Page 33 of A Kiss of Healing & Honor (Darkstone Academy #4)

“This way,” Grandmother Jacinthe murmured.

The gilded doors of the domina-regent’s study closed behind us with a soft click, separating us from Menelaus, Mage Armand, and Fernan.

My grandmother had asked them to wait for us in the study, and Menelaus had grumbled but reluctantly agreed.

I caught a fleeting glimpse of my father’s concerned expression before the door closed completely. Then I followed Grandmother Jacinthe’s silk skirts down a long, richly carpeted corridor.

As we walked, I couldn’t help but marvel at the shift in our surroundings. The ostentatious gold leaf and elaborate frescoes of the public rooms were replaced by a more understated elegance. Tapestries in muted jewel tones adorned the walls, depicting scenes of pastoral beauty rather than grandiose battles. It felt… homier, somehow, despite the obvious wealth on display.

Mama’s grip on my hand tightened as we approached another set of doors, these crafted from dark, polished wood inlaid with mother of pearl blossoms. My heart raced, sensing the weight of the moment that awaited us.

“Are you ready?” Grandmother Jacinthe asked, her eyes fixed on Mama.

Mama took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, and nodded.

The doors swung open, revealing a sun-drenched sitting room. My eyes were immediately drawn to the figure seated by the window.

It was an elderly man, thin and frail, dressed in a loose robe and sleeping trousers. His unfocused gaze was fixed on something in the gardens outside the window.

“Papa?” Mama’s voice cracked as she stepped forward.

The man turned, confusion clouding his features. “Who…?” he began, then his eyes widened with a spark of recognition. “Jonquil? Is that you, my little flower?”

Mama rushed to him, falling to her knees beside his chair. “Yes, Papa, it’s me. I’m finally home.”

I hung back, watching as my grandfather—the dominus—reached out with trembling hands to cup Mama’s face. For a moment, joy illuminated his weathered features.

Then, like a candle guttering in the wind, the light in his eyes dimmed.

“Nurse?” he called, his gaze sliding past Mama as if she wasn’t there and fixing on my grandmother. “Who are these people?”

Mama’s shoulders shook with silent sobs. She reached for her father’s hand and clung to it.

In that moment, I understood with crystal clarity why my grandmother had seized the reins of power.

The Dominion needed a strong hand to guide it, and Grandmother Jacinthe was nothing if not strong. I studied her profile, noting the steely determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw.

“Princess Jonquil,” a soft voice interrupted my musings. The majordomo stood in the doorway. His expression was carefully neutral. “If you’re ready, I can show you to your apartments now.”

Mama wiped her eyes and rose slowly, her fingers lingering on her father’s hand.

“Yes, thank you,” she said, her voice rough with emotion.

“We’ll give you some time to settle in and rest,” Grandmother Jacinthe told us. “And then someone will come to escort you to the private dining room to sup with us, King Menelaus, Duke de Norhas, and Mage Armand.”

Mama cast a lingering, teary-eyed glance at her father as we left his room.

We followed the majordomo down a long hallway hung with priceless tapestries, then up a wide flight of marble stairs.

“These will be your rooms, Your Highnesses,” the majordomo announced, pushing open an intricately carved door. “They were the Princess-Royal’s chambers before… well, before.”

Mama’s breath caught as she stepped inside. “It’s exactly as I left it,” she whispered.

I trailed behind her, taking in the plush carpets, the ornate furniture, the delicate artwork. It was beautiful, but also overwhelming. How could anyone live surrounded by such luxury?

The majordomo cleared his throat. “Your companions will be housed in the family wing as well, and I’ve already sent for your belongings from General Clovis’ mansion.”

He turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “If you’ll permit me, Your Highness, I’d be happy to explain the amenities available to you.”

I nodded, grateful for his kindness. “That would be most helpful, thank you.”

As he began detailing the various services—personal attendants, private baths, a fully stocked library—I couldn’t help but feel lost.

I’d grown up in a small village, then spent the past nine months in the austere confines of Darkstone Academy. This world of privilege was so far removed from everything I’d known.

“Is there anything special Your Highnesses require?” the majordomo asked, concluding his explanation.

