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Chapter Thirty-four

Calix

Flying back into Night Kingdom, I felt a huge sense of relief at being back home. I could feel Asteria’s own happiness at returning from where she flew next to me. The people of Tairngire all paused to look up, and where they’d usually wave, most stood in shock, mouths open as they saw the two phoenixes flying with us.

Altan, with his yellow and teal feathers, flew beside Asteria, while Zakat, with his orange and teal coloring, flew beside me. They’d insisted on flanking us, wanting to ensure her safety. I appreciated the sentiment, more so since Asteria let me know Zakat preferred men and wasn’t actually flirting with her, though I still wasn’t sure about Altan, who liked both sexes. Anytime anyone was too familiar with Asteria, it instantly set the mate bond off, driving me crazy.

We’d flown out over the Namminian Ocean to avoid Dusk. While their Pegasus forms were the only royal animal lacking flames for a defense, they could still attack from the air. It was better to be safe, especially when Cyrus refused to let his obsession die.

The reports Eryx had brought of Cyrus’s recent actions were horrifying, and I could only imagine what was actually going on there if what we’d heard were the mere whispers able to get out so far. Cyrus had cracked down since he became king, and Kian had been struggling to get word out while being watched.

I hoped to meet with Nithe before we left to get a better idea of what was happening. There was a lot to do before our journey. Starting with meeting with Titan and ending with reassuring my people.

As we touched down, I let the guards who’d accompanied us off my back. Once we’d shifted back, Titan was first there to greet us. His eyebrows were high on his forehead as he looked over our guests.

“It seems like you two were successful,” he said dryly, and I caught Altan and Zakat raising their eyebrows at one another in surprise.

“For the most part, we did better than expected,” I assured him, clapping him on the shoulder.

Asteria bounced up to us, smiling at Titan. “I even practiced while we were gone, like I promised.”

I chuckled, wrapping my arm around her waist. “She was very diligent about not missing training. She dragged me out every day.”

Her hand slapped my chest. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it.”

Titan groaned. “Did you get any actual fighting in, or was it another excuse to flirt?”

Asteria kicked his calf in response, making me double over laughing in surprise. Titan’s wide-eyed shock was equally hilarious, and Eryx was desperately trying to hide his laughter, turning his head to his shoulder and away from Titan’s sight.

“We do need to discuss what’s happened, and our plans moving forward,” I told Titan once we sobered up. He nodded, and I led Asteria after him toward the war room. I tilted my head at the two phoenix shifters behind us, indicating they follow us.

“I’m going to go check on my messages,” Eryx whispered to me, and I gave him a nod.

“See if Nithe is back yet. I want to talk to him,” I told him, and Eryx agreed before taking off.

“There you two are.” Harpina smiled, and Asteria broke away from me to hug her. Harpina hugged her back tightly, and it warmed my heart to see how loved Asteria was with my family.

I noticed others in the hall watching her and thought again of what Eryx said about formally introducing her to our people. That would have to happen soon, but for now, we needed to get a plan in place.

Explaining everything to Titan had him humming and crossing his arms over his chest, a sign he was brewing something in that brilliant mind of his. I’d never met anyone who could make a battle plan like he could. I hoped to be anywhere near as good when I was his age.

Even at four hundred and twenty-one, I knew I still had much to learn from him.

Eventually, Titan did what I knew he would.

“Asteria, come on,” he grunted, tilting his head toward the door. I raised a brow, smirking at him. I figured he’d ask me, but it said a lot about his confidence in her that he’d ask Asteria.

“What?” she asked, furrowing her eyebrows. “Where are we going?”

“He always does his best planning while sparring,” I told her, giving her a quick kiss and a smack on the ass, sending her out the door.

She looked back at me, bemused, but followed Titan without complaint.

“What in the Otherworld?” Altan shook his head, his braids swishing against his back with the motion.

“What?” I asked, cocking my head to the side in confusion.

Zakat snorted, leaning against the war table and crossing his arms. “What, he asks.”

“What the Tartarus kind of operation are you running here?” Altan asked, shaking his head. “This is… not what I expected.”

