Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Shadows spread around me like small rivers, mixing and spreading into every inch of the Water Court throne room. They continue spinning around the cold, damp air that tastes and smells like sea water. None of the people of the Water Court are hurt as my dragon disappears into the void of darkness and shadow, waiting once more for me to call. The throne room is more than I expected it to be, with huge waterfalls down each wall, creating steady streams of blue water within the stone pathways. Some guards barely get two steps closer before I throw them into the walls with my shadows and hold them there. The rest of them step back, their weapons dropping to the ground. Dragon roars echo outside the castle, but they reach us all, and I wonder if they are roaring for me or for the gods sitting on their king’s throne.

I barely noticed Ares and Aphrodite on the throne, which is buried in an archway at the back of the room, with four short blue stone steps leading up to it. Her laughter echoes around the room as my entire focus shifts onto the only men I have ever loved. My dragon kings. My chest hurts, my heart slamming so hard that it feels like it will beat itself out of rhythm. They’re kneeling in puddles of water. Each one of them has a completely blank expression, their eyes covered in a red haze. They look black and blue with bruises, but they are alive. Relief threatens to pull me to my knees. The gods haven’t killed them. Even when every inch of me is desperate to run to them, to open a portal and bring us all to Earth to escape, I hold still. That plan would not work and it’s too risky.

I’m signed up for a magical test, once again, but this time I’ve joined willingly. I watch them with every bit of hope, longing, anger, and pain that I could feel. I hope they are aware of what is happening, that they know I’m here to help them and get them out of whatever curse they’re under. I straighten my shoulders, pulling my eyes from my dragon kings with all the strength I’ve got left. Facing Aphrodite and Ares is easier than the men I’m in love with, who dragged us all into this mess. They are waiting for me to acknowledge them. “How did you survive?” he asks.

I turn my gaze to him. Ares’s long green cloak covers the throne room seat, his staff resting in hand, ready to be used. He murdered my father, killed hundreds of people in my court, and tried to conquer this world. I lost everything because of him. I don’t care if he is a god; he is fucking dead. “Ares.” He frowns. “My grandmother, Hera, explained to me who you really are. She sends her wishes for your long, painful death at my hand.”

His eyes narrow. “I prefer the title sorcerer, and your grandmother is a fool, trapped in a magicless world.” He is practically shaking with anger. “You made a grave mistake turning up here and signing up for that test. I’m guessing my worthless daughter had something to do with it.”

I follow his gaze to Arty, who’s on her knees, holding a dead woman to her chest, crying her eyes out. I didn’t kill the woman, and I don’t know who that is, but her cries are nothing short of losing someone she loves. She barely even lifts her head at her father’s mention of her name, but her voice echoes as she proclaims, “I stand with the fifth court, and the true princess.”

Ares throws shadows her way, but I block them before he can hit her, a clash of light and shadow exploding between us all. Arty doesn’t move, and she continues to cling to the dead woman. Aphrodite stands, her long red gown pooling onto the steps as she walks down to me. She looks over her shoulder.

“That’s enough, husband. It seems our daughter is under the princess of the Spirit Court’s spell,” she says before turning to me. “Such strange, curious, and powerful magic. I can see it all around you.” She pauses on the last step so she is standing over me. We both know she purposely stopped there. I try not to look at my dragon kings while she is watching me so closely. “No wonder you found four kings to love you. They are devoted. It is impressive.”

There is silence when no one replies to her, and I won’t give her the satisfaction of an answer. She twirls a lock of her glistening blonde hair. “No one signed up for my test other than you, and I’m guessing no one will now. Who would want to compete with the princess of the strongest court? So, let’s make a deal?”

I look into her eyes, making sure she sees me. Making sure she understands the lengths I am willing to go to save them. My life…I don’t want it if they don’t survive. “I want my dragon kings and the courts back.”

She finally gives up the step to walk around me, but she doesn’t touch me, although I keep my shadows at bay just in case. I don’t trust her word, her spells, or tests. “Did you learn the conditions of my deal with the fire king?” She raises an eyebrow when I silently nod. “If any decided to take you as their mates, this would never have happened. Aren’t you upset with them?”

I curl my hands into fists. “They’re mine, and I didn’t come here to discuss my feelings with you.”

Her laugh is enchanting as it echoes. “All of this is about your feelings. Love is endless and stupid, or you would not be here.” She grins widely. “I’m the goddess of love. I can see the bonds of love. The echoes of love that have only just begun are like strings, and I have the power to tug on them as I see fit. I can see traces in the air that bind strangers who haven’t even met yet, and if I wish, I can pull two strangers onto one path.” She leans in, her voice a whisper. “I see your feelings, princess. They’re your mates, aren’t they? Fate has bound you to four powerful kings. Your bond is strong and clear with one, but the others you have not bonded with yet. It’s all so interesting.”

