“Youbetter not be talking about me!”Toricalled back over her shoulder.Avlynlaughed again.Thesound sent a warmth through my heart that had nothing to do with their body heat.Theyleaned close to whisper in my ear, the warm air of their breath ghosting over the pointed tip. “LikeIsaid, very bad attitudes.”
Wewalked until even the commander was barely keeping me warm.WhenInoticedIcould just make out the elegant lines of their face.Thatmeant…
“Daylightahead!” called the princess.Avlynquickened our pace, and a few moments later, we reached the end of our tunnel.Theicy wind whipped me even harder, andIlooked out over a small beach nested against sheer rock cliffs.Theocean that beat the shore was a dark, menacing grey, andIcouldn’t see much beyond our small landing because of the thick mist.
“TheSeaofSpirits,” the commander whispered.Ipushed myself deeper into their side as my shivers resumed.Theywrapped their arm around me tighter.
“Howcan you be sure?”Iasked.
“Mylady,Iwould know this ocean wereIblind and deaf.”Ididn’t have time to ask why beforeToriandJuncame up beside us.
“Nowhereto go,”Juncommented.
“Iwouldn’t be so sure,”Torigently responded. “Iwas always quite the climber, you remember.”
Junhuffed, “Yes, butInever was.Besides, have you climbed since…”Hetrailed off, looking at her arm.Herdress was more torn up than mine, andIsaw a massive scar running around her left bicep.Sheclasped it reflexively under his gaze.
Inthe palace,Ipulled her by that arm, and she had winced.Atthe time,Ithought she was just being dramatic, but now something like guilt stirred in my stomach.
“I’llbe alright; we have little choice anyway.”Shekept rubbing her arm as she spoke.
“Ok, you two, stay here or in the tunnel to avoid most of the wind.Tori, you come with me.”Thecommander released me from their hold.Iwasn’t as gentle asIshould have been gettingJunnext to me in the tunnel’s entrance, butIwas desperate to stay warm.
Wesat shivering together, and he undid his coat to wrap us under it.Wesat in silence, watching the commander and princess dart around the small beach, examining the cliff walls and who knew what else.Tori’stalkativeness had rubbed off onJun.
“Youcan trust her, you know.”Hisvoice was barely above a whisper.
“Howquickly you have forgiven her.”
Hesighed. “She’smy sister,Pallas.”
“Thatmeans nothing.”
Helooked at me with sad eyes filled with pity.Iglanced away soIdidn’t have to see it.Hesighed again. “Itmeans something to me.”
Ileaned my head onto his shoulders, and we didn’t say anymore.Weknew we never had to speak of it.Thissilence was especially loud.Ihad grown used toJun’ssinging; it always lifted my broken heart.Jun’smagic was incredible.Inall my research with my father, voice-channeling magic was some of the rarest, even before magic disappeared.Mostrequired external facilities to control their magic, whether that be glyphs, enchanted instruments, or even magical tattoos.
Junhad never been trained.Helearned to control it himself.He’deven told me it had been easy, natural, although he hadn’t even known that was what he was doing atfirst.
That’swhyHadeonhad been so desperate to claim him.He’dspent the last five hundred years killing or capturing anyone with even the slightest hint of magic.So, when rumors came from thePearlKingdomof a twin with a magic voice, he hadn’t been subtle in his invasion.
I’dbeen so relieved to see him go, knowing thatI’dhave a few weeks of peace;Ihadn’t spared a single thought for the people who wouldn’t survive it.Aslong asIsurvived, that’s what mattered.ThenImetJun.
8 monthsago
Thegardens were barren in the middle of winter.Nothingremained but the frozen earth and a few dried vines; the leaves barely held on in the crisp breeze.Inthe spring, the palace gardens would have this place looking like something out of a dream.Flowersof every color blossomed between stands of the golden ambrosia flower that fueled everything in this empire.Noone was out here during the winter.Itwas a perfect hiding spot.
I’dworn a thick fur coat to keep out the winter chill.Thesoft white fur had come off a mountain cat from theAshenMountains.Therewas nothing magical about it, but there were so few left that the coat was worth more than what most people in the outer ring made in a year.Ilet the dirt touch the hem asIsat on the edge of the derelict garden bed, trailing my fingers through the dead soil.
“Pallas, my love,Ihave someone for you to meet.”Mywhole body tensed as the bottom of my stomach dropped out.Hewasback.I’dseen his entourage coming up the main road of the city.I’dgrown stupid in his absence, bold.
Iclenched the coat’s lapels in my fist, hoping it looked likeIwas trying to stay warm and not hiding my flushed skin.Hopefully, my swollen lips would be mistaken for chapped in the dry winter air, and the chilly breeze would sweep away the scent of ash and rose.
Ilifted off the ice-cold stone and turned to greetHadeon.Hewore his typical elegantly embroidered purple coat with golden threads that glistened in the afternoon sun.Thestraight collar nearly reached his sharp jawline.Byhis side was a boy, but not truly a boy, for he had the body of a tall, slender man and a low voice to match.Hisangular face was clean-shaven and handsome, complimented well by his long dark hair that was pulled back into a tight bun.Hisdeep slate eyes shone with innocence reserved for the very young.Hadeonhad his arm around him, and the boy tried to shift away unsuccessfully.Isaw him flinch each timeHadeon’sbody shifted, andIknew what that meant.
“Pallas, this isPrinceJunKhatoof thePearlKingdom.Ihave a feeling we will all become very close soon.”Hadeongrinned that terrible grinIknew all too well.Helooked at the boy as if he wished to devour him, which he surely would.Ahorrible part of me was grateful for it.Maybethis new toy would distractHadeonaway from me, andIcould have a bit more peace.Howmany toys hadHadeonplayed with and discarded over the years, butIremained?Ididn’t care what happened to them.
ButthenJunlooked up at me, giving me the softest smileIhad ever seen.Itwas hesitant and beautiful, a shy smile many hadn’t seen.
