Chapter 21

Aelia

Blasted never-ending light. The constant invasive glow from above made it nearly impossible to be stealthy. I'd trailed Reign after he abandoned his supper at the banquet hall and descended the steps toward the circular pathway that weaved across campus. Sticking to the shadows of the towering hedges, I followed my mysterious professor as he stalked toward the Hall of Enlightenment. Of course, the library! I should have known. I may have agreed to let him borrow my dagger, but that certainly did not mean he could have free reign over it.

Since I'd entrusted him with my most favored possession, he'd kept it on his body, tucked into his waistband. I'd watched him scrutinize it over supper for endless minutes before he finally gave up. Which brought me here.

Reign marched up the steps of the grand hall, the brilliant shards of light dancing over the alabaster marble columns as he skulked through the door. I waited a few seconds in the shadow of the towering pillar before trailing behind him.

A wave of dense silence descended over me as I crossed the threshold into the grand library. Soaring bookshelves filled the cavernous space, ascending at least six or seven stories high. My jaw dropped as my head tilted back to take it all in. In the past weeks at the Conservatory, it was the first time I'd entered the immense archive.

The enormous space must hold every tome ever produced in all of Aetheria, perhaps even the entire continent of Crescentia. The inner bookworm inside me was filled with glee. I resolved to return and dive into the shelves the first free moment I had. Unfortunately, it didn't seem as if I would get many of those in the weeks to come.

A whisper of movement called my attention to the far corner of endless soaring shelves. Dark tendrils coiled around a corner, and I forced my feet to move more quickly. The library was empty, not a soul in sight. The intense solitude pricked at the hairs on the back of my neck.

What if I ran into Belmore, or worse, his friends—or even some other student set on thinning out the competition? Kian and Lucian had practically disappeared, but it didn't mean they weren't plotting revenge. Reaching for my remaining blade, I held it tightly in my fist as I maneuvered through the maze of long mahogany tables and row after row of bookstands.

Where are you going Reign?

I trailed his shadows across the sprawling chamber until they disappeared around yet another corner. Following on tiptoes, I prayed to the goddess I wouldn't be swallowed up by this never-ending labyrinth.

A deep grunt halted my footsteps. Backing up against a towering rack, I peered around the edge. Reign hoisted an enormous, ancient tome from a shelf and folded into a chair at a long table. I watched as he flipped through the weathered, yellowing pages, then came to a stop. "It's not possible," he hissed and slammed the book closed.

Rising, he stomped away from the table and disappeared between another row of shelving. I waited a long moment before creeping from the shadows, my breaths shallow. I eyed the golden-foiled title across the worn leather tome and ran my finger over the words: The Fae Compendium of Mythic Weaponry.

I waffled for a long moment as I debated pilfering the book or following Reign. Already, I could somehow sense his aura moving farther away. Curses! Whirling around, I double-backed toward the entrance—or at least what I believed to be the entrance.

Ten minutes later and I was hopelessly lost within the tangle of ancient texts. I muttered a curse as I circled the table, I'd found Reign at for the second time. With a frustrated huff, I grabbed the massive book and tucked it under my arm. Perhaps, I could find whatever he'd been researching, and the entire mission wouldn't end up a complete disaster.

"Young lady," a sharp voice resounded behind me.

I whirled around and met an elderly Fae female with silver hair pulled into a severe bun.

"The library is closed. You must leave."

"Right, I'm sor—" I snapped my jaw closed and dipped my head. "If you could just direct me to the exit, I'd be happy to be on my way."

Shaking her head, the female led me toward the double doors I'd entered through nearly an hour ago. Irritation raged through my system as I marched out into the brilliant sunlight. Sure enough, Reign was nowhere to be found.

Where did the staff sleep, anyway? I marched across the circular path in front of the Hall of Enlightenment. There must have been a designated dormitory for the administration. Perhaps I could find it… And then what, Aelia? That irksome voice of logic questioned. It wasn't as if I could simply knock on Reign's door and ask what he was up to, right?

