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Chapter Thirty-Three

A elia

A soft groan escaped my lips, the sound drawing me from a deep slumber. Painstakingly slowly, my lids opened, taking in my surroundings as I clutched the soft sheet in my fist. My bed was nestled in an alcove lined with moss and soft, luminescent flora. Beyond the gossamer draping that hung over the bed, high ceilings stretched above me, shimmering with a soft ethereal light that filtered in through the large ivy-framed windows and skylight.

The sun’s decadent rays stretched across my dormitory, highlighting a familiar form sprawled out on a chair against the wall. Reign’s head fell forward, chin resting on his chest, an oddly peaceful expression across the typically hard line of his jaw.

Typical?

How did I know what was typical for Reign?

It was Ruhl’s features I’d committed to memory, every sharp line and perfectly carved angle. And yet… I gingerly pushed back the coverlet, the move silent, and slid to the edge of the mattress to get a better look at the male whose sole purpose in life was to put an end to my own.

Now sleeping, with that intimidating glare hidden beneath dark lashes, he didn’t seem quite so threatening. In fact—my heart stuttered before continuing in a steady beat once again—he was beautiful.

And deadly.

I needed the reminder.

Which brought me to my next question… what was Reign doing here and where was Ruhl?

As if he’d heard my unspoken question, Reign stirred, lifting his sleepy gaze to mine. “Good morning, princess.” His voice was rough with sleep, and the deep sound sent a tingle of awareness zipping through nerve endings I didn’t know existed.

Shaking off the odd sensation, I stiffened, then scanned the chamber for a weapon or the quickest escape route should the need arise.

“Relax, your daggers are safe in your nightstand.” He slid to the edge of the chair before slowly rising. “That was what you were looking for, correct?”

There he went again, reading my mind. How was that possible?

“Dagger s ? Plural?”

“Yes. I kept watch over the other one while you were gone. It’s now back in the drawer where you always keep it.”

I glanced between him and the nightstand, then drew the coverlet up to my chest before realizing I still wore my fighting leathers from the day before. How had I gotten to my room? The last thing I remembered was arguing with Ruhl and then?—

Oh, stars. I’d lost control and practically attacked him.

“Where’s Ruhl?” I blurted.

A scowl darkened Reign’s expression, the relaxed countenance of sleep from only a few moments ago now gone. “Your betrothed went back to Arcanum to check on our Night Fae guest.” He now lingered at the foot of my bed, fingers tracing the carved lightwood. “No need to worry, he will be back shortly so we can discuss our next move.”

“Good.”

Silence lapsed across the room, thickening the few feet of air between us. This bastard Shadow Prince seemed nothing like the image that flooded my thoughts, the ruthless, cold-hearted Fae who would stop at nothing to destroy me and complete his vow. Still, how could I trust him? And more importantly, how could he possibly be my cuoré as everyone insisted?

But would Sol lie to me? And why would Ruhl, if he were my cuoré, say that someone else was?

None of this made any sense. I pressed my fingers to my temples as another headache threatened to make an appearance. I’d been having a lot of them lately.

“Everything all right?” he mumbled before rounding the footboard and inching closer.

“Just a headache. I’m not going to die from it if that was what you were hoping.”

“For Fae’s sake, Aelia, why would I ever want you dead?” Frustration swallowed up his aura, coating it in dark navy and violet.

I’d never been able to read anyone’s aura as clearly before. At least there had been some benefits to unleashing my damned powers. I read no thirst for vengeance, no ill will, no dark intentions toward me whatsoever.

Reign moved closer, still, until his legs met the edge of the mattress. It took all my restraint to keep still, to battle the most overwhelming urge to run. He slowly lowered himself onto the bed, perching on the very end, as if to make himself appear as unthreatening as possible.

He seemed to release a sigh of relief when I didn’t shoo him off. His turbulent gaze chased to mine, a surge of emotions flashing across the starlit midnight of his eyes. “Aelia, I?—”

I shook my head, raising my hand to cut him off. “I can’t, Reign…” I worried my lip between my teeth, completely swallowed up by the weight of his gaze. “I understand that you and Ruhl both believe that you are my cuoré, that Sol does as well, but it’s not how I feel. It’s not what I remember.”

