Chapter 1 #2
“We’re also saying that your claim is yours to make or unmake, darling girl.”
My dad came to me and took my hand, stroking my fingers, his eyes softening.
“You should know by now that there is no forcing from me, nor from your grandmother. There are expectations, yes, on our House, on our rule, but I thought I’d made it clear, especially through encouraging you to attend Loxley Academy, that I would never allow you to suffer for being born into that, for being my daughter. ”
“I… I thought this would be different. Because of how Winter is viewed here, and maybe even because of the me-choosing-three-partners thing, as opposed to the accepted one here.”
My dad shook his head and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Then why call me here so urgently?” I asked.
He slipped his hand from mine and gave my shoulder a rub, then stepped back, telling me, “Because there are still optics we need to concern ourselves with, a Realm of beings whose fears and upset we must ease. The people see Winter Nox as a potential destroyer of the very thing the Dracoryn Realm holds dear—the purity of life. He is seen as an infection of death unstoppable upon life and vitality. Having the Crown Heir claiming him is essentially being seen as an endorsement, as making all that death they fear part of the Realm—visiting that threat upon them. And because you are young and in love, they view it as a youthful mistake, which, in turn, is casting you as short-sighted and uncaring toward the people House Vortimer has sworn to safeguard and to lead with conscience and care.”
Yeah, my decision was a political nightmare.
But only because of the stance against Winter, because they didn’t know him, and only saw him as a thing. Only what he was and the misunderstandings baked into that, not who he was.
“I wouldn’t endanger the Realm. Winter isn’t malicious. He’s very conscious of his nature and careful as a result. He’s a gentle sweetheart. What people worry about him bringing about is the direct opposite of who he is. He could never become that,” I told them all.
Torvek finally spoke. “When I attacked him, he didn’t fight back. He barely even defended himself. The fact that Lazriel sped in, not just for moral support or to diffuse the situation, but moved into a defensive position, demonstrated just how deeply it’s entrenched in Winter not to lash out.”
“Exactly,” I said, grateful he’d brought that up, and recognizing how big of him it was to do that after the whole nightmare of that altercation. “Winter will only fight back to defend those he loves, and those who can’t defend themselves against certain things.”
“We agree,” Grandma assured me. “And we believe that will soon be proven beyond one incident we are privy to. His position as an asset and ally, a protector, rather than a threat, will be proven.”
“Proven how?”
“House Athyras of the Wind Dragon Quadrant has sensed the coming of something destabilizing rising that is rooted in death magic.”
Oh no. They’d felt this destabilization Winter had been so worried about too now.
With their magical ability that included air currents, pressure bursts, wind storm control, and sound manipulation, they could also sense things carrying on the winds, along with disruptions across the supernatural world even outside the Realm.
House Athyras were also the ones who’d given valuable intel to my grandma which had enabled her infiltration of House Titanus and, thereby, the overthrow.
She held up her hand, assuring me what I already knew, because I knew Winter. “Not Winter, he’s not the source of it. But with it being death magic at hand, it stands to reason that he will need to be involved. Significantly.”
“What about Sylas?”
My dad explained, “At present, we have no further details, except that the intensity of this threat is severe enough to warrant intervention when it comes to pass. And that intensity is concerning should Sylas attempt to stand against it alone. He possesses unmatched knowledge and necromantic power, while Winter is still learning. Sylas must be careful, while Winter is unkillable.”
“And you think he’ll need to be called in because of that? To bolster Sylas? Lessen the risk?”
“Yes,” my dad confirmed. “Those in the higher echelons of the supernatural world, like myself, King Darethor of the Dark Fae Realm, King Heryn of the Light Fae Realm, Vaxan Canor’s parents, Ryker Morgan of the Guardian Movement…
we all recognize that, despite the fear of the supernatural populace toward Necromancy after what Morien Morgrave perpetrated.
That is why no one in command has touched Winter or challenged Sylas in regard to him. ”
My grandma added, “Not that it has stopped Winter’s family from employing stringent safeguards around Winter. Because there are still many who see him as a threat.”
