Page 27

T he carriage hits a bump, jolting me awake. I open my eyes to find I am lying in Prince Lukene’s lap. One of his arms is draped over my back and side while the other cradles my head like something precious. How do I end up in his lap? Why am I lying on him? Why is he allowing it?

I turn to face his body instead of the other bench. This is a bad idea. I should sit up and move to the other bench; however, he is warm, comfortable, and his scent is soothing. Looking up, I notice his head rests against the carriage wall as he sleeps. He is disgustingly handsome. I want to touch his face, but I won’t. I want to lick up the strong column of his throat, but I also won’t.

I have never thought I could desire a man the way I desire him—not after what I experienced with my late husband and at the Hollows. But I do. I want him. Badly. I want to kiss him again and feel his hands on me. But he’s dangerous; I don’t trust him or his motives. His possessiveness terrifies me, yet it awakens something deep within—a craving for his protection, even as I yearn for my freedom and vengeance.

What happens when I kill Vanna? I won’t give up my revenge regardless of the consequences. Besides, he would never want a Drifter from the Hollows. I can offer nothing but my body and my heart; that’s all I have. I’m sure he would take the former and smash the latter. But maybe not. Maybe another kiss in the future wouldn’t hurt, would it?

Realizing how horrible of an idea that would be, I sit upright and move to the other bench. I just watch him sleep. The Dark Prince looks so innocent, so at peace. He is the embodiment of dangerous and powerful—a man cloaked in shadows and secrets. Those transient glimpses are what I hold onto, the hope that there is more to him than the darkness he wears so well. Suddenly, he opens his eyes, catching me in my heated gaze. He smiles widely.

“Like what you see, Prisoner?” he murmurs, his voice playful yet husky.

“Meh, not my type.” I shrug, mimicking the words he said to me once before. To that, he lets loose a joyous laugh, and I couldn’t help but chuckle along. Lukene’s eyes fill with devilish delight, and I wish we could stay in this moment just for a little while longer; however, the carriage stops, and Lukene opens the door, ready to take me to the final trial.

* * *

The chilly night air whips my hair around. Lukene and the other riders whistle as the wyverns approach in the distance. My stomach churns with anticipation. Lukene steps up behind me and gently grabs my hair. I turn to look at him, but he redirects my head.

“What are you doing, Prince?”

“It’s windy on the wyvern. I’m putting your hair up.” And he does. He puts my hair up into a ponytail and twists the ends into a bun on the top of my head, securing it with a piece of leather.

“How do you know how to do hair? Do you often do women’s hair—or just those you kiss?” I can’t help the sting of jealousy I feel for no reason at all. He isn’t mine and will never be mine. He would never want anything more than a few tumbles in the sheets—a quick lay to get his fix. I have no reason to feel this way, yet I can’t shake it. “The dark Prince and a stylist… who knew.” I say, trying to play it off and tone down my true feelings.

“Jealous, are we?” He chuckles. “I used to put my mother’s hair up in a bun for her when she got too sick to. Then, I learned to braid hair for Lilyana.”

Suddenly, a massive black wyvern lands before us. I think my heart is in my throat. Breathing becomes a challenge as I step back, my mouth gaping open. Lukene plants a hand to my lower back.

“It’s okay. Wrath won’t hurt you. Well, unless I tell her to. So you are safe… for now, Reckless.” He winks, taking a few steps past me then turns to me. “Come on, Reign. You are going to be fine.” I see Elm standing with a guard, looking just as shaken up as me. I braid my fingers and kiss them. He returns the gesture before hopping onto the wyvern with James.

Lukene climbs onto the wyvern and extends a hand. Shadows cascade down before me like steps, making it easier to get on. With shaky legs, I ascend the shadowy stairway and seat myself in front of Lukene. I lean forward to avoid touching him. The last thing I need is to brush against him and let my thoughts wander again.