"There you are, Aelia!" Rue's cheerful voice drew me from my insane musings. "I thought you said you were going back to the dormitory?"

My cheeks burned at keeping the truth from my friend. I'd lied to her when I'd fled the banquet hall after Reign. I held up the book tucked under my arm. "Just took a quick detour to the library."

"Oh." Her lips puckered. "You probably shouldn't wander around campus by yourself, Aelia. With the preliminary period over, Heaton said things would start to get brutal."

"Fantastic," I mumbled.

She weaved her arm through mine, the now familiar move instantly comforting. "Come on, let's go to our chambers. I'll keep us safe."

I gave my roommate an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Rue. I know I'm not supposed to say that, but I truly am thankful for you."

She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her head to mine. "Cheers, my dear."

* * *

Darkness curled around me, endless night wrapping me in its icy embrace. A wave of warm light seeped from my bones and danced across my skin until it swallowed up the void of black. A tangle of energy filled my chest, pummeling my insides.

My eyes snapped open and I jolted straight up in bed. An erratic symphony of heartbeats resounded through my chest. A faint glow rippled beneath my nightgown, illuminating the dim room. What in all the realms?

Running my hand down the silky material, I unlaced the tie and peered at my bare skin. Nothing. The necklace Aidan gifted me hung loose, right above my heart. I fingered the pattern of swirls engraved across the medallion. Could it have been that? Perhaps, it had reflected the light from somewhere…

I glanced out the window to the gloomy night below. Somehow, I'd managed to wake up during the rare hour of twilight that existed in this sun-kissed court. I slid to the edge of the mattress and peered out the crystalline glass onto the lush grounds below.

A swirl of darkness caught my eye, and a familiar form coalesced from the shadows moving across the lawn.

Reign!

Squinting, I followed his shadowed figure as he moved toward the river. His aura burned pure midnight. What was he doing at this time of night? And did it have anything to do with my dagger?

For some reason, I just knew it did.

Before I could stop myself, I reached for my discarded leathers, tucked my nightgown into the waistband, and then pulled my boots on. I raced for the door, grabbing a jacket on the way out. I'd never been out at night since I'd arrived at court. Maybe with the sun's rays hidden, the night air would be chilly, not to mention the fact that I needed something to conceal my nightdress.

I raced down the floating staircase, my feet moving faster and faster with each spiraling turn. When I finally reached the ground floor, I sprinted through the doors of the great hall where I'd first entered and been deemed worthy. Sometimes in moments like these, I wondered if the great Raysa had made a terrible mistake.

Through the murky twilight, I could just make out Reign's dark form cloaked in shadows as he stalked to the foot of the Luminoc River that separated the Court of Ethereal Light from our dark neighbors across the water. He paused at the edge, giving me time to close the considerable distance between us. I skirted the hedges that ran across the campus, wrapped in shadows much like the ones that writhed across my professor's hulking form.

Those enormous midnight wings materialized across his shoulders, and I paused, holding my breath. With a powerful flap, he shot into the night sky.

My head tipped back, following the elegant curves of his body as he ascended. A glimmer of moonlight brushed against a blade tucked into his dark leathers.

My pulse skyrocketed as I recognized the familiar glint of my dagger. Why was he going across the river… and more importantly, why was he taking my blade with him?

As soon as he was far overhead, I emerged from the shadows and stood at the river's edge, much like he had a moment ago. His dark form sailed through the sky, toward the looming citadel on the other side. What if he was selling my dagger to the enemy? They could destroy the one weapon we could use to annihilate the Court of Umbral Shadows.

I had to go after him. I wouldn't lose one of the few possessions Aidan had gifted me. Especially not after witnessing what they'd done to Reign's shadows.

Steeling my nerves, I drew in a deep breath and plunged into the icy river.