“What is the point of all this?” Ares snaps, slamming his staff on the ground, cracking the stone. “Just end her! You made this foolish⁠—”

“I am getting to my point,” Aphrodite interrupts with a smile of pure seduction flashed at her husband, which drops when she looks my way. “You love them, and love is a weapon I wield the best. It has always been interesting to me what people wouldn’t do for love. The poets have always claimed that it’s one of the greatest weapons known to humans. It’s also one of the greatest weapons known to us. To gods. To demigods like yourself. To possessive dragons.”

“Stop playing games, my wife,” Ares warns, “and just kill her.”

Aphrodite rolls her eyes. “The game has begun, my husband, and nothing will stop it. She has my full protection from everybody, including myself. I cannot kill her.”

“Then I’ll order a guard too!” he shouts, full of frustration.

I hold my hand up, shadows wrapping around my fingers. “Do you really think a guard would be able to stop me? Don’t bother.” I pull shadows around me. “You killed my entire court, and you should be more concerned about what is stopping me from attacking you.”

“If you touch my husband or me, I will kill your dragon kings with the click of my fingers,” Aphrodite interrupts. I drop my powers, my shadows leaving. I see a bit of Arty in her face, in her expressions, as she faces me. They have the same classic beauty in some lights, but her beauty is rotten. Aphrodite is alluring, seductive, but dead inside. She isn’t going to make any of this easy for me. “As you can see, they’re under my spell. My curse, so to speak. It can’t be broken unless I wish it. I will give you them back for each test, and if you win, you keep what is left. If any of them die, I win.”

“That easily?” I question. I notice Arty pulling the body of the woman away and out the side door. Her parents don’t notice her leave. Aphrodite grins before she leaves me to sit back on the throne. “This throne should be yours, destined mate of the Water Court king. There’s some irony in the fact you are down there, begging for help.”

I lift my head. “What do you want in return for the spell being broken and the safety of the courts?”

Aphrodite runs her hand down the arm of the throne. “We continue on with my game and the plan that I set up. One test, in each of the courts, and we will travel between them. You can finally see the courts you haven’t seen since you were a child as we conquer them. This will be entertainment for us while we wait.”

“What kind of tests?” I demand.

“In the court of Water, a monster lurks.

In the court of Fire, flames burn away any lies.

In the court of Earth, touch is key.

In the court of Air, try to breathe.

These are your hints, but I will not tell you more.” She watches me as I take in her cryptic poem and try to work out what any of the tests could be. I don’t like the sound of the first one. A monster? Fucking brilliant. “Our deal will go like this. If you win, then you get them back, court by court. Dragon by dragon. With each win, the court will be yours to rule. We will leave the court alone.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Ares roars, grabbing her arm. “I am not giving up⁠—”

She puts her hand over his, and he stops mid-sentence. I’m somewhat impressed that she managed to stop the god of war with just a hand. Is she more powerful than him? “And if you lose, all of the magic of the spirit is ours. This would mean the instant death of your cursed dragons. Yes, we know about that. Whispers fly around here.”

My heart near enough stops as she continues. “You will essentially kill anybody that’s in your court if you lose.”

Terrin. All of the dragons that are cursed, that I promised to free at some point. My people, who my father sacrificed so much to keep safe. If I lose, they die. If I refuse her, my dragon kings and their courts die. There’d be no going home for any of us. Both choices are curses. I glance at them, and I know my answer because it’s selfish. It’s not the answer of a ruler. It’s the answer of someone that’s completely in love. There is nothing I wouldn’t try for them, nothing that I wouldn’t do. I hate that they put me in this position. If only my dragon kings had spoken to me, done anything other than this. We could have avoided every horror I’m about to sign up for. I’m so tired, so tired of fighting and surviving and nothing more.

“I want you to promise that my dragon kings will not be hurt while the tests continue. Arty is also to be left alone,” I add in. She is the reason I even knew about this and had a chance.

Aphrodite nods. “You have a deal.” She claps, and power echoes in the room as red fog rolls in through the ceiling. Ares is quiet, far too quiet, as he sits beside her. When he sees me looking, he meets my eyes and smirks.

That alone makes my stomach sink. I’m playing a game of the gods, and I know they are going to try to screw me over. Aphrodite’s magic spreads around me, and it lifts my arm into the air. “I will mention, for words have certain power when it comes to this kind of magic, that during the test, you are forbidden to use your powers.”

“NO!” I shout, but it’s too late. I scream as her magic rips into my skin, leaving markings in the shape of chains wrapped around my hand. Each one has a symbol of an element shining within the lock of the chain on my palm. Water is at the top. She looks at Lysander. As he rises to his feet, his eyes still hazy, he looks right through me with every step. My water king, my enemy, and I’m happy to see him coming to me despite everything. I couldn’t be more furious at him, at them all, but us staying alive is more important right now. He stops right in front of me, towering so tall I arch my neck to look up at him, wishing I could see his green eyes. His red hair is wavy around his stupidly handsome face. “You will go together, and we will watch. What do the humans say? Good luck.”

A portal opens right beneath us, and I immediately plummet through the air, screaming into nothing. I desperately reach out for Lysander, but he’s ripped away from me within moments. All I see is the cold wash of a giant wave as it slams right into me, and then—bang! My head hits a rock.