I glanced at Mama, who seemed lost in thought, her fingers trailing over a silver-backed hairbrush on the vanity. “I think we’re fine for now,” I replied. “Thank you for your help.”

As the door closed behind him, I sank onto a nearby chaise, my mind whirling. How had my life changed so dramatically in such a short time?

I longed for the simplicity of my student life, my infirmary duties, for the comforting presence of my soul-bonded companions.

“Jacinthe?” Mama’s voice pulled me from my reverie. “Are you all right, my dearest?”

I managed a small smile. “Just… adjusting,” I replied. “It’s a lot to take in.”

She rose and went to an ornate writing desk in one corner of the sitting room.

“I want to write to your sisters,” she said, her voice soft but resolute. “They should know that we’re both alive and well. And… I would very much like to see them.”

I watched as she seated herself at the desk, her fingers hovering over the pristine stationery.

“What will you tell them?” I asked, curious and a little anxious.

She sighed, uncapping a fountain pen. “That I’m alive, that we’re both here in the capital, that we want to see them.” She began to write. “There’s so much to tell them, but it can wait until we’re face to face.”

As Mama penned her letter, I found myself drawn to the window. The view of the imperial gardens was breathtaking, their manicured design so different from anything at Darkstone Academy. I felt an odd pang of homesickness for the academy’s familiar stone walls.

“Done,” Mama announced, breaking into my thoughts. She rang a small silver bell, and moments later, a servant appeared. “Please have this delivered to the Imperial Academy for the Magical Arts immediately,” she instructed, handing over the sealed note.

∞∞∞

The gilded royal carriage rolled smoothly through the city streets the next day. I sat across from Mama on a soft velvet-upholstered bench, aware we were drawing curious glances from passersby as we headed to the Imperial Academy for the Magical Arts, located an hour’s drive from the capital.

As we passed through the academy gates, my breath caught in my throat. The sprawling estate was a vision of beauty, so different from the stark, imposing presence of Darkstone Castle.

Elegant marble columns adorned the buildings, their pristine white facades gleaming in the spring sunshine. Vast parklands stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with trees.

“It’s… breathtaking,” I murmured, drinking in the sight of open, airy courtyards and the complete absence of defensive walls.

Mama nodded, a wistful smile playing on her lips. “Yes, it is. The academy was designed to inspire creativity and nurture young minds.”

I thought of Darkstone’s imposing basalt walls, the ever-present guard towers, and the ancient stone buildings that seemed to grow from the very rock of the island. “It’s going to be a challenge to make Darkstone Academy feel as welcoming as this place.”

“I have some ideas,” Mama said.

As we disembarked, a stern-looking woman in elegant clothes approached us. “Your Imperial Highness, this is an unexpected honor!” she addressed Mama with a deep curtsy. “I am the chatelaine, Lirelle de Plons. Your daughters await you in my office.”

My heart raced as we followed Lady Lirelle into the administrative building. How much had my sisters changed in the past eighteen months?

The chatelaine’s office door swung open. “Mama! Jacinthe!” called a trio of familiar voices.

Talisa, Mira, and Juno surged forward, their faces alight with joy and disbelief. Mama and I were engulfed in a whirlwind of embraces and tearful exclamations.

“Jacinthe, I’ve missed you so much,” Talisa cried, her voice choked with emotion as she hugged me.

At seventeen, she had grown into a striking young woman, her features sharper and more defined than I remembered.

The twins, Mira and Juno, clung to Mama, their faces buried in her neck. At nearly fifteen, they had blossomed from girls into graceful young ladies.

“Is it true that you’re really the long-lost Princess Jonquil?” Talisa asked Mama sharply when the initial rush of reunion subsided.

“Yes,” Mama said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the truth before. I was afraid it would put you all in danger.”

Talisa pressed her lips together in a displeased line and looked away.

“Does that mean we’re princesses, too?” asked Mira.

“I want to be a princess!” Juno said excitedly. “It’ll teach all those stuck-up aristocrat kids here to respect us!”

I winced at the implications.

Lady Lirelle cleared her throat politely and said, “Perhaps Your Highnesses would like to continue your reunion over tea and sandwiches in my private garden?”

