Page 61 of Eluvonia
Shura huffs, standing over me like a victorious predator. “Such a waste of time,” she mutters, shaking her head.
I scowl at her from the floor, propped up on my elbows as I try to catch my breath. Shura starts walking toward the door, her staff resting casually on her shoulder. Just as I think she’s leaving, she stops and looks back at me, her expression sharp and condescending.
“By the way,” she says, her voice foreboding, “you’d better back off the Prince and my brotherbefore Kai’s betrothed shows up. Or it won’t just be your pride that gets bruised.”
She strides out of the room without another word, leaving me gaping after her. My brain struggles to process what she just said, but one word keeps ringing in my ears like an alarm.
Betrothed.
Kaida has abetrothed?
What. The. Hell.
I push myself to my feet, rubbing my sore backside as my thoughts race. Why wouldn’t he mention something like that? And why does the idea of him having a betrothed feel like someone just punched me in the gut?
I shake my head, trying to banish the swirl of emotions threatening to drown me. Instead, I focus on the anger—anger is safer.
“What the hell is her problem?” I mutter to myself, throwing the towel at the weapons cart in frustration.
My gaze drifts to the door where Shura disappeared, and for a brief, foolish moment, I consider chasing after her to demand answers. But what would that accomplish?
I sigh and slump against the wall again, staring up at the ceiling. My body aches, my pride’s in tatters, and my mind won’t stop replaying Shura’s parting words.
Betrothed.
I close my eyes and groan. “What the actual hells, Kaida?”
***
The sun is setting, painting the town below in strokes of gold and orange. From Kaida’s balcony, the view almost makes me forget the suffocating reality of the castle. Almost. The cool evening breeze brushes against my skin, but the weight in my chest lingers. I grip the railing tightly, trying to push away the bitter thought that I’m not a guest here—I’m boundhere by the bond. A bond that keeps me tethered to this place, like a captive with no escape. I may get sparring matches and share fancy quarters with a gorgeous Dragon male, but I’m still trapped.
I sigh, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The sparring match with Shura earlier left me sore in places I didn’t even know existed. She fights like she’s trying to make a point, and judging by the smug look on her face when she left me gasping for air, I think she succeeded.
The guards in the hall were the cherry on top. I hadn’t realized the extent of my limitations here until they stopped me from venturing beyond Kaida’s wing. Their blank stares and unwavering stance were enough to remind me—this castle isn’t mine to roam.
I left a note for Kaida before retreating here, hoping he’d at least spare me a moment of his oh-so-important time. The wait has been long enough that I’m starting to wonder if he even read it.
The sound of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts. I glance over my shoulder and see Kaida and Declan entering the room, laughing and shoving each other like mischievous schoolboys. It’s disarming, seeing them like this—carefree, human. Kaida’s laugh is deep and rich, while Declan’s is lighter, almost infectious.
“Well, well,” I say, turning fully toward them and walking inside the room. “Look who finally decided to show up.”
Declan strides toward me with open arms. “Aeris!”
I slap his arm before he can hug me. “That’s for disappearing on me,” I say, glaring at him.
He feigns hurt, clutching his arm dramatically. “Ow!”
I slap him again, harder this time. “That’s for sending Shuraas my sparring partner. What was the goal to kill me?”
Declan chuckles, clearly unfazed, but I’m not done. I deliver one final smack, this time on his shoulder. “Andthatwas for not telling me you’re a goddamn prince.”
Declan’s laughter echoes in the room as he rubs his shoulder. “I missed your fire,” he says, pulling me into a hug before I can protest. “It’s been way too quiet without you by my side.”
Kaida is standing off to the side, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. When I turn my glare toward him, he raises his hands in mock surrender and says, “What? I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh no,” I say, plastering a sweet smile on my face. “You didn’t do anything… except forget to tell me you have abetrothed.”
Kaida tilts his head, his smirk softening into something almost apologetic. “I assume Shura told you that?”
