,” Ruhl muttered, rubbing at his jaw with a lazy grin. “Or ten minutes ago. Or, gods, was it twenty?”
“Ruhl,” I warned, my voice a low growl. “Shut your gods’ damned mouth.”
Liora flinched, her eyes darting to mine. “Professor, I didn’t mean for this to happen. He—he was being kind last night, and I’d had a little too much to drink, and he, well, he was surprisingly charming.” She gave Ruhl a glare. “At first.”
“I am always charming,” Ruhl said proudly, lifting the bottle again like a toast before nearly tipping off the bed. “Just underappreciated. Like a fine wine. Or an angry porcupine. Difficult to hug, but worth it.”
I dragged a hand down my face. “You’re still drunk.”
“Painfully so,” he agreed, flopping backward with a dramatic sigh. “What’s your excuse?”
Liora let out a mortified whimper and tried to crawl out of the bed with the sheet still clutched to her chest, nearly falling over Ruhl in the process. I stepped toward her before she could fall, steadying her with a hand on her arm.
She didn’t meet my gaze as she stood. “I’m sorry. This is so embarrassing.”
I exhaled through my nose, softer this time. “You don’t owe me anything, Liora. But of all the Fae to fall into bed with, why him?”
“I didn’t know I’d be ambushed by your brother in a wine-soaked pity spiral,” she muttered.
“Hey,” Ruhl called from the bed, waving a finger in the air. “This spiral was well-earned. Do you have any idea what it’s like watching the girl you were supposed to end up with bind her soul to your brother?”
“Apparently, it ends with you naked and in bed with my other acquisition,” I snapped. “Are you planning on spiraling all over the damned court?”
Ruhl blinked at me, then snorted. “Did you just say acquisition? Gods, that’s so warm and fuzzy.”
Liora shot me a look. “Really? I thought you at least considered me a friend, professor.”
I sighed. “Poor choice of words.”
“You think?” she snapped.
Ruhl waved again from the bed, a bit less energetically. “Don’t mind him. He’s terrible with emotions. He’s probably just here to monologue about betrayal and honor and how I’ve let down the great legacy of the Court of Umbral Shadows. Again.”
I turned on him, fury licking at the edges of my vision. “You’re lucky I haven’t flung your sorry ass off the balcony.”
Ruhl raised his wine bottle in salute. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Won’t be the last.”
I looked at Liora again, saw the shame burning behind her eyes, the regret tightening her mouth. Whatever this had been, it was clearly a mistake.
“We’ll talk later,” I told her, voice low. “Just… get dressed. I need to speak to my brother in private.”
She nodded quickly, gathering her clothes with shaking hands as she retreated into the bathing chamber.
As I turned back to Ruhl, his smirk had faded, something hollow and aching in his eyes.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” he said quietly. “I just wanted to forget.”
I stared at him a long moment. “We all want to forget something, Ruhl. But this?” I gestured to the bed, the wine, the broken look in his eyes. “This isn’t the way.”
He laughed bitterly. “No. But it was all I had.”
Spearing him with a glare, I thrust my finger in the air. “I thought you cared about Aelia, brother? That it wasn’t simply about you anymore.”
“I do! Too gods’ damned much, apparently.”
“Then prove yourself to her. To me. She needs you now, Ruhl, not as her cuoré, but as an ally, as a friend. She does care for you, you know.” I turned away, shadows curling at my heels.
“Find a way to pull yourself together. Because if you hurt Aelia, brother or not, there won’t be a bed in the realm safe enough to crawl into. ”
And with that, I walked out, slamming the door behind me.