Page 39 of The Call of Crimson (The Crimson & Shadows #2)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

AURELIUS

D eep, petrifying panic fills my veins, violently ripping me from sleep. My chest rises and falls in sharp, shallow bursts as I scan the room, searching for the source of the threat.

It’s still dark outside. The soft moonlight filters through the single window, painting the stone walls in a pale glow.

My Hemonia Gift kicks in automatically, searching for any other heartbeats nearby.

Nothing.

No intruder, no danger I can see.

So why does my body feel strung tight, like a bow ready to snap?

Another wave of panic crashes into me, even stronger this time. It feels...foreign. My mind is calm, but my body is wound so tight it’s painful.

I rub at my sternum, trying to settle the erratic thudding beneath my ribs. When that does nothing, I throw back the covers and stand. There’ll be no sleeping until I figure this out.

I head into the halls, the castle eerily quiet at this hour.

Letting my steps guide me, I roam aimlessly at first, until a few turns bring me to the royal wing.

“Might as well get some reading in,” I mutter, feigning casualness even though my feet are already steering me toward the library Breyla favors.

I don’t get far.

Raised voices echo from further down the corridor, the sharp edge of distress cutting through the air.

Breyla.

Instinct overrides thought. I sprint toward the sound, every nightmare I’ve ever had of her bleeding out rushing back to the forefront of my mind.

The sight that greets me is vastly different, though.

I reach Ayden’s door, cracked open and spilling warm light into the hallway. Expecting the worst, I push the door wide open.

Breyla stands pressed against Ayden, a shadow dagger poised at his throat.

Ayden, to his credit, looks concerned but not afraid. His body stays relaxed, nonthreatening, as if he knows she’s not truly lost to the rage.

I remain silent, observing the interaction between the two people who don’t seem to notice me.

“I need answers, Ayden,” Breyla snarls, her voice trembling at the edges.

“And I would love to give them to you,” Ayden replies, surprisingly calm. “But I don’t know everything you’re asking.”

“Then you better start talking before I shove this dagger through your heart, Prince,” Breyla threatens. “Peace be damned, I will do it.”

There’s fear beneath her fury—raw, shaking fear.

Ayden swallows. “I believe you mean that.” His gaze flicks over Breyla’s shoulder and finds me. “Aurelius is here now. He can tell you if I’m lying.”

She doesn’t move, her grip on the shadow dagger tightening.

Slowly, carefully, I step forward. I lay a gentle hand on her shoulder, feeling the tension vibrating through her skin.

“Lower the knife, little demon,” I murmur close to her ear. “Killing the prince would cause a war none of us wants. Whatever he’s done, we’ll sort it out together.”

For a long moment, she stays rigid. Then, blessedly, she softens under my hand.

“Please, love,” Ayden says, voice low. “I’m not fighting you. Drop the dagger, and I’ll answer anything you want to ask.”

I move carefully, wrapping my hand around her wrist, applying just enough pressure to lower her arm. She lets me.

Ayden exhales deeply, relief flooding his face.

I could have locked her body in place with my Hemonia Gift if I had to. But I didn’t want that.

I wanted her to choose mercy for herself.

“Good girl,” I whisper into her hair.

Breyla rewards me with a sharp glare, but I’ll take that over tears or regret any day.

“Talk to us, Princess,” Ayden says, his tone softer now. “Tell me what you heard.”

We move to the sitting area, the fire still crackling in the hearth. Ayden takes one chair. Breyla another. I sit next to her, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from her body.

She doesn’t waste time. “I received word from Elijah that Rimor is under attack at the border with Prudia.”

Ayden’s brows knit together. “How did you receive word from Elijah in the middle of the night?”

“I’m the one asking questions,” Breyla snarls.

Ayden lifts his hands in surrender. “My apologies. Let me start by assuring you, I did not order any attacks on Rimor.”

Breyla flicks her eyes toward me.

“He’s telling the truth,” I confirm immediately.

“Was your general acting on his own?” she presses.

Pride burns in my chest. She caught the subtle distinction. He said he didn’t order it, but that didn’t mean Prudian soldiers weren’t involved.

“I do not believe so,” Ayden answers. “I can confirm with Darian, if you’d like. It will take a bit to reach him.”

She nods. “I would like to hear it straight from his mouth.”

“As you wish,” Ayden replies. He closes his eyes, concentrating. A few heartbeats later, he opens them again. “He’ll be here.”

