Queen of Seas: Dragons Rising Book Three by Alisha Klapheke

Author:Alisha Klapheke [Klapheke, Alisha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

“Halt!” Two Jade guards in their humanlike forms flew over the palace entrance’s three sets of narrow stairs and barred Vahly and the rest with drawn swords.

Not so long ago, she would’ve quaked in her boots at these two. Now as she stood in bare feet, in contact with the earth and her magical birthright echoing through her blood, the guards seemed like wolf pups. They could bite, but they weren’t much of a threat if their parent wasn’t nearby.

“I am your Earth Queen, and you swore allegiance to me. Now move your green tails before I pull this mountain down on your heads or your matriarch hears about this infraction and fries you both for her supper.”

The guards growled, but they flew from the steps and allowed the party to pass.

“Nicely done,” Arc whispered, his voice teasing but still heavy with grief. She’d seen warriors like him set sadness aside like they were taking off a pair of boots for the night. It seemed Arc too had this skill.

“Thank you,” she said. “I think I could get used to this whole queen thing. How do you feel about being a king?”

His magic curled around his head, his crown luminous against the sun setting beyond the palace stairs and the far-off northern mountain range.

“I feel more like your equal now, and I can’t say I don’t enjoy that sensation.”

She smiled, wanting to keep joking but afraid to hurt him by saying the wrong thing.

The palace entrance’s ceiling disappeared into the dark, the lower reaches lit by large beeswax candles that smelled of honey and wildflowers.

“That, I did not expect,” Vahly said, gesturing to the nearest flame.

Arc lifted an eyebrow as he adjusted his cloak, his movements slower than what was normal for him. “I would’ve guessed they’d use the bodies of their enemies to light their hallways.”

“Yes, exactly.”

He almost laughed, but it seemed as though the shadows of those they had lost tore the smile from his lips. Vahly understood. He would need time to move forward after the loss of so many friends and family. He might not be able to truly laugh for a long, long time.

Heart aching for him, Vahly reached for his hand, then quickly brushed his palm with her fingertips before pulling away. He glanced at her, eyes sincere and unblinking.

It’s so much to bear.

The candles’ light appeared to soak into his skin and bones, making him luminescent. As the Elven King, he was the embodiment of the oldest power on this island. The dark color of his eyes—like pools of Blackwater—drew Vahly closer. Arc was so many things to her now. Friend. Ally. Confidant. The one she looked for first upon waking.

She didn’t say anything back. She just took his hand again, this time gripping tightly, pouring some of her strength into him.

They walked on, the candlelight pooling on the palace corridor’s floor. Soon, they reached a guarded arch that led into a massive space with a dais and a throne of jade.

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