Page 29 of Realms of Shadow and Sun (A World of Sun and Shadow #3)

Renya worried for the borrowed horse she rode on. Not only were the Snow Lands much too cold for the poor creature, bred for the Spring Lands, but every time Beauty swooped down to check on Renya, the poor thing reared up and almost threw her. Grayden begged her to ride with him, but she refused, knowing they had an audience.

She looked over at Phillippe, who had been unusually quiet since they left the Spring Lands. Renya had a feeling that it had to do with leaving a certain Tidal Princess behind. She caught Grayden's eye, and he slowed to ride next to her

"Has Phillippe said anything to you?"

"About what?"

Grayden asked, looking confused as he tightened his hand on the reins of his horse.

Honestly, men could be so dense, Renya thought.

"You didn't notice? He's been quiet the entire way home."

Grayden glanced at Phillippe, then back at Renya. "I guess he has..."

"He has a thing for Esmeralda."

"Really? That surprises me."

"Why would it surprise you?"

"Well, he's never been one to spend time with just a single woman, if you know what I mean."

Renya frowned, trying to decide what to do with that information.

"Do you think he could be serious about her? I don't want my friend to get hurt."

"Honestly, I don't know. I'd hoped he would have settled down by now, especially since he's older than I am and not bound by duty like I was before. But he never showed much interest."

"Well, maybe this is a good thing for him,"

Renya said. "It would be a great match."

"I would like to see him happy,"

Grayden admitted.

"Esmeralda said they would join us at the lodge soon. Her brother wanted to spend a few more days practicing with their soldiers in archery."

"That reminds me, Little Fawn,"

Grayden said, stopping his horse in the snow. "Now that you're back...do you still want to get married?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"I actually meant, would you like to get married before we go to battle? I can't stand the fact that you don't belong to me on paper."

Renya snorted. "I think what we have means much more than a piece of paper does."

"I also want to be married in the eyes of the Gods,"

he continued, looking at Renya hopefully. "And I was thinking, since Esmeralda will be here in a few days, perhaps we could do it then?"

Renya's heart sank. A look of panic crossed Grayden's face, and she quickly sought to explain. "It's just that...I don't want to get married without Aunt Agatha there. Since my father is going to try and find her after we are settled in the lodge, I'd like to wait until he comes back, if you don't mind."

"Of course, Little Fawn. I've waited an eternity for you. What's another week?"

Renya smiled, thankful he understood.

"What are you two conspiring about back there?"

Phillippe called over his shoulder, slowing his horse down when he noticed that the pair fell behind.

"You,"

Grayden retorted, and Phillippe cracked a small grin.

Renya decided to broach the subject. "Soooo...Esmeralda?"

Phillippe's grin widened. "Did she say anything about me?"

"Just that you're an idiot..."

Grayden mumbled.

"You better not hurt her, Phillippe Snowden. She's an amazing friend and a sweet person."

Phillippe's eyes looked wistful. "Trust me, Renya,"

he said, turning to look forward once again. "She's far more likely to hurt me."

It was almost morning by the time they arrived in the village. Grayden insisted that they ride through the night, worried that by this point, Cressida would have been to the Sun Realm and learned that Renya wasn't there. The Snow Lands was the next logical place he would take her. There had been a blizzard while they were in the Spring Lands, and the thick snow at least covered their tracks.

Once they reached the village, Cyrus began looking around excitedly. "I haven't been here since I was a young man,"

he said. "Hardly anything has changed."

Renya was thrilled to see the village was indeed the same as she left it. After the destruction that occurred in the Twilight Kingdom, she was fearful for the little town of Wesalie, but it was the same as the last time she saw it, the night of the Sky Lights Festival. Was it really that long ago? So much had changed since she and Grayden watched the twinkling lights dance across the dark sky.

"Do you think Selenia and Sion have arrived already?"

she asked Grayden, eager to see both of them. She missed Selenia terribly, and she was still so worried about the young girl, especially after Jurel's death.

"I'm hopeful that they are. As long as they didn't encounter any significant delays, they should have arrived a couple of days ago."

