Page 27 of Court of Dragons and Ashes

“We wouldn’t betray you,” I vow. “Your brothers are here if you let us. You are a good king of vile people, but you can fix that. Show the ones who want to change better ways. They don’t need to be the way your father taught. Kick out anybody from your court you don’t want in it. Surround yourself with loyal, strong Water Court nobles. You’re the king, it’s your court. Stop blaming Arden because you’re jealous of him. Fix it with him or you’ll lose Ellelin, and that will break you. Fate has woven us all together, and she has more than one destined mate. She loves him and she’s in love with you. I noticed it straight away. That connection between you both. It was like pure fire, ironic from the Water Court king. But if Elle is anything, she is forgiving and kind. Give her a chance to know the real you.”

“I’ve fucked it up too much, Gray,” he mutters, rubbing his face. “I don’t even know why you’re here, trying to make me feel better. You should hate me too.”

I walk over and pat his upper arm. He looks at me in shock, a shock that I’ve willingly touched his arm. “I’m your brother, and family doesn’t quit on each other when they mess up. I can’t tell you how to fix it, but I know you can, if you try. Let’s find our girl. I have an idea where she is, and then we should go and get a beer.”

Lysander pushes off the pillar, leaving with me, and I pray once to the gods that they help fix how broken my brother is. Lysander is not evil, despite his desperate attempts to make the world believe he is. I know, with some effort on his part, he can be the best king the Water Court has ever had. His people could adore him.

We leave the empty temple, walking past the trees, which sing their own song into the wind, a whistle that only shifters can hear. Lysander shifts first, his brilliant blue dragon burstingout of him and jumping into the air. Shifting, for me, is the only time I feel free in my own body. My dragon roars loud, flooding my mind with the strongest of my wants and desires—Ellelin. We soar together through the mountains of my court, around the familiar peaks and shallow rivers. Lysander stays close, following me back to the main city, where I know Ellelin would be. After hours and hours with her in our secret place, she asked to see more of the city. I took her into the city to show her around, and my people bowed to her as their queen. She might not be crowned yet, but she is my queen. End of story.

Lysander lands next to me on a grassy ledge on the far right side of the city. “Flying around here never fails to make my dragon happy. You have many rivers.”

I chuckle low. “My dragon doesn’t feel the same in your court. Too much water.”

He grins at me for a second before following me through the thick gates of the city. I pick up Ellelin’s sweet scent in the air, like a drug tugging me in, and I can’t do anything but follow until I find her. My dragon is obsessed, almost more than I am, and if we don’t see her, then he will be pissed with me.

Lysander frowns at the countryside on the outskirts of the city, the rolling green hills and stable farms scattered about. The pyramids cast deep shadows around the greens, but the light pours in from outside, from gaps in the mountain designed by our engineers to maximise the brightness in here. A small farm lies in the distance, which I showed her only last night, and I know she is there. “Where are we? Ellelin is near, but why would she come here?”

“To show Arden her new favourite part of the Earth Court,” I answer. I remember her face last night, how all of her lit up with joy. Lysander frowns at me, but curiosity lights his eyes up. We walk up to the barn, and it’s pretty much deserted of any caretakers, which is just as well, considering the noises comingfrom the barn. I’m not too surprised to find Arden and Ellelin together. He’s kissing her, pressing her against the wall, his hand cupping her breast under her shirt. His groans echo around the barn, mixed with hers, and if they are aware we are watching, they don’t show it, as they don’t stop.

I love that they don’t stop. Lysander goes still with fury, whereas I have a completely different reaction to him touching her, holding her, tearing at her clothes. My blood heats and my cock hardens. Lysander swears, turning and walking away, only to smack right into a Scalis, who neighs in displeasure.

The Scalis race, a specialty breed of horses, are native only to my court, and I’m not sure Lysander has even seen one before. They began as regular horses, but now they are far more special than that and they have their own magic. Instead of fur, the Scalis are completely covered in scales. This one has green scales, the same colour as Lysander’s eyes, and it neighs loudly, stomping its hoof on the ground. The eyes of the Scalis are burning green flames within darkness, and each is born with only those eyes in common. “I’ve heard of these but never seen one. I can see why my mate is enchanted with this court.”

“They can run faster, faster than any creature in Ayiolyn,” I boast. I’m proud of my court, and the Scalis are one of our treasures. “My grandfather once speculated that they might be able to run fast enough to stop time. Never tested that theory, but we have solely focused on breeding for the last fifty years. We finally have a strong herd.”

Lysander runs his hand through the mane of the horse, the rows of little scales clinking. “We have horses made of water in my court, but these are something special. Any chance I could buy a few from you?”

