Page 31 of Winds of Darkness
Unrelenting Winds
Chapter 1
Briar
She’s here.
That was all the note said when the Water Prince pulled it from a flurry of snowflakes that had appeared in the air. It was a message from his brother with the same water gifts as his own, but Briar Drayce already knew she had arrived. He could see it in the reflection of the Tana River that flowed through the middle of the Fiera Palace of the Fire Court.
“I have a meeting I need to go to,” Briar said, turning to face the others. “Do you need anything before I take my leave?”
Cyrus, the Fire Court Second sighed, but it was the Fire General who answered, flicking her red-gold braid over her shoulder. “You do plenty, Prince. It’s our responsibility when he’s … like this.”
Briar studied her for a moment. He’d known her for decades. He’d known all of them for decades at this point, some even centuries. So he caught the flicker of worry in her grey eyes, a brief show of emotion she was always quick to hide.
“Our Courts have never done things alone. This is no different,” Briar answered, glancing at the river again. He was late, which was rude in and of itself, but being late to a meeting with a princess was ill-advised, even if he was a prince himself.
“Just … don’t tell Talwyn,” Cyrus said.
“The Fae Queen has her own turmoil she’s dealing with. We will leave Prince Azrael to handle her, and we will deal with the Fire Prince,” Briar replied. “I will check in later today.”
Cyrus pulled on the back of his neck and nodded. “Thanks for always coming here. The sea is …”
“I know, Cyrus. It is easier for me to come here anyway. I am the one who can make a portal,” Briar reassured him, the sound of rushing water filling the air a moment later as a water portal appeared behind him. Only the Fae Royals had the power to create such a thing.
Nothing else was said as he stepped from the fire palace into his own Court. He paused for a moment in his study, taking a deep breath and letting the sea breeze fill his lungs. The Fire Court may have fire in their veins, but it would never compare to the warmth of the sun when walking barefoot through rolling waves.
The door opened, his Third and his Commander-of-Forces entering, clearly having felt him cross their wards.
“You’re never late, and certainly not for a meeting with a Royal,” Nakoa said, getting straight to the point. His Commander-of-Forces was tall and broad. He was everything you’d expect of a warlord with his cropped sandy blonde hair, keen turquoise eyes, and brown skin. Marks ran the lengths of his arms, and he never went anywhere without a minimum of five weapons strapped to his being.
“I know,” Briar answered, falling into step beside them as they made their way through the halls of the House of Water. “Is she still on the shore?”
Neve, the Water Court Third, nodded, her light golden hair swaying with the movement. “She asked to wait on the beach. Sawyer is with her. Do you want us there with you as well?”
“I assume Ermir is with her?”
“He is not,” Nakoa replied.
That made him pause for a moment.
“No,” Briar said, mulling over this turn of events. “We all know her … personality. I need to be able to focus on what she’s saying, especially if she is alone, and the rest of you there spouting your opinions never helps.”
“No need to spare our feelings or anything,” Neve muttered under her breath.
“You are all busybodies.”
“You’re confusing us with the Fire Court,” Nakoa said dryly.
Briar huffed a small chuckle. He wasn’t wrong.
“I don’t think there is anything to worry about here, Commander,” Briar answered.
“If you think any of us are fine with leaving our prince alone with another Royal, you were smoking mugweed with Cyrus,” Nakoa said, his tone making it clear what he thought of the Fire Second. Which was fair. The two had very different personalities. The fact that Nakoa and the Fire General were occasional lovers was the main reason Nakoa tolerated Cyrus and his antics.
“Nothing is going to happen,” Briar replied, growing irritated. “It’s not a request.”
“Of course it’s not,” Nakoa scoffed.