Page 27 of A Kiss of Healing & Honor (Darkstone Academy #4)

I clung to the dragon saddle, heart pounding, as Boreas launched us into the sky with a powerful downbeat of his massive wings. The Telonos Gate and its dismal cluster of crumbling buildings fell away below us as we climbed higher.

For several hours, we followed Lady Aeolia south. Her green-gold feathers shimmered in the sun as she glided effortlessly on the air currents.

Gradually, the landscape below us changed, the volcanic peaks giving way to a pale, undulating landscape of buff-colored hills, spires, and mesas, their sides riddled with dark holes and openings. Lush canyons sparkling with streams threaded between the hills, vibrant green ribbons against the pale stone.

“There it is!” Boreas shouted. “The royal aerie of Hierapolis!”

The royal aerie itself was nestled in a breathtaking natural amphitheater shaped by eons of wind and water.

As we descended, I realized the sky was crowded with Wind-Walkers of every color—crimson, emerald, sapphire, gold—arriving from all directions. There were hundreds of them already gathered on the cliff ledges around the amphitheater, like a living tapestry draped over the cream-colored rock.

“Word of your arrival has spread,” Boreas called over his shoulder. I sensed amusement through our bond. “Everyone wants to witness your audience with King Menelaus. Half the kingdom is probably here.”

I swallowed hard, my stomach knotting with nerves. “But we only just got here. How could they possibly know already?”

“News travels fast among Wind-Walkers,” Boreas replied. “Especially juicy gossip. And a human visitor claiming to be the king’s long-lost mate returned from the dead? That’s the juiciest gossip to hit this kingdom in twenty years. Mark my words, the wagers are already flying about whether it’s really true.”

As Boreas angled his wings and started his descent toward the royal aerie, I sent up a silent prayer to the Divine Mother. Let King Menelaus believe us. Let him agree to help.

And let me survive this first meeting with the father I never knew, in front of all these curious eyes.

Boreas landed with surprising grace on the grassy floor of the massive canyon. I released my harness and slid down from the saddle.

My knees nearly buckled as my feet hit the ground. Whether it was from the long flight or my own nerves, I wasn’t sure.

Mama dismounted beside me, smoothing her travel-stained skirts with trembling hands. I reached out and squeezed her fingers. She squeezed back, her grip fierce.

Lady Aeolia marched off at once with long strides, clearly expecting us to follow. I looked around at my companions, took a fortifying breath, then lifted my skirts and trotted after the gargantuan Wind-Walker.

As we half-walked, half-ran, I noticed the floor of the canyon was thickly planted with grasses, bushes, and trees, in startling contrast to the stark tufa cliffs rising on either side.

Caves and tunnels dotted the rock face, their entrances decorated with elaborate carvings and pillars and curtained by colorful painted leather hangings. Wind-Walkers perched shoulder to shoulder on wide ledges, watching our procession with avid interest.

And ahead, lounging on a wide, cushioned bench in the center of the vast amphitheater, sat King Menelaus. My father.

He was not in his dragon form as I had expected, but in human shape.

And he was… magnificent.

Towering and broad-shouldered, with rich brown skin and a wild mane of red hair, he looked every inch the warrior king. He wore a short, sleeveless black velvet tunic trimmed with gold that revealed brawny arms and heavily muscled legs thick as tree trunks. A heavy golden torc circled his neck, and a diadem of golden flames sat on his head.

He watched our approach with an intensity that made my breath catch. His gaze was fixed on Mama, his eyes blazing with emotion and single-minded focus.

I could tell that in that moment, no one else existed for him. Only her.

The breeze shifted, carrying our scent to him. I saw him throw back his head and inhale deeply.

He leaped to his feet, arms opened wide.

“Jonquil,” he shouted. “My love! My mate! You’ve come back to me at last!”

Mama let out a choked sob. Then she was sprinting, flying across the remaining distance between them.