They approached the courtyard, and everything was as Renya remembered. The air still smelled of pine, a smell that permeated from Grayden at all times no matter how far away from his lands he was.

Grayden entered first, Renya behind him and Cyrus and Phillippe taking up the rear. From her view, she could see Tumwalt racing towards Grayden. Renya figured he had much to talk to Grayden about, but she was still hesitant on how to act around him after he accused her of bewitching Grayden. A woman was walking directly behind him, shouting at him, but Renya couldn't make out the words she was saying, but that didn't matter.

It was her aunt.

"Renya!"

Aunt Agatha cried, running past Tumwalt and Grayden to the horse carrying Renya.

Renya's heart nearly burst at seeing her aunt. Although she still hadn't completely forgiven her for concealing Renya's identity for so long, she was still the first family Renya ever knew. Plus, she now understood that Aunt Agatha gave up her entire life in this world to keep Renya safe.

Renya half-fell off of her mount, eager to hold her aunt in her arms, as if to reassure herself that this was all real. The second her feet hit the cobblestones, she was pressed into a giant hug, tears streaming down her face as her aunt cooed in her ear.

"Sunshine! Oh, my dear! I never thought I'd see you again!"

Renya sobbed, unable to contain her relief. She could feel Grayden's relief too, down through their bond.

Oh god. She would have to tell her aunt she was engaged. And fated to Grayden. She gulped and tried to hide her ring, wanting to wait until the time was right to tell her aunt.

Aunt Agatha let her go and held her at arm's length while Grayden dismounted and handed over their horses to a waiting groom. Phillippe and Cyrus did the same.

"Sunshine, I can feel your power radiating from you! I'm sorry we locked your magic, it was the only way to keep you safe—"

"It's okay. Really, I understand why you and my father did what you did."

Renya watched Agatha swallow hard and then look at Cyrus.

"You told her?"

Cyrus chuckled. "It's good to see you again too, Agatha."

Agatha ignored his greeting. "She knows you're her father...and her mother—"

"Is Cressida,"

Renya finished. "Yes, unfortunately I know."

Renya could see Tumwalt greet Grayden while she was talking to her aunt.

"Sunshine, I—"

Before Agatha could finish, a thunderous roar ripped through the courtyard and Beauty landed right behind the horses, who reared up and ran out of the courtyard, the young grooms following behind, their cries echoing off of the stone walls of the courtyard.

Aunt Agatha looked surprised, but not stunned. Tumwalt, on the other hand, fainted.

Renya looked around sheepishly. "Oh yeah, I have a dragon now."

Agatha raised her eyebrows as Beauty pranced over to Renya's side, nudging her arm for a pat.

"Well, I think you have quite a bit to fill me in on, Sunshine."

Renya sat opposite Aunt Agatha in the library, with a fire roaring in front of them and crimling tea steaming in mugs on a small side table.

"So I was stuck in that blasted rocky land for weeks! I forgot how awful the coastal worlds are, nothing but water and rocks. I finally found a broken portal, and it took forever to fix it."

"I'm just so glad you're here!"

Renya looked down at her skirt, smoothing it absentmindedly.

"Out with it, Renya."

"What?"

Renya asked, sipping the contents of her mug carefully.

"You have something to tell me, and you don't want to. You've been in my care since you were a babe, you don't think I know when you're uncomfortable?"

Renya set her drink down and steadied her breath, staring at the fire. "So, Grayden and I—"

"Are fated."

Renya jerked her head up from looking at the fire. "You know?"

"Of course I know. You're mated and engaged."

"Who told you?"

Agatha laughed, her shoulders shaking slightly. She looked at Renya and then picked at the hem of her shirt. She wore a man's tunic and leggings, clearly loaned from someone in the Snow Lands.

"I'm not blind, Sunshine. You're wearing his ring and your mating mark shines clearer than the moon in the Twilight Kingdom."

Renya looked down at her wrist, where the corner of the snowflake peaked out from her sleeve.

"You never seemed very interested in tattoos, and that ring has Snowden written all over it. It wasn't exactly a secret."

"Are you disappointed?"

Renya's stomach churned as she waited for her aunt to answer.

