Chapter 55
I was burning alive.
A flood of images crashed over me. Faces swirled in my mind; people I had once known and memories—all crashing over me like a never-ending wave.
Someone was screaming, the sound raw and desperate, filling the air.
Is that me?
The world tilted, and I was falling into an endless void, unable to stop.
—
A vibrant world of bright petals and lush greenery came to life before me.
I pressed my fingers to the petals, watching as they gave way and bloomed brighter, smiling as I sprinted a little farther into the palace gardens, the emblem of the Red Phoenix hanging between the pillars, swaying lightly in the warm tropical breeze, the sun casting everything in a golden haze.
A tiny azure hummingbird caught my attention. It had joined me each day this week and was particularly friendly, darting around me in playful circles, as if it were trying to speak.
I smirked, shaking my head and shooing it playfully, before letting it settle next to me by the pond. Its shimmering feathers glinted in the sunlight, a jewel against the bright green of the leaves.
Suddenly, the birds in the trees went silent, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath. A sound shattered the eerie quiet.
A low, guttural growl.
Emerging from the underbrush, its scales glinting with an oily sheen, was a massive creature with a body that looked like a cross between a lion and a reptile, its scales slick and black, its serpentine tail thrashing violently behind it.
Its head was crowned with jagged horns, and its glowing, molten red eyes locked onto me with predatory hunger.
Long, sharp teeth protruded from its jaws, and as it snarled, smoke curled from its nostrils.
A Nian. I had only heard of them in myths.
Fear tightened my chest as the Nian crept closer. Its growl vibrated through the air, low and menacing.
I stepped back instinctively, my heart racing, but I knew there was no outrunning it.
Before I could make a move, a shimmer of light flickered beside me. The tiny hummingbird transformed. Before I could comprehend what was happening, the hummingbird that had flitted around me had morphed into a half-grown puma.
It landed protectively between me and the advancing beast, baring its fangs with a snarl that echoed through the garden.
But even as it stood its ground, I wasn’t defenseless. My wings, fiery and powerful, unfurled from my back. I’d just grown them last year when I turned twelve, my first zodiac year.
Without a second thought, I leapt into the air, beating them hard, rising above the threat below. The air was filled with heat and magic, and I hovered, my heart pounding as I watched the standoff unfold.
The Nian growled in frustration, its crimson eyes darting between me and the puma.
The puma looked up toward me, its gaze wide with disbelief.
We stared at each other for a breathless moment when the Nian let out a deafening roar, lunging forward with its serpentine tail lashing through the air. My secret protector leapt forward to meet it, its growl just as fierce.
The Nian bolted into the shadows, its heavy paws crashing through the underbrush. I gently touched down on the ground, my wings folding away against my back and disappearing.
The puma shimmered again, shifting.
The most beautiful boy I had ever seen stood before me, his eyes a soft brown that seemed to hold all the warmth of the sun.
His hair was pure azure blue. He was an Azure.
I was startled, frozen in place, but he smiled gently, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
I didn’t return his smile. As the crown princess of my dominion, I’d been taught from a young age about the dangers of treachery. I was heavily veiled at any public function, and often a body double took my place.
“Who are you?” Suspicion laced my words. “Why are you here? Are you a spy?” I asked, my gaze narrowing. I crossed my arms.
He blinked in surprise, his eyes widening at the accusation. For a moment, there was silence. Then a playful smile tugged at the corners of his lips, breaking the tension.
“No,” he said, his voice disarming. “I’m no spy.”
I wanted to believe him. Part of me already did. But the part of me that had been trained in the art of suspicion wasn’t so easily convinced.
“Your mother invited me,” he said.
“Sure she did,” I said disbelievingly. “What do you know of my mother?”
“The Red Queen. She’s famous and beautiful.” He grinned, sauntering closer, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes looked mischievous closer up, and my cheeks heated under his attention. “One of the most powerful nulls ever born. A little eccentric.”
My brow furrowed. “Okay, that’s her. Why would she ask you?”
He shrugged. “I’m here because my parents made me come, technically. But then I found you.” His words sent a strange warmth through me.
