Onyx groaned. “Please tell me.”
“I can’t wait for the king to get everything done with her that he needs to, so he can finally announce that I’m his true daughter, the rightful heir to the Kinetic throne.” She giggled and then made a dreamy sigh.
Onyx’s finger motions froze, as did I. “What do you mean by that?”
“Ah, I’ve been literally dying holding onto this secret for so long. It’s great to finally be able to tellsomeone. Much less you, my love. Isn’t it great? You can be my prince!” Royal’s excitement was unsettling.
Clearly, someone was lying somewhere. “How–how is that possible?” Onyx asked.
“I was my daddy’s best-kept little secret all these years. After you and Chrome fled like the cowards you were, I worked diligently to earn my place by the king’s side. After busting my ass to become a Warrior in the Guilds, I proved my undying loyalty to him. But he’d always been partial to me over the others. I’d always thought it was because I stood out with my cunning talent and skill. But the truth was something far better than I ever expected. I was actually his birth daughter. And one he was actually proud of, unlike the brat that tramped all over our home for so many years, wearing the fucking crown. He’d made me promise to stay quiet about being his daughter because I was considered illegitimate, and he didn’t want the people to hate me the way they rightfully hated Gray.”
Royal suddenly dropped her façade of being aloof and horny as her mask slipped from her face. “When Father appeared at the Charleston Domain with Chrome in tow, I knew it was my time to shine. I just needed a leader to replace me there first before I left.” For the first time since Onyx and I arrived, she turned to face me. “Looks like your dad has earned himself a pay raise, Sjodin. What a disappointment you turned out to be. A traitorous Inquisitor. I wonder how bad it’ll hurt your daddy to watch you die for your crimes, just like he did with your mother.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Gray
The spray from the ocean misted against my face as its harsh waves crashed into the cliff face below. The wind gusted against me, silencing the world as I basked in my element. I thumbed the letter in my hoodie pocket, thinking now would be the perfect time to finally read it. Something stopped me from pulling it out. I still wasn’t ready to read her only words to me yet.
Slate stood beside me as we watched the wretched sea lash out its aggression. We’d found a balcony during our exploration of the Druids’ home. It wasn’t until we stepped out onto it that I realized we were inside the massive cliff Chrome had traveled us to. For some reason, the rage from the sea and wind soothed me, maybe because it matched the inner turmoil that I worked so hard to ignore to function.
“I knew you’d like it here!” Slate yelled in order to be heard over the wind.
I smiled and breathed deeply, rejoicing in my element, which seemed to be in heaven itself. I pulled from the sunlight to replenish my Kinetic magic, but it wasn’t the same as it would be if I had anysort of electricity or technology, which was completely absent in the Wind Kingdom. Everything here was old and run by Druid magic.
We hadn’t seen Brecken again since he bid us goodnight last night. However, during our walk, we came across many Druids, going about their day. Many were dressed in brown leather warrior attire, strapped down with weapons that appeared older than time itself. Others wore tunics, and some were even barefoot. Men and women alike bowed as they passed by, welcoming me into their home and offering their respects.
At first, I was caught off guard. The trauma from my life growing up in the Kinetic Palace still left scars, causing me to expect disrespect or disdain. But with each interaction, I found the Druid’s kindness easier to accept as I allowed myself to acknowledge the fact that I was meant to be a queen in this realm. The reality set in that in order for that to happen, I would have to somehow unite Kinetics and Elementals and bring them back to Arcadia.
“Being at peace suits you,” Slate said directly in my ear, loud enough for me to hear. “You should try it more often, ya know.”
I turned to look at him, feeling balanced within myself for the first time in months. With a grin, I said, “You should try relaxing sometime instead of worrying about me so much. I think it would suit you.”
“I’m relaxed when you’re relaxed.”
“Well, be at ease then. Because I feel free right now,” I said, holding my arms out wide to embrace the wind.
Slate fell silent, and I glanced at him, worrying if I’d said something wrong. “What?”
He just stared at me, eyes glazed, like there was nothing else in the world around him. “You. I just—” He paused. “You never cease to amaze me, Gray.”
“I never thanked you, by the way,” I began. “For always being there, even when I was unaware. For loving me, even though you knew the truth. I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing.” Slate’s expression crumbledmomentarily before he recovered. “It’s been my honor.” His voice strained through the hoarseness.
My smile faltered as I felt pulled to comfort him. His hazel eyes glimmered as he absorbed all of me. “Slate…” I started reluctantly. I wanted to pull back, but I was rooted in place.
Slate shook out of his trance. “Gray, I’m sorry. I just…I’ve always had this pull to you. It’s due to the Guardian Bond we share, but even aside from that, I will always be in awe of you. I can’t stop that or change it. But I know where your heart lies. It would destroy me if you did something you later regretted, again.”
I shook my head. “I don’t regret the other night, Slate. Not in the slightest. What I do regret is not having known the truth of what happened to you. That you had to sit back and watch me fall in love with Chrome when you never got proper closure.”
Slate forced a smile. “I always knew what was to come, Gray. You were never fully mine, and I accepted that, regardless of how much I loved you.”
“I regret not ever knowing your true self. You had to hold yourself back for me.”
“And I’d do it again if it meant?—”
“Slate, no. You deserve your happiness, too.”
