Chapter 31

Aelia

Oh, stars, my head hurt. I pressed my fingers to my temples as I forced myself to sit up. The canopy of vines hung over my bed, weaving a tapestry of blooms that tickled my nostrils. I breathed in the fragrant scents and the pounding in my skull tapered a notch. Glancing over at Rue's nook, I found my roommate still asleep.

Thank the sun, she's okay.

Memories of the night before assaulted my mind, and the thrashing across my forehead quickened once again. Gods, I hated him. Why did I ever admit to having feelings for him? His cruel rejection was mortifying. Never again… I needed to erase that male's existence from my thoughts.

And how could Reign have wiped my friend's memories without even consulting me?

What if he'd hurt her somehow? I'd already witnessed what those lethal shadows were capable of. If he had harmed one of my only friends at the Conservatory, my best friend, I would have hunted him down and killed him myself.

I reached for my nightstand and pulled open the drawer. The familiar dagger immediately quelled the rising tension in my chest. I fingered the smooth blade and then traced the lines of the ornate, engraved hilt, ending along the luminous crystal. The translucent gem ignited at my touch, a flicker of light dancing across the shadows.

"Ugh…" Rue's groan sent my gaze swiveling from my dagger to my roommate. "I have such a terrible headache."

"Me too," I grumbled.

"And today is the worst possible day for it." Rue pushed the silky coverlet back and slid to the edge of the mattress.

Goddess, I'd nearly forgotten. Today was the Choosing Ceremony.

Fear twined around my heart, and my thoughts immediately flickered to Reign. I needed to—No. Gritting my teeth, I focused on his embarrassing rejection and deplorable behavior toward my friend. If he wanted to cut me out of his life, then so be it. I was certain Heaton would make a much better instructor anyway.

"Hurry, Aelia, we cannot be late." Rue emerged from the bathing chamber and bounced around the room as she dragged on a pair of tights.

"Right." Shooting out of bed, I darted into the washroom then, after a quick visit, raced to my closet, ignoring the consistent throbbing through my skull. As I stared at the vast array of foreign clothing, I settled on a simple classic. A soft linen tunic and my suede leathers. As I slipped the familiar strappings on, I reached for my dagger and sheath. Once I'd secured it at my waistband, the fingers of my free hand twitched as if something were missing.

How odd.

"Ready?" Rue stood at the doorway, her hand wrapped around the knob.

I didn't think I'd ever seen my roommate so tense. Her knuckles gleamed white beneath the sun's lustrous rays.

"Yes," I blurted as I tugged on my boots and hurried behind her.

Dozens of first-years swarmed the halls as we all made our way toward the Hall of Luminescence. From what little Reign had shared of the secretive ceremony, each team would enter the hall separately.

"Why is everyone going at the same time?" I whisper-shouted at Rue over the trample of footfalls down the floating staircase.

"Maybe because the king's here. I imagine he'll speak to all of us before the ceremony."

Right, that made sense. "Does he often come for the Choosing?"

Rue shook her head. "No, not at all. In fact, Heaton said this is the first time he's visited in his four years at the academy."

I swallowed hard, gulping past the forming knot in my throat as Reign's words from yesterday's training resurfaced. I know that he only cares about one thing: creating soldiers for his army.

"Rue, your eldest brother is a Royal Guardian of the Court, correct?"

She nodded, her bright eyes dimming.

"Do you hear from him often about the state of affairs in Aetheria?"

My roommate's expression grew darker still. "Unfortunately, not. Lawson's battalion was deployed to the northernmost region of the Court of Umbral Shadows along the Shadowmere Sea over a month ago, and we've yet to receive a single letter."

"But we're at peace with the Shadow King, right?"

"That's what they tell us." A weak smile crawled across her weary face.

"Maybe King Elian will tell us more today," I offered.

"I hope so."

