Chapter 7 Audryn
AUDRYN
The rocky terrain was more of a challenge than I’d expected.
The first week, Amalee and I flew to the castle to work with the soil without the prying eyes of the crowded street.
Despite many attempts, I couldn’t conjure a single fruit, vegetable, or flower.
The poisoned dirt was so different from digging into the void of nothingness below King Sutton’s blue rosebush.
The land didn’t sing with life; there wasn’t even a dull hum.
Grave was absent most of the week; I’d only seen him at dinner twice. Reporting my failure was miserable, but he remained encouraging despite the stress marking his face.
“Do you think your brother will be home for dinner?” I looked to Amalee, who’d taken a seat on a stone bench in the courtyard.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. With the seeps in disarray, I don’t really know his schedule.”
I blew out a breath and dug into the gravel. “Maybe I should’ve tried to work on those first? If they’re returned to working condition, you don’t necessarily need a garden, right?”
“Well, they’re both independent issues, each is as important as the other. Choosing to focus on one task every other week was the best option given your limited time here.”
Sky walked out the double doors with a cup in each hand, her icy blonde locks gleaming against the midday sun. She ate dinner with us every evening and, as far as I could tell, lived in the townhouse. I wasn’t sure what she did during the day since I’d spent the majority of my time with Amalee.
“Let’s take a break and go into town.” Sky handed me a cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade.
I might not have been able to get the ground to yield food, but I’d kept the produce in the atrium replenished daily.
“You’ve been at it for days, surely you understand the importance of stepping away and coming back with fresh eyes, right? ”
Amalee looked into her cup as if she were considering her girlfriend’s suggestion. She’d become softer in Kuroden, even Grave seemed different. Perhaps the cooler temperatures helped everyone’s mood; it did mine.
“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” I sipped, my lips puckering as the tart liquid hit my tongue. “I can practice with the ground in the evening.”
Fisher exited the castle and stood in the doorway for a moment before disappearing back inside. He’d remained nearby, but over the last few days he busied himself indoors instead. I was grateful to have the space.
“C’mon.” Sky pulled on Amalee’s arm. “I’ve spent barely any time with you since you’ve been back. You’re so busy now babysitting.” She shot a glance in my direction. “No offense.”
I waved a dismissive dirty hand.
“I don’t have time to roam the streets with you. There’s less than a month to figure this out,” Amalee snapped. She shook her head and walked into the castle. My lack of success had all of us on edge.
Working my hands back into the ground, I poured more magic into the rocky terrain, but it didn’t budge. There was no difference whether I trickled only a small amount or poured myself into it; nothing worked.
“Maybe you’re doing it wrong.” Sky stood over me, casting a shadow from the sun. “You’re not from here, and when I use my magic, it feels different too.”
I gazed up at her familiar black eyes; they were so similar to Amalee’s. “What kingdom are you from?”
She plopped down on the nearby bench. “Oh, you wouldn’t know it, I’m from the Oras.”
“A witch? Like a full witch?” The shock in my voice was far more apparent than I’d meant. I softened my tone and causally asked, “So, how do you like it here?”
“I’ve been here most of my life. My father was a friend of Thalion—Amalee and Col’s father.” She bent down and ran a palm over the gravel. “And when he died, I told my father that I wasn’t going back. He moved and I stayed.”
“Why do you call him Col?” I drained the remaining juice from my cup.
“Because that’s his name?” she drawled and narrowed her eyes.
“He introduced this as the Grant castle, yet the book refers to his father as King Graystorm. And everyone in Rivale calls him King Grave.”
“Well, that’s because Rivale is full of assholes.” She winced. “No offense.”
I shrugged.
“Anyway, the royals were pissed that Athela married a witch because we apparently are just awful,” Sky mocked and rolled her eyes.
“When Colgrave refused to use his father’s family name and chose his mother’s instead, they wouldn’t have it—in their eyes she’d tainted the Grant name.
So those from the other kingdoms took the childhood nickname all the little shit kids created, and that’s what they’ve called him ever since. ”
“Oh,” I muttered.
“Yea, he’s kinder than I’d ever be. If it were me, I’d take each of their hearts and change it into—” The gravel she once held crumbled into a fine dust and the breeze carried it from her hand.
“I don’t think we need a visual.” A low voice rumbled behind me.
