36. Thirty-Six
Days two-through-five of dragon training aren”t much different than day one. I”m unseated from my saddle every attempt at flying, but thankfully, Thrane and Artax are there to catch me each time. It”s gotten to the point that I know without a tremor of doubt in my mind that my cousin will make sure I don”t die, which not only eases my nerves, but simultaneously sets me on edge. I still don”t know what Thrane”s intentions are and even though I want to give him my complete trust, my past is preventing me from doing it.
Atlas watches from the landing section daily, encouraging me every time I want to stomp my feet and quit. He”s the calm to my raging storm and I swear, if he wasn”t the one here with me, I would have given up on day three when Seraxes purposely threw me from her back, enjoying watching me fall.
Day six, I manage to hold my seat on Seraxes” back, despite her best effort to buck me off, and on day seven, we actually finish the obstacle course. With the flight path finally under our belt, we make our way to the firing range where Seraxes and the other dragons showcase their ice breathing.
Seraxes is quick, accurate, and deadly. I”m grateful I”m not on the receiving end of her wrath. Although, she and I have been slowly growing more comfortable around one another, I can”t help but feel the distance that still lingers between us. She might be learning to deal with me, but she certainly doesn”t trust me, yet. And if I”m being honest, I don”t entirely trust she won”t try to kill me when all is said and done.
Over the last week of training, I”ve learned each Basilius has a different ice affinity, and each is more frightening than the last.
My mother has ice beams. When she shoves her arms in front of her, a stream of ice shoots across the training grounds and encapsulates one of the targets in a block of ice. Her range is extraordinary, and I”ve seen her demonstrate her power while riding Corvex; they are certainly a terrifying duo of insurmountable power.
Hael, Thrane”s younger brother, has Ice Touch. Just one touch to someone”s flesh and they”ll turn into a solid block of ice. I”ve been assured he can control it, and isn”t freezing everyone he comes into contact with, but those who he deems enemies should beware. True to what Sylvane told me the first day she brought me here, Hael prefers his space. Apart from a small nod, we have exchanged exactly two greetings and that”s been the extent of our relationship.
My Uncle Faolin is an Ice Healer, meaning by using ice he can heal wounds and give Frost Elf warriors a second chance at life, if they”ve been injured in battle. His daughter, Kamari, is an Ice Mimic, giving her the ability to become a walking pilar of ice, her skin impenetrable from attack.
Thrane is extremely secretive about his affinity, and he doesn”t use it whenever I”m around. I”m constantly warring with myself, debating on if I should trust him or not, but his magic is none of my business. If he wants to keep it private, there”s nothing I can do to pry the information from him. I don”t pry into Finn”s history on the touchy subject of his power, so reluctantly, I will show Thrane the same curtesy.
When I ask about the Frost King”s magic, and if he comes to train with Drexel, the response is negative. Armas, my grandfather, hasn”t been out to see Drexel in years, but that doesn”t mean his magical power has lessened. From the stories my Frost Elf kin share with me, the king”s power matches Drexel”s. They have Ice Breath and can freeze anyone in their path with just one exhale. Something I”ll keep in mind for any future run ins I might have with the ancient royal. Although, I haven”t seen or spoken to him since we first arrived in Elowen, the streak of silence doesn”t appear like it will be broken anytime soon. Which is perfectly fine with me, since I immediately got the feeling he didn”t care for me when my true identity was made known in his throne room.
After each one of my Basilius kin, with the exception of Thrane, hit the targets mounted at the far end of the firing range, my mother motions me forward to demonstrate my power. Nervous that everyone is watching me with keen interest, I take a deep breath and line up where they had stood when it was their turn. I dare a glance behind me where Atlas is standing. He”s been dutiful in playing bodyguard this last week and has given me unwavering support. Just one nod from him and my confidence is restored. If it”s a show the Frost Elves want, it”s a show they are going to get.
I tear my eyes from Atlas and focus on the dummy target fifty feet in front of me when Vesper”s face suddenly flashes in my mind making my heart lurch. I see her vicious smile and the animosity I hold in my soul for her engulfs me, propelling me to fire balls of light. I can hear her wicked cackle as I land blow after blow. Only once I hear the splintering wood, does the image of her disappear and I”m left with debris of what remains of the target raining down like timber snow.
