Beneath the shatter, p.11
Beneath the Shatter, page 11
Wandering through the garden, I let myself relax as I mapped my surroundings. According to the king, locating the necklace was probable. But the question was who would get to it first, and if the king’s men did, how would I ensure I could get it without raising questions? I would play the part if it meant I could get my sister and myself home safely.
With the Festival of Nightloc approaching in two days, the increase in guards and patrols was imminent, meaning my hands were tied to wait for the king’s patrols to locate the necklace.
I wondered how Nightloc affected those with magic and power. Did that mean their powers weakened over time? The king had described it as a night of power where those with magic in their blood were at their strongest. My distant thoughts were interrupted as I felt something warm and furry pummel into my legs and fall to the ground at my feet. Glancing down, I noted rusty red fur sprinkled with streaks of darker brown, tiny, pointed ears perked up as it looked around in confusion.
I heard a quiet rumble before a larger wolvyn appeared in front of me. My feet involuntarily moved back, as I watched the wolvyn shift before my eyes. In the wolvyn’s place stood a woman a few years older than me, amber hair braided to the side and warm emerald eyes meeting mine. “I’m so sorry. I hope he didn’t scare you.” She rushed on to say, “We are still working on the running coordination of shifting, aren’t we, Theo?”
The small wolvyn at my feet nodded its head in remorse as he padded over to his mother. “I’m Gea,” she said in greeting.
Smiling, I replied, “Cassandra. And no worries, no harm done.” I laughed.
She studied me for a moment before stating, “You’re her, aren’t you?” I stared at Gea, confused by her statement. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that most of the men have been sent off on patrols today for the king. I heard rumors around the Palais about a woman losing something valuable to the king and given that I haven’t seen you around here before, I’m guessing you’re the reason?”
“Um, yes,” I replied, taken aback by her direct statement and unsure of what I was supposed to reply or how much I should share.
“Well, whatever it is that you lost. I hope for your sake it’s found. You don’t want to be around if the Capetians don’t get their way,” she replied before shifting, little Theo following along after her as I stood there wondering how my pendant had suddenly become the most sought-after object in the Vanaiyer realm.
Chapter Eleven
Emalyee approached me following breakfast the next morning, informing me that I would need to be measured for dress alterations for the Festival of Nightloc happening the next night. Emalyee filled me in on the details of the festival, gushing over the dancing that would take place that night while I was measured. She raved about the drinks, the dresses, and the men. Reminding her that she already had a man, Emalyee laughed as she spoke, “Dravyn can use a good challenge every so often. It doesn’t hurt to remind him he’s not irreplaceable.” She grinned.
“Emalyee,” I scolded, laughing along with her.
“What?” She smirked. “You have no room to speak. I saw you eyeing up Kode and Ryker at the pub the other night. Speaking of which, we really all need to get together again.”
“I was not,” I swore, even as my mind raced back to the two towering men I had met last night. Even in the low lighting of the bar, they had been extremely well-built and dangerously attractive. “What’s the deal with them, though? They seem to know Dravyn and Sébastien well.”
Emalyee nodded. “Well, as you already know, I tell stories far better than the guys. Years ago, five little princes met in the training yard here before a realm meeting. Those five little princes were inseparable. They grew up together, stole young girls’ hearts together, and got into more trouble than one might believe. As time passed, the power struggles between the lands grew. Certain rulers wanted more power than others. Before all went to hell, those five princes formed a blood bond, swearing to be there for each other no matter what. To this day, they still all get together, wreaking havoc in the courts.”
I stared at Emalyee in disbelief. “You’re absolutely terrible at telling stories!”
“How?” she responded, feigning hurt.
“Five princes? Blood bonds? You have a lot more explaining to do.”
“Oh, right. I keep forgetting that Sébastien hasn’t shared much with you. He’ll warm up to you eventually, I promise. Well, I think. I’ve never seen anyone push his limits quite like you seem to.”
A burst of laughter split through my lips, the seamstress muttering for me to stay still while she finished. “Oh yes. I’m sure the big, bad wolf of Verastarr will warm up to me,” I sarcastically responded. “Now spill please.”
“Well, you know Kairon is first in line for the throne of Verastarr. And Sébastien follows him, although he’s been raised to take over the King’s Wolvyn Guard rather than rule the political side. Ryker, who you met the other night, is a faerie, the first in line for the throne of Reggeon. And Kodrayn, a vampry, is the King of Avyon—his father passed on two years ago. And then Dravyn was a syren in line for the throne for the East Engles, but his father was murdered when he was young, and his mother sent him here. As for the blood bon—”
“Wait.” I cut in. “There’s no way the two drunk, flirtatious men at the pub are royals?” Emalyee merely laughed as I continued, “And Dravyn? If he’s a royal, how come he can shift to wolvyn form? Do syrens have the power to shift into lots of creatures? You really need to work on your storytelling.”
