Page 48 of Duskbound (Esprithean Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Soleils' men had really outdone themselves.

A proper feast laid out on the cliffside, complete with linens that probably cost more than our old apartment. The spread was impressive—fresh bread, fruit I hadn't seen since leaving Sídhe, even wine in delicate glasses that looked hilariously out of place among the ruins. The ocean crashed against the rocks below, sending up spray that occasionally misted our faces.

Just the six of us sat at the table—me sandwiched between Osta and Aether, with Eron and the Soleils across from us. The rest of their people had spread throughout the ruins, giving us privacy while keeping watch. Every time I caught Osta stealing glances between me and Aether, she'd quickly look away.

"Before your disappearance," Lord Soleil began, breaking the awkward silence, "we had a decent network in place. My people in the Guard could create small gaps in patrols, moments where the Umbra could slip through unnoticed. With Kalea's visions guiding the timing..." He gestured to his wife.

Aether looked up from his untouched plate. "Am I supposed to be grateful for that? "

"I understand it's the bare minimum," Soleil said carefully. "But we are working with what we have."

Aether's golden eyes fixed on him, the silence stretching uncomfortably long.

"Why are you helping us at all?" I asked. "Your family must benefit from everything Sídhe has gained. You have no ties to Umbrathia, no reason to care about what happens to their people." I leaned forward, studying his face. "So what's in it for you?"

Lord Soleil's expression shifted, something darker crossing his features. He shared another look with his wife before responding, but I cut him off.

"The nobles in Sídhe have never been richer, never held more power. Yet here you are, risking everything to help the very realm you're stealing from."

Lord Soleil's expression hardened. "Prosperity built on the suffering of others isn't prosperity at all—it's parasitism. And it can't last." He set down his wine glass carefully. "People like my brother may be content watching our realm grow fat while another withers, but I've seen where this path leads." He shook his head. "What happens when there's nothing left to drain from Umbrathia? Where do you think the King will turn next?"

Lady Soleil reached for her husband's hand. "The nobles think they're untouchable in their golden towers. But they're just as blind as everyone else. This isn't sustainable—and when it falls apart, it won't matter how rich or powerful anyone was."

"Balance has been completely disrupted throughout the realms," Lord Soleil went on, "I know many do not follow the teachings of the Esprithe, but I've always been a devout follower of their wisdom. And this crime cannot go unpunished."

I watched Aether fight back a scoff, but something at Soleil's words tugged at me, and I wasn't sure why.

"Which is why we need something bigger than sneaking people across the border," Lord Soleil continued, refusing to wilt under Aether's stare. "We've been gathering support, slowly. Carefully. We've even managed to turn a few officers within the Guard. But there's only so much we can do with that level of influence." He paused, sharing a look with his wife. "What we need is someone higher up. Someone with real power."

"A General," Lady Soleil added softly.

I felt Aether go still beside me.

"Osta mentioned how close you and Laryk Ashford had become," Lord Soleil said.

Heat rushed to my face. I shot a look at Osta, who suddenly found her plate fascinating. Then I felt Aether's eyes on me.

"Ah," he said quietly. "So that's him."

"What exactly do you expect me to do?" I asked, my fingers curling around my untouched wine glass.

"Ashford has always been... unpredictable," Lord Soleil said carefully. "He openly despises my brother, which is a point in his favor. But more than that, he's always been the one to question things. The only General who ever pushes back against direct orders." He leaned forward slightly. "If any of them could be convinced of the truth, it would be him."

Aether's eyes went dark as he pushed his plate forward a bit too forcefully. Osta leaned back in obvious fashion now, eyes darting between us, her head tilting slightly.

"The blood oaths have to come first," I said, trying to redirect the conversation. "It doesn't matter who we convince in the Guard if they can't speak about what they know."

"I couldn't agree more." Lord Soleil nodded. "The blood oaths must be destroyed."

"It was one of our plans," I admitted.

"A few of my guards work the front gates of the Compound," he offered. "They could grant you access?—"

"We won't need that," Aether's voice cut through the air, carrying a distrusting tone. "It'll only draw attention. Better to enter our own way."

"The place is heavily fortified," Lord Soleil countered.

Aether scoffed, still refusing to touch the food in front of him.

"But... whatever method you prefer," Soleil conceded, clearly noting Aether's darkening mood.

"They're all kept in Luminaria, right?" I asked. "Even the ones from other regions?"

"Yes, all stored at the Compound."

"Then that's our first priority," I said firmly, before turning to Lady Soleil. "Have you ever seen anything about the King? About his focus?"

Lady Soleil looked at her husband before responding. "I've never been able to see anything regarding him. I can only see clear visions of people I've actually interacted with." Her fingers traced the rim of her glass. "And I've never met him personally. Rather frustrating, actually."

"We learned something in Umbrathia." I shifted forward, lowering my voice though there was no one close enough to hear. "A tether—I mean, a focus. Called a siphon. One who can transfer essence from one place to another."

The table went silent. Even the waves seemed to still.

