What Secrets Does the Castle Hold?
“Not so fast, Grim Reaper,” Dayson announced as he pulled me out of Jade’s arms. “You’re not the only one who has been waiting for this moment, so share the love, brother.”
Soon, I was passed from one man to another, each showering me in kisses and hugs until it came to Zan and Paxton.
Both of them obviously bore my claim to them as more than just my guardian, but we hadn’t really had a chance to know each other in that way.
Zan held out a hand in my direction with a soft smile as his smoky, unseeing eyes bore into my soul.
He might not be able to see me in the traditional sense of the word, but with Ezzu’s help and something else that was just him, I knew he saw me better than any of the others.
I placed my hand in his and let him pull me to his chest, where he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on the top of mine.
“I know we are new to each other and things might take some time, but you are more than worth the wait, and I will enjoy discovering who you are, Cassarah,” he murmured into my hair, then pulled back far enough to kiss me on the forehead and the tip of my nose.
His words made me melt in his arms along with his kisses, feeling the sincerity in them, and setting me at ease that he wasn’t unhappy being claimed by me. Zan released me as I turned to face Paxton who stood there looking extremely unsure of himself.
“Cassarah… look, I know I’m an asshole and always seem to say the wrong thing around you or pick a fight with the others, but I would like the chance to see what might happen between us.
Clearly, the gods seem to think we might be good for each other, and I’m inclined to trust them on this matter.
I’ve never met a woman I respected more than I do you, even in the short time I’ve watched you and how you carry yourself through all this shit going on.
If there is a woman who could make something useful out of a man like me, it would be you, and I’d really love to see what we can do together. ”
Paxton’s words were so honest and probably the first time I’d seen him truly take something seriously. His gaze never wavered from mine as he spoke, trying to show me as much as tell me how he felt. I held out both hands to him which he took, hope lighting up his face.
“As I sat on the throne and magic was flying around me, I reached perfect clarity. At that moment, I understood that each of you hold something I need, and in that same regard, I have something you need. I’ve been sheltered and controlled in how I act or express my emotions.
On the other hand, you let them fly freely, never second-guessing yourself as you speak your mind.
Sometimes, it needs to be toned down just as I need to show more and take risks.
I think we can both learn from each other, and if something more blossoms from it, I don’t think I would mind at all,” I shared, giving him a wide smile.
In his excitement, he let out a whoop of joy, pulling me in for a bone-crushing hug before he tossed me up and caught me, only to cup my face and press his lips to mine. A little startled, I froze, but then it just felt right, so I returned his kiss but still kept it chaste.
“Spitfire, you and I are going to make one hell of a team… I just know it,” Paxton announced as he grinned, looking down at me.
“Now what do you say we find out what other trouble we can get into around this castle?” Intertwining his fingers with mine, he tugged me to follow as he took off across the throne room back out to the nave, now bright with all the shutters open.
Off to the left was another set of double doors which revealed a set of stairs leading up to the second level of the castle.
Once on the second floor, we walked down a long hall with paintings of the previous kings and their dragons along with other artwork depicting the battle that caused the first king to discover Sheca.
Another painting showed the first king, his family, and other various moments in history with brass plates on the bottom of the frames stating who or what the painting was.
There were several rooms off the hall on either side that we peeked in on, but most of them were sitting rooms, a game room, and the ballroom at the end of the hall.
The polished hardwood floor shone in the light, but what took my breath away was the mural on the ceiling of dragons flying and people in beautiful clothes dancing.
“I think I could lay on the floor and stare at that ceiling for hours and still not see everything,” I whispered, not wanting to disturb the peacefulness of the room.
A body pressed up against my back, wrapping its arms around my waist. “I think that every time I look at you, love,” Gavin said in a hushed voice, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, making me shiver.
“Just when I think I have you figured out, you show us something new we hadn’t noticed before.
Something tells me life with you will never be boring. ”
I twisted in his arms to face him and brushed some of his curls out of his face before I could think better of it.
This seemed to please him immensely, and he caught my hand to press a kiss to my palm, slowly holding my gaze.
For an act that was so innocent and simple, it made my body flair with heat and need like some wanton woman.
“Now I just think you’re spinning tales to butter me up, Gavin.
There isn’t all that much to figure out about me. I’m a fairly simple person.”
“Now that is where you are wrong, little mouse,” Cole countered, boxing me in from behind so I was trapped between them.
“The prince is right… you are like a puzzle. Just when we think we have it all figured out, we find another piece we need to fit in somewhere. You are like a drug to us, Cassarah. We want to have all of you, but that isn’t something you hand out freely.
It has to be earned, and the high we get… it’s addicting.”
“I wasn’t there the night of the ball for those accepted into court, never getting the chance to see you all dressed up.
I would very much like to witness this with my own eyes after getting a taste of it for dinner the other night in the castle,” Gavin shared, brushing the back of his finger along my cheek.
“I think the sight of you would make this mural pale in comparison.”
“Just think, now that we bear her mark, we get to monopolize her time at these events, keeping her all to ourselves,” Cole added. “I quite like having that sort of place in your life,” he admitted, brushing my hair to the side to kiss the back of my neck, causing me to inhale sharply at the touch.
The sound of someone clearing their throat had us all looking off to the side where Abbott stood with Izel. “As much as I hate to break up this moment for you three, we still have plenty more of the castle to go through.”
“You’re absolutely right,” I blurted, thankful for Abbott tossing me a lifeline to keep from getting swept away in these emotions. “We still haven’t found the living quarters yet. If we want to move in here sooner rather than later, that should be our main focus today.”