A neigh fills the air and I pat my brother’s back. “You only want one to impress her.” He smirks at me, but the emptiness doesn’t leave his eyes. “At some point, you have to accept thatpeople love you, even if you’re an asshole, even if you’ve fucked up a countless number of times. You should speak to your mother about it. About all of it. Tell her your truth, and then we’ll all be able to move on as a family.”

Lysander shrugs my hand off his shoulder, walking away before he shifts into his dragon, blue scales glittering across the sky before he flies out. He still isn’t having one of my horses.

CHAPTER 14

Dawn barely crests outside of the balcony as Lysander and Arden watch the Earth Court with me. Grayson walks out to us, nodding at Arden and Lysander, who stand apart like they might permanently be if I can’t find a way to fix this all. Arden strokes my arm. “You look tired. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“We can wait,” Lysander suggests, a dark promise lying in his words. He has avoided all the times I’ve tried to speak to him alone, and I’m not sure what I’d say anyway. Grayson told me he spoke to Lysander, but he didn’t say much more. I don’t have to answer, he knows what I would say. Emrys cannot wait. I will not leave him there. My air king needs me. “Then we fight, one more time.”

Grayson makes a portal, shimmering water like a veil, burning to life in front of us all. In between Lysander and Arden, I follow Grayson through the portal and out into the Air Court. The throne room of the Air Court is on a giant flat rock, floating in the middle of the blue sky. There is nothing and no one for as far as I can see. Aphrodite and Ares are sitting on a half-circle throne made of white onyx, and it is massive, as tall as a house. There are several rows of seats on either side of a white stonepathway that leads to the throne. The rock spreads out far, but I’m confused about where the rest of the court is. Arden leans down, whispering to me. “The cities are underneath, hidden in the clouds. Flying is the only way between them.”

Lysander’s hand brushes mine, on purpose, as we walk down the path to the throne. I link our pinkie fingers for a second, just to tell him I’m here, before letting go. My heart races when I finally see Emrys. He looks worse than he did a few days ago. Paler, weaker, thinner. I know they said they wouldn’t hurt him, but looking after him, perhaps that was not part of it. I blow out a breath of cold air as we finish our walk, standing before the gods, who are not welcome in our world. Aphrodite doesn’t look impressed now; she’s not laughing or smiling anymore. In fact, she looks downright pissed off. “You didn’t expect me to win three of your tests, did you?”

“Maybe I underestimated the granddaughter of Hera. I knew your grandmother an age ago. You’re smarter than I gave you credit for,” she claims, leaning her head on her hand, her long hair flowing around the onyx. “I always believe love wins, but I am the goddess of love, so I will win this. You will not prevail in this. Not without a great price.”

Grayson’s voice is like death. “Is that the word of a god, or someone desperate?”

She doesn’t answer him. Her eyes flash with anger for a second. She lifts her hand, and Emrys stands. “This one is my favourite, so handsome and strong. I saved him for the best idea.” My stomach feels like it’s full of lead as I try to ignore her. “The test is for you and Emrys alone, and you are not dressed accordingly to fight in it.” Her magic sweeps around me, every inch of my skin it touches feeling like it is being stung by lightning before it fades, leaving me in a long purple ball gown.

I’m suddenly pitched into darkness, feeling Lysander and Arden grabbing for my arms. Then they are gone. I fall, gaspingin the icy air, before landing on a hard surface with a thump that shakes my ribs. I scream on impact, feeling like my shoulders dislodged from the fall as pain shoots through, down my chest. I groan, rolling on my back and trying to look around, but I can’t see anything. She’s blinded me. I trip over the layers of the dress as I stand, bits of it ripping, and my bare feet get cut on sharp stone.

It wasn’t that dark before, and even if it was that dark in here, I think I could see something at least. I reach out into thin air, but there’s nothing, and the dress makes it impossible to move far without tripping on it. “Emrys!” I scream his name, but only the wind answers me, echoing loud and howling away. My voice echoes like I’m in a cave, but it’s so cold here, too windy to be a cave. Suddenly something cold rests in my hand. A key, from the feel of it.

Aphrodite’s voice fills my ear. “Follow the air, trust your instincts, and unlock the cage before he stops breathing. He won’t be able to breathe for long, and if one dies, so does your world.”

Fear slinks into my chest as her voice disappears, and I scream, reaching in the air for her, for anything solid. I take a few steps forward before stopping, feeling like I’m about to stand on something that tips off the edge. I trace the edge with the tip of my feet, knowing I can’t go that way. I spin backwards, walking a few steps until I slam against a smooth, cool wall. Turning, I put my back against it and suck in a deep breath. I need to calm myself down. Breathe and focus. Emrys needs me.

“I’m here,” Lysander whispers into my mind, and I can feel Arden there too. “Grayson is with us. What’s wrong? What is going on?”

“She’s blinded me and it’s hard to breathe here. She gave me a key and told me to find Emrys before he runs out of air,” I reply, unable to hide my panic. What if I don’t find him in time?

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