Page 54 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

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Eryx

I sit upon my throne, a grand and imposing seat of obsidian and gold. All whispers are silenced in my presence. Power radiates from every inch of my being, and even my shadows seem to billow thicker than usual, as if they sense the weight of my wrath.

As news reached me of the disappearance of Ruelle and Verena, anger boiled within me and hasn’t stopped since. My voice is raising to a deafening volume, causing those in the throne room to take a fearful step back. Rightfully so; for they should be trembling at the mere mention of my name.

Hadeon steps forward with Ruelle’s head guard to address me with a look of trepidation in his eyes.

“King Eryx, we were with Ruelle but she wanted privacy in the garden. We were guarding the perimeter but someone must have gotten past us.” I raise my hand to get him to shut up. I can’t hear it anymore.

“Do you believe this was an inside job?” I ask, my voice a dangerous tone as I look at Hadeon and Esmeray.

“Yes, we do.” This ensues chaos around us. My mother gasps in surprise but Hadeon and Esmeray remain stoic, if not just as angry as I am but trying to contain their emotions, even with their family.

“King Eryx, your Majesty, are we really going to believe this is an inside job? One of us? The Guards of Night have always been loyal to the crown. We wouldn’t do this.” I tilt my head to look at the guard speaking. Draven is his name. He would have been my brother in law had his sister not been murdered a decade ago. His loyalty stayed to the crown, though, even after he was told of her death being the late kings fault. He even protected Verena after she was attacked by Dryston in the woods and stood with her until I could reach her.

“And who do you blame, then?” I ask, sensing something odd from the man.

He glances around quickly. “There is one person who we don’t reallyknow. She grew up in the Court of Dawn. Can we really say she-”

The sound of Draven’s choke echoes off the stone walls as shadows surround him, suffocating and consuming. I tower over him, my voice dropping to a deep, menacing tone, my eyes darkening to match the color of my hair.

“Choose your next words carefully, Draven,” I growl, my fists clenching at my sides. How dare he insult my mate in such a manner? He knows nothing about her. Even if she were my enemy, she would never harm Ruelle or anyone in my family. I am certain of that.

The shadows release their hold on Draven as he struggles for breath, trying not to appear weak in front of me. “I mean no disrespect,” he begins cautiously, his tone attempting to soothe. “But ever since my sister’s death ten years ago, you have been distant and preoccupied. And now this… woman appears out of nowhere and suddenly you are infatuated with her. Some of us believe she has put a spell on you.” His words only serve to ignite my anger further. My muscles tense and my grip on the armrest tightens until it hurts.

I can’t even blame the guards for being weary of her, but this?

“So.” The room darkens from my shadows being pissed as well. “You think I am foolish enough to be enchanted by a witch? That the king of this country cannot simply withstand a basic spell?” The dark whisps of magic whip around furiously as I slowly stand, the ropes of black wrapping around Draven’s throat once more. “Let me beveryclear to everyone here.” My voice booms through the room at the staring eyes. I wish I could pull her to me right now, show her off to everyone. Show everyone just how much she means to me but she isn’t here. “Verena Nightcrest is my mate. My fated mate.” Everyone gasps, “If anyone shall have a problem with that, they can take it up with me,” I release the guards neck and Hadeon rushes to grab him, “Or they can take it up with the Goddess of Night. Verena and I are engaged as of recently and in a few days, she will be queen just as fate intended.”

There is only one throne up on this dais. I had never intended to take another wife and when the witch mentioned I had a mate, I still had nohope. But meeting her at Dryston’s coronation ball changed everything. I barely stopped myself from taking her then and there in front of everyone. Hadeon had warned me when I showed up to be careful that it might not have been her. But I knew as soon as I saw her. The black hair be damned.

The blonde looks so much better on her. I was glad we could find something that helped take the rest of the ink out of her luscious locks.

I will have her a throne by time our wedding comes. It is almost finished. I was having a man from Asterlayna make it.

After the courts gasps and whispers quiet down and Hadeon returns without Draven, I continue. “Now, let’s get our queen and beloved princess back.”

“King!” A familiar voice cuts in, bursting into the room with haste. All heads turn to him. He bends over, breathing heavily as if he ran all the way here. “I… have news!” He takes another breath, “We got a letter from whoever took them!”

“Everyone but the needed bodies leave.” I announce. The room clears fast, not surprisingly. And all that remains is the higher up guards, Esmeray, Hadeon, our mother, and myself.

“Aerin, tell me what else the letter states.” I tell the male who came with a letter.

He takes a shaky breath before starting to read, “It has a meet location set for time for two days from now. And that King Eryx must come alone.” He hands the letter to Hadeon when he reaches for it and Esmeray reads it over his shoulder. The letter is passed around but I stare at the letter in my hands.

A look flashes over my face and Esmeray seems to pick up on it, “What? What’s wrong?” She asks. From a strangers prospective, she seemed collected but I could tell she was worried just as much as the rest of us,

“I just… feel like I’ve seen this handwriting before.”

I’m quiet as I study the sheet of paper. “Let’s go the war room. I don’t trust being out in the open like this. Hadeon and Esmeray; choose two of your most trusted warriors. Then all of you, follow me.”

Chapter 28: Pain

Verena

Iknow when I awaken because of two things. My head is throbbing as if I’m being beaten with a hammer against it and it smells like Dryston’s old grandmother— musty wet dirt.

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