“As I was saying…” she continued. “The five of them formed a blood bond. It’s an ancient magic rarely done anymore. It must be done with absolute dedication and love. They traveled to a cave hidden in a mountain range bordering Verastarr and Avyon where an Elder lives. They perform this ritual where their blood is mixed as their powers blend, then it's inked back in them. And that would be why they all have the same inkings across the left side of their chest. Those inkings are unlike their tattoos because they are bonded by magic to each other.”
Shock was plastered across my face as the seamstress announced she was finished. “I don’t know why I’m so shocked,” I heard myself saying.
“As for Dravyn. That’s his story to tell. You’ll have to ask him if you want to know. But, I promise my backstory is nowhere near as complicated. I was merely the princess of Nordak. Kidnapped at a young age and forced to live a life switching homes every year until I met Dravyn at the Festival of Nightloc three years ago,” she finished.
I stared, my mouth opening to speak, with no words making their way out. Emalyee doubled over in laughter then. “I’m only kidding.” She paused, gasping for air. “But the look on your face. My father is a high-ranking soldier of the Wolvyn Guard for the king. Although the part about meeting Dravyn at Nightloc is actually true. Remind me to tell you that story sometime. It involved a good deal of wine, a chase through the courtyard, and ended with me stabbing him in the leg when he tried to move too fast,” she finished with a grin.
My breathing returned as I glared at her. “I am never letting you tell me another story again. I feel bad for Dravyn and the stories he must have to endure on a daily basis,” I shot back.
“I’ve got to run, but make sure you make it to dinner tonight. I’m sure all five guys being together tonight will provide quite the entertainment.” I nodded as she turned and skipped off.
I walked through the gray corridors, following various sets of stairs as I avoided the wolvyn lounging around the Palais until I found a quiet room at the end of an unlit hallway. Opening the door, I let myself in, taking in the sincere peace that exuded from the sunlight streaming into the room, playing with the shadows. I walked the perimeter of the room before laying down, the cool tiles sending chills across my body. My mind turned over the information about blood bonds and princes while I stared at the intricate design of the wooden panels that held the ceiling in place high above my head.
How long I laid on the floor, letting a chill sink into my bones, I’m not quite sure. Something about the angelic serenity of a secluded room in a Palais allowed me to find a moment of peace and escape, something I hadn’t felt enough of in my life lately. The stillness quieted the raging war of thoughts and fears brewing in me. A sharp yelp sounded from the doorway, and I pushed up, looking to see a wolvyn barreling through. The sound of boots thudding across the tiles followed behind the wolvyn. The fluffy, white wolvyn leapt behind me, using my body to shield itself as a breathless Kodrayn barged through the open door, skidding to a stop at the sight of me on the floor, a wolvyn cowering behind me.
“Well done, Matteo. Finding the prettiest lady to use for protection, however, that won’t help you join the ranks anytime soon. This game is far from over, that I promise you.” The younger wolvyn scampered off happily.
Pushing off the ground, I wiped the dust from my pants as I looked over at Kodrayn, taking in his tousled onyx hair that was shorter on the sides with a slight curl on the top. “Do all wolvyn understand mortals?” I questioned.
“Yes,” he responded as he leaned against the doorframe, his amber eyes glimmering as they reflected the sunlight. “Wolvyn are mortals with power in their blood. All wolvyn can understand mortals. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go the other way around,” he said with a laugh.
I nodded. “So,” I drawl. “A king, huh? I think you missed that part of your introduction the other night,” I teased.
He feigned shock. “Me? A king? Who would have thought.”
I laughed. “Why are you and Ryker here?”
His face turned serious, his voice sharper as he spoke. “The Festival of Nightloc is held in a different land each year. The royals from every land come for the festival. It just so happens that Ry and I arrived before the others.”
“You mean the King of Nordak will be here too?” I prompted. Kode nodded. His face was a mask as I reflected on the new information. “What happens at this festival that every ruler would come together despite the constant conflicts?”
A cold sensation I had begun to recognize brushed over me, chilling me to the bone as Kode opened his mouth to respond, “Every year—”
“Kodrayn,” an all too familiar voice broke through the air. “Ryker is looking for you in the training yard, and why the hell am I being asked who let the wolvyn in training play chase throughout the entire left wing of the Palais?”
Kodrayn turned, greeting Sébastien before glancing back toward me. “And that’s my cue. I’ll see you later, Cass. Be sure to save me a dance tomorrow,” he said with a wink.
“Like hell she will,” Sébastien growled as his friend left the room, chuckles rumbling in his wake. His eyes hit mine as he stalked toward me, a predatorial glint lying beneath the shadows.
Standing my ground, I watched his advance. “And just when my day was going so well, look who decided to show up.” My voice glided through the air. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Sébastien came to a stop in front of me. “The festival tomorrow must go well. Not only will there be heightened tensions from all sides, but this missing artifact has also added lots of complications. I trust that you will be on your best behavior, non?”
Scoffing, I met his gaze. “You truly think I don’t understand the importance of tomorrow night? That necklace is my way home, the only way to see my family and friends again. The only way to get my life back. I will do whatever it takes to get it back, I guarantee you that.”
“Just checking, princesse. After all, you have a tendency to sneak around, disobey orders, and infuriate those around you.”