Lukene wraps his arms around me, guiding my hands to the spikes on the wyvern’s back. “Hold here.” His massive arms fit around me like a glove on a hand, fitting together—a perfect match.

“Lukene, I don’t think I can do this… I?—”

Taking both of his hands, he trails them up and down my arms. “Call me Luke, and I promise nothing bad is going to happen. You won’t fall off, and if you do, I’ll use my shadows to catch you. You should know by now I won’t let anything happen to you.”

With that, he whistles. The gigantic beast flaps her wings, and then we are airborne, heading up, up, up. My stomach floats into my throat as my heart smashes against my ribs. The wind is fierce and stings my eyes, so I shut them. I’m going to die. Humans were not made to fly; that’s why we don’t have wings. I feel myself sliding back into Luke as we ascend. He holds me firmly, while his hand rubs lazy circles on my stomach.

“Open your eyes, Reign,” Luke whispers close to my ear. His warm breath caresses me, sending a tingling sensation down my spine and heat floods my core. When I open my eyes, we fly straight ahead. The night sky is blanketed by darkness. The moon illuminates the clouds, shining across the ocean, making it glitter. It’s such a beautiful view, such serenity being high above in the abyss of darkness.

Lukene slides his hand down to my upper thigh, beginning to rub and kneed the muscles there. He works his strong hands from above my knee to my upper thighs. Every pass, he gets closer and closer to my core. I begin to ache between my legs, completely forgetting that I’m high above the ground on a wyvern.

Feeling his hardness press into me, the proximity of his hands to my aching center makes me feel like I’m going to come undone. He rubs his hands down my thighs again, and tantalizingly slow, he brings them up closer, and closer, and closer to my center. He goes higher this time; his thumb nearly grazes that spot that aches so badly. I can’t help the soft moan that escapes my lips as I wiggle back into him. He lets out a deep, husky groan. I lean into his chest, laying my head back on him. He immediately stiffens, stopping all movements.

“Reign,” he whispers, his words breathy. “Try to rest. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.” He pushes back a little. Unsure of what I did wrong and feeling slightly embarrassed, I sit up straight. “You can lean forward and lay on her.”

Feeling the color of embarrassment stain my cheeks, I am thankful it’s hidden by the night. Not sure what to do or say, I lean forward and rest my torso on Wrath. Lukene begins to rub long strokes up and down my spine, and before I can realize what’s happening, I fall asleep, lulled by the sound of the wind, the flapping wings, and the warmth of Luke’s hands.

I wake to the morning sun starting to ascend, casting colors of reds, oranges, and golds across the clouds and oceans. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, watching the colors stretch across the sky. I lean up off Wrath, cracking my stiff neck.

Looking over my shoulder, Lukene appears tired but gives me a lazy smile. His hair is a delightful mess. I want to run my fingers through it, but I don’t. I turn my face back to the sunrise, seeing Wemdrah come into view. I close my eyes, trying to soak in as many of the sun’s rays as I can since it’s so cold.

“So beautiful,” Lukene murmurs, his voice soft and reverent.

I open my eyes to the bright sun still rising, painting the sky in vivid colors and illuminating the clouds. “It truly is, isn’t it? I think it’s the most stunning sunrise I’ve ever seen.”

Lukene chuckles, his playful eyes fixed on mine. “Yeah, I guess the sunrise is beautiful too.”

I turn my face away from him, hiding my heated cheeks, but I can’t suppress the small smile that forms as we get closer to Wemdrah.

* * *

Landing in front of the sandstone castle, Luke helps me down from Wrath. I walk over to Elm, Jake, and Marshalla while Captain James, Luke, and the other guards walk toward a gorgeous woman with ebony skin and orange hair.

“Well, that was a terrifying experience,” Elm chuckles. “But I didn’t mind sitting behind the captain the whole ride.” He raises his eyebrows up and down, and I can’t suppress the giggle that escapes my lips.

