Page 4 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“Let’s just get to the castle,” I manage.

We hurry through the eerily silent village and up the winding path toward the castle. It looms above us at the top of the valley, and as we near it, I sense movement.

Relief washes over me as a castle guard comes into view. I don’t recognize him, but that doesn’t mean much. My personalinteractions only ever extended to the officers and my own personal guard. This man is neither.

He appears unharmed and fully alert in his royal uniform, though I note the battle armor he wears even in broad daylight at the castle gates.

“Halt! Identify yourselves,” the guard demands.

The others stop as a dozen spears are aimed in our direction.

I step forward, lifting my head high so they can see me clearly. “I am Aries Nemos, heir to the throne of Astronia, defender of this land, and your future king.”

He glances at my clothing, which is much different than the styles of this world, and confusion mars his features. But when he sees my face, his eyes widen in recognition, and he bows.

“Your Highness.” He motions to the other guards. “Lower your weapons!”

They quickly do as he says and bow their heads.

A moment later, the iron gate at his back opens and we’re ushered through.

“Come,” I say to the others, grabbing Paige’s hand tightly.

The guards remain with heads bowed as we pass. No one comments on my attire that they surely think bizarre. Not to mention the other creatures I’ve brought with me. We make a motley crew, especially since Mag is still a walking stone gargoyle, but I wouldn’t exchange any of them for the world.

Inside the castle walls, nearly every available space is cramped with villagers. They line the walls and crowd into the alleyways between the royal shops, some with tents erected as if they’ve claimed the cobblestones as their own.

Despite the masses, my attention is drawn to the obvious pageantry going on inside the castle itself. Trumpets are blaring. Banners soar, decorated in the royal colors and crest. Something important is going on.

I start forward anxiously.

“What’s the celebration?” Paige asks one of the villagers.

“The royal wedding, of course,” the elderly woman replies gaily.

Paige and I exchange a glance, and then I’m hurrying through the crowd.

I lead the way into the castle and straight to the throne room with the others close on our heels. Guards pull the doors open for us, each one lowering their heads in recognition once they spot me.

Inside, I come to a stop as I sweep the large room and the absurd number of people in it.

High vaulted ceilings cause the hum of voices to echo loudly. Massive columns, intricately carved with images of dragons, are wrapped in gold and silver ribbons. Large tapestries, each one depicting battles and dragons, hang between large arched windows.

I look past all the decorations, my heart thudding wildly.

At the end of the aisle, my mother stands on the raised platform in front of the double emerald thrones meant for the two rulers of Astronia. On either side of the thrones are large twin statues of dragons in smooth marble, their ruby eyes fixed on the crowd.

But I can’t look away from the couple standing before my mother. The male is my height, but where I have the muscles, he is lean and lithe. Even if I didn’t know my brother’s figure, I’d know him by his dress. The overdone finery is typical for an event such as this, but even if it weren’t, Leo has always preferred the extravagant.

Beside him is a woman dressed in white and heavily veiled.

This isn’t any wedding.

This is my brother’s wedding.

And a coronation.

“Uh-oh,” Mag says loudly.

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