King Menelaus charged forward to meet her. He caught her up in his arms and spun her around. Both of them were laughing and crying.

I stood rooted to the spot, unable to look away as I witnessed their joyful reunion. It was the passionate embrace of two people who had loved and lost and found each other again against all odds. The sheer depth of feeling between them was staggering.

In that moment, I believed without a doubt that the Divine Mother herself had destined their love. That Mama was always meant to find her way back to King Menelaus, no matter how impossible it had seemed.

I just hoped that King Menelaus would be as glad to meet his half-human daughter as he was to be reunited with his mate.

Divine Mother of All, please let him accept me, I prayed silently and fervently.

Though judging by the way he and Mama were currently wrapped around each other, oblivious to anything else, that conversation might have to wait a bit. I swiped at my wet cheeks, nerves and anticipation twisting afresh in my stomach.

I hoped I wouldn’t vomit from sheer anxiety.

I glanced around at my companions, seeing my own tangled emotions reflected on their faces as they viewed the ongoing reunion.

Tears shone on Mage Armand’s lined cheeks as he watched Mama covering Menelaus’ face with frantic kisses.

Gwydion caught my eye and winked. I managed a wobbly smile back, deeply grateful in that moment for his steady presence. For all of their support.

At last, Mama and Menelaus parted, their eyes shining with joyful tears.

Mama turned to me and motioned me to join her.

When I reached her, she smiled at me radiantly as she took my hand and drew me forward. “Menelaus, my love, I have someone very special I want you to meet. This is Jacinthe, our daughter.”

My heart hammered against my ribs as Menelaus’ intense gaze settled on me. I fought the urge to shrink back, to hide behind Mama like a frightened child.

After the way Lady Aeolia had reacted to my mixed heritage, I was half-convinced that Menelaus would reject me outright as a tainted half-breed unworthy of his recognition.

But to my relief, Menelaus’ face split into a wide, delighted grin.

“Jacinthe, my hatchling!” he boomed, his voice echoing off the canyon walls. “By the Unconquered Sun, look at you! As lovely as your mother, and with my coloring! And I hear you’ve tamed that troublesome fledgling of Aeolia’s, eh?”

He chuckled, shooting a knowing look at Boreas, who ducked his head sheepishly. Aeolia snorted disapprovingly.

Before I respond, Menelaus swept me up into a bone-crushing hug.

I let out a startled squeak as he lifted me clear off my feet. The scent of warm spices billowed from his clothing and enveloped me as he kissed both my cheeks with enthusiastic smacks.

“Welcome, little whirlwind,” he boomed, his golden eyes sparkling with joy. “I am overjoyed to meet you at last.”

Happy tears sprang to my eyes once more. “H-hello, Father.”

I clung to him, hardly daring to believe this was real. I had a father! And he’d accepted me, without hesitation or reservation.

The sheer relief and elation that washed over me left me dizzy.

When Menelaus set me back on my feet, he kept his hands on my shoulders and examined me carefully. The weight of his intense golden gaze settled on me like a physical thing, both exhilarating and unnerving.

“I sense mage power in you,” he declared. “Tell me, Fledgling Jacinthe, can you wield the Fire magic of our people?”

“Yes,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “But I’m still learning to control it. I… I accidentally set fire to my room at Darkstone Academy. Twice.”

The confession tumbled out in a rush, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.

Mama laughed. “My love, Jacinthe has a rare gift,” she told Menelaus, her voice ringing with pride. “She can draw on the power of all five elements.”

Menelaus’ thick, russet eyebrows shot up. His expression morphed into delighted surprise. “All five? Truly remarkable! I’d expect nothing less from a hatchling of my seed.”

I couldn’t help but smile, even as Mama’s face flushed at the mention of ‘seed.’

Menelaus leaned forward, his eyes alight with curiosity. “Tell me more about your magic, Jacinthe. How does it feel for a human to draw on Fire?”

I hesitated, searching for the right words.

