Late Night in the Castle
Once we returned from the Dragon Lands with our new companions, it was full steam ahead on the coronation and setting up the castle for us to live in.
When I thought my life had been busy before, it was nothing compared to this.
Some days, I felt like I never had a moment to think before another person asked me a question or needed my approval.
Seeing as there was more that needed to be done to get ready for the coronation, even with all that was accomplished when I opened up the castle, I pushed it back another week.
I would fall into bed each night at Marta’s house, praying I would be left to sleep until the morning.
My guardians were kept busy as well, many of them switching off to deal with things they needed to do.
They had determined I would always have at least three of them around, if not more, to keep an eye on things.
When I went to the barracks, all of them showed up, feeling on edge, knowing it was the largest group of people who could hurt me.
I was pleased to discover that those who didn’t agree with me becoming queen had partnered with Naytan and had already been dealt with.
Many soldiers were eager to meet me and swear their fealty to the Dragon Queen.
Through my studies with the viceroys, I learned that my guardians, consorts or not, were above General Alsten, and when they gave an order, it was as if I gave it myself.
This helped as I left them to deal with how to station things at the castle and work with Alsten on a rotation of men leaving the valley to keep an eye on what was going on with the Lost King.
“Your Majesty, you really should take a break for food… you’ve been working for hours,” Ann commented as she set a plate of food down for me on the desk I was using. “It’s not good for the mind to work that hard by candlelight.”
This made me smile as I thought of the early days of training when Sal gave me mountains of work to do.
“I’m sure you’re right, Ann. I have a terrible habit of getting lost in my work.
” When she pulled the lid off the plate, the aroma of fresh bread and cooked meat made my mouth water. How long has it been since I’ve eaten?
“At this rate, Talia is going to have to adjust your dress with how much weight you are losing,” Ann tutted, pouring me a glass of water.
“I doubt that between what you and Marta have been feeding me,” I answered with a smile. “Thank you for looking after me while I’m here. I know it can’t be easy with the trouble those men who pretend to be old get into.”
“It is a pleasure to have someone who doesn’t need constant looking after spending time around here.
Although, I think Sal is also helping keep them grounded as they pour over the books and scrolls he brought with him,” Ann said with a sigh.
“Eat your meal. When I come back, I expect it all to be gone,” she warned, giving me a pointed look.
“I promise,” I answered, shifting the books I was looking through to the side so I could pull the tray over.
On the days I was here pouring through books I took out of the castle library, I was left pretty much alone with one of my guardians roaming around the place while more were close by but didn’t need to be in the same building.
I didn’t really move from the desk Mathew had given up to let me use while they worked in another room they were setting up for the history of the mercenary clans.
To my surprise, Gavin would join them, learning alongside them about the people who had adopted him while I was trying to catch up on the past. King Cardon had said everything I needed to know would be in these books.
I was beginning to think it was a lost cause, having been buried away in the vast library.
As I munched away at my meal, it made me wonder if he’d kept what I needed to know in his office, that he was being literal in the fact that that room held what I needed to know.
Shooting to my feet, I dashed out the door, finding Jade pacing on the patio. “Little bird, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I think I just figured something out, though,” I explained with a grin. “Care to join me on a late-night adventure to the castle?”
“I’m not sure that’s a wise idea. They were working on the bridge today,” Jade cautioned.
My grin widened into a smile. “Good thing we don’t need to use it.
Vasin found a roost that connects right to the king’s bedroom, and that is where I need to go.
” He narrowed his eyes at me as if weighing the risk of us going without any of the others.
“It will be fine. No one stays at the castle this late, and we’ll be on the third floor, or are you telling me the mercenary assassin isn’t up for the challenge. ”
Jade stepped into my personal space, coming nose to nose with me, his light green eyes flashing with the challenge. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, little bird.”
His breath was warm on my face, and I wanted nothing more than to close that last bit of space between us and let him show me just what I was starting. Instead, I grabbed his hand and dragged him down the steps to the road that led up to the castle.
“Vasin, any chance you’re around to give us a lift to the castle?”
“I’m never far from you, Cass, even with all that is going on. What is it you are seeking at the castle this late?” Vasin asked as I felt him head in this direction.
“King Cardon said that all the information I would need would be in the history found in the castle. I’ve been pouring through the books in the library, but I think it’s what I’m supposed to be looking at is in his rooms, not the library.
It would be easier for him to keep things hidden away there than in the public space anyone in the castle had access to. ”
“That is a good theory,” he agreed as he landed before us. “Come, we shall discover what the past has to hold for you.”
Jade scooped me up and settled me on Vasin’s back before he climbed up behind me, making sure to at least secure one of the straps around my waist. I knew he still wasn’t over the time he caught me as I was free-falling through the sky when I fell off Vasin.
