8. Aries

8

ARIES

" T hey're all insane." I stomp through the castle's halls with Leo on my heels. Between the council's outrageous vote and Esma's attempted coup, I'm not sure how much more I can take before I lose it.

"They're greedy men who see an opening for more," Leo grumbles. "If Father were here?—"

"Well, he's not," I yell, whirling so quickly that Leo stumbles back.

He frowns at me, and my shoulders sag. "I apologize. I'm just so fucking pissed."

"No apologies necessary, brother. You have every right to be angry with me. I should never have let it get this far. In letting Mother handle it, I missed how bad things had gotten."

"No, it's not your fault." I sigh. "It's mine."

"It's neither." My mother's voice echoes from an open doorway just ahead.

I can't help feeling a bit of this anger aimed at her. She doesn't shy away from it, though, and instead waves us both into her office.

"Come. We should talk."

Inside, I stalk to the window, my dragon feeling more and more caged as the minutes tick by and reality sets in. Leo drops into a chair by the fire, leaning his head back. My mother surprises me by taking a bottle of whiskey from a desk drawer and pouring us each a drink.

"Here," she says, bringing me a half-full glass. "You need it."

"It's barely noon," I say, but I take it.

She offers a look of apology before walking over and giving Leo the other glass. Then she tips hers up, emptying it without waiting for us to join her.

Leo and I exchange a look.

I've never seen my mother drink outside of wine at official events.

He shrugs and then downs his own drink.

Fuck it. A moment later, I do the same.

When we're finished, my mother collects the empty glasses and returns to her desk where she remains standing. "I take it you've just come from the council meeting."

I force my voice to remain even, though I can't help the sharpness in my words when I answer her. "You should have told me."

She sighs. "I had hoped they would change their minds when they saw you in person."

"Well, they didn't," I snap. "I had to threaten them with bodily harm just to have the chance to earn my throne back."

Her eyes widen. She looks from me to Leo.

He sits forward and quickly tells her everything that happened at the meeting. I remain at the window, staring out while his words slice through me all over again.

"By the goddess, Aries. I am sorry," my mother says when he's done.

I don't bother to turn around before answering, "We should be fighting a war, not each other."

"You're right," she says. "They are blinded by their desire for power. When this is over, you must dismiss them all. Appoint an entirely new membership?—"

I turn to her. "You're forgetting that I have to win this war first. Without the benefit of the throne's magic."

"It's not ideal," Leo says. "But it can be done."

I glare at them both. "You know allowing me to ascend the throne as a mated dragon king would strengthen the goddess' magic. We could wipe out the orcs with little effort or risk to our soldiers." No one contradicts me. "They are endangering the lives of our people to preserve their own stolen power. It's disgraceful."

"We agree, Aries," Leo says pointedly. "We're on your side here. Mom didn't just hand them the keys to the kingdom willingly. They did the same thing to her that they're doing to you. But we won't let them."

I exhale as his words hit home. He's right. My mother isn't to blame. And we won't get anywhere arguing between us.

"I should have just challenged them all to a fight and been done with it," I say darkly.

"The people will learn the truth," my mother says. "And they will see your temperance. Your patience. They will know that you've won this war by your brains and your own two hands. And they will love you even more for it."

"Mom's right," Leo says. "Take your anger out on the orcs, and let the council's own actions destroy them in the end. It's the better move politically."

My brow lifts at that. "Since when do you care about politics?"

He shrugs. "Since it helps you win the throne and gives me back my life as a second-born prince."

I shake my head. He's right, though. It is a better move. Just not as satisfying for my dragon at the current moment.

"Fine," I say at last. "But the people will know what the council's done."

"Absolutely," Leo agrees.

"And Paige," I add. "She needs to be kept as far from the council as possible until this is over. I don't want her exposed to their petty judgment and rejection of her."

"Consider it done," Leo says.

"Paige should be introduced to the people," my mother says. "They need to know her, to see how deeply she cares. Once they do, they will love and accept her when the time comes. It won't matter what the council says."

I nod, my thoughts and plans beginning to form as I consider various strategies for this war. It'll need to be a blend between combat and publicity, which only makes it that much more difficult. But Leo's right. It can be done.

And then I'll have my throne back, giving me the authority to toss the council out on their pompous asses—starting with Esma.

"I know that look," Leo says. "You're already strategizing."

"I am considering a few ideas," I say slowly.

He stands. "Where do we start? Tell me what I can do."

I blink, glancing around the confining walls. "I need to fly," I say.

"So, let's fly," Leo says.

"Are you sure that's wise?" my mother asks nervously. "What if you're spotted by the horde?"