"Fates, no child. Of course not. You think I would be upset over something fate decided? No, Sunshine. I raised you to be a strong woman, to not depend on any man. Are you that woman? At any time in the Sun Realm did you need Grayden to come and rescue you? Or did you manage on your own?"

"He did rescue me,"

she said hesitantly.

"Did he now? Sion said you stayed voluntarily after he and Cyrus left."

"When did you hear that?"

"I was speaking with Tumwalt."

There. It was no longer than a split second, but the tips of her aunt's ears turned red like she was embarrassed. Was it Tumwalt? Did her aunt have a thing for Grayden's advisor? Renya chose to ignore what she saw, and moved on.

"Yes, I stayed. I needed Grayden there though. I was miserable without him."

"Of course you were, Sunshine. He's your mate. Your other half. You needed him to comfort you. But that's no different than me missing you when you were gone. In my eyes, you set out to do the impossible and succeeded. Your mother must trust you if you've won the heart of one of her prized dragons. Obsessed with them as a child, she was."

"What was she like?"

Renya winced and rubbed the bridge of her nose after she asked the question. Did she really want to know what her mother was like? Would it humanize her? Make it harder for Renya to do what she must?

Agatha pondered the question. "She was younger than me, of course. Independent. It seems to be a Shadow Realm trait that we all share."

She looked at Renya with a knowing grin. "But thoughtful too. She was interested in the history of our people, wanting to know where we came from and why. I thought she might end up being close to the Gods, like Almory is. Some people seem to have a connection to them, almost spiritual. She seemed like she might have possessed that. Once our parents died, I had taken over the leadership of the Shadow Realm, and I thought she might train under a seer or healer. But then she met your father."

Renya closed her eyes tightly. She didn't want to hear anymore. Everything Aunt Agatha was saying resonated deep in her bones, and she kept trying to reconcile the version of Cressida that she knew with the one that Aunt Agatha grew up with.

The fire popped and hissed, and Renya watched as the flames licked the wood. Agatha sighed.

"It's not easy for me, Renya. I should have ended her in the Sunset Land. I had her, powerless and friendless, right within my grasp. But instead I fled, leaving her to lick her wounds. I couldn't do it then. I'm not sure if I would ever be able to do it."

Renya reached out and squeezed her aunt's hand. "It has to be me, anyways."

Agatha didn't respond, just continued to gaze into the fire.

"So, tell me about the wedding. How did he propose? Am I invited?"

Renya laughed, and then proceeded to relay the story to her aunt.

Renya crossed her arms and pouted. "She'll just destroy your home to get to me."

"Our home, Little Fawn,"

Grayden gently reminded her. "And yes, we will find a permanent solution. But right now I think she needs to be locked up."

"What about the balcony outside of your room?"

"Our room, Renya,"

he said, and then sighed. "I guess that's as good a space as any. But she can't come into the bedroom. She's already larger than a horse and the lodge is old."

Renya grinned. "Deal."

She opened the wardrobe and pulled out the first dress she could find, eager to get downstairs and join everyone for dinner. The gown she haphazardly threw on was midnight blue, reminiscent of the starry night sky, and was made of luxurious silk, draping gracefully to the floor. Adorning the gown were delicate snowflakes, intricately embroidered with shimmering silver thread, scattered across the bodice and trailing down the skirt. Every step she took in the gown resulted in a rustling noise, almost as if the gown itself was whispering a tale of winter magic.

Grayden stopped, his tunic only halfway on, and drank Renya in. "That gown is gorgeous on you, my Little Fawn."

Renya beamed, running her fingers along the material of the gown. "Doria must have made it for me after we left. I don't recognize it."

He finished pulling on his shirt and walked over to her, placing a kiss along her temple. "Remind me to thank her for taking such good care of my mate."

"I missed her so much, and she was certainly happy to see us again,"

Renya replied. The second they had appeared on the landing outside of their room a few hours earlier, Doria was there, shaking with excitement. She had fussed over the state of Grayden's hair, demanding that he allow her to cut it before he left their chambers again, and then she had worried about Renya's weight, proceeding to force feed her a tray of sweet pastries.