Allowing him to keep me safe made me feel treasured, even if I did want to smack him every so often.
Soon, we were gliding through the air, circling the tower that had an opening and platform just for this purpose.
Stairs led down from the tower into the closet of all places in the king’s personal chambers.
We lit a lantern I’d left in the room when I’d been back here last, knowing it would be useful.
“What is it exactly we are looking for?” Jade inquired as I started pulling all the journals, scrolls, and any other tidbits of information I could find on the shelves.
I paused and set the lantern on a side table as I met his gaze. “When we first came to the castle and I searched through this room, I found a letter addressed to me.”
“Many of us did. It seems the king expected the castle to be occupied again at some point.”
“No, Jade, this was different. He used my name, not the title of Dragon Queen but by my given name.” I walked to the desk, pulled it out from the journal I’d slipped it into, and handed it to him.
“He knew a lot more about me and even you, my guardians. It’s how he knew to build the fourth floor the way he did.
Kind Cardon knew we, as in you and I, would be here at some point. ”
“How can this be? He writes to you as if he knows you. If he’s seen the outcome of our people, why doesn’t he tell you how to fix it?” Jade questioned as he gazed down at the letter. “He speaks of things as if they have already happened for him.”
Reaching out, I took the letter from him and took his hands in mine. “Have I ever told you about the dreams I had of Queen Miranda?”
“Queen Miranda?”
“I forget you didn’t know her as that… the Raven Queen,” I corrected.
“When Vasin and I first came to the Raven Rose clan, I harmonized with him. This is where he allows me into his mind, and we essentially become one being. In doing that, I have access to his vast knowledge he shares with all the dragons that are living. It’s where they store every memory that every dragon has ever had since King Yash bonded with his dragon.
The rule of that place is that only the dragon can control the information, but I didn’t listen, and I almost got lost in his mind.
Cole was able to ground me and help bring me back to my own body, but from that point, I was able to have these visions about a woman and her men.
Turns out it was the Raven Queen, and I got to watch her life as a child until the day she died.
They were so real, I could feel her emotions as her dragon and the men she loved with all her heart died.
It was as if my heart was carved from my chest, and my soul shattered along with her.
If his visions of us were anything like that, then yes, they were real to him.
It would seem like it already happened, and he just had to stand by and watch, able to do nothing.
” I paused and took a deep, shaky breath as I tried to calm myself.
“This is why I believe this letter and what it says. If there is a way for us to beat the Lost King and his army, it will be found somewhere in this castle.”
Jade searched my face when I finished speaking as if needing to understand something I wasn’t telling him with my words.
“Is this why you hold us at a distance because you know what it will be like to lose us? You think that waiting to let us into your heart until after you’ve dealt with the Lost King will protect us both from that pain, don’t you… ”
Tears filled my eyes as his words hit my heart like a dagger.
He was right. All of them have worked their way deep into my heart, but I refused to acknowledge it for fear I would lose them before I got enough time with them.
The pain that ripped through Miranda when she watched her men die to save her wasn’t something I was willing to risk.
They all loved me enough to wait because I asked without question, but now that Jade knew, he was never going to let that stand.
He was always the one pushing me, challenging my feelings for him and the others.
My dark knight wasn’t scared to make me mad when he knew I was wrong, and just the look in his eyes right now told me I was absolutely going to lose this fight.
Pulling me to his chest, he wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, keeping still as he kissed me.
Our kiss was desperate as I wrapped my arms around him, fisting his shirt in case he dared to move away from me.
Now that he’d exposed my fear and forced me to face it, I couldn’t run from my feelings anymore.
His other hand slid down my hip until he scooped my ass up and set me on the desk so I was more level with him as he pushed my legs apart to fit up against me.
I felt his fingers slide into my hair, cupping the back of my head as he deepened our kiss, our tongues tasting each other in the most intimate way I’d ever experienced.
He growled against my lips as if he wasn’t getting what he needed from me, but I didn’t know how to help, never having been in this position before.
When he pulled back from me, I cried out, fearful he would stop.
Instead, he gripped my face with both hands, his eyes wild with passion as he looked at me.
“Cassarah, I love you with every fiber of my being, and I can’t stand not being able to show you just what that looks like.
I know you’re scared, but I refuse to let that bastard king win by controlling this part of our life together.
Whether it’s one day, one week, or one month, I want to be able to love you for however long we have and not regret missing out on this. Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” I breathed out, my lips brushing his. “With everything that I am, I trust you, Jade.”
“Then trust me enough to love you,” he begged.
“Show me… show me what that looks like, my dark knight,” I said as my hands slipped under his shirt to lay flat against his skin. “Show me how to love like you do.”