“We told you why we were attacking the other kingdoms already.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, you may not be the evil bastard we assumed, but ...” Zakat emphasized, gesturing dramatically. “This is still not what anyone would expect. I can’t ever imagine my father acting like that with his underlings.”

“Or mine.” Altan snorted in agreement.

“See?” Zakat moved to swing an arm around Altan’s shoulders, and the man quickly shrugged him off.

“They’re not underlings, for starters.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “This is exactly the problem. The kingdoms have lost sight of what we were chosen for in the first place.”

“And what’s that?” Altan asked, cocking his own head to the side now as he shifted away from the table, backing out of Zakat’s space.

“As king, it’s my job to lead my kingdom.” I tried to explain. “To keep them happy, healthy, and prospering. Not to exert control and lift myself up. This doesn’t work if we expect our people to be our servants. We are meant to serve them . We give our lives to the cause of the kingdom. But the rulers of Celesterra have been corrupted. With greed, pride, you name it.”

The two were quiet, but were clearly thinking over what I said. Before they could respond, however, Eryx grabbed my attention.

“Calix!” he called from the doorway, and I turned toward him. “Nithe’s on his way into the city now. We can meet him.”

I nodded, popping out into the hall to find a servant who could track down Ilta. She arrived within a few minutes, glaring at me for some reason.

“You didn’t even tell me that you were back?” she huffed, crossing her arms. “Where’s Asteria?”

“She’s with Titan. And I’m sorry, we wanted to grab him quickly and get him working on this before anything else,” I explained, cringing slightly.

She glared, blowing breath out of her nose like Titan in minotaur form.

“Fine.” She finally uncrossed her arms, returning to her bubbly smile. “Now, what do you want?”

I chuckled, shaking my head at her. “I have two princes who need rooms to stay in.”

Her eyes widened, and she threw her arms up in the air. “Nox, Calix, anything else?”

“Well…” I drew out, raising a brow.

“Oh, no you don’t.” She stomped, and I struggled to hide my smile.

“I think you’ll enjoy this, actually,” I promised, and her mouth pursed, her lips shifting side to side in thought.

“Go on then.” She waved impatiently, tapping her foot.

“We’ll need to introduce everyone to Asteria,” I said, and her eyes began to light up. “I’d like you to plan a formal court address, where I’ll bring her out and make clear my intention to make her queen one day.”

“Ahh!!” she squealed, her blue eyes and smile equally wide. She threw her arms around my neck, and I laughed, hugging her back.

“I’m so happy for you two. This will be amazing!” She enthused before she pulled back. “I’ll need to work with Baach. We’ll definitely need a proper ball for this. Oh, and Delia! We’ll need to organize a new dress and crown. And?—”

“Ilta!” I interrupted, and she blinked in surprise, like she’d already forgotten I was there. “Maybe find Prince Altan and Prince Zakat somewhere to sleep first?” I suggested gently.

Her eyes went wide, and I realized she’d forgotten in her excitement. “Right, yes! I’ll get right on that.”

She ran off, and I chuckled, shaking my head. Eryx was leaning against the wall, his amused smirk fading as he pushed off it.

“Ready?” he asked, and I nodded in confirmation. The two of us made our way out of the palace, and I spotted Asteria and Titan training as we passed through the training grounds. Making our way out of the gates, we made for the Starshine District, where Nithe would be entering the city. We walked up the stairs to the bridge that led from Shadowgleam to Starshine.

Nithe was an excellent spy. While bird shifters tended to be best, due to their ability to fly in and out, Nithe proved it wasn’t the only option. He shifted into a snake, and was easily able to slither into spots no one else could. He was just as good in Fae form, too. Able to charm and seduce information out of people or himself into places he wanted to be.

“You know Asteria will go after Cyrus when the time comes,” Eryx said, looking over to me. One look at his face made it clear this was something he’d been ruminating on for a while.

“I know.” I nodded in agreement. That was something I wouldn’t ever deny her. She needed that closure after everything that had happened. I could still feel her conflict and rage every time Cyrus was mentioned. Thankfully, she’d gotten much better at controlling her magic thanks to the exercises she’d been practicing.

