Chapter 50 Axel
AXEL
“Thanks, kitten,” Axel murmured, feeling her flames dance around him.
It was cold in Idalia, the capital city of the Anala Kingdom.
He’d known that, of course. Geography had been part of his studies, and Idalia sat just on the outskirts of the Sulien Forest. In the northernmost part of the realm, it was always cold, and from his understanding, the forest often had snow even in the summer months.
At least in the southern part of the forest, the year-round snowfall didn’t seem to affect Idalia quite so much.
Of course, none of that mattered much to the Anala Kingdom. Not when a good number of their population had fire magic. Aside from the Anala Legacy, they never let other kingdoms claim fire Fae. Katya was one of the rare exceptions, and he still wondered how she’d ended up in the Falein Estate.
They’d arrived via portal station, stepping into the daylight, and Axel had immediately pulled up the hood of his jacket to shield himself from the sun. Gloves in place and completely covered, the cool weather helped hide his new nature well enough.
The portal station was on the water’s edge, and Axel could see the faint outline of the Ozul Mountains across the body of water between their two kingdoms. It was brilliant really.
With the mountains butting right up to the water’s edge on the Arius Kingdom side, there were no inhabitants.
If they did send anyone to spy, all they’d see was the same thing a person saw if they entered the kingdom through the portal station.
Axel had only been to the kingdom one other time, and that was due to the tradition of all heirs touring the capital cities and Fae Estates.
Otherwise, Lady Kyra rarely granted entry.
Kat held Maddox to her chest, keeping him plenty warm. They were staying in Idalia for a few days’ time, which meant they’d needed to bring him along. There was no way either of them were missing out on entering the Anala Kingdom.
Tessa walked ahead of them, pulling her fur-lined jacket tighter around herself, and Luka stepped to her side, presumably doing the same thing Kat had done for Axel by providing some of his dragon warmth. Theon was at her other side, while the rest of their company trailed behind Axel and Kat.
They were escorted from the portal station and down several blocks into the heart of Idalia until they came to a three story brick building.
Topped with a gold dome, the sun reflected off it.
Climbing the front steps, they entered an elegant lobby, mosaics of the sun and fire on the floors.
A moment later, the sound of heels echoed before Lady Kyra appeared before them, along with her daughter and their Sources.
Kat shuffled nervously next to him, fighting all her instincts to drop to a knee.
Tessa had made it clear none of the Fae with them were to do so.
She’d said if they were pushing for this change and wanted the Fae to be seen as the equals they were, no one should be bowing to anyone.
The Fae had been nervous, but none of them defied their own Lady.
Lady Kyra’s bright amber eyes skimmed over them, a small smile playing on her lips as she bowed her head slightly. “Lady Tessa,” she greeted, lifting her head to meet her gaze. “Welcome to Idalia.”
“Thank you,” Tessa said tightly, everything about her tense. She was still conditioned to think everything was a trap, and Axel couldn’t blame her.
Lady Kyra either didn’t notice or didn’t care to draw attention to the possible slight as she shifted her focus to his brother. “Theon,” she greeted, stepping forward. “You bring quite the company with you.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Kyra,” he said. “It is such a rarity.”
“Out of necessity, I assure you,” she replied, features hardening the smallest amount. “We have a light lunch prepared. Come and eat. We can discuss matters, and then you can be shown to your quarters before we meet again.”
They all followed her to a large space with a long table in the center. Rather than being served, one wall was set up with various dishes in a buffet style. After everyone had filled their plates, Axel held Maddox while Kat settled in to eat.
Lady Kyra sat at the head of the table, observing everyone as she said, “Now that we all have food, perhaps some introductions?”
“Of course,” Theon said, glancing at Tessa, who nodded. She may be the Arius Lady, but she was letting Theon be the public face of the kingdom. Not that she didn’t step in when she needed to, but she was smart enough to know that Theon had been playing the game of politics far longer than she had.
“You know Luka,” Theon started.
“Of course,” Kyra said. Arching a brow, she added, “Lady Tessa’s other husband.”
Theon smirked. “Correct.” He didn’t say anything else to that, gesturing across the table. “And you know Axel. This is his wife, Kat, and their son, Maddox. Together they sit on the Underground Council.”
“The lost fire Fae,” Kyra said with a nod of her head. “Congratulations on your son.”
