17

SIXTEEN

Ember

The next morning comes slower than I wanted. We groggily crawl out of bed and get right to work preparing myself for the special occasion this evening. We’ve called the rest of the group over to strategize on methods of extracting information out of the king while Amara and I begin the grooming process.

It’s been several hours of pampering myself to be acceptable for the court. I’ll be presented tonight, along with the prince and even though I haven’t accepted the bond yet, it seems very surreal. I never thought I would have a mate, let alone a prince with a life so starkly different from mine.

Tonight I’ll be adorned in my pink tulle gown, my celestial blade, curls that cascade down my back, and minimal jewelry. I’ve chosen a collection of vines and branches for my jewelry to pay attributes to the lands that have died from the Decay. It’s a small effort but means the world to me to represent the pain that’s gone unnoticed by our king all my life. The pain that I feel constantly, hear constantly, see constantly within the earth. It’s a rebellious stance I’m incapable of resisting.

Paisley and Traeger got here an hour ago, and Brucie just walked through the door.

“Hey, how is everyone hanging in here?” he says by way of greeting the group. No one responds. There’s a heavy amount of sadness over the team today, and I think it’s okay that we just deal with things the best we can. Emotions are hard to process. I’ve not even tried to begin processing what it means for Brooks to be gone. I might be an empath, but that doesn’t mean I know how to deal with shit.

I just can’t spiral right now. I have to stay focused.

As the empath of the group, and the leader, I feel the need to address the troll in the room. “I completely understand how everyone is feeling right now. It’s okay if you guys are struggling with this, but it’s important we band together stronger than ever and find where Brooks was taken.” I say to everyone softly.

“Emphasis on if he was taken, Em.” Brucie addresses me directly and sternly.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Brucie?”

“We don’t know if he was taken, killed, or if he killed his family and fled. We can’t leave out all possible causes.”

“Uh, Yeah. Yes, we can. Brooks would never and you know that. He has a heart of gold and has always had the best interest of Faerelle in mind. He loves his family. He’s one of the most pure souls we–”

Before I know what’s happening, Brucie is wrapping me in his arms in an instant. Squeezing me tightly, I squirm in his arms. I slowly relax with his attempt to calm me down. I was quickly getting worked up and he knows once I spiral, there’s no saving me.

Except, I don’t feel comfort in his arms anymore. I feel wrong. This feels wrong. I wonder what it would feel like to have Will wrap me in his arms instead? Did I make a mistake by not allowing him to come here and provide comfort? I remember the way his chest felt as I slept on it one of the nights I was stuck at the palace. He was so warm and safe that I didn’t even remember dreaming. I need that grounding feeling right now.

I fight my way free and shove him off me. He stumbles back looking very perplexed and confused. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine. I don’t need coddling right now. We need to stay focused.”

Brucie slinks back to the couch and gets comfortable like he owns the place.

“Okay, enough of that awkwardness. What’s the plan, Em?” Traeger asks.

I sigh. “I have a plan. First, Paisley, can you please be incharge of hosting Brooks’s family’s transition of life ceremony? It’s important we honor them at this time considering Brooks isn’t here to do it himself. I know he would want us to take care of them.” I ask paisley and receive nods from their group as they approve this request.

“Of course, it would be my honor.” Paisley tears up and wipes her eyes. Giving me a soft smile and reassuring that I have one less thing to worry about now.

I let out a heavy sigh and try to reduce the heaviness in my chest. “Okay.” I move from the middle of the living room and invite everyone to curl around the sofa and rug. Once everyone makes it over comfortably, I begin telling them my plan. I decided to leave out some parts I’m still considering. It’s better to ask forgiveness later than ask permission now. I know they will hate the idea I have regarding my private meeting with the king.

“So, does anyone have any ideas on how we can get the king involved in this case now that he’s opening his court back up to the people?” Amara asks while snuggling under a throw blanket and getting as comfortable as possible. She’s never one to give up time to rest and recover.