Cole gave Abbott a dirty look and muttered something under his breath about being a cockblock.
Ignoring his frustrations, I joined Izel as we headed back into the hall to look for stairs to the castle’s next level.
They were hidden off a short side hall I assumed would typically be guarded so not just anyone could wander up into the rest of the castle.
This floor was absolutely for the people who lived here, with a dining room that had a vaulted ceiling and a railing for the fourth floor to look down into the room which I guessed was where the bedrooms were.
This level also had a beautiful library filled with books and scrolls I had to be pulled away from by the guys.
“Little warrior, there will be plenty of time to come and hide away here, but we need to get a feel for the whole castle first,” Izel pointed out.
I pouted but followed them out of the room into the connecting one that was an office. A large wooden desk sat as the focal point of the whole room with more books on the shelves behind it, but they seemed to be records and journals more than books for leisure. I trailed a finger over the volumes.
They didn’t feel aged at all, and the paper still left on the desk wasn’t yellowed or dried out from the years it’s been there, making me truly believe this place was just as they left it.
Would there be clothes in the rooms or personal things they couldn’t take with them on the journey into Norden?
It seems there would only be one way to find out.
Past the living section on this floor, we discovered some bedrooms that had more of a guest feel about them with each room a replica of the other with a slightly different color scheme but no real personality intertwined.
As we made it to the fourth floor, the rooms took on a completely different feel with far more character, and you knew that people lived in this space, making it their own.
The king’s suite took up the whole left side of the hall with a sitting room, study, dressing room, and then the bedroom and bath.
Everything was in cream colors with blacks, grays, and gold intermixed, giving it dimension.
I loved everything about it and was pleased to find it so much to my liking that I wouldn’t have to change much.
The others spread out, checking the rooms and arguing over who would get what space, making me smile as I listened to them.
I ventured deeper into the bedroom, amazed at the massive bed with its canopy only covering the head area more for decoration than utility.
What drew me, though, was the plush window seat that overlooked the village below and gave you an amazing view of the mountains that protected us.
Unable to fight back my curiosity any longer, I moved to the closet, pulled open the dresser doors, and found there were, indeed, clothes left behind.
It was a mixture of men’s and women’s, mostly night clothes and undergarments made from silky fabric.
Stepping farther into the dark room since there were no windows, I found trunks stacked along one wall.
I opened them only to have dresses surge out, spilling onto the floor.
It appeared they left everything they didn’t need behind—shoes, jewelry, and everything else a person could possess.
This revelation had me moving to the study and the writing desk, sitting in the chair, and pulling open drawers.
One of them was locked, but on a hunch, I took the key from around my neck and used it to open the drawer.
Inside, I found a worn journal and a note tucked into an envelope with my name written on it.
Carefully, I pulled both items out and set them on the desk, unsure if I wanted to see what was written in the letter.
How could someone from four hundred years ago possibly know I would be the one to be here at this moment and discover this letter?
Taking a deep breath, I broke the seal on the letter, pulled out the paper inside, and unfolded it.
If my vision is of what will come, the Dragon Queen will be reading this letter once the castle has been reopened.
In the event the Dragon Queen isn’t reading this, then all hope is lost, and the world as we know it will be destroyed by our own pride and shortsightedness, but I refuse to believe so little of our people.
Cassarah,
I know this will be hard to wrap your head around, but I was given a vision when I bonded with my black dragon, Dotho, and his venom ran through my veins.
King Yash thought he was doing the right thing for us when he told the other kingdoms about the magic dragons can bestow on us.
It brought us mercenaries respect and helped create the foundation of our people and kingdom as we were starting out.
Time has passed, and the effect of this choice is taking its toll on the dragons.
They are dying out and refusing to breed in an effort to stop the cycle.
In my vision, I saw what must be done to save dragons from becoming extinct, but it means giving up so much.
It will cause division, and many of the people I take with me will struggle.
Their lives will never be easy, but it is the price we must pay in atonement for what we’ve done to them.
Those I left behind were not the weakest of us but the strongest of heart and will be good stewards of our home while we had to leave it.
With their care, Sheca will become a thriving people, and they will keep the dragons from dying out while we take the long road to break the original oath.
I wish I could say I was strong enough to do it myself, but the moment I was offered the power, I took it, and with the knowledge at my fingertips, I knew I could rule the world if I wanted to.
My penance for this choice is that I have to leave with the others, securing the castle until you come along.
Cassarah, you will be the best of us with your pure heart.
You will be able to do what none of us have—walk away from the power given to you by your black dragon.
In the time our people need a wise and compassionate leader, you will rise above all other leaders we’ve had before.
Many will try to stop you, but trust your heart, your guardians, and above all, your dragon for they will never steer you wrong.
Embrace the humbleness and tender heart that others will scorn you for, as this will lead you in the right direction when facing someone as cold and broken as the Lost King.
Do not underestimate him, Cassarah. He has no soul and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Even then, he will want more to try to fill that void within himself.
You have opened up the castle and all that it has to offer.
Learn all you can about the past for both our people and the dragons because in that lies the truth you will need to defeat the Lost King.
You will be protected in Sheca to learn what you must and train our people into what they should have been all along—those who fight for others who cannot defend themselves.
It was what our people were founded on, but we kings lost sight of that and hid ourselves away when we needed to be fighting.
The gods’ blessing on you, Cassarah,
King Cardon