I cross to where she stands and press a quick kiss to her forehead so she knows I'm not angry with her anymore. "Father trained us well," I say as gently as I can. "We'll be careful. But this is something I need to do if I'm going to lead the army."

She nods. "You're right. And Aries? I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," I tell her firmly. "You're not the one who failed this kingdom. The ones who did fail it will pay."

She nods, and Leo and I head out.

"Well," Leo says, clapping me on the back, "This has been a fucking day already, am I right?"

I grunt as we walk through the castle, heading for the northern exit. It's the best area for a swift and easy takeoff, but more than that, it's the location of the royal dragon stables. A building I didn't use much whenever I'd fly out on my own, but since Leo is with me—and especially after the council pointed out everything I've done wrong in their eyes—I decide to err on the side of protocol.

"It's not over yet either," I grumble.

"You'll feel better after you fly," Leo says firmly.

"Not as good as I'd feel ripping the council members limbs off their bodies."

He shoots me a warning look. "You promised to behave."

I grin darkly. "Relax. I'll keep my promise. Although, I do wonder how you knew about that law?"

"Just because I have no interest in the game of politics doesn't mean I don't know how to play."

I chuckle. "You're full of surprises."

"It's part of my charm."

He winks, drawing a laugh from me as we reach our destination.

The royal dragon stables have stood here nearly as long as the castle itself—with updates from each generation. Outside, it resembles the horse stables, but inside, the stalls are large enough to accommodate six dragons at once. There is no roof, allowing for beasts of varying heights and sizes access on foot or from the sky. Five generations ago, the stables were expanded after the king had four sons and a daughter—giving Astronia a total of six dragon shifters during the king's rule.

Our people still consider that century to be the most abundant and peaceful in the history of our world. I wonder if Paige has thought about how many children we might have one day. Unfortunately, that's not a conversation to have now. Not when the threat of two enemies hangs over our heads. But someday…

I enter the first stall, and my dragon tries to burst free before I've taken off my shirt. Impatient, I step out of my pants as scales cover my arms. In another blink, my hands and feet are replaced by claws, and my wings unfurl with a powerful whoosh.

Impatience wins out. I take to the sky before Leo has finished his own transformation.

What happened to you being the fast one? I telepathically tease him as he chases after me into the clouds.

Quick to start, quick to finish, he mockingly replies.

I laugh, my scaled belly shaking as I soar upward, relishing the freedom I feel to finally be up here. I stretch out my wings and do a few flips, twists, and circles to loosen up my stiff joints. My flights back in Paige's world were few and far between and always with the clock ticking on how long I dared to leave her alone.

Here, even with the horde's violence, I know Paige is safe enough down below right now.

Damn, this feels good.

My dragon lets out a roar just for the sake of it.

You want the horde to know we're coming? Leo admonishes, rising above the clouds.

They can't possibly have gathered this close to the castle, I scoff.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news…

At that, I stop arguing and join him higher up, my massive wings skimming the fluffy bits of condensation that obscure us from view down below.

Soon, the clouds disappear, and we're forced to go even higher to avoid being spotted. The air is thinner here. Colder too. But I don't mind it. Not if it means being airborne a little longer.

We've nearly reached the snowy mountains when I see them. A camp—larger than I've ever seen in this valley—packed full of orc soldiers. I increase my speed, needing a closer look.

You might want to hang back, Leo warns.

Why?

There's a reason the orcs have managed to destroy so many villages along our borders.

What reason is that?

They have developed a new technology of siege weapons.

What are you talking about?

Look. Down there.

He nods to the left of the camp, and I finally spot what he's talking about. Long-barreled and narrow, the gleaming black machinery isn't something I've ever seen in this world.

But I've seen it in another.

On Paige's television.

Depicting the most lethal violence I've ever witnessed.

My gut twists with recognition—and horror.

Bullets. Guns.

Manmade weapons capable of vast destruction.

Where did they come from? I ask.

No idea. Some speculate it's a technology from the fae in the outlands.

These are not fae-made, I say grimly.

Either way, our best guess is that the technology was stolen from somewhere.

Stolen.

Or given freely.

The council needs to know about this.

They do.

I grind my teeth together.

Don't shoot the messenger. Leo's attempt to lighten the mood doesn't get very far.

I have no idea how it's possible, but I do know guns like these could only have come from another world entirely. Brought through a portal. To be used against me.

Constantine orchestrated this. Even without proof, I know it's true. Just like I know all the way down to my bones that I'll defeat the orcs, whatever it takes, and then I'll return to the library and kill Constantine myself.