“It’s… intense,” I said at last. “Like a living thing raging inside me, always threatening to break free. I’m still learning to control it, to channel it properly.”

Menelaus nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It takes time and practice to master one’s abilities. But I’m confident you’ll succeed.”

Mama smiled and patted my shoulder. “You’ve grown up so much this past year, Jacinthe,” she murmured. “I’m very proud of the mage you’ve become.”

Her compliment warmed me as Menelaus draped his brawny arms over our shoulders and guided us to sit on either side of him on the plush bench.

“Now,” Menelaus said, his deep voice resonating, “who are these Fae and humans you’ve brought with you, my mate?”

He nodded towards my companions, who stood gathered around Boreas.

Mama smiled, her expression and voice both soft with fondness as she said, “You remember Mage Niccolò Armand, who served my parents as Chief Court Healer? Mage Armand risked his life and sacrificed both his reputation and his career to help me fake my death and escape the palace. He’s mentored and protected Jacinthe during her stay at Darkstone Academy.”

“I owe you my gratitude, Mage Armand,” Menelaus said, “for protecting my mate and my hatchling when I could not.”

Mage Armand bowed and said modestly, “It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve Their Highnesses in whatever small way I can.”

Then Mama introduced the rest of my friends and companions.

As she spoke their names, each stepped forward and bowed or curtsied before the king. Menelaus greeted them all warmly. His gaze lingered on Fernan, as if he was trying to figure out where the young count fit in our group.

“Please, sit,” he said to them, gesturing to the low couches and cushions scattered around us. “Wine! Refreshments!”

A bevy of small dragons the size of horses and covered in gray, fuzzy down instead of feathers, scurried to obey.

“Lady Aeolia’s latest clutch of hatchlings,” Menelaus commented indulgently. “She believes in every aerie member making themselves useful.”

Boreas shifted uncomfortably at his clutch-mother’s name and settled into a crouch in an open space behind the furniture.

As my friends sipped at goblets of mulled wine, fragrant with spices, and enjoyed the tidbits of grilled meat presented to them by the young Wind-Walkers, Menelaus turned his piercing gaze on Mama.

“Jonquil, my heart, I have to ask. What brings you here after all this time? Not that I’m not overjoyed to see you,” he added quickly, “but I sense there’s more to this visit than a simple reunion.”

Mama sighed and bowed her head.

“Staying away was never my choice, Menelaus,” she replied. “But I had to protect our daughter from those who would harm her. For years, we hid in the remotest corner of the Dominion, living under false names in a small village. Even then, I was always looking over my shoulder.”

She paused, her eyes distant with painful memories. “Last year, when I had to leave my village for important business, the Duke de Norhas captured me and enslaved me. He used black magic to force me to agree to become his mate. I only escaped because Jacinthe found me and broke the foul enchantment binding me to the duke’s side. Now he seeks to overthrow my mother’s throne and seize power for himself. Civil war looms on the horizon, and I fear for the safety of our people.”

Menelaus’ face darkened with anger as he listened to Mama’s spare account of her eighteen-month ordeal. His muscles bulged with tension beneath his black velvet.

“This Duke de Norhas,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “How dare he lay hands on you, my mate!”

Mama nodded, her expression grim. “He’s ambitious and utterly ruthless. He’ll do anything to claim my mother’s territory and my birthright. That’s why I’ve come to you, Menelaus. I need you and your people to help me keep the Duke de Norhas from tearing the Dominion apart.”

I held my breath as Menelaus straightened with a glower.

“As your mate, it is my duty and my honor to stand by your side in this fight, and help you in any way I can,” he stated. “The Wind-Walkers will not stand idly by while this duke threatens our loved ones and the people of the Dominion.”

I stared at my father in disbelief. After all the tribulations we had faced on our journey, our plea for aid had been answered with miraculous ease.

But even as gratitude and relief washed over me like a warm, soothing wave, Lady Aeolia heaved her immense bulk to her feet.

