Chapter 31 #2
“Hold on. Where did all our weapons go? And our clothes?” Panic sets in, thinking about my gifts from Sully. This will be my second night out without my armor since he gifted it to me.
“Don’t worry, Lux, they’ve been portaled to your room. You’ll find them neatly on your bed.” He pauses, then his voice is right on the cusp of my ear, sultry and low. “Feel free to hold me accountable for each and every one of them.”
It’s hard to not let the shiver roll down my spine. That mouth of his is going to be a problem for me, especially the way he can play tricks with it.
“Yeah, he’s obnoxious with his power like that. One time, he hid one of my war axes. I tore apart the room to find it. It was hidden under the pile of books I never bother to open. Smart ass.” Seraph’s eyes narrow on S?las as he raises his hands in surrender.
“Shadow prick indeed.” I laugh.
“Celestial’s tits, it's getting cold. I’m off to the heated courtyard before my nips freeze off while you two eye-fuck each other under the moonlight… unless you’re gonna let me join.” She gives me a pointed wink, and I roll my eyes.
“You’re being just as bad as that one.” I nod my head over to S?las, who’s giving me a sultry smile with smoky moonlit eyes.
Celestials those eyes. Too easy to lose myself in them.
Stars above! One more problem to add to the lists of why I shouldn’t even try to give in…
or maybe why I should? I shake my head, trying to clear the building storm of thoughts as the arched side entrance of Gildorea comes into view.
We arrive at the main diamond-shaped courtyard.
It’s surrounded by the white marble halls leading to our rooms. The main building marks the head of the diamond, the circular rotunda of the Grand Conservatory with its golden domed roof.
The walls of the courtyard are adorned with the penthouse rooms assigned to Ellian Knights who are given their Bloodline pairing.
The courtyard is transformed for the festivities.
Faerie lights float like Celestials, dancing around twirling gold streams. The globe of the Warded Hollow gleams like a jewel at the center.
White and gold circular tables dot about.
Oh, and the food! I’m don’t know how Pip hasn’t run off to devour it all.
Molten chocolate spills from towering fountains, cakes of all sizes in impossible colors, roasted mooca dripping in herbs, vegetable medleys, spiced bioluminescent fungi, an endless array of cured meats and spiraling cheeses.
Carts overflowing with food from all over Cascara and beyond.
The various Wings and social circles bustle with conversation over vibrant cocktails sparkling with enchantments.
I take the first step. S?las and Seraphina, a step behind me.
I don’t lead in crowds, preferring the shadows, but Calais is right—my new markings are powerful.
Or perhaps it’s the way this outfit sheathes me in a confidence.
Who in Emberhell cares? Tonight, I want to soak in the moonlight and dance until I’m dizzy.
I notice smoky shadows trailing beneath our feet, casting a runway of pure darkness.
I hook my head to the side, slinging a sly smile back to S?las.
I’m not sure if this is what he meant by worshiping me like a goddess, or if he really wants to ensure he takes everyone’s breath away when they look at us.
Needless to say, it’s working; the raucous crowd hushes to a whispering hum as we prowl our way through.
Rather than slinking away to the shadows, I let the ones caressing my ankles empower me.
We pass the table with what’s left of Chet’s cronies. Brock Blackbriar looking a little worse for wear. I lift my upper lip in a snarl directed their way, reveling in the color draining from their faces.
I’m pretty sure I even saw Draven Bane’s hand trembling. Chet won’t look at me. I’m surprised he managed enough strength to show up.
As we saunter by Winx, I catch her eyes flaring rapidly at her perusal of my outfit. Clearly, she approves. Her glare hardens to black ice as it lands on S?las behind me.
We arrive at the five small tables our Zenith Wing has pushed together to accommodate us all.
“Looks like someone decided to embrace their chaos tonight. Your Aura is radiating pure white. You look like a star amongst the shadows.” Orion twirls her candy-red hair, her aquamarine scales glistening under the floating faerie lights.
She’s in a tight red dress that matches her hair and eyes.
On the shaved side of her head, her fin-shaped ear is revealed, wearing a large heartstone earring mirroring the choker around her neck.
“We can radiate together!” Fenwick beams. Her white and black hair shorn to her chin sways with the smile of her round cheeks pinned by dimples. She’s wearing a shimmering white dress that flows out at the hips, forming a pleated sea down to her ankles.