“Thank you, my Lady,” Kat said softly, glancing at Axel, and it took all of him not to ask right then and there how Kat had come to be raised in the Falein Estate.
“A child of fire and shadows will certainly be…” Kyra hedged.
“Welcomed,” Tessa interjected, her fork halfway to her mouth. “He is welcomed within our kingdom and the realm.”
Kyra nodded in understanding, her gaze lingering a moment longer on the babe before moving on.
“Xan Mors,” Theon said. “Luka’s father, and Razik Greybane, his brother, along with Eliza, Razik’s mate.”
Kyra settled back in her chair, propping her chin on her fist. “You are not from Devram.”
Razik and Eliza exchanged a look, but it was Theon who said, “No, they are not.”
Kyra was still eyeing Eliza, and it was enough to make Razik shift closer. Eliza, however, was holding the Lady’s stare.
“Any other questions?” Eliza asked, a bite in her tone.
“Several actually,” Kyra answered. “But I will save them for another time. Xan Mors, however…” She shifted her focus to the dragon. “There is someone here you have been separated from for quite some time.”
“There is,” Xan agreed. “I would like to be taken to her as soon as possible.”
Kyra nodded. “That can be arranged.” Before Theon could move to the next person at the table, Kyra said, “Caris Emersyn. I need no introduction. It is nice to see you once more.”
“Wait, you know Caris?” Axel interrupted.
“Quite well,” Kyra replied. “Her brother was once a Lord. We were working closely on several matters before the St. Orcas line took over the kingdom. Obviously, those relations could not continue until recently.”
“It is good to see you, Kyra,” Caris said with a gentle smile. “I have missed your company.”
Axel sat back in his chair, somewhat shocked.
His entire life he’d been told Arius Kingdom had been shunned by the others.
To hear otherwise was… Well, not entirely surprising considering the ways all the kingdoms had twisted history to match their narratives.
Anala Kingdom wasn’t innocent in all this either.
Even if they claimed to be trying to change things, they were still complacent in the end.
“As for you, Corbin, welcome back,” Kyra said. “Thank you for keeping so many secrets.”
He smiled, bowing his head. “Of course, my Lady. Although I discovered you were keeping secrets of your own.”
She nodded, her face falling a little. “Out of necessity, but it is not something I am proud of.” Corbin’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Who is with you?”
“Lange Castellon,” he answered, nodding to the male two chairs down. “And Priya Perin,” he added. The child shrank back in her chair where she was seated between the two males.
“It is lovely to meet you, Priya,” Kyra said. “Do you have enough to eat?”
She nodded, her turquoise eyes harsh for a child so young.
Axel couldn’t say he was surprised by that either.
She was right to be distrusting after what she’d just endured, but true to their word, Corbin and Lange hadn’t left her behind once.
One of them was always with her. Axel had no doubt they’d earn her trust, just like they’d somehow earned Eviana’s.
“And next to Xan is Akira,” Theon finished. “Tessa’s mother.”
“You are also not of Devram,” Kyra mused.
“I am from what should not be,” Akira said simply, digging into her meal.
An awkward silence filled the air until Lady Kyra picked up her fork as she announced, “Well, now that introductions are out of the way, let’s eat. After you have been shown your rooms for your stay, we will take you to areas of our kingdom I trust you will find interesting.”
They dug into their meals, small talk taking place among them, and it was about halfway through when Tessa turned to the Anala Lady and said, “May I ask you a question?”
Kyra smiled, setting down her silverware and wiping her fingers. “Of course, my Lady.”
All the chatter had died down, and Tessa picked up her wineglass. “Why is it that all the fire Fae stay in the Anala Kingdom?” She glanced at Kat. “Or most of them.”
Kyra hummed. “Yes, there are very few exceptions. She was one of them, although not by my choice. I did not learn of it until you were already gone from our borders, Katya.”
“I didn’t mind the Falein Estate,” she said. Then she added, “For the most part.”
Didn’t mind, my ass, Axel thought to himself, and he must have made some kind of sound because Kat reached over and rested her hand on his thigh, squeezing softly. He was fairly certain if she’d been raised here, she wouldn’t have been forced to service any scholars.
Kyra cleared her throat, gaze darting away from Axel. “There have been Accords since Devram was created that the fire Fae would serve Anala Kingdom. Anala herself demanded it before agreeing to bring her Legacy here.”
“But why?” Tessa pushed. “None of the others made such demands. Silas. Sefarina. Anahita.”