Page 8

Chapter Eight

R eign

“I already told you, I don’t know anything more!” Draven’s pathetic cry only further infuriated the mass of whirling shadows suspending the headmaster over his desk. His legs dangled, feet kicking furiously. Dark tendrils coiled around his wrinkled throat, constricting then loosening at intervals. Nearly full night had descended across his study, my volatile nox leeching every shred of daylight attempting to sneak in.

“You’re a liar,” I roared as my shadows coalesced across my shoulders, wings propelling me up to meet the deceitful bastard’s wild eyes. “You knew of the Night Court’s existence all this time, and you did nothing . You sent those students to the Wilds knowing full well what awaited them!”

“It was by the king’s orders. I had no choice but to comply.”

Reaching for the tattered collar of his robe, I curled my own fingers around the frayed edges, pressing my knuckles into his neck, the need to feel his fear in my hands overpowering. After all, I couldn’t allow my shadows to have all the fun. He gasped as raw fury pounded through my veins, and gods, it felt good after holding it in for endless weeks. “How long, Draven? How long have you known about King Helroth?”

“Not long,” he rasped. “Only since the start of the term. When she appeared.”

“Aelia?” Her name erupted from my lips like a desperate plea, both fury and fear igniting.

His head dipped in confirmation. “As soon as word of the mysterious Kin reached King Elian’s ears, he had me summoned to the Castle of Ethereal Light. He spoke to me of the prophecy…”

Oh, for Noxus’s sake. They knew all along. Ever since my cuoré stepped foot in this gods’ damned place.

“And what of the Court of Infernal Night?”

At this, his eyes rose to meet mine once again. “I only know what little King Elian has disclosed, that a small group of survivors had amassed along the border of the Wilds, and it was on the shoulders of the Conservatory to put down the threat. He never said anything about Raysa-damned King Helroth.” A shudder surged up his spine, sending a tremor across his frail shoulders.

“There was nothing small or unorganized about the army I encountered.” I loosened my grip around his collar, but my shadows did not. “How could hundreds of Night Fae go on unobserved for decades?”

“I do not know,” he gritted out.

“And what of the Royal Guardians? Have they been engaging against them the entire term?”

Again, his head slowly dropped, his eyes lowering as his snow-white beard brushed his robe. “A small, dedicated force so as not to stir suspicion.”

“Good gods.” In two more terms, Aelia would have been out there forced to fight them as well.

The sudden appearance of King Helroth, along with the seer’s foretelling of the looming prophecy, couldn’t be coincidence. And King Elian knew it. Perhaps, he was privy to some information I was not. Maybe even some minute detail Father was unaware of.

“Call the king,” I hissed.

“…Excuse me?” Draven’s pale gray eyes widened.

“I must speak to King Elian at once. If I am to find Aelia and thwart the prophecy, I must be privy to all the necessary information.”

His silver brows knitted, wary eyes regarding me in a new light. “And how is it that you, a lowly, banished Shadow Fae, know anything of the prophecy?”

A wicked smile stretched my lips as I considered the ramifications of my next words. I’d had enough of pretending, of skulking around in the shadows. I was done. Besides, once I had what I needed from Draven, I’d erase every memory of this conversation. “My dear headmaster, how I’ve longed for this day.” My shadows surged around us, whipping and whirling until suffocating nox thickened the air once more. “I was planted here by my father, the King of the Umbral Court, you fool.”

“No…” Sheer terror lanced across his face as his jaw practically unhinged. “You’re a prince ?”

“The bastard prince, if we’re being completely accurate.” I smirked. “Do you have any idea how I could have ruined you and all the damned Light Fae had I chosen to? Instead, I waited, biding my time, until she appeared. You see, she was my mission, and now, well, she’s become a bit of an obsession.”

“Tenebris has been searching for the child of twilight, too?”

“Of course he has. Do you truly believe only King Elian has access to the royal seers?” I cupped his cheek gently before giving it a good smack. “But you see, it is to my benefit for my father to know as little as possible about Aelia. So now, I must speak to the Light King to ensure she is returned to me safely.”

“Why do you care so much about the girl?” His mouth twisted, curling the ends of his trailing mustache. “I always suspected there was something between the two of you, but to go to such lengths…”

“It’s none of your concern,” I hissed, and a torrent of shadows vibrated around us, shaking the entire study. It was a damned good thing cuorem bonds were so rare now that none would immediately assume our true connection. “All that should matter to you is whether or not I’ll allow you to live beyond today.” I flashed him the silver cuffs, then a vicious sneer. “Now that the truth is out, I’ll kindly ask you to remove these infernal devices.” A sliver of shadow curled around his throat and squeezed. “Or I will remove your head.”

