Page 74 of Dark Fate

Watching her fight, seeing how she moves, the grace and power in every strike, every blow? It's a fiery mix of arousal and pride that stirs deep within me, a primal urge to claim her, to make her mine in every way possible. She's picking up the skills quickly, my little warrior.

Off to our flank, Lucian and Erik ride easy, their mounts tearing gently through the soft grass, leaving a trail of flattened blades in their wake. Hanging back, Axilya and Faderyn are lost in their conversation, their murmured words getting caught up and carried away by the wind, secrets whispered on the breeze.

"Remember," Axilya calls ahead to us, "the Sun Court is not one to be trifled with. They value beauty, peace, and elegance above all else."

Lucian's scoff reverberates, his golden hair shimmering in the sunlight as he flings his head back with dramatic flair. "Pfft... beauty and elegance?" He echoes the words with obvious disdain, upper lip curling. "In other words, a total snoozefest." He punctuates this dismissive assessment with an exaggerated yawn and eye roll. "You know how I operate—any hint of pretentious stuffiness or mind-numbing propriety, and I simply must counteract it with a deliciously sordid spectacle."

Lucian's usual bullshit has me smiling. "Figures. You thrive off chaos," I throw back, tossing him a look.

Flashing me a roguish wink, "Oh, yeah. So prepare yourselves, ladies and gents. Things are about to get wildly, outrageously inappropriate." Lucian ends with irreverent charm. "You're utterly welcome in advance for the entertainment."

Dani stirs in my arms, turning her head to join the banter. "So, what's the deal with the Light King and his Radiant Queen?" she asks, her voice laced with curiosity.

"The King is cerebral and detached," Axilya replies. "He views his rule as a sacred duty."

"And the Queen?" Dani presses on.

Axilya's voice softens. "She's warm, nurturing... but carries a secret sorrow."

Dani's interest is lighting up; she's got one hell of an empathetic streak in her.

Erik's silver eyes catch some light, sparking to life as he pipes in, breaking his silence from the start of our ride. "They say she lost something precious to her—a sorrow that lingers like a shadow despite her eternal youth."

"The court holds beauty and nobility in high regard, so we must present ourselves accordingly." Faderyn chimes in, his tone heavy.

Lucian lets out a theatrical groan, "What, no brawls or love bites on the agenda?"

"Only if you're aiming to ignite yet another conflict with the Fae," Erik counters, his tone laced with dry sarcasm.

I catch a look at Dani, who's biting back a grin at their back-and-forth.

"Keep your eyes on the prize," I break in, bringing them back on track. "We're here to score some goodwill and backup from the Sun Court, not kick up a damn storm."

Dani gives me a nod so subtle it’s more felt than seen. "Alright then, what's the etiquette? How do we hail the glow-in-the-dark royalty?"

"With respect," Axilya answers promptly. "Address him as 'Your Majesty' and her as 'Your Radiance.'"

Lucian's eyes do a dramatic roll skyward.

Erik keeps his mouth shut, but his eyes are all over the place, soaking up the scene like a sponge—always the watchful warrior, ready for whatever might come our way.

Chatter fades to nothing when we hit the edges of the Sun Court's domain. The Light Lands stretch out before us, a never-ending canvas of greens and golds, like some artist lost his damn mind and just splattered his whole kit across the landscape.

After a spell of quiet that settles over us all, Faderyn clears his throat, breaking the stillness with his announcement. "We're nearing the Ivory Tower; we will rest tonight and should arrive by tomorrow's eve."

I gaze up to see what lies before us—an ancient palace that’s stood the test of time but has surrendered some pieces. On the horizon, it clings to the last vestiges of its splendor.

"It was magnificent in its prime," Axilya says wistfully. Her eyes glint with memories of a past age.

Dani leans into me, just a fraction, and I know she's vibing with what Axilya's laying down about this place. It doesn't escape me that she's finding beauty in all this decay—classic her, always catching a glimmer of light in the darkest shit.

Erik's voice cuts through with a warning note. "Do not forget that despite their current peaceable facade, the Sun Court has been at odds with the Shadow Court for centuries."

"We won't forget," I tell him with a firm edge to my voice. "Maybe we can even turn that to our advantage."

Lucian lets out a soft, mocking snort, "Yeah, right. Like that will happen when they're cozied up next door to—"

"Enough," I snap, cutting off his smart-ass comment. Then I swing back to Faderyn and Axilya, my face all business. "Is there anything else we need to have on our radar?"

---