Laughing, I responded, “No, Your Highness. I don’t infuriate those around me, I infuriate you. I do believe that all your friends found me quite charming the other night at the pub.”
Sébastien pounced at the remark, backing me up against the stone wall, seething as he said, “I’ve made myself clear, have I not? I don’t have time for games, not today. Certainly not tomorrow. I have enough to deal with and now I must spare guards to look for an ancient artifact that you miraculously managed to lose when you showed up. Do not test me.”
“No one asked you to make a hero out of yourself and help me find the necklace,” I responded with venom. “Just let my sister and I be on our way if we are such a nuisance to you. We will find the necklace and go home on our own without some dark and hardened prince controlling every moment of our lives.”
He bent his head, looking me straight in the eye, his icy blue orbs glaring daggers into mine. “If it were up to me, you and this entire mess would have been dealt with. The only reason you are still here is by the order of my father and the fact that you alone can wield the power bonded to the pendant that you once wore.”
“Why? Why is my pendant so important? Why does the king want it? Why is the entirety of Vanaiyer searching for it?” I cried in frustration.
Sébastien stilled for a moment, his eyes capturing mine. “Whoever holds the power in each pendant will hold more power than any current ruler. Find one artifact and they can start to take over Vanaiyer, find all three and there are no limits to the power they can wield.”
“It’s not like I knew what the pendant could do.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But either way, you brought the pendant back to this time. And now, it has become my problem to deal with,” he snapped.
Glaring back, shaking slightly with rage on the inside, I rose to the challenge. “Then don’t waste your royally precious time speaking to me. Go back to your marvelous commanding lifestyle,” I mocked with a gesture of my hand. “How your friends manage to tolerate your constant brooding is eternally beyond me.”
Sébastien stormed out of the room then, leaving me in a place that no longer felt like a safe haven, but echoed with hatred. I slid downward against the wall, burying my face in my knees as I relived the conversation I just had.
Picking myself up off the floor, I headed down the series of corridors and stairs to find Kateya, realizing that at some point soon, I needed to tell her everything I had learned regarding the pendant. How important it was and how much larger of a role it played than either of us thought.
Chapter Twelve
Peeking into Kateya’s room from behind the partially cracked door, I admired how beautiful she was growing up to be. She and a new friend she seemed to have made were getting ready for the festival. Parts of Kateya’s wavy, blonde-brown hair were braided in intricate coils. She wore a navy-blue silk gown that hung low off her shoulders and flared out down to the ground. Kateya was breathtaking, and as I stood to get ready in my own room, I couldn’t help but wish our mum could be there at this moment to see her.
I slowly walked the remainder of the way to my chamber and let a woman a few years older than me, who had introduced herself as Nyrai, help me prepare for the inevitable, inescapable events of tonight. Preparation flew by in a flurry of passing time and before I knew it, I was standing in front of a mirror, ready to go.
Looking at the reflection, I hardly recognized the girl in front of me. My light brown hair was set in waves cascading down my back, the lighter blonde-brown streaks braided down the sides, framing my face. My blueish eyes with specks of green sparkled, lined with charcoal black liner, and a rouge tint emphasized my lips. My gaze lowered, taking in the breathtaking deep crimson gown that fit my body. From the off-the-shoulder, sheer red sleeves draping down my arms to the lowered v-cut stopping below my breasts, the dress was stunning.
A night breeze drifted through the room, teasing the edges of my dress, making the slit down the left side of the dress crawl higher, exposing my hip. I stared in the mirror, looking at the exposed skin, my fingers tracing down the visible scar etched there. A reminder of that night from years ago, as claws had sunk into my shoulder and side, leaving three angry stripes across my skin.
I glanced over to Nyrai. “I look—this dress is just… wow.” I breathed with a laugh.
“The dress fits you perfectly. You look stunning,” she replied with a smile.
“Thank you for helping me. My hair would have been in chaos without your help.”
As Nyrai left, I was hardly aware of the passing of time, instead, being encased in my own thoughts on how tonight would go. Sébastien came to collect me from the bedroom. He paused, caught off guard at the doorway, looking me up and down with a satisfied grin before the two of us walked gracefully in steely silence down toward the festival where I only imagined hundreds of citizens filled the halls.
We had nearly made it when Sébastien's father beckoned us aside toward a private corridor. Taking a single look at the pair of us, the king spoke, “Any disagreement between the two of you will be settled right away. I will not risk the importance of tonight with whatever anger the two of you are threatening to unleash on each other.” And with that, he led us into a room in the corridor and locked us inside to settle our ‘dispute.’
I turned toward Sébastien, glaring at him before stomping off to a far corner of the room and settling down for what I presumed to be an extremely long, uncomfortable night. An hour or so passed in a deadly silence, neither of us giving in to speak to the other. Eventually, I couldn’t take silence anymore. I stopped my pacing, leaning against the wall as I addressed him. “Do you have anything to say, or are we going to sit here in silence until we rot and die? Either is just fine with me, I just want to prepare for what sort of night I’m in for.”
Sébastien gave a dark chuckle. “If I had anything to say, I doubt I would waste it on you, princesse.”
