Page 55 of Moon Raven Rising
“Your doubt is causing the pain.” Her voice and touch startle me, but I swallow hard. Knowing it can change things if I tell her anything about the vision, but the feeling in my arm—the burning pain radiating up the inside of my arm and into my chest—hurts more than any pain I have ever felt before. “Ambriel?” She whispers my name.
Lifting my chin, my watery gaze meets hers. “To fail my bonded oath is death to a war maiden.” Tears fill my vision and spill over my lashes as I continue, “Even if my heart wishes you would make another choice. I am yours to wield; my blade is yours to command.” I say solemnly.
“You speak as though I have given up on why we are here. As though I have taken Osiris as a lover…Is that what you think?”Hurt flashes on her face and I immediately feel uneasy. What was I supposed to think?
“You seemed very intimate with him…” I start but clamp my mouth shut.
“You had a vision.” She puts together what I’ve said with my reaction and pulls me into her. “You have nothing to worry about. Where is Dax? He will tell you.” Maki speaks up to her question.
“Dax isn’t here, Raelle.” Maki speaks up to answer her question. A deep V begins forming on his forehead.
“He has to be. He left. Well before I did…” Raelle’s mouth falls open and the dragon screeches into the sky—both of them looking in the direction of the castle.
A deep vibrating rumble carries on the cold breeze, sending a chill down my spine as I watch the large dragon flex its enormous wings before flying low in a circle over us.
“Something isn’t right…” Raelle says as she watches the beast. Her jaw tenses as she then looks around at the crowd that has surrounded us. I can sense the unease coming from Raelle and I think the dragon as well. I can feel their concern over whatever is going on with the two royal men. Trent grabs my hand and laces his fingers through mine; the connection helps ground me, and as I look back at Raelle, a change snaps into place on her features.
“We need to get to the Soule Mountains. Maki—move the soldiers. Send everyone to the wastelands; we need to go to the caves at the base of the Soule Mountains.” She demands, and he immediately starts giving orders to the soldiers. Her bright-white, feathery wings unfurrow from her back, and even in the mundane gray dress she wears, she looks every bit the warrior queen I knew she would become.
“I don’t know what you have planned, Raelle. I’m sorry I—”
“Don’t apologize. I’m glad you questioned me. How could I trust thatyouwere a true friend if you didn’t?” She says, rolling her lips into a small smile. “We will have time to talk more later. I think more dragons are coming this way, though. We need to get these people moved,fast.” As if summoned by her order, the screeching of a dragon in the distance echoes through the air and sends everyone around us into a frenzy of motion.
“Bracarva, help me keep them safe.” I hear her mutter as she spins on her heel and sweeps low, plucking a sword from a stockpile of weapons one of the young armorers had started loading into a cart.
I reach down into myself, seeking the guidance of my magic. I’m met with the gentle caress of my air magic and the soft static that is the essence of everything else, and I know—whatever happens next, one thing is certain—the moon raven is rising.
Chapter forty-three
Sitting on the hardground, my head tilted skyward and pressed into the stone wall at my back. I close my eyes, thinking about just howfuckedmy life has become. I don’t know who I blame more, the man who raised me… Or myself for allowing him to corrupt my mind? I guess it doesn’t matter either way.
Soren Croix will see me rot in this dungeon, his son or not. He won’t care if I never see another ray of sunshine or if my wolf basks in the glow of the moon. My head shakes at the mere thought of him caring about anything other than himself and what he deems important; what he’s always considered the most important.Power.
“What did you mean that ‘it’s almost time’?” I ask the question, my voice lost to the void. The shadows down here are all-consuming. The man who spoke could very well be right next to me, and I wouldn’t know with how dark it is. He doesn’t answer though—only silence stretches on.
Banging footfalls sound in the distance, and I straighten my spine as I wait for them to enter the dungeon. It’s likely my father, or rather, he probably doesn’t even care to do the torturing himself and sent his men to deliver it. The heavy door squeals as its hinges swing wide, allowing the door to open. The man standing in the wedge of light shocks me.
“Imagine my surprise when I heard where the great Croix heir was being held… I couldn’t believe my ears,” King Phyrrohs says as he enters the darkened place. His silhouette is lit from behind by the orange glow of the flames from the sconces in the hall, and the deep shadow he gives only grows as he comes closer. “Gods tell, what is going on to land you inthissituation?” He asks curiously, his tone mocking. He tucks his arms behind him as he reaches where I sit. From where I stand in the darkness, he sounds very much like his son, but where Osiris is emotionless, King Phyrrohs has an allure to his voice. A deep song that calls power to him.
“You’ve come to the wrong place if you are looking for answers. This is where secrets come to die.” I choke the words out on a dry throat. He crouches down, his face finally showing as my eyes adjust to the flickering light from the doorway.
“I will walk away with one answer here tonight. Tell me why your father denies the fact that the girl he keeps prisoner is in fact the moon raven?” He asks in a whisper. My eyes never leave the shadow that covers his face. He is looking for more than one answer from this question, and he will get nothing from me.Fuck him.I have no reason to trust the King of Valeska; after all, he’s willingly working with my father and seems to have an agenda of his own. Instead, I sit quietly as I wait for his retreat. An air of silence passes before he silently stands and walks to the door.
“Silences are just as much a lie as the words falling from your tongue. If there ever was a time for you to open your mouth andgain the trust of atrueking, now is it.” He waits only a moment before the door shuts between us, blocking the minuscule light and casting me into darkness once again.
“Secrets never die, wolf. They merely become buried under truths and lies. Eventually, they resurface, sometimes like a beautiful flower seeking the light of the sun… and other times… something sinister; as deadly as the winter rose, blooming only when touched by the dark side of the moon.” A craggy voice says from the darkness.
“Oh, now you decide to talk? And in riddles, how grand.” I scoff, my voice echoing through the shadows, but cut off by a loud bang against the door that King Phyrrohs just exited. I pull at my binds, as though doing so will get me closer to the door. I strain my neck to hear what is going on but can’t hear much more than a murmur beyond the heavy steel.
“Fate has a way with its timing. Does it not?” The voice says, surprising me when he is closer than the last time he spoke. Fate has certainly had its way with timing… unfortunately for me, it’s all been a little too late. I know now that although fate is kind to some, it is usually a payment for what you put into the world. Balance, in a sense, and it’s not measured by good or bad, but the impact of choice. It’s not all light and love, or darkness and hate, but sometimes a foggy gray that clouds reality.
The heavy steel door bangs open with force, causing me to snap out of the unfamiliar emotions of regret. I’m met with the glowing embers of Dax’s Raven staring down at me. Behind him the hulking figure of the Prince of Valeska.
“Well fuck me… That queen of yours has a way of making friends, doesn’t she?” I croak the question out and Dax reaches his arm out as he comes to a stop right in front of me. Offering me help to stand. I clap my hand into his and he pulls me to my feet.
“Our queenwas meant to be a leader. Making friends is what she was born to do for Aldramani.” He stares stone-faced into my eyes, and I purse my lips, agreeing with a nod. I have nothing to argue about that. Not anymore. The last few months have shown that to be true, not only that, but Dax was meant for the same destiny. I want nothing else than to see them take their thrones. That and watch my father’s blood spill and pool at my feet.
The rumbling growl of a dragon echoes from beyond, and a roar rattles the stone walls around us before the rippling sound of fire being expelled follows.
