Page 53 of Shade of Ruin

He is the Prince of Steel. His father wants me dead as much as Cole’s, and it doesn’t seem like Cole and he are friends. No matter how interesting or happy he seems, he’s the enemy.

Cole reaches out so fast I can barely see him move. One moment, he was standing at ease. The next, his hand is wrapped around Rhion’s throat. Flames lick the edges of his fingers, and Rhion doesn’t move.

There’s not a single ounce of fear in his eyes as he says, “It won’t be long until the Painted Crown passes to my father, Cole. Maybe it’d be best if you burned me right now. Then again, we all know that the House of Steel would destroy the House of Flame in a war, and my father wouldn’t hesitate if you killed me. Unlike you, the rest of your House is useless against us. That’s the only reason we didn’t destroy the House of Flames along with the House of Earth.”

All those hundreds of noises around us are silent as two of the most powerful people in the world look like they’re about to murder each other. The sights and sounds mean nothing as I watch Cole consider starting a literal war.

Cole growls, a wildness to him I’ve never seen before. “The reason you didn’t fight us was because you’d never have been able to beat the House of Shadows. You needed us.”

Rhion smiles. “And now we don’t.”

The veins of Cole’s arms throb in time to his heartbeat as Lee and Darian look on silently, rage in both of their eyes. Then Coleshoves Rhion. “Enjoy your gossip. It’s all you were ever good for, anyway. Come on,” he says to Darian and Lee.

When Cole walks, I follow him, and Darian and Lee move in step behind me. Through the steel rimmed gates made of unmarred stone, and into the city that is home to the most terrifying and powerful beings in the world.

I can feel Rhion’s gaze on our backs. Every other person has treated Cole with the utmost respect. Not because he demands it, but because he deserves it. The people in Aerwyn worship him because of what he’s done for them.

Rhion doesn’t. At all. I may be constantly on the verge of annoyance at Cole and his grumpiness, but the anger that builds inside me is all directed at Rhion. It only takes a few moments before I have to stop myself.

Why am I trying to protect Cole? He’s one of the most powerful beings in the world and certainly needs no help from me. But the very idea of someone laughing at him has my hackles raised, and I’m itching to take off my ring.

Then it occurs to me.I will help you carry the weight.A vow. Not a debt, but a promise to him. Something about Rhion weighs on him. Something that my magic knows and I don’t.

I turn to glance behind us. Rhion is still standing there, his eyes burning into Cole’s back. I know that this isn’t the last time I see that male.

Chapter 25

We have bound a race to each of the anchors to help each Great House in ways that no others can. Flames will have the salamanders. Stone will have the gargoyles.

Darkness will have the sylphs.

Steel will have the dwarves.

~Inni the Destroyer, A History of Magic and Dragons

After our very intensegreeting at the city gates, we’re mostly silent as we walk through the city towards some place that I don’t know. I look around as we walk, taking in my first proper city, and being both in awe and terror with every step.

It’s crowded. More than I think I ever expected. More than anyone could have ever explained. People brush past us, literally touching us as we walk in opposite directions. The sounds ofchatter and steps are everywhere, so much worse than outside the gate.

At the same time, the city is incredible. Buildings of all shapes and sizes, nearly all of which are built from the stone from the nearby mountains. The cobblestones covering paths between the buildings match the stones they’re made of, rust colored with flecks of black in them.

A central pathway like a spoke leads deeper into the city while we pass street after street, each of them leading away from this main road. At the end of the road we’re on, I can see what can only be described as a castle in the distance.

We walk in silence past the crowds. They get out of the way as Cole leads us through. He doesn’t slow down or wait for anyone. They just… move. I guess being the Prince of Flames has its benefits. As we pass, many of them take a whiff of the air, and their eyes open wide. He was right. Again. Based on how they all react, this will be the biggest news on everyone’s lips by the end of the day.

And it’s entirely purposeful. Who knew that the best plan to hide my real purpose was to draw attention to me? I hadn’t expected so many people to know who Cole was, but I guess that was naïve of me. He’s a prince. Of course, people would talk if he were betrothed.

We pass building after building. More Fae than I can count watch us as we pass them. Well, they watch Cole and ignore the rest of us. Cole just walks without a care in the world. Silent, with eyes forward, just like every day on the walk from Blackgrove here.

And then things change. As we pass an alleyway, he sidesteps into the shadows between the two buildings, and the three of us follow him. Cole lifts his hand, and smoke rises, covering the entrance completely.

I’m not entirely sure what is happening, but Cole, Darian, and Lee all seem to be used to this. For a moment, I want to just rest here, to enjoy some silent darkness. My nerves feel like they’re shredded from all the constant stimulation from the crowds, but in the alleyway's solitude, I feel like I can breathe again. At the same time, I’m beginning to accept that my desire to have a period of adjustment doesn’t matter at all.

Cole whispers so intensely that no one even thinks about interrupting him. “I’m going to go down to the other end of this alleyway and head to the Keep. You three keep your heads down and stay far away until sundown. When you see the sky turn red, you’ll be safe to come to the Keep, and I’ll introduce you to my father, Maeve. Darian and Lee, you two can go straight to your rooms.”

Darian and Lee nod, and I take a deep breath before nodding as well. “Remember, you still smell like me, Maeve. People will know that you’re connected to me if you let them get close. Don’t get into trouble.”

He doesn’t wait for us to even nod before turning and running down the alleyway to the street on the opposite side.

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