“Yes. But there’s a few things we still need to figure out logistics for. For instance, the reality is that we really don’t know much about the castle grounds or activities within the castle walls. King Bryton has played a perfect role of barely existing in these lands and hides behind those walls constantly. It’s imperative I spend a good amount of time mapping out the castle grounds, or make connections within the royal guild. But that seems nearly impossible since I just found out this week that King Bryton is drugging all staff, family and guests with a daily dose of lanella.”

“Excuse me. Did you just say lanella serum? Dosed daily?” Amara squeaks and sits up straighter.

“Yes. So, in order to keep the Ascension Guild a secret, I have to be able to counter the serum. Willow taught me that if you tell half truths, the serum still accepts payment from you and will not force you to spill everything. In all my years of working with elixirs and potions, I’ve never heard of that.”

Paisley instantly gasps and stares at me with so much sympathy and sadness in her eyes. It’s similar to oatmeal or moldy toast, bitter and unwanted.“Oh my stars. And the only reason he knows that is because of his dad drugging him like an experiment his whole life?”

“Pais, if that’s a pity stare right now, I will drench you with a twenty-four hour rain cloud, I swear.” I cross my arms and shake my head at her. Traeger nudges Paisley to keep going, he’s such an ass and loves the idea of her being messed with. “I doubt the Prince wants anyone’s pity, and I sure as hell don’t need to be reminded I’m mated to him.”

I act like I haven’t thought of him once since finding out about this Brooks incident and returning home, but in reality I haven’t stopped thinking about him. I feel him constantly, aware of his presence in this world and that his heart is beating perfectly in sync with mine. It’s intoxicating, no matter how painful that is to admit to myself.

✶

We continue strategizing together for tonight’s ball. I will be escorted by Prince Bryton and he has sent Artie to pick me up in approximately two hours. So, I head up the stairs and leave them to finish logistical planning.

After hours of back and forth, we decided it’s best that I find a way to not drink wine during the entire event in order to avoid getting spelled with lanella. This will allow me to keep the Ascension guild secretive and safe during my visit. Next, the top priority of the evening is to gain the king’s interest and awareness of the chaos in the kingdom so he publicly has to address it. Although, I don’t know how appropriate it will be for me to bombard the king with demands at this rare occasion. I’m still figuring that part out and probably will just fucking wing it. Then, I need to leave the party without falling madly in love with Will and losing all sense of myself in the process.

He’s going to be the death of me.

Basically, I’m screwed. I send a quiet prayer up to the moons and seek their guidance as I navigate these treacherous waters known as The Lunar Court.

Anyways, It seems pretty straight forward, right? I need to get the king’s guild involved in preventing and solving these murders, and keep the Ascension guild safe so we can continue our rebellion and growth in peace. Meanwhile, I have my own personal issues I’m dealing with while I try not to panic that my childhood best friend’s family was just viciously murdered and my best friend is missing.

All the while, we have to send his family to their next lives among the stars without him. I know his heart would be broken to be the last member of his family standing. I hope we can find him soon so he doesn’t have to mourn alone. I could ease his pain.

I make my way upstairs and finish pampering for tonight’s ball. I absolutely adore clothes and can’t wait to wear the gown Amara and I created together. I fill the bath with a splash of water magic, and start lighting candles around the room. It might be overkill, but even the candles are a pale pink in here. I have swirling vines that cascade along the walls, and pink shelves that hold products and beauty applicators. I’ve hung star shards from the ceiling and they twinkle with starlight even in the rays of the sun.

It’s truly my safe space and the place I feel the most relaxed. There’s something so special about soaking in a moon milk bath filled with roses and basking in the splendor of starlight. Faerie’s create moon milk by soaking gallons upon gallons of oatmilk under the night sky and it fills with the essence of moonlight. Soaking in a moon milk bath allows for fae to charge magic during the daytime as well.

I finally undress and scrub my skin before stepping into the tub. It’s a gorgeous brass clawfoot tub which I traded a Valacian Traveler just last year for a rare periwinkle amethyst found deep within the Nealee Rift. Ruby’s are commonly used in blood and shadow magic, so I didn’t bother asking what he wanted it for.