He nodded slowly, a flash of hurt rising to the surface before he managed to smother it with a mask of calm.

“You say you won’t hurt me, but every bone in my body urges me to run or reach for my dagger when you’re near. I can’t explain it, and I know something isn’t right, but I need time to sort through whatever happened while I was gone.”

“I—”

Forcing a resolve I didn’t quite feel, I continued, “Please don’t say anything right now. I won’t be able to trust anything that falls from your lips, whether I want to or not. I feel as if I cannot even trust myself.”

“Okay,” he finally whispered. “I don’t know what Helroth did to you while you were in his clutches, but I swear to you, I will undo it. Whatever it takes. And you will hear me out eventually.” The intensity in his eyes as he spoke the words momentarily stole my breath.

This time I was the one nodding, too overcome with battling sensations that threatened to consume me to do anything else.

The door whipped open, jerking my gaze toward the entry. “Oh, good, you’re both awake.” Ruhl flashed me an indulgent smile before turning to his brother. “We have much to discuss.”

“The Night Fae is all settled at Gideon’s grandmother’s home?” Reign asked.

“Yes. Kaelith wasn’t pleased, but at this point, he has no say in the matter. He’s far from court and her house is well warded. No one should find him while we determine our next step.”

A twinge of guilt reared up before I reminded myself it served Kae right to be held in a prison of sorts. Maybe now he’d finally understand how I felt for all those weeks.

Why would I even feel sorry for the big brute? Or feel any sort of allegiance toward him or my grandsire? Raysa, my head was a muddled mess. “How will I train with him if he’s so far away?” The question emerged of its own accord.

“The first thing we will work on is teaching you how to use your shadow abilities,” Reign replied.

The assumption was clear. If I could control my nox , I would be able to shadow travel back and forth to train with Kaelith.

Relief settled across my shoulders, blanketing me in familiar warmth. “So, it’s been decided then? I will be allowed to continue my lessons with Kaelith?” The fact that it was even in question rankled at my nerves.

“After yesterday’s display, we have little choice,” Ruhl replied, a twist to his lips.

I glanced at the true Shadow Prince, the one who I was certain was my real cuoré. Or at least, I had been so sure… “I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“Never apologize,” Reign snapped before modifying his tone, or Ruhl had a chance to respond. “It makes you look weak to Fae. Did you forget everything I taught you?”

The familiar chiding echoed through my mind, as if I’d heard it dozens of times before, only in a different timbre. “ You taught me that?”

“Yes, princess. I was your professor, your mentor, long before I became your?—”

I lifted my hand, cutting him off and a grunt squeezed through his clenched teeth.

“We all know how instrumental you were in Aelia’s development, brother.” Ruhl sauntered closer and settled onto the bed beside me. Another hint of relief invaded my system when the urge to flee didn’t settle over me as it had with Reign. Instead, with Ruhl, now I felt… nothing.

No familiar pulse of the cuorem.

Not even the flutter of butterfly wings I experienced as a young Kin around other males.

And still, a dark voice in the far depths of my mind insisted Ruhl was my cuoré, and we were destined to be together.

“Given your history of success,” Ruhl continued, gaze bouncing between the two of us, “I suggest you continue with your efforts along with Kaelith. Between the two of you, hopefully you’ll find a way to harness those explosive powers.”

“You can’t seriously suggest that we all remain at Shadowmere together?” Reign barked.

“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”

“I don’t want her near him!”

“We agreed last night that he must train her, did we not?”

Reign grumbled a curse. “A few hours of training are not the same as living in the same residence. That’s why we should focus on shadowtraveling so that we could easily move her in and out. Who knows what he could do to her in such close proximity for another extended period of time? He could simply continue poisoning her thoughts against me…”

“You know it makes the most sense. We should keep them hidden together. At least for now. It’s better than the alternative and being forced to split our few resources to guard them.”

I watched the back and forth, frustration growing with each word. Finally, when I couldn’t take another moment, I blurted, “Don’t I get a say in this?”

“No!” Both males growled in unison. So, this was what they chose to agree upon?

I glared at Ruhl, narrowing my eyes. “I was going to agree with you.”

“Of course you were,” Reign grumbled.

“It’s decided then, we’ll bring Aelia to join Kaelith at Shadowmere as soon as everything is settled.”