Breathing heavily from the energy I exerted, I slowly turn and look at everyone staring at me. If they”re impressed or frightened by the Celestial magic flowing through my veins, they don”t show it, but it feels great to show off with Atlas watching.
Sylvane walks up beside me and stares at the destruction I”ve left with a gleam of pride. ”Your father would be impressed.”
”Really?” My breath hitches at the thought of Enver Sol in awe of my magical display.
She meets my line of sight and nods. ”With more training, I dare say, you might even surpass him.”
Dumbfounded, and lost for words, my mother heads up from the range to join the others while Atlas makes his way down.
”You are getting stronger.” He says once he closes the gap separating us.
”She said my father would have been impressed,” my voice cracks.
He doesn”t seem surprised. ”How could he not be?” He tucks his finger beneath my chin and gently lifts my face to meet his eyes. ”You are the deadly queen I always knew you could be.”
I smile, and his confidence in me blooms inside my chest.
”I know you still have another couple hours of training today, but I promised Ronan I would accompany him to a meeting this afternoon.” His hand drops from my face, and I immediately miss the warmth of his touch. ”Apparently the assembly of delegates have questions about Midori.”
My eyebrows arch upward, my interest piqued. ”What about Midori?”
”Word has spread that you were kidnapped.” He rolls his shoulders back and darts a quick glance up the incline to ensure we”re out of earshot of the others. ”Since you identified yourself as Ilaria Shaye Kitarni when we first arrived, the leaders have questions.”
”Are you in trouble?”
He scoffs, ”Me? Hardly. And even if I was, none of them would dare cross me in a general assembly meeting or on a battlefield.”
”Cocky of you,” I tease, though I can”t help but be concerned for him.
Flashing a wicked smile my way, he reaches up and twirls my hair in his fingers. ”We both know I can back up every conceited thing I say.”
I roll my eyes, unable to argue. ”Should I come with you? I can clear everything up – ”
”You have more important things to do here,” he interrupts me, running his thumb across my bottom lip. ”You don”t need to come to my rescue every time I”m within a whisper of trouble.”
I laugh and bob my head, surrendering knowing I won”t win this round. ”Fine. You win.”
”I”ve already spoken with your mother, and she said she will escort you back to the castle once you”re done.”
”Don”t miss me too much,” I tease, pushing him toward the hill.
”Keep your wits about you,” he says, but there is a seriousness in his gaze that causes my chest to tighten. With one last longing look, he turns on his heel and marches up the incline and treks toward the gate.
Once Atlas is gone, I go out for one more flight maneuver with Seraxes. Despite her taking turns a little too sharply for my liking, I keep my seat and breathe a sigh of relief when Sylvane applauds and shouts, ”That”s the fastest you”ve ever done the course!”
Satisfaction swells in my heart, but my accomplishment is short lived when Seraxes spears toward the landing area and slams to the ground, throwing me from my saddle. The impact is brutal, and I rub my backside, hoping and praying my tailbone isn”t broken or bruised.
My mother sprints to me, narrowing her eyes at Seraxes with the promise of discipline brewing in her gaze. ”Are you alright?”
I nod, ”I think so.” I groan as she helps me stand. ”I think she hates me.”
”Seraxes must learn her place!” Sylvane shouts so the stubborn beast hears. Instead of sticking around for a tongue lashing, Seraxes launches into the sky and makes her way to her stable, disappearing from my sight.
”She”s going to be the death of me,” I mutter as Sylvane helps me to the lounge inside the stable.
”Give her more time,” she says, setting me down on the couch. ”She will learn to respect you.” She looks me up and down once more. ”Are you sure you”re alright? I can fetch Faolin – ”
I wave her off. ”I”m fine. I”ll rest awhile. I know you have flight maneuvers to complete. I”ll wait here until you”re done.”
She hesitates, but after a momentary silence, she nods her head and leaves.
A pained groan escapes my lips and anger stews in my lower belly. That dragon could have killed me. What do I need to do for her to see I”m not her enemy?
It takes me several attempts, but I”m able to peel myself from the couch and shuffle through the stables until I reach Seraxes” pen. She”s spread out comfortably, lounging like she doesn”t have a care in the world. I”m ready to tell her I quit. She wins, I won”t be her rider, we can both go back to the way our lives used to be before we were reintroduced, but something deep within me can”t and won”t accept that failure. With my mother and the other Basilius riders out doing their final flying maneuvers of the afternoon, I take this rare moment of privacy to talk to my dragon.
