Chapter 37
Dragon queen.
Welcome home.
The words echoed in my head, and I glanced from the three witches to Aurelia and back again. The witches were unfamiliar to me, but their red cloaks signified they belonged to the witch clans of the Star Court.
“What are you talking about?” Aurelia demanded, her voice ringing with authority despite her bloodied state. Her body was so covered in blood and grime that only small splotches of her freckled ivory skin was visible.
“We have waited so long for your return,” said the white-haired witch, her lavender eyes glowing with power.
“Return?” Aurelia sputtered. “I’ve never been here before. You must have me confused with someone else.”
“She is not ready, sister,” hissed the black-haired witch, her eyes narrowing.
“She is here ,” protested the first.
“But she is not here for us,” said the gray-haired witch, her voice lower than the others.
Aurelia shook her head, striding toward them. I flung out a hand to stop her, and she looked at me with a mixture of alarm and confusion. Slowly, I shook my head. A single look from these witches could kill us all. To cross them would be foolish.
“Thank you for saving us,” Aurelia said stiffly. “Now please, let us pass. We mean you no harm.”
“We know,” the three witches said in unison .
Unease prickled along my skin. I didn’t like this. Something wasn’t right.
For a long, tense moment, the five of us—and Mal—stood there, unmoving, watching each other. It felt like I was sizing up an opponent, preparing for another battle.
A battle I would not win.
“Please,” I said, my voice soft. “Please let us pass. We need to see a healer. We need?—”
“You need nothing,” the white-haired witch snapped. “Be silent, foolish boy.”
My head jerked back in surprise. I had never seen these witches before, but the few I had encountered had been nothing but respectful to me.
Aurelia stiffened, her fists curling tightly at her sides. “This foolish boy just saved my ass from being sacrificed by those ogres. Show him some respect.”
“We never would have let them continue the ritual,” said the white-haired witch, waving a hand idly. “His intervention was unnecessary.”
“So you let those ogres cut us down? You let them fight us?” Aurelia’s voice was full of outrage.
“We only intervene when necessary,” said the gray-haired witch in that low, soothing voice.
“Who are you?” Aurelia demanded, her voice shrill and ringing.
“Ruby,” said the black-haired witch.
“Jade,” said the gray-haired witch.
“Sapphire,” murmured the last.
The air rippled with the power of their names, and I swallowed hard. Though the witches regarded us with a stoic calmness, every nerve in my body told me we were in grave danger.
“Again, we thank you for intervening, ” Aurelia said, sneering at the word. “But please either tell us why you are here, or let us pass.”
A deadly silence followed. My arms began to tremble. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the three witches as I waited for them to lash out, to obliterate us all. It would be quick and easy. Of that I was certain.
At long last, the white-haired witch—Sapphire—stepped forward, drawing something from the folds of her cloak. I almost lunged for Aurelia, certain the witch was about to stab her with a poisoned blade.
But she only withdrew a small, glass vial. It was tinted lavender, the same shade as the witches’ eyes, and it was completely empty.
“When you start to remember, shatter this,” the witch said softly, pressing the vial into Aurelia’s hands. “We will come.”
Aurelia frowned, but she took the glass, inspecting it thoughtfully. Before any of us could react, another blinding flash of light illuminated the cave, and then the witches were gone.
When you start to remember… What the hell did that mean?
I looked at Aurelia, who was still running her finger along the hard edges of the glass vial, her expression contemplative.
“Aurelia?” I asked, gently gripping her elbow.
She looked up at me, her blue eyes wild with a riot of emotions—anger, confusion, and pain. I wondered what she was thinking. What burdensome thoughts filled her mind right now?
Did she know what those witches were talking about?
After a long moment, she shuddered, then swayed. I caught her by the shoulders before she fainted, then realized just how much blood was flowing from her wounds.
Stars above, it was a miracle she hadn’t lost consciousness already.