“Yeah, well I can tell you I am killing that wyvern. There is no way in the hells I’d ride one by myself,” Jake states.

“Oh, like you are going to actually kill it! It will probably kill all of us first,” Marshalla retorts.

“I was scared at first, but I enjoyed it. There was something so serene about being up there,” I say, a hint of a smile on my face. Remembering the way Luke touched me, I shut my eyes, still feeling his hands on me. The thoughts are interrupted by the memory of how he stiffened when I leaned back against him. What did I do wrong? Did he realize he doesn’t want a Drifter from the Hollows? I rub a hand down my heated face despite the chilly air.

Captain James approaches us while I watch Luke and the orange-headed beauty walk off, disappearing around the side of the castle.

“Alright, follow me to your rooms. Get cleaned up and rest for a few hours, then you will meet Christolyn.” We all follow James into the palace.

The palace is gorgeous in a simple way. There are no ornate golden designs or over-the-top chandeliers—just earthy tones and big open windows. The rugs that adorn the halls are turquoise with swirls of brown and tan. Simple, yet stunning.

James leads us down the hall, putting Jake in a room, then Marshalla, then Elm. I walk to the next door, expecting it to be mine, but the captain keeps walking.

We reach the end of the corridor, turning the corner, and walk the entirety of the next hall before stopping in front of a white door. “Why am I not in the other hall with the other contestants?” I ask Captain James, confused.

“Those were my orders,” he says dryly.

Opening the door, I’m immediately hit with the fresh scent of flowers. The room is grand and beautiful, bathed in shades of sage green, white, and cream. There’s a four-poster bed with a sheer canopy. A huge open window adorned with billowing sheer curtains overlooks the ocean in the distance, offering a refreshing view of the glittering water. The fireplace is large and made of sandstone, taking up the entirety of one wall and promising comforting warmth. As I enter, James follows behind me and shuts the door.

Unsure of what he wants, I raise my eyebrows at him.

“This thing going on with you and the prince isn’t good. It’s a game of gambling hearts, and someone is going to get hurt.”

My mouth drops open. “Why? Because I am not good enough for him?” My voice is loud, my tone offended.

James sits on the edge of the table, rubbing his hand across his forehead. “The thought of you not being good enough never crossed my mind, Reign. I love Luke like a son. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”

“There’s nothing going on between us, James. Trust me.”

“Yet there is.” He stands and walks in front of me. “I may be old, but my eyes still see.” He places both hands gently on my shoulders, looking deep into my eyes as if he can see my vulnerability. “Reign, what happens if you lose? Or if you die? Or what if you win the trials?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“You will hurt him. Whether either of you want to admit your feelings or not, if something happens to you, it will crush him. And if you win, how is that going to work? Do you think the king and Vanna would allow it? Be smart, Reign. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

His words feel like ice water dumped over my head. He’s right. I know I can’t be with him. I don’t even know if he would want that. But the truth is, I’m a Drifter—a peasant. Vanna would never allow it. Why would I even think of the prince like that?

Words elude me. James gently rubs my arms and shoulders. “Even if everything went your way and you win, he’ll be married off for duty to his kingdom, Reign. Save you both from the heartache. Whatever is going on, cut it off now, or you’ll both burn from the embers of a broken heart.” James pulls me in, hugging me tightly. I am thrown off by this gesture, but I hug him back. He reminds me of my father, and this talk feels very much like one my father would have with me if he were still here.

“Alright. Well, I’ll leave you to freshen up and rest if you wish, but Christolyn will be by later to see you.”

When James leaves, I let his words spin wildly in my mind. I clean myself up in the washroom and dress in a fresh outfit that I find in the armoire. Then lie on the bed, contemplating what I’ve gotten myself into. It’s going to be fine . I tell myself. He just wants to sleep with me, that much I know. He doesn’t care about me, which is fine because I don’t care about him. I even planned to kill him until recently. I will be fine.