I guess I should take the time to relax while I can and find myself slowly dozing off, resting my head at one end and propping my feet on the edge of the other. Slipping deeper into feelings of sadness, regret, and longing, I find myself thinking of The Prince.

I think I long for him. I’m even thinking of him in my dreams. I regret that I spent so much time there and I could have helped prevent this from happening to Brooks. I’m sad that I’m not with Willow now, no matter how hard that is to admit. I long for his breath on my neck, his lips on my lips, and his body wrapped around me everywhere all at once. It doesn’t feel natural to be this intoxicated with someone I only met recently, but I’ve grown to know all the same.

I long for you too, little dragon. Is the last thing I hear before I feel electricity spark through my veins and cedar mixed with sea salt fill my senses as I’m teleported through the stars into a memory of Prince Willow and King Bryton.

Now, I twirl and spiral through the cosmos, shifting between the stars and void. I find myself feeling nothing, hearing nothing as I travel into the corners of Will’s mind.

✶

Slamming into the ground, I’m ass naked again in what appears to be a study of sorts. Why is it that this always happens when I’m naked?

There’s a large half moon desk which is bone white, and floating above is a bouquet of stars and moons laid into the ceiling, sparkling and dancing to the music playing throughout the room. The walls are stark white and full of empty bookshelves with barely any decorations. That’s strange considering most king’s are proud of their private studies and collections.

I slowly gain strength and grounding in my dream form, and begin crawling to my feet. I try to take in more of my surroundings when Willow bursts through the door.  His body is slammed against the empty bookshelves, cracking and splitting the wood. I jolt away in defense and reach for my blades at the center of my back, grasping for nothing as I remember they can’t see or hear me.

And I’m naked. Ugh!

Why does this always happen when I’m naked?!

I start to walk towards Willow, my chest clenching when I remember I can’t talk to him or help him. He’s passed out momentarily and slowly gaining consciousness when his father appears behind my astral form almost instantly. He was not here before, and I never heard him approaching. I didn’t even feel my skin prickle as he approached.

What the fuck? How is he traveling so fast?

“You dare challenge me, in front of the council, and think you’d get away with it?” King Bryton bellows as he clenches the front of Willow’s throat and raises him above him.

The king must be a brute too, then. Considering Willow is one of the most largely built faeries I’ve ever seen.

What is happening right now?

Willow isn’t even responding, he’s turning purple at this point and the king is squeezing bruises into his neck. This is how he treats his children? This is truly how Willow grew up? I don’t understand how he avoided telling me about this during our acquancy ritual.

My poor prince.

“You will use your useless powers for once and build something meaningful for this kingdom, not stupid greenhouses for your mother. Does she look like she needs more pointless hobbies to fill her useless life here?”

Gargling, Will loses consciousness again and slumps to the floor. He’s laying in a pile of limbs and sweat as his father abandons the room. As the door closes behind him, I glance one last look at my proposed bond, and feel my heart twisting and unraveling a million times. What is he being forced to build? What powers is he referring to? Has his father always been this way? Before I can run to him, I’m whisked away into nothingness.

Heaving, and choking on my bath water, Amara finds me waking from the memory. I’m thoroughly exhausted from the events of the last 24 hours along with such an intense memory dive. Amara kindly stays with me and finishes washing my hair, prepping my skin to be hairless, styling my hair up in a bun, and delicately placing makeup to enhance my features.

Several hours later, I’m completely transformed. I’m dressed in my gorgeous pink gown and strapping daggers to my thighs when I hear a knock at the door.

Brucie opens the door and there we find Artie, dressed in his finery. He must be attending the ball tonight, too.

“Hello, miss Ember.” He turns to face me. “Are you ready?”

I nod to my friends and say my goodbyes. Brucie doesn’t leave Artie’s side while I make my way around the room. He’s being an overprotective bear right now.

“Yes. Let’s get this over with.”

“That’s the dragon in her.”  Artie confirms.