Chapter 37

37

T he room is silent.

"I knew you were different," Kai whispers reverently after some time.

Sorscha shakes her head, bewildered. "The way you fought, the way you destroyed those creatures?—"

"Jace has been training me since I arrived, teaching me to fight and how to unlock my magic so that I could bond Furi—Prophyria—my dragon."

I glance around the room at the group of people I have come to care for these last few months. They stare back at me, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.

"I never meant to deceive you." I cast a sincere look at Sorscha, who sits stoic and removed across from me. "We needed to keep my identity secret, both for my safety and for all of yours. The king worried that if other kingdoms heard of my arrival, they would come for me. So he had me pose as your cousin and made me one of your ladies."

" You're the last Blackblood witch?" Cece asks skeptically, as if she can't believe I, of all people, would be chosen .

Bitch.

"I thought that much became clear when she exploded those hideous things into dust at the mere sound of her scream." Kai stands behind a high-backed chair, leaning on his elbows. "That would explain why my charm never worked on you."

"That has nothing to do with being a witch. I'm just idiot-proof." I smile warmly at him, and he huffs a laugh, diffusing some of the tension.

"And you—" Cece assesses Zadyn, her green eyes distrusting. "You're a shifter."

"Zadyn arrived here with me. He's my familiar," I explain.

"It all makes sense now." Sorscha's brows knit together.

"I promise I will answer any questions you have, but right now"—I glance between Jace and Zadyn—"I think we need to discuss what just happened."

Dover exhales loudly. "What in hell were those things?"

"I've never seen anything like them," Zadyn says. "We were walking through the maze when they appeared out of thin air and attacked."

"I have no idea what they were." Kai shakes his head, dumbfounded.

"I might," Jace addresses the room. "A few months ago, there was an attack at the portal in Hyrax that ended in two Guardians killed."

Kai straightens. "Something crossed over."

Jace nods. "I've had my men scouring Hyrax, searching for whatever it was that came over to prevent it from crossing into Aegar, but we've had no luck. On top of that, there have been recent attacks on our own borders. The assaults have left a string of innocent fae dead, their bodies drained of blood. We can't confirm that the two incidents are related, but it's certainly a possibility. "

"This attack had to have been planned." Zadyn leans against the settee near Cece. "Think about it. It was limited only to where we were, inside the maze. The rest of the grounds were untouched. Those creatures, whatever they were, knew where we would be. They were targeting us."

"The party, the Hunt, it was all the perfect distraction," I say.

"But to what end?" Marideth asks. "What do you think they wanted?"

"The most obvious guess is the princess, maybe even Kai," Jace says, crossing his arms over his chest.

"But they didn't seem focused on getting to me or Kai," Sorscha points out. "They were just hell-bent on killing anything in their path."

A knock at the door interrupts us. Jace opens it, taking a folded slip of paper from the steward and reading it silently.

"The king has requested my presence. I'm sure he'll want a detailed account of tonight's events." He pauses, one hand on the doorknob, his face a mask of concern. "You should all try to get some rest. None of this will be solved tonight."

He exits without another word. My eyes catch on Zadyn as he stands.

"He's right," he says, casting a glance around the room. "It's late."

"I couldn't sleep if I tried," Sorscha murmurs softly, moving to the window. "Not when Ilsa is still out there."

Marideth moves to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "The king and his guards are out there now. They will find her."

Something tells me they will. But the question is: in what state?

"I wonder how many people know about the attack last night." I slip my arm through Zadyn's as we make our way into the Grand Hall.

"Not many, it seems," he mutters.

Our eyes ghost over the blissfully unaware sea of heads gathered for the feast. Not a fae in this room seems to be on alert for any potential lurking threat.

Zadyn stayed in my bed last night, shifting back into his OrCat form in case of another attack. Even with the comfort of his company, I didn't sleep a wink, my mind occupied by brutal monsters and the sight of Jace on his knees, his life a moment from forfeit. I had hoped to see him this morning, but he sent word that he would be indisposed with the king for most of the day, no doubt regarding last night's ambush.