* * *

Prowling across the training field wrapped in concealing shadows, I heaved in the first full breath I’d taken in years. The one of a free Fae. It wasn’t quite as sweet as the one I would indulge in once Aelia was back in my arms, but for now, it was something. Massaging my sore wrists, I willed the blood to flow once again after years in those restrictive binds. My nox surged like wildfire, the heady sensations bloating my chest. It had been so long since I’d operated at full power, I’d nearly forgotten what it felt like.

Once I’d convinced Draven to remove the blasted things, I’d loosed my shadows into his mind and liquified his memory of our conversation. I’d also planted a new memory, one in which he’d decided to remove the cuffs himself as a gesture of goodwill, seeing as how I’d been such a loyal member of the Academy for years, now. A smirk curled the corner of my lip, unbidden.

Now I only hoped I could rein in my nox enough to have a civil conversation with King Elian. I reached the edge of the woods just beyond the boundary of the Conservatory’s grounds and waited. I’d debated the merits of arriving at the Castle of Ethereal Light aboard dragonback, but in the end, I’d decided a show of power would be the best strategy.

If I was to convince Elian to trust me with his secret, I’d have to reveal mine. And Phantom was not only a significant secret, but also a powerful one. The Light royals were currently devoid of dragons, and now that Ruhl had acquired one, they were at a great disadvantage.

“Where are you off to?” The unexpected voice sent my head spinning over my shoulder. Good gods, how had I not heard her approaching?

“Nowhere,” I growled at Rue.

Her eyes immediately latched onto my wrists, the angry red sores like beacons to her inquisitive gaze. The female was surprisingly perceptive, something I’d noticed more recently. “What happened to your cuf—pretty bracelets?”

“No need to be coy, Miss Liteschild.” I blew out a breath as I searched the sky for Phantom. What was taking her so long?

“So, how’d you get them off?”

“I asked nicely.” I flashed her a savage smile, a clear indication this was not a conversation I intended to expand upon.

Shaking her head, she folded her arms across her chest, the stance so similar to the one Aelia often took when she defied me, my heart staggered for an instant. “When are you going to let me in, Reign? I know you’ve been keeping secrets, Aelia too. I can’t help if you won’t let me.” At the mention of her best friend, I caught a glimpse of the hurt those secrets had caused and were continuing to do so.

I dragged my hand through my hair and huffed out a frustrated breath. “Don’t you understand that there is nothing you can do?”

“I refuse to believe that.” She tapped the tip of her boot on the soil, eyes intent on mine. “Which is why Symon and I have been taking our skyriders for our own rescue missions on our evenings off.”

“Rue,” I growled, “it’s too dangerous. You know what’s out there now. You cannot put yourselves at risk like that.”

“I must! Aelia would do the same for me. She would never give up.”

“I’m not giving up,” I growled.

“Then where are you going?”

“To see King Elian!”

Her eyes widened to nearly comical proportions—that is, if I were able to find humor in such things these days—her pale blue irises swallowing up the white. “…Why?”

“Because he must know something about the Night Fae, about King Helroth, all of it. He fought in the Two Hundred Years’ War, he became king toward the end of it. If anyone has any information about the demons who took Aelia, it would be him.”

“And you’re just going to, what, ask him nicely, too?”

A rueful smile tipped up the corners of my mouth. “I will do whatever it takes to get the information I need. I will stop at nothing until Aelia is back safe and sound.” In my arms. Forever.

She cocked her head to the side, wisps of blonde hair framing her face. “You truly do love her, don’t you?”

Heat rushed up my neck, blanketing my cheeks, but for once I didn’t will it down. It felt right admitting this monumental truth to her best friend. “Yes, Rue, I love her.”

A silly smile stretched across her face, and regret immediately settled in. I nearly took back the confession. “It’s about flipping time, Reign Darkthorn.”

The false surname rankled, but I kept my expression neutral. One day, I would fill her in on the truth as I’d promised Aelia, but not today. Better yet, I’d let Aelia tell her once I’d gotten her back. And I would, because not getting her back wasn’t even a consideration.

The thunderous flap of Phantom’s wings reverberated over the canopy of brightly colored leaves. It wasn’t the first time Rue had seen my skyrider, but in the past month, she’d never once questioned her existence, merely accepted it as it was and moved on. She tipped her head back, trailing the sound before a powerful tremor shook the ground beneath our feet, marking my dragon’s arrival.

“I must go.” I motioned toward the edge of the woods, where Phantom waited in the shadows.

“Good luck, and if there’s anything you need, you know I’m here. Reign, I want—no need to help.”

I nodded. “You’re a good friend, Rue, and Aelia is fortunate to have you.”

“I could be your friend too, professor, if only you’d allow it.” With that, she turned back to campus, her shoulders rounded and gait lacking its typical bounce.

A twinge of sympathy for the female niggled deep in my core. Not only had she lost her brother, but Aelia too. Gods help me, I would right all the wrongs or let Noxus strike me down .