“Hey! I want to be included.” Juniper smiles as she stumbles into the conversation. Her forest green hair twists in braids beneath a crown of bright green thorns and white roses that matches the color of her skin. Her blue-grey ombre almond eyes remind me of summer storms.
“Savaé, I must request some of your time, along with Atlas, to examine your Arcane Glyph. It’s quite the curious masterpiece.
” As Gearin speaks, light refracts through his spectacles, glinting off his gilded Rune Tech jaw.
He’s dressed in a white suit with a golden tie, contrasting his ebony skin, emulating his white dreadlocks dipped in gold.
Flint tosses me a wide grin. Emerald eyes shimmering beneath snowy hair with a suit of white and gold, blending perfectly with his marble skin.
Atlas flutters around me, enjoying the exposed skin of my outfit in a purely scientific way as he examines me. “Interesting. Interesting indeed.”
His hand takes mine, flipping it over, front and back.
Dusting a trail of moth-like fuzz over my skin.
“This is by far the largest one in recorded history. The way the Arcane Glyph mirrors each side with the focus on your hands. Perhaps to focus your new gifts?” He tugs my arm like I’m an anatomical specimen, displaying it for Gearin to study.
“I like this one. He is a clever one. Remind me not to eat him.” Calais’ voice booms in my head.
“You can’t eat any of my Zenith, missy!” I snap.
“I will most certainly eat you if you call me ‘missy’ again.”
“As a dragon, don’t you have somewhere else to be other than inside my head?”
“I could hunt for dinner at your party if you’re already missing my physical presence, Nebulight,” she snips.
“You okay? You look like you’re having a conversation all to yourself.” Eko’s ears twitch, as if he’s listening for the voice I can hear in my head. A growling assortment of sounds that resemble a cackle ricochet in my brain, no doubt belonging to Calais.
“Sorry, it’s an adjustment having a sarcastic dragon bludgeoning through my thoughts.
” I try to smile, like I’m not shaken by the fact that controlling my facial expressions while having a conversation with a snippy dragon in my mind is going to be a tall feat.
That thought has Calais laughing even harder.
“It’s odd, no, that you and your dragon are so in sync with the bond just being formed?” chimes Gearin, a quizzical look crumpling his face.
S?las’ arm grazes mine as he steps closer to the table. Placing a glass of Firesong agave in front of me and sliding one to Seraphina. “Actually, I can hear Scáil, too. Thankfully, he’s rather reticent.”
My arm brushes back against his, thanking him for my drink, ignoring the dangerous line I continue to toe along.
I’m entangled in his gravitational pull, on a collision course quickly approaching the point of no return.
Will I fall from the heavens into him, burning up the last bits of me I’ve managed to piece together—or will I shatter through him, ruining us both?
“Curious. Not only did you both manage to bond dragons—which hasn’t been done in years within the same Wing—but they’re both exceptionally rare dragons not known to bond.
Further perplexing is that you can already hear them in your heads, which takes most bonds at least a few days.
Beyond, of course, hearing their name. We’re not even sure what breed of dragon S?las bonded.
” Altas drifts off, lost in his own mind.
“Perhaps it’s just unique to dragons,” Vex sighs, appearing utterly bored by the topic. She’s cinched in a black strapless dress, which goes flawlessly with her similar-hued curls and curved horns.
“Cinder, Kissa, Juniper—have you heard from your bonds, beyond their names?” Highin asks, outfitted with an autumn-colored suit modified for his sienna-feathered wings.
“No. And I’ll savor every last bit of silence before the bond fully settles.” Cinder takes another swig of his amber Smokewhisper libation, which matches his eyes. The bright orange flames trimming his dark suit blaze, bringing out the similar hues in his freckles and tousled hair.
The others nod in agreement.
“Enough of this studious shit. I’m ready to get Celestial’s piss drunk! So, let’s cheers to our confirmed Chivalry of Zenith Wing!” Seraphina pitches her glass to the stars.
“Wait. Where’s Kivi?” Juniper’s eyes dart around, concern pinching her brows before melting into a serene smile.
“I have arrived. It appears just in time, too.” Heavy crescent shadows hang smudged under Kivi’s eyes.
She’s varied the fungi that adorn her body, weaving the mycelium network to mimic a sheer, satin-like gown.
The intricate root system shimmers faintly with life, moisture twinkling along the interconnected pathways of the underground world and the life it supports above.