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“Just because he’s my brother doesn’t mean I won’t look out for you,” Kol answered, his voice softer now. “You deserve space and loyalty, too. You don’t have to believe me yet, but you can trust me.”

I shoved off the wall and took to the skies before I did something I would regret. I wanted to fly far away and leave my troubles behind, but I couldn’t waste more hours flying around to let off steam, so I headed for the only place I could sit and think in the palace.

The general’s quarters, unlike the rest of the legion stationed in the capital, which was housed within its own section of the palace grounds, were up in the royal residence. The upper palace which looked over the entire capital was lavish and ridiculous, and no place for the military leader of the legions. But leader of the dragons was not just a military rank. Dragons had no monarchy, but The Dragon of the Night, head of the Dragon Council, was a hereditary right and a governing position, and as such, the role came with a place in the royal household, lands, and titles.

Such things meant little to dragons, but the accord between the dragons and the ruling family had kept the kingdoms safe from outside foe for centuries since the kingdoms united. The trappings of the royal position were merely a symbol which enforced the partnership in the minds of the fae.

Kol and I were raised here, right beside the King’s own children. Educated as princes, and afforded every luxury of the station, we wanted for nothing…except our father’s love. The general was his role. With only one exception I could recall in my whole life, nothing came before his duty. Because of that, I’d loathed this place by the time I left for the legion barracks in the lower ward of the palace. That was what I considered my home, and the idea of moving back up here and living this life where I would become my father turned my stomach. That was not the life I wanted. My place was in the barracks, and even once I claimed my birthright, I’d want to live among the flyers I commanded. The trappings of the office my father seemed to love held no allure for me. I just wanted to lead honorably.

I would never come up here again if I had the choice…but my mother’s garden was a place of solace. I never set foot in the apartments; they just sat empty in wait. But I often found myself gazing out over my mother’s roses whenever I needed comfort.

It had been well maintained by gardeners since her death in my childhood. The queen was her closest friend and kept it in her memory. Only members of the royal household could access it, but they seldom did, so it was my safe place.

With my elbows rested on my knees, I sat on the bench Kol and I had had made in her honor, thinking about the mess my life had become in such a short space of time. After years of being ryderless, and all the problems that had brought me, I was in a worse position than ever.

“Nyx, my boy. What a pleasure.”

I managed not to stiffen when the King’s hand patted my shoulder. How deep in my thoughts had I been to miss his approach?

I lifted my head and made to stand. “Your Majesty.”

“Please, sit. We are at home here. No formalities amongst family.”

They were pretty words, but King Viktas was as ruthless as my father at times. I never knew which side of him was the truth and which was for show. It was another reason I chose to be with the legion. Royal head games were exhausting.

“What brings you to Lady Asar’s garden? Have you finally decided to move in?”

I shook my head. We’d had this discussion on a rolling loop since my father’s death. Without my ryder, I could not take my place, so I saw little point in moving into a home I dreaded even visiting. And even with my ryder now found, I would earn my role leading the legion by flying with them first. No flyer would respect a general who had never seen battle, and no dragon would accept a leader who had lived in a palace of fae all his life, never seeing firsthand how dragon kind was being wiped out.

The titles were mine, as they had been all the Asars before me, but my forefathers still climbed the ranks, and so would I. I would take the rank and titles and delay the trappings as long as possible.

“Not yet. The time has not come.” It was the same reply I had given a hundred times.

The King sat beside me, taking a relaxed pose, which made me see how rigid I was.

“I thought with your ryder now safely by your side, you might have come to your senses.”

So, he knew. It was a fool’s wish that the news had not yet reached him, but I had hoped I would have had a little more time to bond with her before we came under his scrutiny.

“She is still adjusting. We have some work to do.”

“So I heard, but no better mentor exists in the realm. You have been preparing for this moment your whole life. She is in good hands.”

I hung my head. “We need to come to terms with some things between us first. She is holding some false ideas of our kingdom, and our initial meeting was…traumatic for her.” I didn’t know why I was sharing this information.

The King patted my knee. His demeanor was fatherly today. I always found this side of him suspicious when I knew he could be so cold at times, but I would never show him as much.

“You’ll get her to where she needs to be, my boy. I have every faith in you.” He rose, never one to indulge in pleasantries for too long. “Bring her by, Nyx. Your brother, too. The queen misses you both, and I’d very much like to meet her.”

THIRTEEN

ZARIA

After we visited every store Kol could think of, I went to the rooms that were apparently mine to put away all the new things he had bought for me. I told him I would find a way to pay him back for everything, but he insisted they were his welcome gift. That just made me feel worse about intending to leave.

I needed some basic clothes, and I was extremely grateful, but he also got me books and things for training, and uniforms for flying. Things I didn’t want or ask for, but he insisted I would need.

There was a knock, and I froze.