”Listen,” I say in hushed tones, even though we”re the only ones here. ”If we don”t learn to trust one another, neither one of us is going to get what we want.”
Seraxes ignores me, not the least bit interested in me or what I”m saying. Sylvane assured me that the dragons can understand what we”re saying, but I”m beginning to wonder if Seraxes is hard of hearing or just plain hardheaded. I suppose stubbornness would suit her, since it”s one of my attributes as well.
”Seraxes,” I try again, resting my forehead against the gate to her pen. ”I”m sorry. I”m sorry I wasn”t here for you. I”m sorry you have been riderless the last twenty-one years. It wasn”t my fault, and it certainly wasn”t on purpose. I hope you know I would never knowingly harm or hurt you.”
Seraxes stiffens, though she still hasn”t turned to look at me.
Seeing the slight change in her demeanor as a glimmer of hope, I open up to her. ”I know it will take you some time to trust me, and probably longer to forgive me, but please know that I will work every single day for the rest of my life to make sure that you get the life you deserve. I”m not going anywhere. I”m here, if you will have me.”
Still no response, though she hasn”t moved a muscle or even snatched up the snack I toss beside her. We”re clearly at a stalemate, but at least she hasn”t attempted to bite me or breathe frost in my direction. I”ll take that as a win.
”She is trying to determine if she believes you or not.”
I whip my head toward the stable entrance and see Thrane Basilius leaning against the doorframe, arms folded over his chest and one ankle crossing over the other. The sunlight gives his long, white locks a heavenly glow. Unlike the other male Frost Elves who prefer wearing their hair in pristine braids, Thrane opts to have his loose. Perhaps it”s his way of rebelling against the norm, or maybe it”s a way for him to stand out amongst the others. He looks regal in an effortless way and the power that exudes from him isn”t lost on me.
”And how long will it take for her to decide?” I ask when he approaches.
His cunning grey eyes slide to my white scaled dragon before refocusing on me. ”She hasn”t spit ice at you,” he says with a shrug, ”so I would say she”s leaning toward believing you. Perhaps, she will accept your apology.”
”How will I know if she has? When she doesn”t try to throw me to my death?” I issue the questions with a little more sass and sarcasm than necessary, but Thrane isn”t moved.
”Those are good questions.”
When I first met Atlas, I thought he was hard to read, but Thrane is worse. No hint of a smile, no mirth in those icy grey eyes, even his body language screams he doesn”t care about anyone other than himself. The way he scans me up and down now, incredulously and unapologetically, should rile me up enough to hurl insults his way, but I keep my mouth shut and return the sentiment. I eye him top to bottom, sizing him up, hoping to find some kind of chip in his immaculate emotional armor, but find nothing.
”It”s interesting.”
”What is?” I ask.
”How the long-lost daughter of Enver Sol and Sylvane Basilius has finally come home. You have peculiar timing, Cousin.”
I furrow my brow, squaring my shoulders to his with my back to Seraxes” pen. ”And why is discovering my true heritage peculiar in timing?”
I catch the slightest uptick at the corner of his mouth. If I hadn”t been staring so hard, I would have definitely missed the evidence of his amusement. ”Because” – he approaches me, each step powerful and with utmost surety in himself – ”this year during Levanora is when the next heir to the Frost Throne is to be officially declared. Until you arrived, there was no one else to contend for the throne except me.”
”And you think I am here to stake my claim?” I scoff, standing taller. This Elf won”t intimidate me. ”How very insecure of you, Cousin.” I say the last part with the same amount of disdain he used with me. ”Last I checked, I already have a throne with my name on it.”
Thrane chuckles darkly as he takes another step closer. ”Ahhh, but is it your name etched on the Golden Throne or is it Bastian”s?”
”I no longer intend to marry him.”
”A bold move,” he says, closing the gap between us. ”Considering the Midorians will never acknowledge your reign, now that you”ve discovered you have no trace of true Midorian blood flowing through your veins. I dare say, they would rather watch your throat be slit than allow a nobody to sit on their ancient throne.”
My heart pounds so loudly I can feel it drumming in my ears. He”s not wrong, but I hold my ground. ”You needn”t concern yourself with the Midorians. It”s evident you have your hands full hoping your king will deem you worthy enough to wear his crown, if and when he passes.”
