Was he only kissing me now that Joslyn was dead and I was his only chance at an heir? Did I blame him? Did I still want his affections if they were fake?
I pulled away from him, no longer drunk on his lips, and reached up to grab my mouth.
His brows dipped in concern as he watched me.
“I respect the position you are in but…” I took a deep breath. “I’m too good to be anyone’s backup plan.” I held my chin high, knowing full well that this might get me killed. This could have been the only reason he was keeping me alive, and now that I was denying him, he would do what my mother warned all along.
He grabbed his chest as if I’d stuck a blade in it. “Arwen, you’re… you don’t understand—”
“My lord!” Regina’s sharp voice came from behind us both and I jumped. “Morning light approaches. If we want to do this and get home under the cover of darkness, we must go now.”
I looked to Drae. “I’m flying. I can carry one on my back.” The only sane way into Nightfall territory was by air. Their borders were the most secure in all the realms.
His eyes glowed orange. “You’ve never carried anyone before.”
“I’m small,” Regina said, “she can carry me. I know how to remain still and not throw her off balance.”
“It’s settled,” I stated, and walked into the barn past the king to take off his tunic I was wearing and shift.
They argued a little outside but I didn’t care. I was going. I felt even more guilty now for kissing the king before Joslyn’s body had barely been dead an hour. I had to seek revenge. When I was fully shifted, I stepped out of the barn and into the open pasture, where the king had also shifted into his dragon form. I gasped as I noticed the small patches of human skin peeking through his black scales, as if he couldn’t fully shift.
“It’s getting worse,” Regina noted, and I froze, the gravity of seeing him like that weighing on me.
His magic was dying without an heir—something I could give him. Something I wanted to give him. He looked at me and I felt an intangible bond form between us. It was hard to explain but it was as if something knitted together, tying my fate to his.
Maker help me, I prayed. Where Drae was concerned I was sure of nothing, only that I wanted to be true to myself first and foremost. I wanted to be loved, adored, wanted.
‘Let’s fly,’ he said. ‘For Joslyn.’
‘For Joslyn,’ I agreed.
I kicked off the ground and flew west with my mind replaying the best kiss I’d ever had in my life. Would every kiss with him be like that? Was it just because it was new and exciting and… forbidden? I shouldn’t be kissing a betrothed king. A king who is now mourning the loss of his future wife.
But was he mourning? He didn’t seem to be. He respected Joslyn but he seemed angrier about her death than sad. Still, it was inappropriate timing and I felt awful. Why would I kiss a man who said nothing when Regina called me the backup? That was the biggest reason of all not to kiss him ever again. These thoughts warred in my mind as we flew towards a fate unknown.
SIXTEEN
We flew low over the Nightfall border, hiding within a dense bed of fog. I’d never been to this part of the realm before, and although I was on a mission I was also sightseeing in a way. Once we reached their main gate, we flew higher into the sky to avoid their detection.
The Nightfall realm had more glass and metal than I had seen in my entire life. Mechanical horseless carriages with lamps in front of them rolled down the streets. And even though it was nighttime, everything was lit up. But there was no flame or fire, it was… a different type of light. A soft, constant glow. The buildings were expertly made. Glass, brick, and metal. All the lines were straight, nothing looked jagged or pieced-together hastily. I regretted to admit it was beautiful, a sight to behold.
Soldiers were stationed everywhere, two on every corner, and they all held different killing contraptions. Metal weapons with projectiles loaded into them. Arrow throwers, spear throwers, and one even had a flame burning from the tip. Fire thrower?
What was this place? A place of invention and technology the likes of which I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams… or nightmares. It was as if the queen wanted to expunge the realm of magic and then use her machines and metal to become magical humans.
‘The queen’s beloved eldest son lives outside Nightfall Castle in his own fort.’ Drae’s voice pierced my mind, pulling me from my thoughts.
‘How do you know?’ I asked as we veered left, away from the bright lights of a far-off castle and towards a smaller village.