Squeezing her hand, I led her through the crowd of first-years. I was still the frequent recipient of curious and often hate-filled gazes, but once word had spread about my proficiency with my dagger, most of the other students gave me a wide berth.

Or maybe it was the terrifying Shadow Fae who constantly trailed behind me that had earned me some peace. I supposed I'd find out the true cause now that he'd drawn this imaginary line between us.

A storm of anger and hurt churned in my gut as we descended the final steps. No. I wouldn't let Reign occupy any more space in my mind. I needed to focus. If I didn't prove I deserved to be here today, I'd be sent back to Feywood, and likely shipped off to warm the bed of the next needy Fae lord.

Radiant light spilled across the grand hall, the rainbow of hues from the stained glass settling over the blonde heads of the already-gathered students.

"Psst, over here!" Symon waved from the third row.

Blast it, why we must we always sit so close to the front?

Heaton stood as we approached, offering his seat so Rue and I could sit beside each other. "I thought you were going to be late," he hissed at his sister.

"We almost were," she muttered back, fingers pressed to her temples. "My head hasn't been right all morning."

Heaton's brows twisted as he regarded her for a long moment before sinking down beside me. "Are you ready, Aelia?"

"I suppose I must be."

"I have faith in Raysa's wisdom. If she chose you, you were meant to be here."

His kind words brought a smile to my face, despite the nerves roiling in my gut.

"So what happens now?" I whispered.

Heaton leaned in close, lacing his arm around the back of my chair to murmur in my ear. "This is different than the other years, with the king being here and addressing us all together first, but I assume after he speaks, we will be divided into squads and taken to the hatchlings."

"Hatchlings…?" The remainder of my question sputtered out on my tongue as that dark presence plowed into me.

My head spun toward the entrance despite my best efforts to keep my gaze trained on my team leader. Reign stalked in, a tornado of shadows whipping around him, driving his wild hair into a fury. The chatter immediately subsided as all eyes cast in his direction. It was as if the entire room collectively held its breath. He lifted his hood over his head and stalked past without so much as a passing glance.

Bastard, mercurial Fae.

He darted up the steps to the dais and joined Headmaster Draven who already lounged in his throne-like chair. The head of the Conservatory whispered something to the Shadow Fae and his midnight eyes lifted to mine. His brows puckered, and a tempest of emotions flashed through those impossibly dark orbs. His aura flared from a murky gray to the angriest pitch night.

Stop staring at him, Aelia. Clenching my hands into fists, I forced my gaze away from those invisible snares.

Another presence filled the room, a lighter, more airy one, drawing my attention to the back of the hall. The entire hall rose as one, with me as the exception. I quickly stood, heat tingeing my cheeks.

The tall, lithe form of King Elian of Ether glided toward us bathed in a sea of brilliant light. With an ageless countenance, his features seemed crafted from the purest light, casting an aura of soft luminescence. His glistening platinum hair flowed like liquid gold, spilling over his shoulders. Twin suns of pure turquoise caught my attention, gleaming with a wisdom that spanned centuries of strife. Their luminosity was otherworldly. His dazzling turquoise orbs swiveled in my direction as he paraded past, and the faintest pucker drew his light brows together. It wasn't surprising since, with the exception of Reign, I was the only Fae in the hall with hair like night.

"Bow," Heaton hissed.

I dipped my head as the king, adorned in the finest regal attire seemingly woven from the glistening threads of morning mist, and at least a dozen Royal Guardians marched past, each donning the pristine uniforms adorned in gold piping of the Court of Ethereal Light. When I straightened, I finally noticed everyone in the hall hinged at the waist in reverence.

In my defense, King Elian only became my sovereign a few months ago upon my acceptance to the academy. The great ruler of the Court of Ethereal Light had only once made an appearance in Feywood, and Aidan had forbidden me to attend. Which I had obeyed… sort of.

The king and his entourage swept up the steps and settled along the dais. The headmaster, Reign, and the other professors stood and bowed at the royal's approach. Draven dipped so far down I was afraid he wouldn't be able to straighten.

