Chapter Nine
Shay
T he wind whipped through my braids as Emeris soared through the inky night sky. My hands gripped her scales, cool and smooth beneath my fingers. Behind me, I felt Atreya's steady presence, her arms wrapped around my waist.
"How are you feeling?" Atreya's voice carried over the rush of air.
My hand drifted to my stomach. "Fine. Just wish Baron could be here."
Leaving him behind had been harder than I'd anticipated after being apart for so long before this.
His fierce protectiveness had only intensified since learning of the pregnancy.
But duty called, and the rebellion needed a leader in our absence.
I felt better knowing a dragon was helping guard them while we were away though.
Baetos had been running around with Emeris since Emelyn had returned, so when I took Emeris, he would stay behind and keep watch.
We dove into a bank of clouds, the mist cool against my skin. When we emerged, the vast expanse of Woodhaven spread out below. Forests blanketed the lower slopes, a sea of shadowy green.
"We're getting close," I murmured.
Atreya's grip tightened. "Remember, we can't risk being seen. Stay in the clouds as much as possible."
I nodded, guiding Emeris higher. We skimmed just beneath the cloud cover, catching glimpses of the terrain below. A river snaked through a valley, its surface black as obsidian.
"Do you think they’ll grant our request?" I asked, unable to keep the uncertainty from my voice.
Atreya was quiet for a moment. "They have to," she finally said. "For all our sakes."
I swallowed hard, pushing down my doubts. We had come too far to turn back empty-handed. Emeris banked sharply, and I caught a fleeting glimpse of the capital city nestled in a valley below in the distance. Soon, we would land and continue on foot. I didn’t want to get too close with Emeris.
"Have you spoken to Emelyn yet?" Atreya asked from behind me, her voice barely audible over the rush of wind.
I tensed, my hands tightening on Emeris's scales. The question I'd been dreading. "No, not yet," I replied, keeping my eyes fixed on the sky. Emelyn deserved to know the truth, all of it. But how could I face her after keeping such secrets?
I sensed Atreya's hesitation, could almost feel the unspoken words hanging between us. There was so much more to say, so many truths still hidden. Emeris rumbled beneath me, sensing my unease. I stroked her neck, drawing comfort from her warmth.
Atreya's voice cut through my swirling thoughts. "I'd steer clear for a little while. She knows that we knew about Kade. She needs time to cool down," she said.
My stomach dropped. Well, one secret was out. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady as I asked, "Who told her?"
"She came to my tent asking questions. I told her the truth, as there was no need to hide it any longer. Kade had already told her they were mates and that he was Crow.”
My heart thudded in my chest. Atreya's honesty was both admirable and terrifying.
I knew the weight of the secrets we carried, the potential for devastation if they were revealed at the wrong moment.
I twisted in my seat, fighting against the rushing air to look back at Atreya.
"Did you tell her everything ?" The wind tousled my box braids, whipping them around my face as I struggled to catch Atreya's eyes.
"No, not everything," she said, her voice barely audible over the rush of wind. "She only knows about Kade and Rhet. And that we knew that her and Kade were mates and that he and Rhet have been working with us against Ember. I didn’t tell her anything else, and she didn’t ask anything more.”
"When do you plan on revealing it all?" I could see the conflict on Atreya's face, the same struggle I felt within myself. How much truth could we afford to share?
Atreya's jaw tightened, her eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for answers in the vast expanse of sky.
"She'll find out when the time is right.
Everyone will," she answered, her voice carrying a mix of determination and weariness.
"Right now, we need to remain united. I don't know what Valos's next move is, but I have a feeling it isn't going to be good, and we need to be ready. "
I nodded, but the thought of keeping things from everyone didn’t settle my unease. All the lives depending on us pressed down on my shoulders, and I knew Atreya was right. The truth would come out eventually.
We were close now, too close for comfort. I leaned forward, pressing my body against Emeris's warm scales.
"Time to go down, girl," I whispered, guiding her into a steep dive.
The wind whipped at my face as we plummeted.
As we neared the ground, I cast a wary glance toward the capital.
The thought of Ember soldiers potentially lurking in the shadows sent a shiver through me. We couldn't risk being seen, not now.
