Page 36 of The Storm of the Empire

“When you say it out loud, I want to vomit.” She clutched her stomach. “Who would do such a thing? And why?”

“Who knows. Maybe to build an army?” It’s all I could come up with. “Or perhaps simply to weaken one?”

We exchanged a look. It was clear we needed to find out, but it felt so huge that we both just settled into contemplative silence.

Finally, the storm began to die down. “Thats a relief,” she said, eyeing the ceiling. “I probably missed dinner. My dad will be so disappointed.”

The concept of a caring family was so foreign to me, I almost couldn’t fathom why someone would care about missing a meal.

“You should go if you think they will be worried,” I offered. It was probably time for me to get back to my room if the priests were likely to be moving around soon.

“Don’t you want me to help you look around?”

“Do you think we can do so safely?” I asked.

“Of course you can—with my help. You need it.”

I had doubts. I didn’t want her to be a liability if she wasn’t truly invested, but I also couldn’t say that to her. “If you’d rather send me on my way…”

“No. You need the help, and Nyx is my friend. I will help you find answers for him.”

“You cannot breathe a word of this to anyone else. You must swear to me.”

“I swear. But no promises on how long I will help if I think you’re doing something wrong. I will fly straight back to the First Kingdom.”

“I won’t do wrong. I swear it.”

THIRTEEN

HAZEL

After the danger had passed, we crept from our cellar, hoping to look around while the priests were still below, but we were too late. They were moving around, checking the temple for storm damage, so we decided it would be better to leave. I encouraged Luka to come home with me, so we could regroup and think about our next move.

We emerged from the temple as the skies cleared. The storms rarely lasted this long, but the opal fields and storm glass collected after this event would be prosperous.

As we walked through the still quiet streets, I took in the damage. Our cities were built for the havoc the weather ravaged, but there were still casualties. Roof tiles missing, things left untethered blown clear to the Ninth Kingdom or beyond.

We were used to it, and as long as the gems were fine, that was all that mattered.

Luka followed me as I picked a path through the debris in the street. Coming over the crest of the ridge, he gasped as he took in his first view of the gem fields.

I surveyed the damage, keeping an eye out for my brothers.

I wasn’t allowed to work in the fields as a child. All the women in Storm were sent to training when we were three years old, and because I’m a dragon, as soon as I was old enough, I went to school in the First Kingdom. Sometimes, I longed for the life my brothers had, the families they’d started. I knew it was because the women here were honored to be more than storm tenders, but I also had to wonder how much simpler my life would be had I been able to stay here and find my own purpose.

Luka broke my train of thought. “What are all those massive stones?”

“You really don’t know?”

“I think we’ve covered this. I have gaps in my knowledge, but I’m working on filling them. Why would you have a field full of massive stones?” He scanned the field, staring like most fae did when they came here for the first time.

“They are black storm opals. Exceedingly rare and delicate, mined from the Far North. They are our main energy resource and one of the only ways life persists in this Kingdom with so little sun. They are extremely sought after and at risk of theft. They keep us alive—which is why we have to guard them so closely.” I gestured at the low towers and the fae in the fields.

“Why would anyone steal something that keeps your people alive?!” He stepped closer, reaching out like he’d take my hand, but he hesitated at the last minute, lifting it to shove his fingers into his hair.

“They are used for a lot of magical objects and are quite valuable.” Maybe I shouldn’t have been telling him any of this, but it was no secret. “They are one of the greatest gifts from the Goddess because not only do they thrive in the storms like we do, but the disruptive magic in the atmosphere opens the heart of the gem allowing the little sun we have to charge it. With the power penetrating deeper into the stone, they become stronger and last longer.”

“So they are out here all the time?”

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