Grayden held out his arm to Renya, and they left the room.

"You've finally cut that mop on your head,"

came a teasing voice from down the hall. Selenia ran towards them, embracing Renya then giving her brother a playful slug. "Renya, you look beautiful. I'm so happy you're safe and back where you belong."

"Me too. You look amazing, as always, Selenia."

Her gown was a tad short for her, hinting that she'd grown taller since she last wore it, but it was beautiful nonetheless. The buttercup yellow dress displayed delicate dragonflies dancing across the fabric, their wings shimmering in iridescent hues. The dragonflies, meticulously embroidered with golden thread, were so realistic that Renya thought they might take flight at any moment.

Sion came out of the room on Selenia's left, looking slightly startled at seeing them all huddled outside in the hall.

Renya noticed Selenia shift uncomfortably when Sion joined them. She frowned, surprised by Selenia's reaction to Sion. Renya watched Grayden, to see if he noticed it, but like usual, he didn't pick up on the things that Renya seemed to. She'd have to ask Selenia about it later.

They all walked towards the stairs, and Phillippe joined them from the far side of the hall.

"You weren't even going to wait for me?"

he teased.

"I assumed you were already stuffing your face,"

Grayden said playfully.

Renya watched Selenia again. Not even a hint of amusement sparkled in her eyes. Something was definitely up with her. It was a joke that she should have made, not Grayden.

They continued to the dining room, and when Renya walked in, she saw her aunt was already there, sitting next to Tumwalt. Renya watched the pair hard, trying to discern if there was something going on there, but didn't see any tell-tale signs.

She moved towards the far end of the table and sat beside her aunt, with Grayden sitting down right next to her.

"You look radiant, Sunshine."

"Thanks, Auntie. You do too."

Someone provided Agatha with an upgrade in her borrowed clothing, which Renya suspected was the work of Doria. Her aunt donned a simple gray dress with tiny beaded roses all over the skirt. Renya had never seen her aunt in anything but pants and a shirt. Her hair was also braided and wrapped elegantly around her head.

Almory was also there, sitting next to Tumwalt. Cyrus was on Almory's left, and they chatted animatedly and Renya wondered if they previously knew each other. They had never all dined together before, so Renya assumed this must be a special occasion so they could all discuss the upcoming plans and tactics for their stand against Cressida.

Phillippe and Selenia sat across from Renya, and she thought she detected a slight uptick in Selenia's expression as Sion glided into the seat beside her, taking up the last available chair.

Grayden stood up and clicked his knife against his glass of wine. A hush fell over the chit chatter as all eyes turned to him and Renya.

"Now that we're all together, I think it's important to fill everyone in on what has happened over the past six weeks."

Nods came from all across the table. Renya even had trouble remembering who knew what.

"Renya now possesses her full powers, and has trained underneath Cressida. Cressida believes that Renya is on her side, and loyal to her. She is under the illusion that she is being held against her will. Cyrus, Renya's father, who is also the King of the Sun Realm, worked with Almory this afternoon to place a protection spell over the lodge and the town. As long as we reside here, it's cloaked and Cressida cannot find anyone in the village. It's the same spell that has kept the Sun Realm safe for all these years."

Only Tumwalt looked surprised by that knowledge. Grayden continued, "with the help of the Tidal and Twilight Kingdoms, as well as the Spring—"

Beauty's roar came from outside, shaking the ornate snowflake chandelier in the ceiling.

Renya's eyes widened. "Something's wrong,"

she said, rising from her chair and quickly running out of the dining hall towards the garden. Her dress trailed behind, and Grayden and the others were on her heels.

She threw open the solid oak doors and saw Beauty, just behind the boundaries of the lodge, pinning something to the ground. Or, rather, someone. A cry of pain echoed through the area, and Renya raced to see who Beauty had trapped under her talons.

Brandle, face white as snow, was screaming, his arms and shoulders pinched down by the juvenile dragon. Beauty's teeth were bared, and Renya could see her hot saliva dripping onto Brandle's cheek.

"Help me!"

