“Oh, I can’t reveal my wolf,” Halo said in a panic. “I’m not allowed. My siblings have always said not to.”“She’s right,” I said to them as I walked up from the castle. “Wolf mages are not safe, especially around Polonius. Halo needs to keep her wolf hidden until she’s much stronger both in magic and in muscle.” I flashed Halo a sweet smile so she knew I appreciated her efforts to train.Halo laughed. “Exactly.”“This is why I’ve told the troops that Sire Vanoire is the only royal mage in the kingdom. That sounds solid,” Bindi said, and she continued to work with Halo as I joined Lex’s training.Halo and I worked all morning before meeting citizens in the receiving room. The crowds were still coming in strong, but their numbers were dropping off a bit, which gave us some time to catch up and take a breather. We still saw about a hundred people a day, but I was happy that many of those who had joined our kingdom were building houses on their land and setting up farms, shops, and busin
It wasn’t like him to retreat. Something was wrong and I had to know what it was. I followed the fleeing Crypt Claw, trying to grab one to ask them how he was able to enter the city.Just then, the Crypt Claw who had slowed down to scrabble over a rock paused when Polonius yelled, “Slaughter!”Suddenly, the Crypt Claw soldiers who were surrounding Polonius, the ones who hadn’t entered the city, started to kill the retreating Crypt Claw warriors. Each and every one was mercilessly attacked and left in a bloody heap on the ground. The entire scene was a bloodbath, and all Polonius did was watch his soldiers die. What was happening?I looked over at Polonius and wondered why he’d kill his own men? The look on his face was one of pride and triumph.“You’ve gone mad,” I said as I looked at Polonius.“Ask me who they are? The ones who are dead and bleeding?” Polonius’s face was calm and cold.“Who are they?” I rasped, not wanting to know.“Those who could not pay their taxes. Amadeus spelle
Lex looked hurt and dejected, as if hearing the very word “love” in association with Polonius had broken him. “I’m a diplomat now, and yet, I’ve done very little that is diplomatic other than try to free Amadeus and spy on Polonius. I might want to explore that role a little more before I’m king.” Hearing him say that struck my heart. “I don’t think marrying Polonius is the right decision at all, but maybe marrying me isn’t, either.”Was this goodbye? I didn’t know what I’d been expecting from our conversation, but I wanted him to understand that I was planning on staying in Onyx Rah. I couldn’t claim to love him if I forced him to stay with me, I knew that. But still, having him not say that he was willing to stay hurt.“Does this mean you're leaving?” I could hardly ask without crying.“I think the two of us need to take a pause until Tobran is safe from Polonius,” he said. “We aren’t living as a couple right now, and you and I don’t like sneaking around. You have the Royal Guard an
“In light of this attack, I think we should solidify the court and have a coronation for our queen,” the Minister of Infrastructure said, standing to his feet. “We need to make political connections in Voltaire, not just Tobran. The queen needs to be recognized and supported throughout the territories.”He was a tall, dark-skinned man with hair shorn to his scalp. He had to be around forty years old, and like the Minister of Administration, he was serious. It was why I’d chosen the both of them—they had previously worked together in similar positions in the Obsidian Valley. While they had not been ministers, they were high-ranking with vast expertise. Both had a letter from Ellestria Culp highlighting their qualifications and giving her blessing to them as they embarked on their journey back home to Onyx Rah.“What are you suggesting?” Bindi asked the minister as she looked at me. “When you say you want to solidify the inner workings of our court?”“The queen must be crowned and named
“I’ll guard her with my life for the rest of my days,” Bindi replied. “And thank you, Lex, for working with the troops. They are in the best shape they’ve ever been. When you return—if you return—I’m positive I’ll have more for you to train.” She looked at me with a hopeful smile, and again, I felt like I was abandoning them.“Keep me updated with your military progress,” I said. “You can send messages through the troops, and I’ll get word. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Just use your airship if there’s an emergency. Get Aria away from Polonius at the first sign of trouble.”Onyx Rah had one airship, which was being used daily to bring in supplies for the encampments from Angeline Falls and the Obsidian Valley. The vehicles Lara Goldlace had gifted Onyx Rah were also being used to transport soldiers to their posts.Bindi knew that I meant for her to drop everything and rescue Aria from Polonius, above all things.“I warn you, Lex, don’t do any kind of investigation witho
“Halo left?” That wasn’t good news.“Yes, almost immediately after bringing him,” Cheyenne said, giving me a confused glance. “Why?”“She’s not been seen back in the castle at Onyx Rah.” I shook my head as my worry spiked.“Do you trust her?” Of course, Cheyenne asked the first question I would.“I don’t trust anyone but Aria. So, no. However, she doesn’t strike me as the type to do something risky like liberate Amadeus, then turn around and betray Onyx Rah. ”Halo would never have put her heart and soul into raising a kingdom, just to betray it.“It’s strange that she’s missing, though,” Cheyenne commented, pondering the mystery of Halo’s disappearance.“When Amadeus recovers, we’ll have his support in fighting Polonius. That will account for something.” I hoped we were making the right decisions.“Here’s hoping he recovers quickly because we’re going to need something soon,” Cheyenne said. “The ports have been under constant attack for several nights now, and we’re exhausting our ma
Chapter 29Aria“And what of the coronation?” the Minister of Administration asked. “We need you crowned queen. The longer we go without an established sovereign, the more vulnerable we are to take over.” The short man with a grim countenance had a point.“We’re waiting for Halo,” I said. “Bindi and Sire are trying to find her. I must have my beta here before I can make any decisions. Halo, Sire, Bindi, and myself are the final word. I must consult with them before we move forward with any plans. I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but we have people out looking for her now.”I was in the newly decorated Grand Salon, where I would meet with my beta, mage, and head of the Royal Guard, and, on occasion, other advisors such as the Ministry of Administration. While I understood the minister’s intentions to be well-meaning, he was a frustrating man to relate to because he was relentless. The fact that Halo couldn’t be found, however, was deeply worrying, all the more so because the minister’s u
Chapter 30LexI tried working with Amadeus to access his memories and restore his spirit, but he was so lost to the chaos of his own mind. I hoped his amnesiac state was only temporary. It was strange that he had retained some of his memories, but not all. He referred to me as if I was still a child, even calling me by my father’s name on occasion.“Come on now, Helix, don’t indulge the boy,” he scolded me as I brought him into his workshop. “With the queen pregnant, you can’t have him running about like a wild stallion. He might topple her over in the halls unexpectedly.”I led him to where a comfortable bed had been arranged for him.“Prince Cheyenne was born twenty-one years ago,” I said, trying to jar Amadeus’s memory and remind him of where he was. But whenever I did, he just looked at me as if I was the crazy one.Then, as if things weren’t bad enough, my wolf felt that Aria was in dire distress. Every nerve and muscle in my body had pulled taught, and I stilled my mind to try