Duskborn (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #4)

Chapter 1

Silver

“What do you mean you’ve already picked out a bride for me?” I scoffed, not believing what I was hearing. “You told me I could pick one after I graduated!”

My mother just shook her head, staring down at her wine glass. However, my father stood up from his throne, his gaze intense as he stared down at me.

“You are the prince of the Twilight Realm, Silver Erestolal,” he growled, his teeth on edge. “You should have already been married for the past two years. But instead, you continue this foolishness at that witch academy.”

“You gave me permission to go!” I shot back. “Is this how the king of the Twilight Realm keeps his promises? Does his impatience overrule past commitments?”

“SILENCE!”

My father’s voice rang through the throne room. Behind me, I heard the guards shift uncomfortably. I knew calling my father a liar would get his attention, though. If there was one thing he didn’t like brought into question, it was his honor as king.

“How dare you question me in my own throne room,” he hissed, his crown now slightly askew. There was a pink tinge to his cheeks, proof that he was actually pissed at me. “My own son!”

“I am merely reminding his highness that we made a deal,” I replied.

“And mother can back me up on that. You said I could have four years at Widdershins Academy to do whatever I wanted. And then, when I was finished, I would come home and be the dutiful prince you’ve always wanted me to be.

” I caught his gaze, holding it despite his irritation.

“If I recall correctly, you had a similar deal with your own father.”

I watched as the wind was pulled from his sails and his anger faded.

“Fine,” he snapped, giving me a dismissive wave. “But I made no such promises about your future wife. She has been chosen. That is the way of it. When you return, you will marry her, as is your princely duty, and become a proper heir to the throne. No more of this… nonsense.”

Well… that wasn’t exactly the outcome I wanted, but it was the best I was going to get.

Being a prince meant I had power, wealth, and I pretty much always got my way when I wasn’t dealing with my parents.

But it also meant I didn’t get a choice about how I lived my life, who I married, or where I would end up.

One day I would be king of the Twilight Realm, the land of the dark elves.

In that way, my life was completely set in stone. There would be no deviation.

That’s why Widdershins was so important to me. It was my one chance at freedom before the shackles of royal responsibility locked me in place forever.

I stormed out of the throne room, not bothering to bow as protocol demanded.

Let them be angry. I was past caring at this point.

My boots echoed against the obsidian floors as I marched through the palace corridors, servants wisely stepping out of my way.

The purple glow of twilight filtered through the tall windows, a perpetual dusk that gave our realm its name.

“Young master,” called a familiar voice.

I turned to see Caldwell, our family’s head butler since before I was born. His silver hair was immaculately styled despite its length, and his dark purple skin was a shade deeper than mine, marked with the elegant white lines that denoted his long years of service.

“What is it, Caldwell? I’m leaving.” My voice came out harsher than I intended.

“I merely wished to inform you that your belongings have already been sent to your dormitory at the academy.” His expression remained professionally neutral, but I caught the slight softening around his eyes. “Everything has been prepared according to your preferences.”

My anger deflated a bit. Caldwell had always looked out for me, even when my parents were being impossible. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Of course, young master.” He gave a slight bow. “And might I add, your grandfather also faced similar... challenges in his youth. Things have a way of working themselves out.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Caldwell knew more than he let on. He always did.

With a deep breath, I stepped into the center of the foyer, where a large arcane circle had been inlaid into the floor with bright platinum wire.

I focused my energy on the teleportation spell embedded there, picturing the stone circle at Widdershins Academy.

The familiar tingle of magic coursed through my veins as my body dissolved into particles of twilight essence.

When I rematerialized, the late afternoon sun of the mortal realm nearly blinded me. The familiar circle of ancient stones hummed with residual magic, welcoming me back. I took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air, letting it fill my lungs. Gods, I’d missed this place.

Students in their hoodies hurried across the grounds, some stopping to wave at me.

A few called out greetings that I returned with practiced ease, slipping back into my role as Silver the popular athlete, not Silver the crown prince of an entire realm.

The weight on my shoulders seemed to lighten with each step I took away from the stones.

And as soon as I stepped through the giant wrought-iron gate marking the entrance to the academy, I felt perfectly at home again.

My dorm building loomed ahead, its spires reaching toward the sky. This was my real home, at least for one final year. One last chance to be myself before I was forced to marry some noble elf woman I’d never met and produce the next heir to the Twilight Throne.

One last year to be with men like me, to feel their bodies against mine, to pretend I could have the life I actually wanted.

I clenched my jaw. I wouldn’t waste my last year at Widdershins wallowing in self-pity. I’d make the most of every moment, every touch, and every kiss.

I entered my dorm building and took the stairs two at a time, eager to see my room again.

Third floor, east wing, the room at the very end.

It was the same place I’d lived last year.

I’d requested it specifically because the morning light through those windows was perfect for my morning meditations.

The hallway was bustling with returning students.

Familiar faces brightened when they saw me, hands clapping my shoulders, voices calling out my name.