“With all due respect, my king,” she began, her tone measured but firm, “you’re letting your emotions sway you. We Wind-Walkers should not involve ourselves in human affairs.”

Scowling, Menelaus turned to face her. “And why is that, Lady Aeolia?”

“Need I remind you of what happened the last time Wind-Walkers fought against the army of Norhas? The humiliating defeat we suffered at their hands?” Her cutting words hung heavy in the air as the onlookers fell silent.

Her words were a stark reminder of the Battle of Invictus Pass, the landmark event two centuries ago that had led to human unification under the Imperial Dominion.

Aeolia continued in a blistering tone, “The royal aerie has been forced to pay tribute and send hostages to the humans for two hundred years. Is that a mistake you wish to repeat?”

My heart sank as I watched her. The brief flare of hope within me guttered like a dying candle in the face of Lady Aeolia’s opposition. Mama looked equally downcast.

Then Boreas rose and lumbered forward, his golden eyes blazing and excitement surging through our soul bond. “Permission to speak, my king!” he bellowed.

“Permission granted,” Menelaus said, looking interested.

Boreas swung his head around.

“With all due respect, Lady Aeolia,” he began, “this isn’t about human politics. This is about defending our own.”

“Is that so, hatchling?” Aeolia’s feathers ruffled, her irritation palpable as she fixed her piercing gaze upon her son.

Boreas stood his ground, undaunted. “As we’ve just heard, the Duke de Norhas has not only abused our king’s mate but also threatened his hatchling.”

He swung around to face the gathered Wind-Walkers on the cliffs all around us. He shouted, his words impassioned, “What fire-blooded Wind-Walker among us would let such insults go unavenged?”

Roars and whistles of agreement rose all around us as Boreas’ words ignited a fiercely protective spark in the Wind-Walker’s hearts. I marveled at Boreas’ quick thinking, the way he had crafted an argument that appealed to the Wind-Walkers’ sense of honor.

Boreas turned back to Menelaus, his eyes imploring. “My king, your mate and hatchling need you. They need all of us. If we turn our backs on them now, we turn our backs on our honor and our blood!”

My heart pounding, I awaited my father’s response. I watched the king’s gaze shift between Aeolia to Boreas, a battle raging across his expression. And then, with a decisive nod, he rose to his feet.

“Boreas has reminded me of my duty!” Menelaus declared, his voice ringing with authority. “The insults against my mate and hatchling cannot go unanswered. Vengeance is necessary.”

Aeolia’s eyes narrowed, and the golden feathers of her crest rippled in displeasure.

But the king was not finished.

“Moreover,” he continued, “Lady Aeolia has reminded me it’s well past time for the Wind-Walkers to send an official embassy to our neighbors. Helping my mate’s mother defend her territory is a good first step in re-establishing friendly relations between our kingdoms.”

He rose to his feet, his powerful form exuding an aura of authority and determination. “I will accompany my mate and hatchling north to Neapolis Capitola,” he proclaimed, his voice resonating through the chamber. “There, I will fight at the domina-regent’s side to protect her territory from the intruders who dare threaten what is rightfully hers.”

He turned to Lady Aeolia. “In my absence, Lady Aeolia, you will govern the Wind-Walkers,” he commanded. “I entrust you with the safety and well-being of our people.”

Lady Aeolia flattened her feathers and bowed her head. “As you command, my king.”

Menelaus tilted his face up to address the gathered Wind-Walkers on the cliffs. “I invite the unmated young Wind-Walkers of our kingdom’s aeries to join me in fighting for my mate’s territory. Fledglings, this is your chance to prove your mettle, to forge your own legends in the heat of battle!”

A roar of approval erupted from the assembled Wind-Walkers. I felt a renewed surge of relief wash over me.

Everything had fallen into place, just as Boreas had promised.

But as the cheers subsided, Lady Aeolia rose once more. “Before this audience ends, I wish to introduce one more piece of business,” she announced. “Concerning Boreas of Argestes Aerie.”