“I didn’t know shapeshifters could change into different types of animals,” I said, still trying to process what I’d seen. “I thought Azures only had one form.”
He shrugged, a bit uncomfortable under my scrutiny, his warm brown eyes flicking away for a moment. “I’m special,” he said, almost as if he didn’t want to admit it.
There was a pause, his words hanging in the air between us. I studied him more closely.
My mind raced, piecing together fragments of memories and half-forgotten conversations.
“You’re Prince Draven,” I said softly.
I stepped back and gave him a deep curtsy, as I’d been trained. I had learned the etiquette and languages of every dominion from infancy, even though it had seemed unlikely we would ever meet face-to-face.
Mistrust ran deep between the dominions, and alliances were rare, if not impossible.
Draven blinked, surprise flickering in his eyes at my formal acknowledgment. He responded with an equally courtly bow.
“Can you make yourself into any animal?”
He smiled, stepping closer—
—
The memory melded into another, a cool dark hallway, my magic causing the lanterns to light up and lead the way as I giggled and squealed, running from something, though I wasn’t afraid.
I heard the growl of a lion behind me, eyes darting to see how close he was getting. He was intentionally slow, I could tell—but he continued forward.
My feet carried me faster, for the slit in my skirt and bare feet making it easier to sprint.
A warm, muscular arm—a human arm—wrapped around my waist and picked me up as I shouted.
“Draven—”
He pressed my back into the cool stone, his lips silencing my breathless protest.
“That was fun, Princess.” He smirked against my mouth, eyes vibrant as he nipped at my lips and pulled back. “I like hunting you. Let’s do it again.”
I shook my head, lips tingling. “I’m not fast enough. Besides, we’re supposed to be training—”
—
Another memory, swirling faster. Rooms in red and gold. A breeze drifted in through the open window. Skin against mine—Draven’s warm eyes on mine as we explored each other for the first time.
“Harder, please,” I whispered, my heart thundering. Draven leaned in and kissed my temple, his skin sweat-damp and overheated.
“Take a breath, Rubiana.” My full name dropped from his mouth was serious, different from his usual smirking, playful tone. “You’re going to set the entire room on fire—relax for me, Princess.”
I tried, breathing slow as he pushed into me, again and again. Slowly, gently. It felt like I was exploding from the inside, flames licking my skin.
I reached for his hand and he hesitated.
“Please,” I whispered to him. “Draven, it’s just Pairing.”
A frown marred his handsome face then. “Yeah, well, maybe I take it more seriously.”
I reached up to kiss his jaw, before turning his head toward me, blinking at the worry and vulnerability in his gaze.
With another gentle exhale, I breathed. “You know I want you.”
“I know. But…are you sure—”
“Absolutely,” I whispered. “Draven, tell me if you want this. If you want me.”
“I do,” he said, “You have no idea what I’d do for you, Princess. You have my heart.”
“And you have mine. Always.”
—
The mirror tree shimmered above me. It was exactly what I’d pictured, how I’d seen it in my head, perfectly carved as I’d asked for. My eyes took it all in slowly—since I wouldn’t be allowed to the next day, during our Wedding of Flame and Sky.
I tapped my foot. Though it was light outside, the curtains were kept closed so no one could see the mirror tree before the ceremony. My hand flared out to light the lanterns around the room. He was late.
Finally, the doors opened, and a large puma slipped through, stealthily.
I laughed and shook my head at his dramatics, waiting as he rubbed up and around my legs, purring softly at me.
“Feeling untamed?” I asked, teasingly.
Draven turned then, shifting into the handsome prince I loved.
“One night without me in your bed and you’re singing messages to find me?” he said, laughing as he looped his arms around my waist. “So needy, my princess.”
I flushed at the double meaning but didn’t deny him. Love glowed between us, our Pair bond strong.
“Tonight, Draven,” I whispered, terrified someone would discover us. “I want to marry you tonight. I can’t wait.”
His brow furrowed. “But tomorrow—”
“Tomorrow is for them. For our kingdoms and dominions. For our parents.” I pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. “Tonight let it be for just us.”