Mama nodded. “That sounds perfect, thank you.”

We made our way to a secluded courtyard, where a table laden with delicate sandwiches, fresh fruit, and steaming pots of tea awaited us.

As we settled into our seats, I couldn’t help but notice how my sisters’ movements were more hesitant and restrained than I remembered.

“How do you like the imperial academy?” I asked warily when we’d all poured ourselves tea.

Talisa’s eyes flashed with anger.

“I hate it,” she spat. “Everyone here treated us like dirt from the moment we arrived. Called us ‘hicks’ and ‘island savages.’ Made fun of our accents, even though we speak perfect Capitolan.”

Mira and Juno exchanged a glance, their identical faces mirroring each other’s pain. Juno said, “They accused us of pretending to be something we’re not. They told us we didn’t belong here.”

I felt a surge of protective fury. How dare they treat my sisters this way?

Talisa lifted her chin, a fierce pride in her eyes. “I stood up to them. Defended Mira and Juno. I wasn’t about to let some pampered little lordling push us around.”

I couldn’t help but grin proudly. “Good for you!”

But her next words wiped the smile from my face. “And then we heard about Mama’s death,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “Everything just… fell apart after that.”

“It’s been a nightmare,” Juno added, her voice barely audible. “Papa’s remarriage to that awful Narcissa, and then he died, too… we thought we were all alone in the world.”

“Orphans!” Mira exclaimed.

“My brave, strong girls.” Mama leaned forward to put her hands on the twins’ shoulders. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that alone. Would you like to transfer to another academy?”

To my surprise, all three of my sisters shook their heads.

“It’s getting better,” Talisa said. “And I’ll be damned if I run away and let them think they’ve won.”

I sensed she had more to say about their experiences here at the academy. But before I could probe deeper, she abruptly changed the subject, her voice taking on a forced cheerfulness.

“That’s enough about us. I want to hear about you, Jacinthe. How in the world did you end up with magic? Last time I saw you, you couldn’t even kindle a mage-light!”

“Well,” I began, “it’s a long story. I somehow ended up at Darkstone Academy as an indentured apprentice. Things were… challenging at first. Then I had an accident. I almost died, actually. But somehow, that trauma awakened my magic.”

Talisa’s eyes widened. “You almost died? Jacinthe, what happened?”

I shook my head, not wanting to relive those terrifying moments. “Like I said, it’s a long story. The important thing is that I survived, and suddenly I had abilities I never dreamed of. I became a mage student and an infirmary apprentice after that.”

As I spoke, I could feel the weight of everything I wasn’t telling them. The soul bonds, the deadly political intrigue, the attacks and murders.

“It wasn’t all bad,” I continued, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve made some wonderful friends at Darkstone Academy, especially among the diplomatic hostages from the supernatural nations.”

Talisa leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “Supernaturals? What are they like?”

“They’re…” I smiled, thinking of Tama, Boreas, and Gwydion, “…people, just like us.”

But I could see the questions building in Talisa’s eyes, and I knew I had to move the story along before she asked uncomfortable questions. “Of course, things took another unexpected turn when the Duke de Norhas showed up on the island two weeks ago,” I said, my voice dropping. “He abducted me and brought me to his ship.”

Gasps echoed around the table.

“But that led me back to Mama,” I finished quickly, forcing a smile. “And now here we are.”

Talisa’s eyes widened, her gaze darting between Mama and me. “Everyone at the academy has been talking about the Princess-Royal returning from the dead with an army of Dragons to save the capital.” She turned to Mama, her voice filled with awe. “That was you, Mama?”

Mama nodded. “Jacinthe’s father, King Menelaus of the Wind-Walkers, helped us against the Duke de Norhas.”

Mira and Juno exchanged wide-eyed glances, their excitement palpable. “Wind-Walkers?” Juno whispered. “You mean, Dragons?”

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips.

Talisa shook her head. “Jacinthe, you’ve had such incredible adventures. Your life sounds like something out of a storybook. I’d give anything to meet a Dragon!”

“I could arrange that before I leave the capital.” Back in Bernswick, how many times had I dreamed of my sisters looking at me with admiration instead of pity or scorn?