“How exactly are you contacting him without sending a messenger?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

Before Ayden can respond, Breyla says flatly, “His second Gift is illusions. I imagine he sent one to Darian to summon him back.”

That range is rather impressive. By my estimation, Darian is at least fifty miles out.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I just did.” Ayden exhales heavily. “Giving away all my secrets, love?”

Breyla shrugs, utterly unrepentant.

“Be careful sharing others’ secrets,” Ayden warns. “Especially when you have some of your own.”

“You never swore me to secrecy, asshole.”

“Something I’m regretting now,” Ayden mutters.

He turns away, eyes distant as he continues his conversation with Darian.

“Don’t leave me in the dark, Princess. Secrets got us into this mess,” I lean over in my chair until I’m right next to her ear. “What did Ayden mean when he said you have some of your own?”

She shivers at the slight brush of my fingers along her skin as I trail them up her arm.

“ Your secrets got us into this mess.” Pulling away, she shoots me a venomous look that quickly fades to indifference. “Thank the gods I’m capable of learning from others’ mistakes, so I’ll tell you.”

I don’t bother telling her that it wasn’t just my secrets, letting her continue instead.

“Ayden figured out my second Gift—astral projection.”

I tilt my head, studying her and trying to come up with any instance where I had seen her use this ability. “How were you able to keep this from me?”

“Easily,” she snorts. “I’ve never used it in front of you. Only Elijah and Jade have seen me, the others are dead.”

“The others being your parents?”

Her eyes drop to the floor momentarily. “Yes.”

“Why don’t you use it?”

“Because I’m awful at it.” She shrugs, the motion stiff. “There’s really not much use for it.”

My brow furrows. “I don’t believe that. You had one of the best teachers available.”

“Except I didn’t,” she sighs. “It didn’t manifest until a few years ago.”

“Ah,” I say, all the pieces finally clicking together. “And what about the other secret?”

Her head tilts slightly, auburn brows raised in confusion. “What other secret?”

“The one that explains how you’re talking to Elijah in the middle of the night from a kingdom away.”

“Oh, that.” She shrugs. “That’s technically not my secret. Elijah has a secondary Gift that allows others to look through his eyes and hear through his ears.”

That certainly explained a lot.

Ayden’s attention shifts back to us, whatever conversation he was having clearly over.

“Do you know why Lennox and Meloria would be waging coordinated attacks on Rimor’s northern and eastern borders?” Breyla asks.

“You’re sure it was Lennox and Meloria?” I breathe, heart sinking in my chest.

“Rimor’s borders were attacked simultaneously tonight. Caedel burns as we speak. Jade evacuated the city to protect…” her voice waivers, “the surviving citizens.”

“There were casualties?” I ask, not really wanting the answer.

Her shoulders fall. “Yes.”

Dread fills my veins. “Are there reports of attacks on Pelanor?”

“Not that I’ve heard.”

Relief washes over me for my parents. “Thank the gods,” I whisper.

Breyla turns her attention back to Ayden. “Answer the question.”

“I have theories, but I don’t know anything for sure.”

“Truth,” I say right as Breyla snaps, “Not good enough. I need real answers.”

“I’m giving you the best I can,” Ayden bites out. “My guess is someone either sees Rimor as a threat or a weakness they can exploit. It’s no coincidence they attacked right after you left the country. There were traitors in your court, and they’ve probably been working with Lennox and Meloria.”

“Are you suggesting Fae are behind this as well?” Breyla asks.

“If I were a betting male, I would say so.”

Before Breyla can ask another question, Darian appears in the room.

He’s dressed in full armor, blood splattered across the chest plate, hair disheveled, dripping in sweat.

“You called?” he grunts.

“Did you launch an attack on Caedel tonight?” Ayden asks.

“No, of course not,” Darian grunts. “I’ve been too busy dealing with the attacks on our camps and outposts to launch unsanctioned missions.”

“Truth,” I confirm.

Darian’s eyes heat, his rage palpable. “What the fuck is this?”

“Rimor’s borders were attacked tonight,” Ayden explains, “resulting in civilian death and a city burning to the ground.”

“Why does that require my presence here?” His jaw ticks. “I have more important things to attend to.”

“Breyla needed to hear from you directly that you weren’t behind the death of her people,” Ayden says.

Darian turns his furious gaze on Breyla. “Fuck you, General ,” he snarls. “There are people out there who need my help. I’m genuinely sorry your kingdom was attacked and that lives were lost. Trust me, I get that better than anyone in this room.”

He stalks toward her, and Ayden intercepts him, holding a hand to his chest.