Page 40 of A Petal in the Crown

Chapter 25

Gray

Ablack haze surrounded Lea, so thick and dark Gray could barely make out the anger in her features. She was overwhelmed. Had been since the moment she'd returned from beyond the veil, but even more now that she knew of Eudora’s lies. It crushed him that he hadn't been able to take that burden away. At least a hundred times a day he found himself reaching for the absent mate bond, wanting so desperately to feel what she was feeling and ease whatever pain he could.

The rage that pounded through him each time he felt nothing but blood and sinew and bone, when his magic slid straight past where the bond used to rest, was enough to bring mountains crumbling down. He wanted to fight, to unleash his own magic and take out his need for vengeance, his own rage, but he stayed at Lea's side instead, and he would continue to do so as long as she allowed it.

Lea's hands clenched and unclenched as she stormed through secret passages and stairwells in the quickest route out of the castle. That was one thing that hadn't changed—her need for fresh air when her emotions grew too big.

Gray knew she missed the sun, and he wondered if maybe the everlasting night was only making her primary magic even more powerful—more difficult to control. Maybe just a few hours ofsunlight would chase away some of the darkness she was constantly fighting against. But wondering didn't help the matter. Not when the god of the sun was still punishing them for her disobedience.

Lea flew forward onto the grass, her shadows expanding the moment she cleared the doorway, black fire turning the grass to embers wherever she stepped. Shadows and flames overtook the courtyard in seconds, stretching and twisting until they reached the tall stone walls surrounding the castle. Lea bit her lip, closing her eyes and taking several deep, steadying breaths. Gray waited, knowing she was trying to work her emotions out in her mind before speaking.

"How could Eudora do this?" she finally asked. "How could she keep this from us? From Tanad? How could she allow Evangeline to suffer the way she did? And how the fuck do I forgive Evangeline for helping the king?" Lea took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Have I not lost enough?" she croaked, her voice breaking.

"You’ve lost more than enough." Gray walked to her, forcing himself through her thick shadows to wrap his arms tightly around her tiny, shaking body. His heart clenched, and his own shadows pushed against his skin. "Evangeline, right or wrong, was trying to protect you. That's a feeling I can understand," Gray said gently. "There’s nothing I wouldn't do to keep you safe. Nothing I wouldn't have done to keep my father from discovering who and what you were."

Lea didn't argue. "I can't do this anymore, Gray. The more I find out, the more emotional I get, the harder this darkness is to control. I feel like I'm going to explode." Lea’s fingers squeezed the fabric of his shirt, pulling him against her as if wishing she could somehow get closer to him.

Gray stood up straight, the beginning of an idea forming in his mind. He pulled himself back to look into Lea's eyes as he tucked her hair behind her ears. "Then we need to find a way to let you explode withouttaking half the kingdom out with you," he said, pulling her toward the stables. Obsidian whinnied as he opened the door, sauntering over to his stall gate and kicking it as if he knew Lea was suffering and wanted to be near her. Gray opened the door and Obsidian pushed through, rubbing his nose against Lea's chest. The ghost of a smile crossed her lips as her hand came up to pat his mane.

Gray hoisted Lea on top of Obsidian, climbing swiftly up behind her.

"Where are we going?" Lea asked, her voice so exhausted it made Gray’s heart stutter. "We don't have time for a ride." Her hand rose to her head, her fingers subconsciously tracing across her moonflower crown.

"If you don't get this magic out, you won't make it long enough to lose all the petals, Lea. You can't go on like this." He kicked Obsidian’s side, leading him toward the forest, and hopefully, a way to help Lea find relief.

The cave was exactly where he remembered it to be—an opening carved into the side of a waterfall, hours from any village or town. They were completely and truly alone out here, exactly what he needed to help Lea expend some of her magic. Erik and Gray had found the cave as children one day long ago when they’d stolen horses from the stables and rode off in search of adventure. Back before he’d realized how evil the world was. How evil his father was.

Gray led Obsidian to the base of the waterfall, patting his neck as he slid off. He pulled Lea down effortlessly, keeping a hand on her back as he led her forward. Her skin practically vibrated with the intensity of theemotions still coursing through her, the painful ferocity of the primary magic demanding she destroy the world.

That pain had become a part of her, as she fought against that raw, immense power, the darkness she was convinced would destroy her. And if Gray was being honest, it was. It was too vast and insistent, and controlling it seemed to be taking a toll on Lea in a way that made Gray’s shadows writhe. He was desperate to soothe her, to find a way to help her release that magic out of her body safely.

Grabbing her hand, Gray tugged Lea behind him through the waterfall, and she begrudgingly followed. She thought this was useless. He could feel it in her posture, in the way her feet were half a step slower than his. But he continued pulling her forward, neither of them speaking as they traveled further into the cave. Lea called on her fire to light the way, but Gray didn’t need it, his long-ago memories leading them twisting through narrow pathways, scrambling over rocks and ducking under stalactites until a vast chamber opened up before them.

Water dripped from the ceiling, and crystals embedded within the cave walls shimmeredin the firelight from Lea’s hand. Another waterfall, a far smaller one than the one outside, ran down the far right corner of the angular, irregularly shaped chamber. As soon as they entered, their footsteps echoed throughout the space. Memories of sparring with Erik flashed through his mind, bringing a tiny smile to his lips. They were many of the few happy memories of his childhood, the days they’d been able to sneak away to come here and just be children.

Erik had enchanted it long ago to withstand their magical battles. Pinning the rocks in place with spears of magic, creating a thin, invisible barrier between them and the stalactites for their magic to bounce off of.

The space wasn’t perfect. It had cost them a half day's ride and taken them away from their army, but Lea needed to release her magic, and this was the best he could think of.

Lea flicked her wrist, and a small black fire appeared on the ground, giving her just enough light to the space to examine it. She turned in a slow circle as she took in the chamber, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"It’s safe here, Little Flower. Let go," Gray said.

"What? Here?" She gestured to the large rocky formations all throughout the room.

"It'll hold. Trust me." Gray reached out and cupped Lea's cheek. "This magic will eat you alive, Lea. It's already doing it. I'm seeing it happen in front of my eyes, and I can’t watch you struggle anymore." His words came out as a growl. He tried to rein in his frustration, the desperation so clearly bursting from every word. Every fiber of his being, every cell within his body, was begging him to find a way to force her to let the magic out. It was almost as if they were newly mated again, his protective instincts animalistic in their intensity.

But he also knew Lea. Knew her to her core, and he was more than aware that there was no forcing her to do anything. She wouldn't release her magic until she was absolutely certain he’d be safe.

"Let go," he said again, exploding his shadows outward until they hit the walls and ceiling, careening outward with as much force as he could muster. He wrapped a tendril around a stalactite and pulled, but it remained firm. Unmoving. Gathering his storm clouds overhead, he crashed lightning into the rocky walls and ground, but the cave didn't so much as shake.

Lea didn't say a word as she watched, her lips pressed together as if still not convinced she could truly release her magic and be safe within these walls.

"You have to let go," Gray said again, his voice gruff as it rumbled from his chest. "Let go." His shadows snaked up her body, loosening the ties of her dress and pulling her hair fromits braid.

I think I will enjoy watching the wind through it as we ride…A memory. So sweet and bitter at once. He stepped forward, pulling the collar of Lea’s dress over her shoulder. His shadows continued trailing up her legs, brushing and kissing, begging for her to let her guard down. Gray leaned down, pressing a kiss to the hollow of her neck, sucking and biting as he worked his way up to her ear.

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