“We need to make sure we’re with her at all times on the battlefield, Calix,” Eryx said seriously, voice lowered, his eyes following the bridge and not looking toward me.

I raised a brow at him. “You honestly think I won’t be right behind her every step of the way?”

“I think battles get chaotic, and it’ll be hard not to get sidetracked by the fighting,” Eryx explained. “But she’s impulsive, just like you.” He smirked slightly. “That dragon blood gets you both in a state, and I know what you’re like when that happens.”

He wasn’t wrong. When I went into a rage, it was hard to think straight. My anger drove me on as my blood smoked in my veins. I would fight on after being stabbed without even realizing it.

“But Asteria is so much younger, Calix. She doesn’t have the same experience as us, as you . She’ll need help, whether she wants to admit it or not.” Eryx stopped walking, turning to face me. “We need to make sure we have a plan for keeping with her. And we can’t let her know.”

“You expect me to keep it from her?” I asked, shocked. “I won’t lie to her, Eryx.”

“Not lie,” he insisted, shaking his head. “Just don’t mention it. You don’t want to risk her life just because she’s too proud to admit she’ll need help, do you?”

I sighed, looking out above my city, thinking it over. I didn’t like keeping this from her. Not at all. But I knew she would argue about it. Eryx was right about that. And I appreciated that he cared for her enough to want to protect her regardless.

When it came down to it, I refused to risk her life. There was nothing in Adamah that could make me risk that .

“Alright.” I nodded in agreement. “But if she finds out, I’m blaming you.”

He scoffed out a laugh, shaking his head fondly as he put an arm around my shoulders, despite the fact he had to strain to reach. “I don’t doubt it.”

We continued on, agreement in place, and made our way down the stairs into Starshine. I smiled as I passed my people, nodding back and exchanging greetings quickly with those who offered them. The playgrounds were full of children, and I stopped walking for a moment to observe them.

It was a reminder of why we needed to do this. These innocent children were all at risk as long as the balance was. I would not allow them to grow up in a world destroyed. Leached of everything that made it special.

I watched a little dark-haired boy playing with a little girl with long, messy white hair. Watching them, I couldn’t help but imagine little children of my own one day. Asteria was still young, and we were just beginning our relationship, solidifying our bond… but one day. One day, we could have this.

The thoughts of the palace being filled once more with a family…

I loved my friends and my sisters. They were all family now, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. But I still desperately missed that feeling I had when my parents were alive. When it was me and Ndrita and our parents. We were a family, and one that loved one another truly. My parents were never like other royals who resented one another. Their love was so pure and real, that when my mother died, it destroyed my father entirely.

That was the power of a mate bond. Soulmates were powerful in a way nothing else in this world was.

I didn’t understand how Aurelia managed to turn against her own in such a way. It could only be the power of a parent’s love. It was a love I didn’t understand, but looking out at those children now, at the future of our kingdom and continent, playing happily as they chased one another, I couldn’t help but smile, hoping that one day I would.

A hand landed on my shoulder, and I snapped out of my head. I understood Asteria’s struggle all too well. Dragons tended to get lost in their own thoughts as they swirled and spiraled, anxiety and hope creeping in just the same as our thoughts spun.

“Let’s go,” I told Eryx, and we walked on until we spotted Nithe riding towards us. He slowed his horse as he spotted us, dismounting.

“Couldn’t wait for me to reach the palace?” he greeted, raising a brow at me. His dark hair was mussed from the ride, and his pink eyes seemed duller than usual.

“Your message sounded urgent,” Eryx said, worry lining his face. “And Calix wanted to talk to you anyway. There’s no time to waste right now.”

Nithe nodded tiredly, and I looked him over more closely. His clothes were rumpled, in a way I’d never seen from him before. He was always careful with his appearance, wanting to look his best. The man was vain at the best of times. But now streaks of dirt even covered his face.

“What the Tartarus happened to you?” I asked, my brows creasing.

He sighed, shaking his head. “It’s a disaster in Dusk, Calix. I assume that’s what’s so urgent?”