Zadyn and I snuck away from the castle this morning to hunt for Furi. I didn't dare take her out of the cave with a possible threat lurking in the woods. She took an instant liking to Zadyn, who literally had her eating out of the palm of his hand. She purred for him like a kitten, the little flirt. He was just as enchanted by my beastly pet.

"I know that whatever I did when I screamed last night blasted them apart"—I look up at Zadyn—"but I doubt we've seen the last of those creatures. My gut is telling me that this wasn't just a one-off."

"I agree. We need to be on high alert."

We descend the steps into the hall. Half the entourage is seated at one of the red velvet booths in the corner, looking worse for wear. They bear the same sullen expression, clearly having had as rough a time sleeping last night as I did. I notice that Jace, Sorscha, and, of course, Ilsa are not in attendance.

"Any word on Ilsa?" I slide in beside Marideth, who shakes her head.

"Nothing." She sighs wistfully, her chin propped on her hand. "I don't understand. She has to be out there in that maze. She couldn't have just disappeared."

I shake my head, silently rolling through the list of things that could have happened to her. If any of those creatures got past us and took her…I don't want to consider the alternative to her being perfectly fine and in one piece.

"Where are Jace and Sorscha?" I ask her discreetly.

"Who knows? I haven't seen Jace since last night, and Sorscha was called to see the king late this afternoon. She said she would meet us here." Her sharp gray eyes do a quick scan of the room for the princess.

"I don't see the king, either." I note the three empty thrones behind the massive head table set up for the feast.

Kai leans across the booth. "I heard a rumor that my brother and the king were locked in a meeting last night until the earliest hours of the morning." He gives us a conspiratorial look and sips his drink. Cece turns to him.

"Where did you hear that, Kai?"

"I have spies everywhere, sweet Ceec," he says, dark charm coloring his voice. She rolls her eyes.

"A meeting without his advisors?" Zadyn asks incredulously.

"Apparently. The captain was the only one asked to sit in." Kai slumps back lazily, one arm draped over the cushion behind Cece's abounding curls.

Something about all of this strikes me as odd. Secretive.

"You're looking particularly be witching this evening, Lady Accostia." Kai assesses me keenly.

"Be more obvious, Kai," Mar mutters.

"What, like anyone's around to hear?" he says facetiously, tossing a glance toward the massive crowd gathered for the reception. Mar and I shake our heads, not in the mood for his idea of a joke .

With all that happened last night, I nearly forgot about the shattered glamour.

As soon as Zadyn and I made it back to my room, I dashed over to the mirror, terrified I would find a stranger looking back at me.

"It's alright." He laid a gentle hand on my shoulder, seeing my horror reflected. "The difference is barely noticeable."

Maybe to him.

I turned my face from side to side, marveling at how my tan skin caught the candlelight. There was a slight sheen to it, almost as if the cells contained barely-there facets of glitter. Like the dust of a star had rained down upon my skin, kissing it with celestial brilliance. I was no Edward Cullen, but if I wasn't already sure that I was superhuman, this would be enough to convince me.

My chocolate brown hair had deepened a shade and now hung to my hips, the shine so reflective it was nearly blinding. The slight shift in color made me look dramatic, contouring the hollows of my face to look sharp and structured. I was still me, but different. Enhanced. Alluring.

I trailed my fingers along my smooth skin, over the remaining arch of my ears, over my perfectly proportioned lips. In place of canines stood two tiny, razor-sharp fangs.

"The fangs retract." I peered at Zadyn in the mirror, who, in turn, bared his teeth and offered me a demonstration. "See?"

But that wasn't the most concerning alteration.

"What's wrong with my eyes ?"

I gasped when I took them in. Dark purple lined the outer irises, circling the deep lavender before bleeding into a hypnotic magenta around the pupils. I stared in horror as they dilated, becoming tiny black slits similar to my dragon's. I blinked, and they returned to black dots. All my life, my eyes had been plain old chocolate brown. These were the eyes of a predator. With starry flecks floating around the irises, my eyes now held an entire solar system. An entire world. Mesmerizing and mysterious and ancient.

"The slits are the sole indicator of a bonded Blackblood."

"I'm terrifying," I breathed, taking in the full picture.

"You're stunning." His eyes linked with mine in the mirror. Too concerned to offer a thank you, I turned to face him.