Brandle screeched, wispy magic floating from his fingertips, but nothing substantial coming forth.

Renya moved forward, unsure of what to do. Before she could decide, Cyrus stepped forward and bound Brandle with his golden strands, holding him in place.

"Renya, call off Beauty. He's no good to us if she rips him to shreds.

"Beauty, come here."

The dragon picked up her head, and looked at Renya, and then back at Brandle. A low, guttural growl came from the back of her throat as she continued to stare down Brandle.

"Beauty!"

Reluctantly, Beauty moved aside and sauntered over to Renya, where she sat on her hind legs and looked at Renya expectedly. She sighed, then gave her a pat on her head. "Good girl, Beauty."

The dragon purred and swished her large tail before glaring back at Brandle.

"How did he get in here?"

Phillippe asked, staring at Brandle and then at Beauty.

Before anyone could answer, Renya saw a blur move past her at full speed.

Grayden was on the snow-covered ground, a knife raised to Brandle's throat.

"I warned you, if you touched one hair on my mate's head, I would slit your throat. And now I'm going to fulfill that promise."

He raised his hand, but Renya quickly reached out with her magic and froze him in place.

Beauty let out a large bleat, as if she was disappointed that the carnage had been stopped.

"Grayden, you can't kill him. Not yet. He could be useful to us."

Renya looked at Brandle, his clothes torn and tattered and multiple scratches adorning his arms, no doubt from Beauty's razor-sharp talons.

Renya released Grayden, and the second he was free, he growled and moved to attack Brandle once more.

"Grayden!"

He got up angrily and threw the knife into a nearby tree, planting it several inches into the bark. Without looking at Renya, he stormed off back inside the lodge.

"That was intense,"

Selenia said, approaching Renya cautiously. "And you have a dragon now? When was that fact going to come out?"

"Sorry, everyone. I know she's a handful—"

At this, Beauty snorted and laid down near Renya's feet.

"—but I don't know what else to do with her."

"She's a great asset to us, Renya,"

Phillippe said. "But how did Brandle end up here?"

Cyrus cleared his throat. "I'm guessing she found him outside of the perimeter of the spell boundary line. Since she was within the boundary when I cast the spell, she's able to bring people in. From the looks of him, she must have dragged him around a bit.

Beauty purred again, looking pleased with herself. Brandle continued to squirm in his bonds, his eyes darting around.

"What should we do with him?"

Sion asked, looking at Brandle with intense hatred.

Tumwalt spoke up. "We have chains in Almory's workshop that prevent magic from being used. We can lock him up and interrogate him."

"Make sure they work,"

Sion said. "He's an oily asshole."

He spit on Brandle's body as Cyrus hoisted Brandle up with his magic.

"Let's take him to the weapons room,"

Almory said, and Tumwalt and Phillippe left, with Cyrus maneuvering Brandle across the snowy garden.

Selenia looked frightened, and Renya watched a conflicted look cross Sion's face, almost as though he wanted to comfort her.

Yes, there was definitely something going on there.

"So, a dragon?"

Selenia asked, watching Beauty snore at Renya's feet. "Is she a baby?"

"I think she's definitely more in the adolescent phase. She behaves like an irate teenager lately."

"I guess I've missed a lot."

Selenia looked a bit hurt.

"Don't worry, Selenia. I'll fill you in on everything after I calm your brother down. I think you have some things to share with me too,"

Renya said, pitching the last part of her sentence lower so only Selenia could hear.

Selenia shrunk down a bit, flustered, then nodded.

"Sion, could you put Beauty back in the stables? Tell the groomsman that they need to restrain her with iron only. She breaks through everything else."

Sion sheepishly approached the slumbering dragon.

"Beauty."

Renya nudged her with her toe. The dragon opened a lazy eye and glanced at Renya. "This is Sion. He's a friend. Go with him."

Like a reluctant teenager, Beauty ambled along behind Sion, swishing her tail irritatedly and looking over her shoulder at Renya with what Renya thought was a scowl on her face.

Renya gave Selenia an apologetic smile and went back inside the lodge, heading straight for the staircase. She was sure Grayden would be sulking in their room.