But they didn’t know the fear, the pain, the doubt that had accompanied those ‘adventures.’

I wondered how much the sight of Boreas in his Dragon shape, landing in the academy’s courtyard, would boost my sisters’ standing among their fellow mage-students.

“Leave the capital?” Juno leaned forward. “But aren’t you coming here to study with us, now that you’re a princess, too?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with expectation.

I shook my head. “No,” I said quietly but firmly. “I’ll be returning to Darkstone Academy soon. I have a lot of friends there, and a wonderful mentor.”

Talisa’s dark brows drew together. “You don’t want to be with us?”

Guilt pierced me like an arrow.

“You don’t need me,” I replied. “Now that you’re imperial princesses, you outrank all the other students here.”

Talisa’s eyes widened, and I saw possibilities ticking through her brain.

I laughed and ruffled her hair. “Use your power wisely, little sister.”

∞∞∞

As the afternoon wore on, filled with laughter, tears, and the bittersweet joy of reunion, I felt myself swinging between elation and exhaustion.

When we finally returned to the imperial palace after dark, my emotions were raw and my head ached.

I was greeted by the concerned faces of my spouses waiting for me in my sitting room.

“Jacinthe?” Gwydion’s voice was gentle as he approached me, his silver eyes searching my face. “Are you well? You look utterly exhausted.”

I managed a smile. “I am. It’s been… quite a day,” I admitted, sinking into a nearby chair.

Their love and support washed over me through our shared bond, a balm to my frayed nerves as I told them about seeing my sisters.

“And Mama…” I paused, a smile tugging at my lips. “Mama has been appointed the new ambassador to Kappadokia.”

Boreas let out a low whistle, his golden eyes widening. “No wonder King Menelaus has been smiling all day.”

“And the best part? Mama has promised to visit Darkstone Academy whenever she can.”

Gwydion’s silver eyes sparkled with mischief. “I suppose we’ll have to be on our best behavior when the ambassador comes calling.”

I laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far,” I teased back. “What about you all? What did you do while I was gone?”

Boreas stretched his massive frame. “Well, first we caught up on our sleep. Being heroes of the Dominion is exhausting work, you know.”

Gwydion described their day’s activities, with Boreas and Tama interjecting comments.

I noticed Ilhan’s glum silence.

“Ilhan?” I asked softly, reaching out to touch his arm.

He startled slightly, as if pulled from deep thought. “Alondra and I visited our father in prison today.”

The room fell silent.

“How did it go?” I asked.

Ilhan frowned. “It was… strange. Before I saw him, I was so nervous. I kept thinking of him as he used to be—this towering, godlike figure from my childhood. But the man we saw today…” He trailed off, his eyes haunted.

“Yes?” I prompted gently.

“He was… old. Broken. He could barely meet our eyes.”

“That must have been difficult to see,” I murmured, remembering Mama’s meeting with my grandfather.

Ilhan nodded. “We told him we want to return to Darkstone Academy to finish our studies with Mage Armand.”

“How did he take that?” I asked.

A wry smile twisted Ilhan’s lips. “About as well as you’d expect. But then I told him something else. Something I’ve been thinking about for a while now.”

I leaned forward, curiosity piqued. “What was that?”

“That Alondra would make a better Duchess of Frankia than I would as Duke.”

I blinked in surprise, processing Ilhan’s words. “That’s… quite a statement. How did your father react?”

Ilhan shrugged, his blond hair catching the light as he moved. “He called me a fool and lectured me about my duty, just like old times.” A hint of defiance crept into his voice. “But I didn’t give in. In the end, he at least promised to think about my suggestion.”

I reached out, squeezing Ilhan’s hand. “That couldn’t have been easy.”

“It wasn’t,” he admitted, his fingers tightening around mine. “But it felt right. And honestly?” A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I’m looking forward to leaving here and putting an entire sea between us again.”

I looked around at the four men gathered in this room. My heart swelled with affection for each of them.

“You know what?” I said, a smile spreading across my face. “I’m ready to go back to Darkstone Academy, too. I want to make a fresh start there, with all of you.”