"If people see me like this, they'll know what I am instantly." I ran my fingers down the silken locks. I had hoped for a little more time to adjust before slapping a blaring target on my back.

"I can put a temporary glamour on you, more of a damper, really. It should cover up the eyes and the skin," he said, tilting my chin up to examine my face. "But it will fade, so we'll have to keep redoing it until we find a more permanent solution."

When Zadyn was through with me, I looked a little more normal.

"Something different with your hair?" Kai asks innocently, snapping me back to the present moment. I glare at him.

Zadyn had done a well enough job at glamouring my eyes and lessening the iridescent skin. My irises were brown again, although there was a hint of something deeper beneath, giving them a warmer tone than usual. I prayed the glamour would hold until we were alone again, and he could give it a refresh.

I ignore Kai, glancing around at the endless rows of red-clothed tables situated throughout the room.

"I need a drink," Mar grouses beside me.

"Same," I say.

The two of us extricate ourselves from the pack and head toward the refreshments.

"My lady."

I turn to find Kylian behind me, his towering figure once again naked from the waist up. Tonight, he wears a necklace of brilliant golden suns stretched across his broad chest, from shoulder to shoulder. At the center of each one is a large crimson ruby. His gilded crown is of the same make, situated perfectly on his mess of dark hair.

The sight is breathtaking.

"King Kylian." I give a small curtsy, never taking my eyes off him. Mar pauses a few feet ahead of me, looking back at us.

Kylian reaches for my hand, drowning it in his own and bringing it to his lips. I fight the flood of heat that kisses up my skin from where his mouth touches, knowing he's throwing his siren power at me full force. I hate to admit the effort it takes on my part to resist.

"You look well despite the events of last night," he murmurs in a dangerously sensual voice. His eyes roam over my scantily clad body.

"How kind," I say flatly. He lowers my hand but does not release it.

"The feast is about to begin. I would be honored if you would sit by me. There is much I wish to learn about you."

"Going to pester me for my name again?" I gently peel my hand from his, quirking my brow.

He gives a soft, lovely laugh and leans in to whisper in my ear, "Oh, I already know exactly who you are."

My stomach clenches.

I don't know how much he saw in the maze last night, but he certainly caught the tail end of my display. Definitely heard the banshee shriek. Heard me wailing Jace's name over and over as I racked the earth with my agony and blew those creatures apart. He saw the black blood leaking from my nose despite Jace's effort to shield me from his view. I don't know if he got close enough to see the purple-slitted eyes, the dead giveaway of a bonded rider, but he knows a lot. And he's not about to show his hand. He wants to play a little while longer .

"Lady Serena Accostia, cousin of the king," he says earnestly, ocean eyes wide with false naiveté.

Oh, he's good. Which means I have to be better.

While everything in me wants to claw at him, to kill him for hurting Kai, hurting my friend, it dawns on me that this might be an opportunity to spy. He's endeared to me—that much is clear. And I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. But I do want to know what his overnight meeting with the king entailed. And why Jace was involved.

The moment I think his name, he materializes on the other side of the hall. Those trademark golden eyes connect with mine. His face is a mask of quiet fury, glancing between me and the King of Vod.

Envy , I realize.

I force myself to turn back to the dark king.

"It would be my pleasure," I purr.

He holds out a rippling bare arm, and I slide mine through it, my sharp nails grazing his skin slightly. He mistakes it for an accident, but that doesn't quell the chill I catch racing up his arm. I nod silently to Mar that all is well. She seems to read my mind, covertly nodding and heading back to our booth. Kylian leads me to the three gilded thrones at the center of the head table. He pulls out an empty chair for me, and I slide in gracefully as he takes his place on the throne beside me.

"I must admit, it's not often I come across a female so spirited." The backhanded compliment lands softly, and I return it with a sweet smile. "Color me intrigued."

"Me, spirited? I have no idea what you're referring to, my King."

He chuckles lightly.

"I witnessed your bravery last night in the maze. Such heroics in the face of death. "

How long had he been standing there? How much did he see?

"Most females would see a threat and run, but instead, you ran toward it. Even lesser males would have cowered. But not you."