Sleep doesn’t come for me, considering I have much on my mind. I find a book in the room and decide to read it. It isn’t anything like the books back home. Home . Gods and goddesses, that palace is not my home. I don’t have a home. I am sure I lost it when I went into the Hollows. If I win this trial, I will need to see what I can do about housing.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. I answer it, and it’s Luke. I divert my eyes from his and give a slight bow. “Prince Lukene.” I can feel his gaze watching me intently. “What can I help you with?”

He holds out a lavender colored litham, which I accept. “You will need that to keep the sand from whipping you in the face. Come, the others are still sleeping since none of them rested on the ride here. You’ll train with Christolyn every day we’re here. You need to improve your hand-to-hand combat, and she’s one of the best soldiers I have.”

“I think I do well enough, Prince,” I seethe. “I killed three contestants alone during the first trial.”

“Is that why you ended up beaten to shit? You could have been killed by Jaime and that other prick. Now come—that’s an order.”

Rolling my eyes, I exit the room and follow him down the hall. Then it hits me. How did he know I killed Jaime and that I’d been beaten up? He didn’t see me until I was healed. I stop dead in my tracks.

“You were there.” My brows knit together, mouth gaping.

He stops and turns to me. “I was where?” Confusion is written on his face.

“The Shadowed Forest, during the first trial. You must have been there. How would you know that I killed Jaime and that I was hurt?”

An emotion I can’t quite place runs over his face until he adjusts the many masks he always wears, concealing anything about him—hiding his true self away. “Reign, I told you before I wasn’t there. I was in the library and heard what Jake said. You killed Jaime, his lover. And Dola was the blood wielder that put you to sleep for the second trial. She has mind magic and told me what happened in the Shadow Forest.”

Well, now I feel stupid. Of course he wasn’t there. Not knowing what to say, I just nod my head, and we begin walking again.

* * *

Christolyn is a formidable fighter. The way she moves and strikes—her sheer strength—makes her a force I would not want to face. We’ve been here for five days, and every morning, she wakes me before the sun rises, and we train for hours. Afterward, we’re introduced to the trained wyverns that some of the guards ride. We learn how to mount and dismount, how to call them, and, most importantly, that riding a wyvern depends entirely on whether the wyvern trusts you. This is why it sometimes takes months for a guard to fly one.

Today is the day we get to see the orange wyvern. It’s said his den is up the mountain that overlooks Cracken’s Cove. I haven’t spoken to Lukene since our conversation in the corridor on our first day here. He’s housed in the room next to mine, but he must come in late because I never hear his door shut. Or maybe he’s staying in someone else’s room. The thought is unsettling.

Jake, Elm, Marshalla, and I finally reach the top with no incidents. The vegetation is vast here, whereas in Serpent’s Reach the plant life is sparse. We find a large cavern and a huge field at the top of the mountain which takes us nearly the day to climb. My legs and feet are sore from training and the hike up here. In the distance, I spot a few different wyverns flying, and I see a dark green one lying in the field, but where is the orange one?

We walk to the front of the cavern’s entrance, and a rumbling roar rattles the ground from within. Coming out of the cave like a spawn from the double hells, is a massive, burnt orange wyvern.

We scatter to hide behind trees and boulders. I look to Elm and Jake, who are both with me. Marshalla runs to the opposite side of us.

The wyvern blows a stream of fire toward the boulder Marshalla is protected behind. The fear radiating from her is palpable.

“It has a messed-up wing. I can shoot an arrow into it, and when it comes toward us, we strike. Reign, you be the bait,” Jake says.

“Absolutely fucking not,” Elm yells.

The wyvern stomps closer, spraying fire everywhere. Each stomp sends fear rattling into my bones. Whatever we do, we need to be fast. Marshalla shrieks a scream from nightmares as the wyvern closes in on her. I can’t let her die. I rise from behind the trees and boulders, running toward her, putting myself in the wyvern’s line of sight.