My dad nodded. “And while that’s still the case, until this situation House Athyras has registered plays out, we must be mindful of it.”
“What does that mean in practice, Dad?”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “You need to relinquish your title as Crown Heir temporarily so stability and faith in House Vortimer can be re-established.”
Until Winter proved himself through dealing with this yet unknown threat? Until he risked himself alongside his dad?
I clenched my fists.
“The three of us standing in this room, your family, respect your claim on Winter and the other two you have chosen for yourself. I won’t allow any action to be taken that could impact that. We will all stand with you should there be pushback.”
“But me giving up my title will head it off at the pass so it hopefully doesn’t come to that. And also keep House Vortimer stable.”
“Yes, darling girl,” Grandma said, her regret clear that it had come to this.
I looked at Torvek, and then it clicked. He wasn’t just here as moral support for me. If that had been the case, he could have met me outside or something. “You’re gonna take on my title?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Apparently so.”
“He didn’t want to,” Grandma told me.
“But the advantages of doing so, the necessity of doing so have been explained. He’s agreed that it’s what needs to be done to stabilize the Realm and to safeguard you and your claim,” my dad said.
“Just until things shift,” Torvek assured me. “This is your birthright, not mine. Not anymore.”
The truth was, he’d never even gotten a chance at that, due to what his parents had done and how they’d run things under House Titanus.
But he was a fire dragon living among ice dragons who had the respect of everyone across the Realm, who was seen as the farthest thing from his parents.
He loved being here, loved being dragon, loved the systems here, the way of life.
And the fact he could be accepted as Crown Heir when he didn’t technically have the House Vortimer title was a testament to that.
The people trusted in him, not what he was or where he’d come from, nor even his bloodline.
“It suits you, T.”
“What?”
“It suits you more than me.”
“Evi—”
“At least at this juncture.”
He wasn’t taking anything from me. That wasn’t how he was, how he operated. Nor would he ever be that way with me. And I knew my family didn’t actually mean it that way either.
They were trying to free me.
In the best way they could right now.
I grasped his hands. “Thank you for doing this for me. It’s a burden, not all sunshine and rainbows. You’re gonna be thrown into the thick of it, the actionable parts, not allotted a four-year break like me by going to Loxley, instead of beginning my official Crown Heir duties.”
He stroked my fingers. “I wouldn’t have taken it on if I didn’t think I could deal with it. Don’t worry. It’s all well on my end.” Concern flared in his eyes. “What about on your end?”
“Like I said, right now it’s what’s best. For everyone involved.”
As much as it was obviously cutting that it had come to this, that it had to happen at all, there was nobody better than Torvek to take it on.
I would be away at Loxley Academy anyway. I had one foot in the Dracoryn Realm and one foot outside it.
He didn’t. Even with his older brother living on the outside, Torvek wasn’t torn by that, not split down the middle.
He belonged here. He’d cemented that for many years.
It was why he was so afraid of his Celestial abilities becoming known to anyone here outside of my family.
He feared it would cast him in a whole different light and take away this life that he fit with so well.
For me, it was another story. I’d always wanted to venture beyond the Realm, to explore and experience things that weren’t draconic.
I had an adventurous heart, I supposed. I’d been restless here.
Of course, I hadn’t imagined that would mean giving up my title.
I’d thought it would be waiting for me. But… here we were.
“You accept, then?” my dad asked me.
“Yes. It needs to be done. Do it.”
“I’ll see to it.” He embraced me. “I love you, baby girl,” he breathed into my hair. As I went to hug him back, my grandma was there throwing her arms around me too. I heard Torvek chuckling as he looked on.
“Love you all too,” I said as they damn near smothered me.
When we pulled apart, Dad told me, “I need to put things in motion immediately. And you need to return to classes.”
“I do, yeah.”
“I’ll keep you updated.”
“Don’t you need me to be present to relinquish my title?”