“Yes. We don’t have much time before we need to leave for the Otherworld, and we need to have a plan in place for Dusk. I can only imagine we’ll have to move quickly when we get back. Unless Cyrus moves first,” I explained grimly.

I didn’t like any of this. I wanted to get ahead of Cyrus and any moves he made, but the lack of information, paired with what the gods required, left us in a bit of a bind.

“The Otherworld ?” Nithe exclaimed, eyes practically popping out of his head.

“Never mind that. I’ll explain later. Tell us what’s going on in Dusk,” I told him, frustrated.

“It’s a horror show, Calix,” Nithe admitted heavily. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Cyrus has these horrible camps set up. Humans are tortured and drained of blood. They’re using it to make not only blood magic for Cyrus, but there are secret workshops working on weapons.”

Fuck. I’d hoped he hadn’t been able to get that far yet, but he’d apparently been busy setting everything up even before his father died. I was sure he must have killed Astraeus to get him out of the way. He wanted power, and he needed the crown for that. Men always thought a crown gave them license to be as much of a bastard as they pleased.

I looked forward to proving him wrong.

But first…

“We need to get the humans out of there,” I told him urgently. “We can’t let them suffer further, but it’s just as important to prevent Cyrus from amassing more stock of blood. The more he gets, the more iron we have to worry about.”

Nithe and Eryx both nodded in agreement. Fury was a spark in my blood I had to push down. It wasn’t the time. Not yet.

“The humans themselves have started rebelling,” Nithe said, and it brought some hope to my heart. It had been so difficult for the humans to rise above what they were forced into. Asteria would be happy to hear they were finally straining against their chains.

“But it’s small and unorganized. They need help,” Nithe continued, and looking him over, I could see his desire to do something more.

“What about Kian?” Eryx asked, “Has he been able to get out from under Cyrus’s watch?”

“Barely,” Nithe sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Cyrus has such a tight guard around all of them, watching and waiting for them to slip up. I had to sneak into Kian’s room and visit him that way.”

His worried tone spoke of how much danger they all must be in.

“He did mention…” He trailed off, and I raised a brow, urging him to continue. “Vikal. His brother. He’s quite fond of his human. He apparently got in a bit of an argument with Cyrus about it. Kian wants to get them both out.”

“How does Vikal feel about that?” I asked, weighing my options. “Would he join us? Or take his own human and leave the rest to wither?”

“I’m not sure, honestly. I can find out when I return,” Nithe offered, but I shook my head.

“Things will be moving too quickly for that. Just make your best-educated guess and go with your gut. I trust your instincts.” I smirked slightly at him, lightening the mood for a moment as I winked. “They are house Erebus’s instincts, after all.”

“I will.” He laughed hoarsely. “I appreciate the trust, my King.” His words were almost uncomfortably honest, in a way we rarely were with each other. I put a hand on his shoulder, realizing how deeply his time in Dusk had shaken him.

“You’re my blood, Nithe. You know what that means.” I said, squeezing his shoulder. He swallowed hard, nodding, and I brought our foreheads together for a moment, gripping the back of his head. “I trust you, cousin. I can see you want to help, not just spy. Which is why I have a new mission for you.”

I pulled back to see his eyes widen in surprise. Eryx glared at me, and I laughed, turning my head to him. “Relax, I’m not stealing one of your spies.”

As he relaxed his glare, looking more curious than angry, I turned back to Nithe. “You said the humans need help?”

He nodded hesitantly, and I smiled, tilting my head back toward the palace.

“Then come. It’s time to talk to your future queen. She’ll kill me if I don’t let her help plan your mission.” I laughed fondly, and Nithe raised his brows.

“Future queen, huh? Has the star queen finally arrived?” he joked, but his smile faded as I nodded, a hug smile growing on my face.

“You’ve met her,” I told him as we walked back toward the Fallen Star Palace, where my own star awaited.

“Wait—” He shook his head, “The girl? From the party?”

“Yes.” I glared and pointed a finger at him. “And don’t you dare bring up seeing her like that again. She’s my mate,” I growled.

“What?! But—” I laughed as he tried to put it together.

It was always fun fucking with him, after all.