Over my shoulder, Grave stood with his arms across his chest while leaning against the jagged cliff. Dirt adorned his face, while dark bags rested just below his eyes. Despite the muck and exhaustion, he was still utterly beautiful.
“I heard you wanted to go into town.” Grave stepped forward and extended a hand, helping me to my feet. His eyes raked over me. “I’d like to take you myself if that’s okay. I just need to clean up first.”
His hand moved to my face, but I drew away.
In such a short time, I’d become wary of what the hands of others could do.
Even a thousand miles away, Ryder’s impact was far-reaching.
The more time passed, the less I understood my feelings for the prince; I wasn’t even sure I had any feelings for him.
It made little sense, yet in the back of my mind a twinge of guilt remained.
“I’m sorry, there was a strand of hair and I—” Grave hesitated. “I shouldn’t have.”
“It’s my issue, not yours.” I looked down, realizing my hand had somehow interlaced with his when I pushed him away. Extending my fingers, I let our contact drop and dug my hand into a pocket.
He blew out a long breath before walking to the side doors and disappearing inside.
“You two need to fuck and get it out of your systems already.” Sky chuckled.
My head snapped to her, and I lifted my left hand, displaying the large stone weighing down my finger. “I’m betrothed to the Prince of Rivale.”
“Yeah,” Sky said, nodding, “and yet he shipped you off. Real charmer, isn’t he?”
For a moment, I let myself consider what it might’ve felt like to be wrapped in Grave’s arms, or to lie against him in the afterglow of a long night.
Tucking into his muscled chest while traveling was more comforting than I’d expected.
Even if I hadn’t let myself feel it fully.
The undercurrent between us was undeniable.
“You alright over there, Princess?” Sky asked. “You’re looking a bit flustered.”
“I’m not a princess.” I shook my head.
“Yet,” Grave said, leaning against the doorframe, his face clean. “It’s only a matter of time.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are we going?”
An hour later, the four of us made our way into the heart of the capital.
Amalee and Sky strode ahead hand in hand while Grave and I trailed.
Fisher remained at the castle only after I’d convinced him I would be safe.
Not a single guard accompanied us. It felt both dangerous and exhilarating.
I hadn’t realized the weight of scrutinizing eyes until their absence left me lighter.
“Why don’t you have any guards at your townhouse?” My fingers brushed against the colorful ribbons dangling from the sun catchers outside a storefront. Nearly every store held hand-crafted items.
“I don’t need them. The threats are from outside the kingdom and rarely from within.” He waved at a passing female, who offered a dip of her chin.
“Nobody bows to you?”
He shook his head. “No need for that either. We all live here, I’m only their spokesperson to the rest of the continent.”
“A little simplistic, don’t you think?” For as much as I hated King Sutton, I wasn’t so foolish to disregard the importance of a royal.
“Perhaps, but I don’t see the point of ruling any other way. They know I have their best interests in mind and will always do what I can to provide for them. Why do I need them to reduce themselves before me? This is their home just as much as it is mine.”
“Col! Col!” a little voice called from behind us.
A young girl wrapped herself around the tall king’s leg.
Picking her up, he twirled her about several times as laughs burst from her belly.
He carefully set her down and helped her steady from the dizzying spins.
A woman with the same brown eyes and golden hair approached.
Their frames were thin, yet their smiles were wide.
“I’m sorry about that,” the woman continued. “She’s been asking about you for weeks, and she bolted the moment she saw you.”
Grave went to wrap a hand around me but stopped himself. And for a fleeting moment I longed for his touch.
“This is Audryn,” Grave said. “She’s visiting from Rivale.”
“That’s … interesting,” the woman said and squinted at me.
He gestured to her. “And this is Dolcie.”
“Hello.” I extended my hand.
She let the greeting go unacknowledged and returned her attention to the king.
“I’m glad to see you’re back. We’ve been working on a little something at home and I would love for you to stop by.
Tomorrow night, maybe? I could cook something for dinner.
I’ve been saving a few items for a special occasion. ”
“Sure, but perhaps a different day. I’m showing our guest around.” He smiled at Dolcie and then back at me. “Audryn’s been generously working on a project with my sister.”
My stomach twinged. For his sister? Hadn’t he been the one to ask for my help?