From Poison (Loxley Academy #2)

Chapter 1

~Evira~

Home sweet home.

Although, I had to admit, it felt more intimidating than usual as I passed through the portal, a wave of powerful magics washing over me.

Usually it evoked peace and awe in me.

But the whole summoning thing really put a fucking damper on that.

The magical gateway into the Dracoryn Realm used to open up in the Fire Dragon Quadrant where Titanus Castle of the former ruling house, House Titanus, had stood.

Searing heat and sulfur had filled the air all around the moment anyone had stepped through, along with the sight of a towering castle built into a dark stone mountain that had spires shaped like dragon horns pointed toward the sky, a lava river encircling the thing with a massive bridge that enabled passage.

But for the last twenty-one years, after House Vortimer had taken power, the entrance to the Realm was here in the Ice Dragon Quadrant. And it was a true beauty to behold.

The fresh, almost minty-scented air infused me as my gaze swept over the blue-white sky above streaked with drifting snow clouds that glowed faintly with glacial magic.

I made my way along the wide path of white granite stretching ahead toward Vortimer Palace. I could have just teleported directly inside or used my speed, but I’d wanted just a little bit of time to acclimate and get my head on straight for what I was about to face.

Snowy white mountains and the luminescent ice cliffs framed the horizon. Snow-tipped pines clustered along the ridges. Mystical springs were interspersed throughout, cool mist coming off them and whispering into the air.

As I drew closer, my heart starting to race, I took in the palace rising from the mountainside.

Layers of pale-blue stone and ice intertwined and formed sweeping arches and high towers that were capped with frost feathers. Strands of frozen light ran like veins through the stunning structure.

I reached the massive double doors carved with the Vortimer crest and surrounded by spiraling frost wings, and they responded to my presence, the ice shifting, then the doors opening and beckoning me inside.

Here goes nothing.

I made my way through the entrance hall carved with pale sapphire marble and glacial magic running through it, the floor a faint blue marble.

Frost-etched murals lined the wall, depicting the unification of the Quadrants, my grandmother forging the Accord for a new non-totalitarian era, my dad being presented as High Regent, even of the parties that had occurred all over the Realm before my birth when House Vortimer had ended the harmful and torturous reign of Zepharion and Serapha Titanus.

My boots clacked on the floor as I looked up at the vaulted ceiling held by white-stone columns, some carved into the shape of dragon forms.

Guards and House Vortimer aides nodded respectfully as I passed on by—we didn’t bow here. I returned them with a smile and a lift of my chin, although feeling my smile fading the closer I drew to the High Regent Chamber, where my dad had told me to meet him.

The aides wore pale-gray and blue luxurious sweeping robes. The Guards were decked out in form-fitting armor following the same color theme, but with sharp geometric patterns, a mixture of draconic metal and fur-lined collars and coats.

A wide bridge led me over the palace’s natural ravine filled with drifting ice fog that swirled in waves. Frozen waterfalls cascaded into it, giving off an air of tranquility, one I couldn’t enjoy the full effects of in my current anxious state.

When I made it to the end of the bridge, I turned left down a long hall that led to the private wing of the High Regent and the First Regent.

And then I reached the doors to the High Regent Chamber.

I sucked in a breath as I stared at the doors.

They weren’t throne room doors and didn’t possess all the intimidation that would come along with such a thing, no insistence on supplication.

That wasn’t how my dad ruled, how House Vortimer ruled.

It was leadership through wisdom, care, diplomacy and collaboration.

I frowned when three familiar scents wafted toward me, not just my dad’s as I’d been expecting.

My grandmother and Torvek were also inside.

“Enter, Evira.”

I jolted as my dad’s voice rang out.

I winced, then shoved both my hands into the doors and pushed them open, the chamber coming into view, all serene elegance.

A council dais encircled by curved seats of ice-glass was the main feature of the space. At the center was an elevated platform of silver marble for anyone who ventured inside with concerns directly for the High Regent to hear to stand and speak and be heard.

Tall windows interspersed around three sides of the space flooded the room with light and the stunning view of the Ice Dragon Quadrant mountains.

And then, just off to the left, gathered around a map of the Quadrants that floated in glacial magic, stood Draven Vortimer, Elyrren Vortimer, and Torvek Titanus, who all spun at my approach.