I want to slap him just for the little females comment, though I truly believe he thinks he's paying me a compliment, the ignorant bastard.

"I'm not most females." I shrug indifferently.

"That much is clear." His eyes dance.

"Anyone would have done the same to help their friends." I smile up at him demurely, lowering my eyes and bringing them up again to peek through my thick lashes.

"I don't think they would." He angles his upper body toward me and leans in, half-caging me in with his impressive arms.

"I can't help but feel responsible." He sighs. I fix my eyes on him. "The attack happened at an event meant to celebrate my arrival. You were only in that maze because of the Hunt. The moment we realized something was wrong, King Derek and I rushed to get there. I only wish we could have made it sooner. Though by the time we arrived, it appeared you had the situation quite in hand."

His eyes roam over my chest and legs, not bothering to be subtle. "Beautiful and lethal." He tips his head back, taking a slow sip of wine.

A trumpet sounds, and the guests begin filling in the empty spaces at the endless sea of tables.

"I have many talents," I say. "Did you uncover anything more about the attack in your search?"

"Unfortunately, not. But thankfully, it was contained to the maze. Where those creatures came from and what they wanted remains a mystery."

I figured as much .

"Don't be worried." He reaches out, concern coating his features as his finger grazes my chin. "King Derek has doubled security around the castle and adjusted the wards. There will be no repeat of last night."

If I wasn't already convinced of what a bastard he was, I would read his words as caring—empathetic. But I don't think there's a heart in there capable of any such emotion. So I lean into his touch ever so slightly, giving his ego the desired stroke and painting me as the damsel rather than the powerful Blackblood capable of inflicting dragon fire on his sorry ass.

"Tell me, my King—" I offer up a coy smirk, treading carefully. "What brings you all the way to Aegar?"

His poker face remains perfectly intact. If he's surprised by my sudden interest in him, he doesn't show it.

"It has been many years since I've seen my mother. I was due for a visit. I must admit, however, that I do have ulterior motives." He lowers his stunning eyes before flashing them back up to mine.

"Such as?" I say lightly, hoping he drops a major bomb at the mere sight of my batting lashes.

"Such as finding a wife."

"Is that so?" I can't help the way my eyebrows shoot up in response, remembering how the nobles told Zadyn that Kylian had refused to take a wife and queen consort. So what changed his mind?

"Aegean court is full of lovely, eligible bachelorettes. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a worthy wife here."

"Lovely as they may be, I'm looking for something…special. Suffice it to say my tastes are more"—his hand glides over my bare knee, and I fight the urge to take the fork on the table and jab it clean through his hand—"refined."

"Something special?" I challenge. "Is the King a secret romantic, or are you referring to an advantageous alliance? "

"Perhaps a little bit of both." He smiles wickedly, the effect dazzling.

"I don't believe that for a minute." I sigh, facing forward again, and sip my wine demurely. "You desire a love match?"

"That's certainly part of it. I have refused many marriage offers over the years from princesses and highborn females—the most desirable matches in all of Solterre. But none of them were my equal and, therefore, would not be fit to rule beside me."

The fanfare of trumpets announcing the arrival of the king and queen sounds from atop the massive staircase, temporarily pausing our conversation. They descend the steps side by side, Sorscha trailing behind them in a cropped fitted golden breastplate, a cream-colored skirt with a long train, and a sparkling tiara in her done-up hair.

She and the queen settle into their thrones, and the king remains standing. He lifts a golden goblet, addressing his court.

"Friends, courtiers, and honored guests," he booms. "I welcome you to the third night of King's Fair. Tonight, we honor and embrace the valiant King Kylian of Vod by feasting on the finest meat and mead Aegar has to offer. We are forever grateful for the tranquility between our two great nations. Let us toast to many more years of peace and prosperity!"

The crowd roars and applauds, lifting their glasses. Kylian smiles and nods to the masses like a goddamn Kennedy. King Derek holds up a hand to hush the room once more.

"Tonight is a momentous occasion indeed. Not only do we celebrate King Kylian's stay at court, but we have happy news to share. Raise your glass to toast the recent engagement of my heir, the Crown Princess Sorscha Accostia, to my newly appointed Hand of the King, Jace Fallyn."