Emeris landed with a soft thud, her massive body absorbing the impact. Atreya and I slid off her back, our legs bending to cushion our fall. The forest floor was soft beneath our feet.
I turned to face Emeris. She took a step toward me, clearly intent on following.
"Nooo." I shook my head, fighting the urge to embrace her.
"I need you to stay back. We will be in the capital for at least a day, maybe two.
I will call for you when we are finished, and you can meet us here.
" I gestured to the dense woods surrounding us, the thick canopy perfect for concealing a dragon.
Emeris narrowed her bright yellow eyes. A puff of smoke escaped her nostrils, enveloping me in a cloud that smelled of ash and milkweed roses.
The scent hit me like a blow to the chest, memories of simpler times flooding my mind. Days spent in sun-dappled meadows, before the weight of rebellion and impending motherhood rested on my shoulders. I inhaled deeply, feeling my racing heart slow.
Emeris lowered her massive head, gently nudging my swollen belly with her snout. I had gotten a lot bigger this past month. A lump formed in my throat.
"I know," I whispered, running my hand along her scales. "I promise I'll be careful."
I pressed my forehead against her angular head, closing my eyes for a brief moment. The connection between us thrummed like a living thing.
"I'll be back soon," I promised, stepping away. Each movement felt like I was tearing myself in two. Emeris and I had been inseparable these past few months. On top of the distance from Baron, with my pregnancy emotions, nothing felt easy anymore when it came to either of them.
I walked toward Atreya, who waited with poorly concealed impatience, and left Emeris with one last look over my shoulder.
I held my breath as Prince Thaldric knelt before his father, King Aster, on the grand balcony of their castle. The ancient crown of Woodhaven, wrought from gold vines and shimmering gemstones, hovered above the young prince's bowed head.
The crown descended, settling onto Thaldric's dark curls. The glint of gold looked even more vibrant against his dark brown skin. He rose, shoulders back, holding his chin high. The crowd erupted in deafening cheers.
"My people." Thaldric's voice rang out, silencing the masses. "I vow to lead with strength, to protect our lands, and bring prosperity to all. Woodhaven shall flourish under my reign!"
More cheers as he turned to go inside his home. Beside me, Atreya's lips tightened with determination. Her hand gripped my arm. "It's time. We must move."
We pushed through the jubilant throng of people.
Guards blocked our path to the palace as we approached, but Atreya lifted her chin.
"I am Atreya, leader of the rebellion. We demand an audience with King Thaldric." The guards exchanged glances, then stepped aside. I wouldn’t stand in Atreya’s way either.
We entered the grand hall, leaving the celebrations behind. But faint echoes of music and laughter still reached us through the thick stone walls.
I gaped at the breathtaking beauty around us. Every surface was adorned with intricate etchings: swirling vines, majestic trees, woodland creatures. The very walls seemed alive. Columns of stone stretched toward vaulted ceilings, while ornate archways led to shadowed corridors.
"It's magnificent," I whispered.
Atreya nodded. "The Earth Dryads are truly master craftsmen.”
We approached a set of imposing double doors, their surfaces carved with scenes of ancient battles. My pulse quickened as they slowly opened, revealing the grand throne room.
King Thaldric stood with his parents, resplendent in his coronation finery. A cluster of councilmen hovered nearby, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. As we entered, the room fell into eerie silence.
Thaldric's father, Aster, locked eyes with Atreya. His welcoming smile crumbled into a frown, lines of worry etching themselves across his brow. With a curt gesture, he dismissed the councilmen, who scurried from the room like unwanted bugs.
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to fidget under the royal family's scrutiny. Atreya, as always, stood tall and unwavering.
Aster broke the tense silence, anger in his tone. "Atreya, this couldn't have waited until after my son's big day?"
Thaldric stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on his father's arm. His youthful face was a mask of regal calm, but I caught a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. What must it be like, I wondered, to bear the weight of a kingdom? Sure, I understood what it meant to lead people—when Baron and I had been on the Espien Islands, our people had looked to us—but an entire kingdom? I couldn’t imagine.
"Father," Thaldric murmured, gentle warning in his tone.
Atreya's eyes flashed with dangerous intensity. "Unfortunately, no," she said. "I am trying to ensure there will be a future for your son to rule at all."