Sure enough, she opened the door to their chambers and there he was, sitting on a chair by the fireplace with his head in his hands. She tried to enter quietly, but her dress rustled as she approached the back of the chair. He tensed, but she threw her arms around him from behind and rested her head against his neck, placing a light kiss there.

He put his hands on top of hers, which were hugging his chest. She could feel his rapid breathing under her palms, feel his chest rise and fall quickly.

"Honey, you can't tear apart every single person who's wronged me."

A deep, soul crushing sigh escaped his lips.

"I can't think straight when it comes to you, Renya. I used to give Phillippe such a hard time about his impulsivity and inability to control his emotions. Now I'm ten times worse than he ever was."

"Grayden, you can't blame yourself. This bond is a part of us, and I think we are meant to feel this way for each other. There is so much good that comes with being fated, but there are things that we will struggle with too. But we'll do it together."

He closed his eyes before looking back at her.

"You're right, of course. I just—I couldn't even look at him, knowing he took you from me here in the forest and then all the grief I'm sure he caused you at the Shadow Realm."

"He mostly left me alone after Cressida started to favor me."

"I need to kill him."

Renya suppressed the slight smile that threatened to appear on her face. Men. They were all the same sometimes. "I promise, when the time comes, you can make him pay. But not now. We can use him for information, perhaps use him as a bargaining chip. We don't even know why he's here. I'm sure he's following orders from Cressida to get me back—and we need to know what those are."

"I know, all that makes sense. But it's like I'm possessed. I can't handle him being alive when he dared to touch what's mine."

He practically growled the word mine, and Renya couldn't believe how primitive, yet sensual it was.

"I am yours,"

she responded, turning his head and planting a searing kiss on his lips. He moaned, tugging at her until she was perched on his lap, her legs over the arm of the chair, her head cradled in his arms.

"My Renya,"

he growled, licking the seam of her lips until she allowed his tongue access. "My everything."

She felt dizzy, swept up into his passionate embrace. He unlaced the back of her dress and then slid his fingers across the front of her chest, groping and exploring as she gasped. His other hand pushed aside her skirts, and she shivered as he reached her core.

"This is mine too. Only mine."

She instantly was lost, swimming in the deep pools of her desire. This was the last thing she thought would happen when she came up here to console him, but sometimes their bodies spoke more deeply than their words could.

Grayden rose from the chair, easily cradling her body against his as he took her to their bed. He set her on her feet, helping her out of the elaborate gown before shucking his own tunic and pants quickly. He groaned when he saw her, and Renya knew it was partly due to the seductive underclothing that she put on. He fiddled with the strap of her bralette, rubbing the soft lace between his fingers.

"You will be my undoing, sweetling."

He rested his forehead against hers and exhaled, his breath shaky. Renya felt her core tighten with pleasure, pleased to garner such a sexual response in him.

His fingers found the lace of her bottoms, and he slowly traced a line around her thigh, while caressing her face with his other hand.

"You don't know what you do to me, Renya."

He backed her carefully towards the bed until her knees bent, and then leaned over to cover her mouth with his.

She whimpered as he kissed her, needing more but unable to vocalize it as all of her senses became overwhelmed.

"I mean it, Little Fawn. From the moment I carried your unconscious body to my tent, that was it for me. Everything I ever want is right here in this bed with me. Now lie back, my sweet girl, and let me love you like you deserve."

At that moment, he placed his hand within the hollow of her back and moved her up the bed, making sure she was comfortable, and then covered her body with his. She invited his touch, and he gave a wicked grin as he felt how ready she was for him.

"You were made for me to love, Renya."

She pulled his face to hers, and kissed him deeply as he moved between her legs. The second he entered her, she was connected to him so deeply that she felt robbed during the hours of the day where they couldn't be together like this.

Grayden shuddered as he reached her end, but moved slowly, and Renya could tell he was determined to make this time slow and sensual. Their long parting took a toll on his restraint, and she knew he struggled to take things slowly. She didn't mind the quick pace he usually set, but for tonight, his languid love making was exactly what she needed. She was back where their story started, back here in the lodge where they fell in love.