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“You need not apologize for something you had no part in. I reacted badly, and for that, I am sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for your grief. There’s no time limit on how long one can feel endless agony from loss. Congratulations, Zyion. You’re human.” His eyebrow lifted as if he didn’t fully agree with the assessment. A smirk lifted my lips as I rolled my eyes. “Part human, then?” Just then, a loud rattle echoed throughout the exterior of the room.
“Times up, they’ve found us. Let’s go, Your Majesty.” Zyion jerked me toward him and then lifted his hand, allowing me to see the glittering gold oil sparkling on his thumb. “Do you promise to always put the needs of your people before your own? Nod, Aria.”
I nodded.
His thumb drew a cross over my forehead before he dipped it into the glass container for more of the oil.
“Will you always listen to the cry of the land and ensure it receives what it needs to thrive?”
I nodded, and this time, he ripped the front of my gown open and painted the symbol of the sun on my chest.
“Kneel,” he ordered, pushing me to my knees before him.
Zyion whispered something inaudible, and his turquoise-colored eyes sparkled with specks of gold. The same gold burned wispy lines under the flesh of his eyelids, webbing as it slid down his face, neck, and vanished beneath the long-sleeved shirt, which he’d replaced the other with. Power erupted around us so forcefully that my thoughts swam and lips parted. Esme released a soft gasp, and I wanted to tell her I was okay, but there was no way to form words around the magic. My dress turned to ashes against my flesh. In its place, a crimson dress with an ombre skirt the color of succulent tangerines covered my legs. Zyion clasped a gold necklace around my neck. On it, hung a medallion depicting the sun melded with a sunflower. Next, he knelt in front of me and slid golden arm cuffs that matched the necklace up my arms until they were secure around my biceps.
Still kneeling before him, I closed my eyes as he, at last, placed a citrine-studded crown on my head. When his fingers slipped beneath my chin, forcing my chin up, I didn’t resist him. Narrowed eyes held mine fleetingly before moving to the side of my face. Pushing my hair from my ear, he placed the matching earrings in each of my earlobes. The moment he rose and stepped back, he offered his hand, assisting me to my feet. Flicking his finger, a mirror appeared before me. Staring at my golden reflection, I peered at the crown which had rainbow prisms within the pure, polished citrus points pushing from a thin golden band.
“All hail the Sunfire Queen. Long may she reign.” His deep, soothing baritone flooded the chamber, then the sound of others echoing his words forced my chin to jerk toward the main entrance of the chamber. “Long may you reign, Your Majesty.”
“Long may she reign,” Esme whispered before kneeling at my feet. Zyion was next to take a knee, and then Eva.
“I’d summon the land, Your Majesty. The doors preventing your uncle from entering the city won’t hold for much longer,” Zyion offered.
Closing my eyes, I whispered to the land as he’d advised. Within moments, rumbling sounded from behind us. It forced me to turn, eyeing the plain throne that had appeared.
The throne, if you could even call it that, was a wooden chair with white cushions, which looked discolored. I cringed as I imagined dust filling the chamber as my ass touched the dingey thing. I inched closer, then carefully sat down, expecting the dust cloud to ensue. The moment I sat on the wide, off-white cushion, vines wrapped around my wrists, locking me into place. Panic rushed through me as it held me in place. More vines slithered around my ankles, which caused dread to trickle down my spine. A gentle whiff of suntan lotion, ocean breeze, and fresh-cut flowers wafted through the air around me. It reminded me of the one time I’d visited the inlet outside Haven Falls.
A vine pricked both of my index fingers, causing a shimmer of magic to encase me and the throne I sat upon. Wincing as it drew more blood, I shivered as the haze grew thicker, denser with magic. The cushion beneath me raised, alerting me to the fact the entire throne was altering from the taste of blood it had taken. Tiny phoenixes began carving into the wooden arms, then pushed out of the wood to zip around in front of my face. Greenery sprouted from the sides, expanding until vines and foliage covered the high, arched back of the throne like a canopy above my head. Sunflowers began blossoming around and above me, vibrant color splashing against the emerald of the vines and flora. Roses, snapdragons, and chrysanthemums sprouted, then bloomed around my body providing silken petals against the hard, wooden arms. Every shade of the rainbow colored the throne in delicate flower buds.
Next to me, trees thrust up from the floor, shattering the rock as if it were a mere inconvenience. Beneath my feet, green grass sprouted through the cracks the trees had created, spreading until my feet rested on a soft, plush carpet of verdant grass. The small phoenixes sang as it etched other small creatures into the wood, only to do as the tiny magical birds had done before them. I ended up on a throne that appeared to be designed for a woodland princess and was surrounded by a beautiful landscape of greenery and flowers.
I refrained from pouting that I didn’t have a similar throne to Knox’s. Or dragons, because that would’ve been badass.
“Holy shit,” Esme’s shocked outburst forced my mind from my throne, to where she stood, wide-eyed, with her mouth wide open. “You…holy shit, Aria.”
Eva suggested, “You should address her properly,” as her gaze drifted over the throne I was seated on.
“You are truly beautiful, Aria. Unfortunately, there isn’t time to sit around and gawk at your loveliness.” Sarcasm dripped from his words. “We have to leave.” Zyion demanded as one of the Karnavious brothers jerked back the curtain.
“They’ve broken through the doors and are already searching for her.” Basilius pointed, then his eyes widened as he took in the sight of me and the insane throne that sat in the center of Zyion’s chamber. “Gods, she actually is the queen?” His brothers chuckled, but the sound was cut-off when the sound of steel meeting stone started to get louder.
“Aria, you need to call the Keeper of the Knowledge and demand entrance into the library,” Zyion urged.
“How the hell do you expect me to call him?” I asked. Closing my eyes as a soft puff of hair whistled between my lips, I sought the Keeper of Knowledge. “I demand entrance into the library.” Opening one eye, I peered around, frowning.
“Mean it, Aria. We’re out of fucking time,” Zyion encouraged.
“Keeper of Knowledge, I, Aria, Queen of Sunfire, demand that you grant me access to the Library of Knowledge. Now!” Power slithered down my arms as I turned toward the breeze drifting against my naked spine. Relief flooded through me as I peered into the familiar space of the library. Smiling as I realized I’d called it to me, I yelped as Zyion grabbed my arm and hauled me forward into the library, the others following closely behind us. The moment we were through, a collective exhale of relief followed as it closed, sealing out those who were scouring the City of Dragons for me.
“Peasant?” called a familiar voice from behind me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Aria
Thesoundofchairsscuffling over the floor echoed through the library. I stood in place, smiling as my gaze wandered, looking for Knox. I’d brought the Karnavious brothers along with us, which was causing sounds of amazement and shock as Killian, Brander, Fade, and Greer rushed forward.