To my surprise, he managed fine, snapping straight up as soon as the royal took his seat. "Everyone please be seated," the headmaster called out. "We are honored to have His Royal Highness, King Elian of Ether, in our presence. May Raysa be with you, my king."

The tall, willowy male inclined his head. "And you." His voice held the soft, yet commanding resonance of a gentle stream.

"Will you do us the honor of addressing the first-years, Your Ethereal Highness?"

The king rose once again, his sweeping presence descending across the hall. From his elevated angle, I could just make out a scepter held tightly in his fist, seemingly wrought from the sun itself. Even from this distance and with my limited rais, I could feel its power pulsing.

"My esteemed initiates of the Light, today marks the commencement of your journey as Royal Guardians of our great realm. With the Choosing Ceremony upon you, you stand at the threshold of destiny. It is no ordinary path you tread, for to wear the mantle of a Royal Guardian is to become the very soul of the Court of Ethereal Light."

He paused, that radiant gaze gliding over every student in the hall.

"Today you become warriors, protecting this great realm against those who would wish us harm. As you embark upon this sacred education within the hallowed walls of the Conservatory of Luce, let the light you bear within be a guiding star, unwavering, even amidst the tempest"s wrath. May it kindle courage when shadows across the river loom and fortitude when the horizon dims."

I stole a quick glance at Reign, his expression an icy mask but his aura hiding nothing. His disdain for the king was evident. Why couldn't anyone else see it?

"Together, we are the everlasting dawn. Go forth, and let the light guide you."

Wild applause rang out through the silent hall, the abrupt noise jarring.

"Isn't he incredible?" Rue shouted over the cacophony.

The king hadn't really said much at all, but simply spurted pretty platitudes. He hadn't explained the situation on the front lines, at the border of the Wilds, or what it was exactly we were expected to do as Royal Guardians.

Headmaster Draven rose, his alabaster robes swirling a shimmering gold beneath the sunlight. "Good luck initiates, each squadron may now proceed to the hatchling site."

My entire team leapt up, and if it weren't for Rue's hand jerking me to my feet, I would've been swallowed up in the onrush. Heaton urged me forward as the mass of initiates rushed toward the doors of the great hall.

"Why is everyone running?" I hissed at Rue as she dragged me down the circular stone pathway.

At the far corner of the training lawn, eight tents had been erected, each with the name of our teams. The students flooded the field, racing toward their designated area.

"It's just exciting," Rue bellowed.

"Are we going to miss our chance if we don't get their first?"

"No, the hatchlings, guided by Raysa, make their choices regardless of who arrives first."

Then why, by all the gods, were we running so fast?

When we finally reached our tent, Belmore and Ariadne had already arrived and each stood staring at something in the middle of the grass.

"Come on, Aelia, hurry." Rue towed me to the center of the tent to join the others.

Peering over Belmore's shoulder, I could just make out a massive ring of light hovering over the lush lawn.

"What in all the realms is that?" I blurted as I squeezed past Belmore and stood between Rue and Symon.

"It's the hatchling site."

"But I don't see any eggs."

"Just wait," Rue whispered.

The spherical glow burned brighter and a pulse of energy skimmed over my flesh. Raw power pressed into me, reminding me of my first day at the Conservatory when I fought past the Veil of Judgement. I pushed back as the overwhelming presence sank into my very bones.

I could feel Rue fighting beside me, her tense shoulder brushing mine and sending an electric pulse across my skin. Another presence filled the air, this one so familiar I didn't need to glance over my shoulder to know who it was. I recognized Reign's nox more easily than my own.

Despite every muscle in my body urging my eyes to his, I kept them fixed straight ahead to the ethereal circle. The air vibrated, the light bending and fracturing in sharp edges, then more than a dozen objects coalesced from the brilliant surge.

Eggs… fourteen of them of varied sizes and hues.