Page 4

Chapter Four

R eign

Oh, for flame’s sake, Reign, you did not tell me he would be here . Phantom’s irritation sailed through our mental link, the rough rumble of her voice vibrating across my skull as we soared over the Darkmania Falls.

Lifting my gaze to the south, the thunderous flapping of wings reached my sensitive ears as the familiar slate beast coalesced from the darkness.

I wasn’t aware he was coming . I should have realized, though. In the month since Aelia’s disappearance, I’d seen more of my half-brother than I had the majority of our lives. In retrospect, I wondered if our father had purposely kept us apart while we were children. Fueling hatred between us only helped to further achieve his purpose. We were bred for two entirely different tasks and, perhaps, if we’d been close, neither one of us would have achieved the potential he had in mind.

What of Solanthus?

What of him? I could practically hear the sigh in her mental response.

Have you seen him? Spoken to him?

No. He spends all day and night searching for her. He’s become even more sullen than before .

That guilt surged once again, swelling in my chest until I could barely breathe. I should have found Aelia by now. How could I keep failing her? Failing everyone who loved her?

Mordrin grew ever closer, turning my attention from my own troubles to those of my skyrider. With each wing flap, Phantom became more agitated beneath me. Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you and Mordrin in your past life ?

I cannot.

Why not? It seems there is something of great importance between you, Solanthus and my brother’s dragon, and yet none of you wish to speak of it.

It’s better left in the past .

I don’t accept that answer .

Then it’s a good thing you have no say in the matter . Her growl broached no further argument. Her mouth parted upon Mordrin’s approach, showcasing jagged fangs.

“Call off your skyrider,” Ruhl bellowed from a distance.

“I wish I could, brother, but her hatred for Mordrin only seems to grow by the day.” I shrugged. “Any idea why that might be?”

The steel dragon loomed closer, and a deep growl vibrated Phantom’s chest, the rumble reverberating through my own body. I held up my hand and Mordrin slowed his advance. “I recommend coming no closer if you value your skyrider’s life.”

“This is absurd. Can’t you control her?” A torrent of shadows whipped around my brother’s form, blanketing him and half his dragon in whispers of darkness.

Your brother better still his tongue before I take out my wrath on him instead of his mount, where it belongs. Phantom’s growl was laced with venom, an uncharacteristic, jagged edge to her tone.

“I do not control her, as I am certain is the case with you and Mordrin.”

With his dragon still hovering in the air a hundred yards away, he threw out his hand, releasing a coil of shadows. His murky messenger reached my ear, hissing its annoyances. “You must allow me to speak to Father about the Night Fae.”

“That’s why you’ve come?” I snarled.

“Yes, Reign. We’ve been searching for Aelia for weeks, and it is clear that we alone will not be able to find her. But you know who might? King Tenebris of the gods’ damned Court of Umbral Shadows! I know you despise our father, but besides being powerful, he fought against King Helroth in the war. Perhaps he’ll have some sort of insight to share with us.”

I snorted on a laugh. “You of all people should be the most wary of informing Father about the resurrection of the Night Fae. Aren’t you afraid of the prediction foretold in the Mirror of Illusions? What do you think would bring upon your downfall the quickest?”

“A war.”

“Exactly, brother. So why risk it?”

“Because, maybe Aelia was right, and I have changed. And as you said, this isn’t only about me anymore.”

I barked out a laugh, unable to keep silent a moment longer. “Don’t pretend for even a second that this has anything to do with her. It’s just a pathetic attempt to save your own hide.”

“It isn’t!” He drove his heels into Mordrin’s sides, propelling him forward. The dragon’s silver gaze chased to Phantom’s, earning another growl from my skyrider. Plumes of dark smoke billowed from her nostrils as he neared.

“You’re being foolishly bold, brother,” I shouted as they continued their advance.

Phantom’s maw cracked open, her neck twisting in that serpentine motion that foretold an inevitable strike.

“I must speak to you about this, brother. You may be her cuoré, but you are not the final say in this.”

“And who are you to have any say in this?” I roared back as he flew within only a dozen yards.

“Who am I ?” He dragged his hands through his mess of tangled hair, and it was only then I noticed the dark circles lining the soft skin beneath his lashes, the wild look in his eyes and the general state of dishevelment. “I am a male who is on the brink of losing his Noxus-loving mind! My abilities are out of control, I attacked one of my own team members during a sparring session yesterday. Malakar is on my ass, and of course, I cannot explain what has caused this sudden erratic behavior. He’s threatened to banish me to the Twilight Forest until I get a handle on my shadows.”

My brows furrowed as I took my brother in, really looked at him for the first time in a long while. I urged Phantom forward. Please, old girl, just this once .

If that dragon even looks at me sideways, I’ll incinerate him.

Fair enough .

She slowly flapped her wings, bringing us closer until only a few yards remained between us.

“You do look pretty terrible, brother.” I couldn’t help the smirk from melting across my face at the sight of his discomfort.

“This is exactly why I keep my relationships brief and uncomplicated. No female is worth this—” His jaw snapped shut, and an emotion I refused to accept flitted across his tortured countenance. “How long are you willing to wait before you admit we need help?”

“She’s my cuoré, damn it. I should be able to find her, to protect her!” And gods, I was failing miserably.

“Who cares, Reign? If we cannot find her, she won’t belong to anyone but that bastard, King Helroth. Who knows what he’s been doing to her all this time?”

The words sent a spike of fear across my ribcage. The very same thoughts had been plaguing my mind for weeks. I knew she was alive, as certain of it as the enormous dragon beneath me. If she weren’t, I would know. I could still feel her through the bond, and I would never give up until that flicker of radiant light at the end of the tether was no more—maybe not even then.

“I will consider it,” I finally gritted out.

“Make it quick, brother. I’m not certain how much more of this I can endure.” With that, he shouted a command to Mordrin, and the enormous dragon whirled toward the south.

Ruhl is as pleasant as always . Phantom’s grumble rolled through my mind.

For once, I can’t blame him .

She snorted, brilliant ochre flames lighting up the night sky. The cuorem bond is a fickle thing, isn’t it ?

As fickle as the Fae . My thoughts remained silent for a long moment as I watched Mordrin and Ruhl disappear into a cloud of murky shadows. Is the dragon mating bond very different ?

Very . There is nothing capricious or indecisive about dragons or their bonds. Once triggered, our fate is sealed .

The link between us went silent, a massive wall slamming down on the bright filaments that connected me to my skyrider. She circled the jagged peaks of the Darkmania range for a beat before heading south toward the Conservatory. Our hunt for Aelia had ended for the night, and now, I must find a way to face the light of day.

As we soared toward Luce, flying over the Castle of Ethereal Light, I mulled over my discussion with Ruhl. Speaking to my father about Aelia was impossible, but perhaps there was another king I could go to for help. At this point, I would rather turn to my enemy than divulge the truth to my father. At least Elian wouldn’t be able to compel me to kill my own cuoré. And as much as I hated to admit it, Ruhl was right, we were no closer to finding Aelia than when we started all those weeks ago. If I had any hope of finding her, I’d have to resort to desperate measures.