I quickly shed my cloak and wrapped it around her before hoisting her into my arms. My body screamed in protest, but I ignored it, cradling her against my chest.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her matted hair. “I’ll get you to safety. The Court of Twilight isn’t far from here. Mal can fly us there.”
Mal grunted his agreement, and together, we left the godsforsaken room where the ogres had almost sacrificed the woman I loved. We made our way down the passageway and climbed the winding steps that led to the trapdoor. Our steps were slower than before; carrying Aurelia’s weight while enduring my own injuries made me see stars, and there were moments when I thought I would topple down the staircase. But Mal was at my back, his head nudging me forward.
When we reached the top, I threw open the trapdoor and gasped, breathing in the familiar midnight spruce scent of the forest. I gently set Aurelia on the forest floor before climbing out after her.
I meant to kneel by her side, to tend to the most pressing of her wounds, but I froze at the sight that awaited us.
A squadron of my mother’s soldiers stood before us, weapons drawn. In front was a man I recognized: Gorrick, my guard captain. He removed his helmet and bowed low.
“Welcome home, Your Highness. The queen has sent us to escort you to the palace.”
I gaped at the men standing before me. Never before had I led soldiers into this forest. It was suicide. Yet here they stood, ready to protect us, ready to guide us home.
A mixture of confusion and gratitude swelled in my chest.
“Gorrick,” I said breathlessly, stepping forward to clasp his hand in mine. “Stars above, it’s good to see you. We are in desperate need of assistance.”
“There are horses waiting for you just outside the forest,” Gorrick said. “Come, I can lead you there.”
My grip tightened on his arm, stopping him. “We—We intend to visit the Twilight Court first.”
Gorrick frowned, then looked me over, no doubt taking in my thin shirtsleeves, stained and torn, and my extensive injuries. “Sire, you are in no shape to make such a visit.”
“The matter is quite urgent.” I had to see King Marek. The fate of Aurelia’s kingdom was at stake. If I could only get a word with Queen Adira, then I could find out where the Dream Mage was.
Gorrick’s face twisted in an apologetic grimace. “I am sorry, sire. But my orders come directly from the queen. I am sure that once your injuries are tended to, you will be able to make your visit.”
I closed my eyes in frustration. Mother outranked me, so Gorrick would be disobeying a direct order from his queen by catering to my request. Damn it all. I scrubbed a hand down my face and sighed. “Very well. Do you have a healer with you?”
“We do. He can tend to you once we leave the forest.”
“And Aurelia as well.” I gestured to the Summer Princess, who was sitting up and watching the interaction with a dazed expression. I was shocked she was still conscious, but it was clear she was fading fast.
Gorrick glanced down at the princess as if just now noticing she was there. “I—Who—” He cleared his throat in uncertainty. “I did not realize you had a traveling companion.”
“Yes. My fiancée.”
Gorrick blanched but quickly masked his surprise. “I—I see. This will be interesting news for the queen indeed.”
I’m sure it will be, I thought bitterly. I had sent word ahead of our visit to break the news to Mother, but I was certain she believed it to be a joke of some kind.
There would be no softening this blow. She would have my head for making this arrangement without her consent or blessing.
But it meant we could have a dragon. Surely, that would be a good enough reason for her.
At the thought of dragons, I glanced around in alarm, scanning the forest for Mal. What would Gorrick and the soldiers do if they found a dragon with us?
But the black dragon was nowhere to be found. He must have noticed the crowd awaiting us and kept himself hidden below the trapdoor.
Smart creature.
With a deep breath, I crouched low and gathered Aurelia into my arms once more. Gorrick immediately stepped forward and said, “Sire, please. Let me carry her.”
“No.” My protest was sharper than I intended. I softened my tone and added, “I will do it. I am well enough.”
Gorrick’s mouth formed a thin line but he made no further objections. His soldiers led the way, marching us out of the wretched forest and toward the safety of my home.