As I approach, I see half of Marshalla’s body is burned. Half of her beautiful face is unrecognizable. Angry red blisters and charred skin cover her left side. The smell of burning flesh is putrid. I draw the sword Christolyn gave me.

The wyvern sees me and turns its beautifully terrifying head toward me, opening its mouth and unleashing a plume of fire.

“Reign! Reign!” Elm screams a heart-wrenching cry, as if he’s already lost me. While running, I dive behind a boulder but not fast enough. My lower left leg gets burned. I can’t help the scream that escapes my lips. Panting heavily, sweat beads on my face as I slam to the ground next to Marshalla, whose breathing is shallow and labored.

Looking down, I notice my pant leg is burned off. Angry red blisters appear on my calf. I don’t see muscle, tendon, or bone, so I guess it could be worse, but gods, does it hurt. I hear the wyvern getting closer, the ground rumbling with each step it takes, shaking the earth and my very soul. Then, I remember what Luke said: follow my heart. Maybe we can get the thing to fly off. He has a deformed wing, but maybe he is just fiercer because he fears he will be cut down for it.

Do wyvern even think? I know what it is like to be different. My whole life, I was looked at and teased for having purple hair and eyes. I was always on the defensive. If someone was laughing, I always assumed it was about me, even if it wasn’t. In the Hollows, if someone even looked at me suspiciously, I assumed they were going to attack me. So before that could happen, I killed them.

That brings me to another thought: do the wyverns understand us? Luke talks to Wrath, and she seems to understand everything he says. I grab the boulder to pull myself up, take a deep, shaky breath, and step out from behind the rock. ‘ Never fear, never falter, never fumble .’ I let Lukene’s words play in my head as I drop my sword, staring right into the wyvern’s eyes. Its amber eyes blaze with fiery ferocity.

I may have miscalculated this situation, like I seem to be doing with every situation lately. But I have to try, or I’ll die trying.

“I know what it’s like to be different!” I shout as I pull the litham away from my mouth. “To always need to look over your shoulder.” I see Elm out of the corner of my eye, waving his arms, trying to get my attention. Jake comes out from the other side of the boulder, sword in hand. “Fly away from here!” I yell to the wyvern. “Don’t be the monster they believe you to be.” The wyvern cocks its head as if listening and understanding my words. I limp a step closer, then another. “I don’t want to hurt you. I think you are a beautiful creature. But if you stay here, they will send someone else to kill you, even if you kill us all.” I take another step closer, my heart hammering away.

I see Jake raise his sword and run toward the wyvern. “No!” I shoot my hands out, sending a small ball of fire to knock the sword from Jake’s hand.

The wyvern roars, rumbling the ground. Suddenly, an arrow shoots into the wyvern’s tail. I look behind me to see Marshalla on the opposite side of the boulder, panting with a bow in her hand. Before I can react, the wyvern charges her, swallowing her whole.

It turns to look at me, fire glinting in its killer eyes. I swallow hard, bracing myself for what is about to happen. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Elm creeping up. I hold my hand out to stop him.

“I don’t want to hurt you. But I also don’t—” I take a cautious limping step toward the wyvern— “want anyone else to hurt you either.”

The wyvern steps closer to me, I freeze. The next thing I know, the wyvern is towering over me. He is much larger than Wrath, and so far, Wrath was the biggest wyvern I have seen since I’ve been here. He has saliva dripping from his massive teeth. His hot breath blows my hair back.

He lowers his head to me in submission. I glance back at Elm, my eyes wide. He mirrors my shock. I take careful steps into the space between the wyvern’s neck and front leg. The wyvern swings its massive tail forward, careful not to impale me with its barbs, and helps me up onto its back.

Once I am seated, I grab one of the spikes, and he takes off. I wasn’t sure he could fly with his wing, yet we are soaring in the sky, getting lost amongst the clouds.