Page 73 of Only Flames Remain

King Mavros and Queen Odessa were seated atop their thrones, but they weren’t alone. Emrys stood to their right, hands clasped behind his back and shoulders rigid. He was in his official uniform, the black tunic pressed clean and the navy-blue accents along the collar glistening beneath the torch’s blazing light. The silver crest of the dragon was clear where it was stitched against his breast. His stance was wide. Formal.

I cocked my head to the side in confusion. I had clearly missed something in Ren’s memo to return home. I realized that there were two Vireth standing before the throne. I had initially missed their dark forms, my vision still blurred from the rain. I stepped forward to allow my gaze to focus on them. One was a tall man with severe features, his head shaved close to his scalp, as if he had begun to lose his hair and decided to be rid of it entirely. This was far from the typical style of the Vireth. Beside him was a woman equally tall, with features equally severe. Her raven black hair fell to her waist, the top layer pulled tightly behind her head to showcase her sharply pointed ears.

She turned her gaze on me, and I met her glowing amethyst eyes with startling clarity.

I knew who she was.

The sigil of the moon goddess, Nytherion, was placed against her forehead in a silver glow, a smattering of pearl-colored stars surrounding it.

Morwenna, the Princess of Ravenscar.

That would make the man beside her Eldrin Grimlock, King of Ravenscar.

I swallowed hard, embarrassment flooding me. Rensford had said they were travelling to Gothryn, not that they would arrive this very night. I met my father’s shrewd gaze and could feel his disappointment rippling off him. This was certainly not the first impression he wanted me to make on my betrothed, and the king with whom we were attempting to secure an alliance.

I cursed myself for not heading up to my rooms to change before seeking an audience with my father and the queen. I pressed a hand to my chest and bowed.

“My apologies, your highnesses. I just flew in from Stormgaard and I’m afraid I encountered a vicious storm along the way. My father had sent word for me, and I wanted to attend to him at once.”

King Eldrin laughed, turning toward me. “No need for apologies, my boy. We were expecting you.” He nodded toward the grand arched windows behind the throne. “We saw you flying in. Your dragon form is as formidable as your father’s.”

Even more so. The words remained unsaid between us, lingering in the air.

I bowed once more. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

He bowed in return. “You as well, Sorin of Blackwater.” He turned toward Morwenna, extending his hand toward her. “I would be honored to introduce you to my daughter, Morwenna of Ravenscar. Blessed by the goddess Nytherion.”

I wasn’t sure I had ever seen anyone blessed by the old gods with my own two eyes before. As the saying went…the age of the gods was long over. It had been centuries since they were last seen. They had abandoned us, leaving Aeloria and never looking back.

I took the princess’s extended hand and kissed the back of it politely. Her skin was smooth and cold. She was beautiful, but there was something frigid about her countenance. Her long, onyx hair fell straight to her waist. It was beautiful, but the way she wore it made her look severe. She was tall and lithe, the perfect specimen of Vireth fae.

Her deep magenta gaze settled on me. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Sorin. You are not at all what I expected.”

I laughed, but it sounded forced even to my own ears. “You expected someone a little more…dry?”

She laughed in return.

King Mavros appeared happy enough.

I couldn’t help but compare the fae woman before me with Aveline.

They were alike in that they had hair the color of midnight, but that was where the similarities stopped.

Morwenna’s hair was jet black, where Aveline’s was highlighted with reddish-brown strands throughout. Morwenna’s features were cold, her skin pale. Aveline was pale as well, but her cheeks were round, the apples always flushed with a rose-colored tint. Aveline’s ears were rounded, where Morwenna’s drew into a sharp point. Aveline was short but with ample curves that only accentuated her frame. Morwenna was taller, slimmer and sleeker.

She was fae, after all. She was to be my equal. To rule Gothryn at my side.

The thought sat in my stomach like a lead weight.

Queen Odessa spoke from the dais for the first time. “King Grimlock and Princess Morwenna will be staying the week, so that you two may become acquainted with one another.”

My stomach sank even further.

I couldn’t leave Aveline in Stormgaard for a week. I opened my mouth to protest as much when Emrys pinned me with a glare that told me to keep my mouth shut. For once, I heeded his advice, saving that argument for another time.

King Eldrin smiled up at Queen Odessa before turning his gaze on me. “It is our hope that by the end of the week we can secure the alliance and finalize all of the details.”

Did that mean…no.