”Frost blood runs through you.” He eats what little distance remains between us and towers over me, forcing me to tilt my chin up to meet his gaze. ”You are just as power-hungry and blood thirsty as the rest of us.”
”My mother doesn”t seek the crown.”
”Because she is weak. She tarnished our bloodline by having you.” He unsheathes a dagger from his belt loop so quickly I have no chance to react. Pinned to the wooden gate behind me, he puts the blade to my throat. ”Perhaps I will be guaranteed the Frost Throne, if I lay your head at our grandfather”s feet. The blemish expunged.”
Before I can respond, I feel a cold gust of wind behind me and hear a low, guttural growl. Not able to turn around, I keep my eyes fixed on Thrane and see pure satisfaction beam across his face. It”s the slightest trace, but it”s there. He retracts his blade and holsters it, putting his hands up in surrender and retreating a few steps.
I slowly spin to look into Seraxes” pen, but she”s not on the opposite side where I last observed her lounging. Her long, scaled face is up to the gate, her blue and golden eyes narrowed in animalistic fury, rage directed entirely at Thrane. I reach my hand up, cautiously, and once I stretch my arm as far as I can, my dragon presses her snout against my palm. I can”t help the surprised giggle that escapes me and worse, I can”t hold back the tears of joy that slip down my cheeks.
”I suppose it is safe to assume Seraxes has indeed forgiven you.”
I glance over my shoulder at Thrane who has once again taken up a lazy, nonchalant stance against the pen next to ours. ”You provoked her.”
”You wanted to know if she believed you,” he shrugs. ”Now you know.”
”She could have hurt you.”
”She could have,” he agrees.
”You never intended to harm me, did you?”
A wickedness flashes in his gaze before a full-blown smirk snakes across his face. ”Oh, Aurelia, I can”t give you all the answers, can I?”
”Why do you insist on calling me Aurelia, when you know my name is Shaye?”
He pauses, taking a moment to eye me head-to-toe. ”I do not call you Shaye, because I refuse to address you as who you pretend to be.”
”What is that supposed to mean?” I snap.
”I told you when we first met, I don”t waste my time exchanging hollow pleasantries with those who don”t appeal to me.” He takes a commanding step toward me and Seraxes growls lowly behind me. ”Ilaria Shaye Kitarni is of no interest to me, but Aurelia Basilius-Sol has my undivided attention. The question is, Cousin, when will you stop pretending and claim who you really are? After all,” he smirks, ”you have been searching for answers. Now you have them.”
”I don”t claim that name because I have not yet earned it.”
”What a preposterous thing to say,” he clicks his tongue. ”You do not need to earn your name, Aurelia. It”s yours. You just have to be bold enough to reclaim it.”
”And what if I don”t want to reclaim the Basilius name?”
”Now I am beginning to believe you say things for the enjoyment of hearing your own voice.” He shakes his head and clasps his arms behind his back. ”You have a choice to make, and no one can make it for you. I, for one, will not coddle you. I will not allow you to make excuses or run away because you”re scared – ”
”I”m not scared!”
”You are, and it”s not befitting a Basilius, nor a Sol,” he silences me with his harsh tone. ”We do not beg, we never surrender. We die as we live, free and feared.”
”I”m getting sick of you reminding me of your House motto,” I mutter.
”I wouldn”t have to remind you, if you just accepted that whether you like it or not, you are a Basilius. It”s time you start acting like one.”
”You know” – my eyes snap up to meet his – ”you are starting to get on my nerves.”
He smiles, his eyes dancing in delight. ”It”s about time. Oh, and by the way, Aurelia, your mother wanted me to tell you that you passed all your courses and are eligible for your Orhelle tattoos.” Without another word or second glance, the prince saunters out of the stable and disappears around the corner before I have a chance to respond.
I”m not sure how I feel about Thrane. He”s cunning to be sure, and has perfected masking his thoughts and feelings, but I sense goodness in him. I don”t think he would harm me, but then again, he could be buttering me up, hoping I lower my guard and strike when I least expect it. And I can”t shake the icky feeling that he”s hiding his magic from me because he intends to use it against me.
I groan, shaking my head. If the Harland brothers hear Thrane got the drop on me and had a knife pressed against my throat, they”ll unleash hell.