Page 132 of Crown of Chaos

Aden and the older gentleman stood before us as others whispered. Startling, vivid turquoise-colored eyes roved over my face. His hair was silver with wispy tips of obsidian on the edges, with hints of white mixed with it. He was tall and intimidating. He didn’t move or speak as we took each other in.

I could see why Aurora had hated looking at me after she’d stopped altering my appearance with magic. I looked like the female version of him. His high cheekbones were sharp, while mine were softer, but still regal. The way his eyes blazed and pierced into me was unnerving, but I didn’t blink or glance away. Thick, black lashes surrounded the same captivating eyes, which were the color of turquoise with small golden flecks speckled within. Where my nose was small and button, his was prominent and straight.

The surrounding people rattled low, and his lips curled into a grin. It built until they released it loudly, and a sense of warmth and belonging settled inside of me. The men before us joined in, and the tone changed to something else. The crowd bowed, arching their spines before lowering to the ground. Esme went down as well, but I refused to bow. Both men watched me, and the octave they rattled in changed once more, becoming deafeningly loud. The lines appeared around the older male’s eyes as he looked at me. The sound died off, and the people stood, curiously staring at me since I’d refused to bow.

Once everyone had stood and was nervously chattering, I began building mine. My lips curved into a grin, and the sound came in a pulsating, thunderous tone that had the crowd slamming against the ground, arching their spines. Esme would forgive me . . . eventually. The men before me frowned, fighting against the drive to join the others. Ember added to our shared noise, and Aden bowed at the spine. The other man held steady, smiling with something that almost looked like . . . pride? I cut the rattle and released a soft, sonorous purr that carried through the air.

The dragons and phoenixes had lowered, giving me their attention, which felt as if it were a nod of respect. Both creatures released their own sweet purrs, and I returned my attention to the man I suspected was my father.

“Welcome home, Aria Prometheus,” he announced in a lilting tone that wrapped around me, soothing my fears.

“Thank you,” I returned, peering behind me as the dragon curled up at my feet.

“Hello, Little Queen,” Aden murmured, leaning closer to place a kiss against my lips. The enticing scent of masculinity, sage, and bergamot washed through me, and I edged back from the feel of his lips against mine. There’d been something unexpected and natural about the kiss. “I told you that you’d make it, didn’t I? Welcome to our home, where you belong.” He pulled back, frowning when I didn’t reply.

“You seem overwhelmed,” the man, who I assumed was Griffon, stated.

Eva grumbled and slowly strode up to where we stood. Her posture was stiff, but a quick shake of the man’s head had her stepping to the side as he moved in closer. He placed a palm against my cheek before he purred softly.

“You look just like my mother, Aria. I have watched you from afar and never expected you to turn out so brilliant and fiercely brave. You’ve surpassed everything I expected of you. Of course, I knew you’d be powerful and beautiful. Your mother is both even if she is heartless and selfish. I am glad to see that the Prometheus and Fafnir blood runs deeper in your veins than your mother’s.”

“I’ll wait to decide if I agree. I am here because I want knowledge of who I am. I gather that you’re my father, but I don’t know what title to refer to you by. Griffon, King of the Phoenixes?” I probed, watching the twinkle in his eyes as he narrowed them on me.

“I’m Griffon Prometheus, and the closest thing our people have as a ruler. But you, Aria? You’re the sun, which makes you the heir and the next in line to the throne of the Kingdom of Fire. You’re the flame we’ve been waiting for over a thousand years to be born. Come, we have so much to discuss. Eva will show you to your chambers, and once you’re rested, we shall show and teach you who you really are.”

I glanced at Esme, who was smiling with a blush heating her cheeks. Men were gawking at her and me. Facing Eva, I found her regarding me with a look of distrust blazing in her soft, light-blue eyes. Aden slipped in beside me, guiding me through the crowd of people who bowed, whispering fervently as we passed them.

Esme followed behind us, but those who surrounded me barely noticed she was there. Pausing, I turned, pointing at the ground beside me as Esme’s brow creased. She rushed to my side, and I scrunched my nose as a blush spread over her cheeks.

A dragon and phoenix sped through the sky above us, flying low enough that it made my hair flutter around my cheeks. Aden slipped the hair behind my ear and grasped my hand, starting forward again.

I turned to Esme, whose face tightened as she noted our linked hands. I considered shaking my hand free, but his hold tightened around mine. I wouldn’t be able to remove his hold without causing a scene, or drawing unwanted attention to myself. The uneasy feeling mixed with anxiousness. The crowd spoke low, in hushed tones, but I caught snippets of comments about the way Aden walked with me. Griffon was smiling, and when he glanced over his shoulder, he exposed something other than pride. Arrogance and cunning mixed with something darker. My hackles rose, but I shoved them down as we proceeded down the cobblestone path, heading toward the unknown within the Kingdom of Fire.

The End, For Now

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