"It would make sense," Eron finally said, his eyes lighting up. "We've never known exactly how they're managing it. We thought it must have something to do with the arcanite towers."

"The arcanite is just storage." I watched their faces as understanding began to dawn. "But the King has to come second to all of this. His people need to be told the truth before we can do anything about him. They need to be given the opportunity to choose their own side in this war."

"You're right." Soleil nodded. "That has been our strategy all along. To cause disruption from within." His eyes found mine again. "And having the support of a General would be invaluable. "

I shifted uncomfortably as Aether's leg pressed against mine under the table. "I wasn't planning on speaking with him," I said quietly.

"He's in Stormshire, with the rest of your old unit." Lord Soleil's words hit me like a physical blow.

My eyes snapped to Osta. "Does Nazul know anything about this?"

Osta's face fell, and she shook her head. "No. I haven't spoken with him much recently. Since... everything."

Another wave of guilt whipped through me.

"If you could infiltrate Stormshire, convince Ashford..." Soleil leaned forward. "It would be the turning point we all need."

I felt Aether go rigid beside me.

"We could help you, of course. I know it’s late notice, but tomorrow night, all of the Generals will be attending a conference in the central control room. If you could find your way into his quarters, unseen?—"

Aether stood so suddenly the table shook, shadows rippling around him like waves. "It's not happening." His voice was barely more than a growl.

I watched Osta's eyes go wide as she dropped her fork, the metal clanging against porcelain. Her gaze shot to me, but Aether was already too far gone.

"You have no idea who she is." The darkness in his voice made even Lord Soleil lean back. "To us. How important she is."

"Aether, stop." I pushed to my feet beside him.

"She may trust all of you, but I don't." Shadows writhed beneath his skin. "And I will not stand by while the heir to the throne of Umbrathia is led into a death trap."

Silence crashed over the table like a wave. Osta's wine glass slipped from her fingers, red liquid seeping into the white linen like blood. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she managed, "I'm sorry, you're a what now? "

Lord Soleil had gone completely still, his composure cracking around the edges. Even Lady Soleil seemed frozen.

"The heir to…" Eron managed. "But you were raised in Sídhe. In a group home. With—" He gestured at Osta, clearly struggling to make sense of it.

"Fia." Osta's voice had taken on that familiar tone she used when she seemed close to passing out. "Are you telling me that on top of being some sort of shadow-wielding, mind-controlling, prisoner-turned-not-so-prisoner, you're also actual royalty ?"

"It's a recent discovery," I said quietly, shooting a narrowed glance towards Aether.

"Oh, well that makes it so much better." She let out a slightly hysterical laugh. "Here I was, thinking you were dead for months, and you're casually discovering you're the heir to an entire realm." She paused, then added, "Though I suppose this explains why you've always been so terrible at folding laundry."

"Osta," I started, but she was on a roll now.

"Does this mean I have to curtsy? Because I've been practicing, you know, working for the Soleils and all, but I'm still quite terrible at it. Though I suppose you are too?—"

"The political implications alone—" Lord Soleil began.

"Oh please," Osta interrupted, rolling her eyes. Then she froze, horror spreading across her face. "Wait, should I not say things like that anymore? Are there rules about insulting foreign royalty? Am I going to be arrested? Because I have so many incriminating stories?—"

"Osta!" But I was fighting back a smile now, grateful for her ability to cut through tension. But nothing about Aether's posture had changed, if anything, he seemed more riled than before.

"Excuse us for a moment," I managed, grabbing Aether's arm and dragging him towards the treeline.

"Can you simply not help yourself?" I seethed once we were out of earshot .

"They were going to send you into Stormshire," he growled, turning to face me. "Like some kind of liaison."

"That wasn't decided?—"

"That's precisely what their plan depends on." His shadows writhed beneath his skin. "And now they know who you are, and the implications that come with that."

"You had no right to tell them" The words came out sharp.

"I had every right." His voice dropped dangerously low. "You're not just some soldier they can send on a suicide mission anymore. You're more?—"

"I don't even know what I am!" The outburst surprised us both. "I've barely had time to process any of this myself, and now you've just announced it to everyone like it's some sort of shield you can use to protect me."

"Of course I'm going to protect you against those with nefarious intentions." Something flashed in his golden eyes.

"I can think for myself." I stepped closer, anger making me bold. "Make decisions for myself. You were going along with that quite nicely before. What changed?"

He didn't answer, but his eyes narrowed.

"Is this because of Ashford?" I raised an eyebrow. "Because I was already planning on finding my friends in the West, the ones I was in a unit with. I told you this last night."

"I don't understand why you should be the one to speak with him," he said, running a hand through his hair and looking off towards the ocean.

"Because they're right. He might not listen to anyone else," I admitted quietly, taking a step toward Aether. "If he could join this resistance that they've started, it could change everything."

I slipped my hand into his and the rigidness in his posture melted as he pulled me towards him, my face pressing against his chest .

"I don't want anything to happen to you." His chest vibrated with the words. The fear in his voice could have been about my safety, but something told me he was more afraid of losing whatever this was between us. This fragile thing we'd only just begun to understand.