“Please, don’t—”
She canted her head in disbelief. “Would you tell Auraelia to stay out of it?”
“I uh—no. I wouldn’t. Not that she would listen to me if I had.” He palmed the back of his neck.
“So why try to force me to?”
“You’re my sister, Yvaine. I don’t want any harm to come to you.”
“She’s the love of your life, Daemon! She is the one you would bring the world to its knees for. Being your sister doesn’t even compare. Though I appreciate your concern, and goddess, do I love you for it, little brother. But I am a grown woman. And much like the woman you love, I will make my own decisions for my own life.”
Daemon stared at her for a moment, her reasoning swirling through his mind as his conversation with Sariah trickled back in.Sariah was right; she really is so much like Auraelia.
Tonguing a canine, Daemon nodded in acquiescence. “Alright, sis. You win.”
Yvaine’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she reached out her hand. “Bind it. I want your binding word that you will not try to keep me from the battlefield.”
Daemon gave her a wry smile and clasped her forearm, her long, delicate fingers wrapped around his in return. “You sure you want to do this?” he asked, his brows rising. Magically binding a promise wasn’t something to take lightly. Though it wasn’t as serious as a blood bond, it still held weight, braiding the participant’s magic together until the promise was fulfilled…or broken. It’s said that when a bonded promise is broken, it would drive the offender mad. Cause their goddess-gifted magic to turn on them, destroying their minds, bodies, and souls. Though Daemon had never heard of someone breaking the commitment, he certainly wasn’t going to be the first.
When she gave him a curt nod, he blew out a steadying breath and recited the binding spell. “I, Daemon Alexander, Crown Prince of the Sapphire Isle, do so swear that I will not inhibit Princess Yvaine Cordelia, firstborn of the Sapphire Isles, from participating in the upcoming conflict with the Court of Garnet.” After a brief pause, he added, “Unless her life is in imminent danger.” Yvaine’s mouth opened to protest, but Daemon narrowed his gaze. He’d let her help win this war, but there wasn’t a chance in hell that he would let her fall at someone’s hand.
Yvaine released a resigned sigh and said her lines to complete the ritual. “I, Princess Yvaine Cordelia, firstborn of the Sapphire Isles, hereby accept Prince Daemon Alexander, Crown Prince of the Sapphire Isles’ binding promise.”
A surge of magic flowed between them, and warmth washed over him. It was like stepping into the surf heated by the sun’s rays all day. Sliding along his shadows in languid movementslike a calm tide. It twisted and twined with his magic, braiding them together in an intricate knot before settling and ebbing away—a kernel of Yvaine’s magic nestling into his, sealing the promise and binding him to his word.
As they released each other, a loud knock sounded at the door. Crossing the room, Daemon pulled open the door to the same flush-faced guard who had brought him his father’s summons.You’ve got to be kidding me. Snatching the missive from the man, he closed the door with more force than necessary and flipped the parchment over. Only, instead of his father’s cobalt blue seal, pearlescent wax with twin-crossed swords pressed into it stared up at him.
Not wasting any time, Daemon broke the seal and opened the letter.
“Fuck.” Within a few words, his entire plan shifted. He’d planned on returning to Lyndaria—to Auraelia—the next day. But now? He couldn’t just ignore the summons. If Lady Aesira needed him to come to Opal, it meant that something was wrong.
“What is it?” Yvaine asked, closing the distance between them.
Daemon passed over the note and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Shit,” she hissed under her breath. “What do you think it’s about?”
“I don’t know. But I know I need to find out.”
Chapter Thirty
Auraelia
Dark clouds loomed overhead, casting the city in a dreary gray and bringing a coolness to the air. Auraelia stood on the harbor’s edge, arms folded protectively over her chest, hand clutched around her sapphire. The steady warmth of the stone and the pulse of Daemon’s magic brought her a semblance of comfort as the wind bit through the wool and leather of her clothes, billowing her cloak out behind her. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing there—just watching the ships bob on the water as sailors scurried about their duties—and it wasn’t until she felt a familiar presence at her back that she pulled her gaze from the horizon.
“He’s not coming back today, is he?” Aiden asked stoically, his gaze trained out over the water just as hers had been.
She shook her head slightly. “No. I got a note from him this morning. Lady Aesira needs him in Opal, though he’s not sure why.”
Aiden met her gaze, sympathy filling his honey-colored eyes. “He’ll be back, Rae. You know he would be here if he could.”
“I do, but the closer the new moon gets, the more anxious I become. I don’t want this war, but I also can’t stand by and let her ruin the realm.” Auraelia blew out a heavy breath, her gaze returning to the water for a few moments before saying, “Come on, I don’t want to keep Demir waiting.”
Aiden turned halfway, his arm extended out toward where their horses were tied off. “After you.”
As much as she missed Daemon and wanted him by her side, there was too much to do, and she was running out of time. Auraelia pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and gave the harbor one last longing look before turning away.
The Blacksmith Quarter was across the city, and as they rode through the streets, hope slithered into Auraelia’s heart. Her people had been working tirelessly over the last week. They’d removed most of the debris from the streets, some areas had begun to rebuild, and tiny gardens had been replanted, bringing life and color back to the bleakness that seeped into their very foundation.