Grandma greeted me with a pleasant smile, but didn’t say anything.

None of her usual “darling girl” or sweeping hug.

She was tense but trying to conceal it with her usual supreme emotional control.

She stood there in a pair of form-fitting black pants that had swirling pale-blue patterns all over them, a flowing top nestled beneath a blazer that matched the pattern of her pants.

Her silver hair was tinged with ice-blue and beautifully curled.

To her right was my dad, his broad musclebound form in one of his dark silk shirts beneath his navy tailored coat, a pair of gray leather pants tucked into furry boots a lot like mine. “Evira,” he spoke in a tone that I couldn’t discern as being bad or good, just purely neutral.

Torvek was a little off to the side of them, fiddling with his coiling wristband as he stood there in his sleek tailored black coat, his open-collar black shirt, and in black leather pants this time. His dark, thick hair was perfectly styled and he was in a sturdy, almost regal sort of stance.

But then his molten golden eyes flickered and he winked at me while they weren’t looking, the two of them focused on my approach as I strode the distance to where they were all gathered.

I smiled inwardly. He knew how much I’d needed that. Reassurance that this wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought. Or, at least, if it was, he was right here with me.

My dad folded his big arms across his chest and rumbled, “As you should be well aware, Evira, the Dracoryn Realm rejected autocratic rule two decades ago and it is now governed with conscience and care. Under us. Under enlightened regency which has united all four Quadrants. This governance has maintained peace and coexistence effectively and efficiently. Our people are thriving, the Realm prosperous. As Crown Heir you are the chosen successor to stewardship, not blood-ruled dominion. Successor to the covenant that maintains peace among the dragon clans. Mine and your grandmother’s regency represents continuity and conscience, not tyranny. ”

I frowned. “Of course I know all of this. Not getting your point in relation to this… turn of events you called me here to discuss. Or, more likely, ream me out for.”

“The point, my daughter, is that all of that has continued to be possible due in great part also to stability. Our stability—House Vortimer’s.

Not allying ourselves with perceived threats, not taking action that could bring harm to the Realm or infringe upon our people.

Not breaking their trust. Not calling their safety into question. ”

“And that’s what you think me being in a relationship with three men, none of whom are dragon, is putting at risk?”

“As you’ve likely already deduced, Vaxan Canor would be viewed as a powerful alliance that would serve the Dracoryn Realm well.

Basilisk and Dragon allying would be beneficial on several levels for both kingdoms. The Ifrit is partially problematic, yet his flame is valued and treated with reverence by those in the Fire Dragon Quadrant.

The fact also that he is an evolutionary marker of his species being that he is immune to Cursed Servitude—dragons value adaptability immensely for it ensures long-term survival. ”

“So, it’s definitely all about Winter, then. Got it.” I looked to Torvek who was smiling at me kindly, trying to help me in his sweet way.

Still, the tension that had started since I’d received that summoning text from my dad just couldn’t be contained any longer, and I eyed Grandma and kind of snapped, “‘Be loud, be brazen, be proud.’ Remember telling me that? In your message right when I arrived at Loxley Academy?”

“I do, yes.”

“Making a claim on the Wraith-Necromancer was certainly that, Evira,” my dad spoke.

And then Grandma’s lips quirked.

She exchanged a look with Dad.

And he grinned.

What was happening?

“Your claim stands,” Dad told me, generating a great deal more confusion.

“It… what?”

His eyes shone at me. “You stepped up in order to do that. You showed strength, conviction. You stopped hiding it—from us and from yourself. That’s something to be celebrated.

And it’s something me and your grandmother are proud of you for.

Things like that are a step on the path toward fully coming into your power.

” He eyed me pointedly. “Even in spite of the political ramifications.”

Grandma stepped forward. “We’re also well aware that you don’t draw close in the sense of being willing to risk anything or fight for people usually.

” Torvek gave a rough clear of this throat.

Grandma smiled. “You being the obvious exception. But you took on the role of her big brother protector. Very different. Outside of the family is how I should have phrased it. Even that awful Keuric whom she courted, she still stood at a distance to.”

“She’s saying Evira couldn’t not like you and become attached to you,” my dad teased Torvek.