I smiled and nodded, playing my part perfectly.

Silver at school was the confident, charming, and untouchable athlete.

If only they knew how my stomach churned with anxiety beneath my easy grin.

“Silver! Damn, man, look at you!” It was Karrick, a Beastkin I’d been playing football with for three years now. He pulled me into a crushing hug. “I was wondering where you were!”

“I’m surprised to see you back,” I replied. “I thought you and Phoenix might’ve run off to the woods over the summer and never come back.”

“We did go to the woods,” he laughed. “But we came back. He wants to keep studying magic and I…” He ran his hand through the thick, dark fur on top of his head. “Well, I don’t want to be away from him.”

“Last I heard, you had some magic to study yourself.”

“Yeah,” Karrick sighed. “There’s that too. Professor Blackwood didn’t really give me a choice on that one. And my mother sided with her too.”

“Still playing football though, right?”

“Are you kidding me?” Karrick scoffed, flexing his arms. “Of course I am! Without me, you idiots would get absolutely pounded into the dirt!”

I laughed, punching him lightly on the shoulder. His boast was exactly what I needed after that confrontation with my father.

“You’re not wrong there, beast boy. The team would fall apart without your scary ass on the field.” I glanced around. “Where is Phoenix anyway? You two are usually attached at the hip.”

“Library already. Said something about wanting to get ahead on fire conjuration this semester.” Karrick rolled his eyes, but the fondness in his voice was unmistakable. “You know how he gets with his books.”

A twinge of envy shot through me. They’d found each other against all odds—childhood friends reunited and now lovers. I pushed the feeling away. “Smart man. First day hasn’t even started, and he’s already studying.”

“That’s my mate,” Karrick said proudly. “Hey, you coming to the stoplight party tonight? Everyone’s gonna be there.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I needed something to take my mind off my impending royal prison sentence. “Just let me drop my stuff and get settled in. I’ll meet you there.”

As Karrick lumbered away, I continued to my room, fishing the key from my pocket. I paused before inserting it into the lock, feeling the magic emanating from inside. All I could sense was my luggage and the spells holding the cases tightly shut. I was alone.

Checking rooms before entering was an old habit, one instilled in me since I was a child.

My father was always worried that his one and only heir would be assassinated.

By who, I had no idea. But after all the issues with the Purity Front the past few years and my friends getting attacked, I found myself checking every door that I came across.

One could never be too careful, especially if that someone was secretly a prince in disguise.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside, greeted by the familiar sight of my dorm room.

My luggage sat neatly stacked near the bed, just as Caldwell had promised.

The air smelled faintly of the cleaning spells used by the academy staff.

They always left a hint of lemon and something otherworldly lingering in the air that reminded me of lightning.

With a wave of my hand, I activated the privacy wards I’d installed last year.

The symbols etched into the doorframe glowed silver for a moment before fading.

Another habit from my royal upbringing. I couldn’t afford to have someone walk in while I was practicing twilight magic or speaking to my parents through our enchanted mirror.

I slumped onto my bed, the mattress creaking under my weight as I stared at the ceiling.

The frustration that had been building since my conversation with my father threatened to bubble over.

An arranged marriage. Of course they would spring that on me now, when I was so close to graduation.

It was just like them to dangle freedom in front of me only to snatch it away.

“Fuckers,” I muttered, running my hands through my white hair.

I forced myself to breathe, to focus on the present.

I was at Widdershins now. The Twilight Realm and all its royal obligations felt worlds away.

It wasn’t going to last forever, but it was enough to get me through the next few months.

I could sit and worry about it later. But right now, I had a party to get ready for.

The annual stoplight party was a tradition to start the year off right.

People would wear green if they were single and looking, yellow if their situation was complicated, or red if they were taken.

I’d worn green every year since I started at Widdershins.

There were lots of good memories made at those parties too.

This year would be no different. My last chance to find willing partners before I was shackled to some noble elf woman for eternity.

I pushed myself up and began unpacking, hanging my clothes in the closet with careful precision.

The routine helped calm my nerves. When I reached the bottom of one case, my fingers brushed against something cool and metallic.

The royal signet ring my father had insisted I take with me “in case of emergency.” Its magic allowed me to summon up a giant crystalline golem to protect me in an instant.

I shoved it into the back of my desk drawer, where it belonged. I wasn’t going to need that tonight.

After a quick shower, I dressed for the party, choosing a tight black shirt that showed off the muscles I’d worked hard to maintain and dark jeans that hugged my thighs. I tied a bright green bandana around my forehead—my stoplight signal—and checked my reflection in the mirror.

Silver the prince, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Silver the confident jock, stared back at me, a lazy smirk on my face that didn’t quite reach my eyes. But no one at the party would notice that. They never did.

As I headed out, I caught a glimpse of the enchanted mirror on my nightstand. It remained dark, but I knew my parents could activate it at any time to check on me. I flipped it face down before closing the door behind me.

I was no longer on their time.