Lykor’s chest tightened, constricted by a remnant of fear that Aesar had experienced that day. Cracking his neck, he released a breath. In his mindspace, Lykor locked everything away out of sight, shoving Aesar’s residual panic behind the dungeon’s obsidian doors.
Unable to resist the urge now that Kal had brought it up, Lykor sifted through Aesar’s thoughts, living the past through his eyes.
As Kal’s rooms vanished around him, Lykor’s physical body tensed, seeing Vesryn across from him in Kyansari’s library, a century ago. But the coercion’s demands didn’t extend through time like this, moments passed and gone.
His awareness faded into Aesar’s memory—the day that started the beginning of the end.
CHAPTER 11
AESAR
A CENTURY AGO
Eyes sliding toward the hushed debate, Aesar glanced at his mother and Thalaesyn sequestered in a corner of the library. Framed by an expansive wall of windows that stretched the height of the research tower, their table overlooked Kyansari’s glass spires.
Attendants bustled around the queen, categorizing what she and Thalaesyn had determined to be helpful as they researched what had caused the infertility of their entire race. The pair had been studying for decades, organizing the archivists and investigating the affliction that evidently ran rampant across their realm.
Shamelessly sparing a glance toward the library’s atrium, Aesar briefly locked eyes with Kallyn. Heart abruptly banging against his ribs, he ripped his gaze away, clearing his throat.
The youngest in their guard, Kal—as he preferred—was hardly a quarter century older than Aesar and his twin. Despite his youth, Kal had advanced through the warrior’s ranks.
Considering the shadow Kal’s older half-brother, Elashor,cast in the court, their captain’s ambition came at no surprise. But Elashor’s influence with the king hadn’t secured Kal his position. Kal had set himself apart, training to be a weapons master on his own.
Aesar found the presence of their guards in the library more than a little excessive with the capital’s peace. Even the uncivilized humans didn’t risk crossing Alari’s closed borders.
Regardless, their presence was entirely Vesryn’s fault. The queen had assembled a contingent of their personal wardens years prior, thanks to his twin.
Vesryn had plucked every scorching pigeon from Kyansari’s skies with nets of force, shooing the entire corralled population of birds through a portal. Needless to say, the palace’s Winter Lunar Solstice that year was one the nobles weren’t likely to forget. The servants were still cleaning up feathers nearly a decade later.
Vesryn’s exaggerated sigh across from him had Aesar glancing at his twin, who was picking at his nails with a jeweled belt knife. Fully aware that Vesryn deliberately tried to elicit a response, Aesar ignored him.
His brother had yet another new pair of polished boots sprawled on the table, his life’s ambition seeming to be never wearing the same clothing twice. As if noticing his masked irritation, Vesryn’s eyes flicked to him.
Aesar’s attention inadvertently sauntered over his brother’s shoulder to their captain again. Arching a brow, Vesryn twisted around, glancing at Kal.
If you need a private corner to slip off to,Vesryn said through the bond, turning to face him with rowdy delight tugging at his mouth,the tenth level has an excellent alcove tucked away in that labyrinth of bookcases. You wouldn’t believe how effective those heavy curtains are at muffling sounds.He ran the blade’s edge under a nail, amusement rippling off of him.There’s a shelf at the perfect height for bending someone over. I discovered—
Aesar scowled and battled his mortification, his harsh retort cutting his brother off as he fired back his own response.That’s hardly appropriate for his position.
Are you implying you’re the one who’d rather be bent over?Vesryn chuckled when Aesar rolled his eyes.If you’re too shy, I’ll ask him on your behalf. I can’t handle these flirtatious looks for much longer. The tension between you two is so thick, it’s making my—
Throwing out a hand, Aesar punched out a pulse of force. He knocked Vesryn backward, sending him toppling over his chair.
Vesryn growled, picking himself up from the floor. “Are you finished nosing through your books yet?” He sheathed his blade irritably with a rasp of leather against steel. “I thought we were flying today.”
Aesar pointed at the tome open before him, tapping the picture.
Vesryn’s annoyance vanished, eyes lighting up before he rushed to his side. “Did you find more pictures of harpies?”
Aesar swatted Vesryn’s wandering hands away from volume. He switched to communicating through the bond, not wanting to attract attention from his twin’s lack of modesty.I’m not showing you drawings like that again since you can’t stop jerking off to those books.
I’m offended that you think I require books to help with that.Vesryn’s attention darted back to Kal.It’s your fault, anyway. Your insistence to maintain this stubborn celibacy simply because he’s our guard is driving me—
Aesar rubbed his forehead, speaking out loud to interrupt his twin. “This is more interesting than your concerning fixation on harpies.”
Aesar glanced at his mother and Thalaesyn, who were still preoccupied with their quiet conversation. He lowered his voice anyway, directing his brother’s attention back to the volume. “This tome has me questioning the myth of dragons—I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
His twin retained his excitement despite the absence of those fabled female shapeshifters. Leaning forward, Vesryn trailed his fingers over the faded picture of a black dragon that appeared to be chained to the ground.
