“In the War Room with the rest of the battle-ready Warriors,” she said, her eyes rounded with fear. “Where’s the princess?” she asked, making my world come reeling to another halt for the tenth time today.
“Fuck…” I shoved my hands into my hair. “Fuck, I assume the king has her locked up in the King’s Suite. At least, for once, I hope so.” I couldn’t believe I hadn’t once thought of Gray since all of this had begun.
“You need to go to the War Room. Find Dad. Figure out what’s going on,” Hazel urged. “Stay vigilant.”
“Right. Just had to check on you first,” I said, relieved that at least one thing went right.
“I’m fine,” Hazel insisted with an eye roll. “Now, go change into your gear.”
A few minutes later, I found myself back in the stairwell for the third time since leaving Aunt Amethyst’s office. As I reached for the handle, the building jolted again; this time, worse than the first. I threw my body weight against the door to hold my balance. “Godsdamnit, Chrome. What is happening to you?” I muttered to myself as the building’s quakes subsided.
I sprinted through the hallway until I reached its center, snatching the door open. A room of battle-ready Warriors awaited me, all facing the front where my father headed it, ordering instructions and layouts of where to strategically place specific squadrons around the King’s Palace’s perimeter.
I waded through the crowded room. No one paid me any attention as I did, all too focused on the plans being displayed ahead of them. They were all under the belief that we were prepping for an Elemental attack, so I needed to garner my dad’s attention and somehow pass the message along to him that that was unnecessary.
As soon as he made eye contact with me, he faltered in his speech. I shook my head and waved my hand in a slicing motion, which was the universal sign for “call it off.”
My father frowned, so subtle that no one else would’ve caught it unless they were looking for it. But I insisted, shaking my head again, reinforcing my point. Elementals weren’t the target.
My father cleared his throat to recover his hesitation, returning to the dry-erase board he’d marked all over with black and blue marker. “Let’s take a five-minute break to see if any new information arrives regarding the latest attack.”
Warriors broke apart and loud chatter erupted in the War Room where everyone began discussing amongst themselves their theories of what was happening and what threat awaited us. I pushed ahead, approaching my dad.
Setting down his pen and paper, my father faced me, his Warrior mask on and his tone hard in his greeting. “What do you know?”
“This isn’t an Elemental attack. No matter what they say. Chrome…”
My dad’s eyes widened in realization, and he turned away, mouthing the word, “Fuck.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure. Also, Royal Okrafor—” I ran my hands down my face, exhausted. “She’s been spying on Chrome via Onyx for the king,” I said in a low murmur, ensuring no one could hear.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
I fought against the urge to shrink back, his anger roiling from his shoulders. “Unfortunately, I’m not. She told me herself,” I retorted. “She was a bit proud about it, in fact.”
“That little—” My father cut himself off before insulting a woman, even if that woman happened to be Royal.
The door slammed open to the War Room, a loud boom gathering everyone’s attention. A freshly inducted Warrior with hair the color of stardust burst in, out of breath with fear oozing from his aura in massive waves. “Sir! I am to report”—He inhaled a rough breath—“that Chrome Freyr…” the Warrior struggled not to hyperventilate on his next words. “Chrome Freyr is dead. He was killed by the lost Elemental prince, Griffin Silas.” The room plummeted into a sickly silence, but the messenger wasn’t finished. “The king just declared war.”
Chapter 35
Slate
Loose pebbles on the rooftop crunched beneath my black combat boots. Dawn painted the Atlanta skyline pale pink and purple. Spring was in full effect in the south, the warmer breezes melting our frozen bones and colorful blooms splashing the landscaped shrubs nearby. Even so, an iciness flourished inside me.
I took my usual spot on the ledge, stupidly expecting Chrome to take his beside me. I fought back the emotion that choked me, trying to puzzle out how everything had gone so badly so fast. Chrome, Peri, and nearly half of the Warrior Guild were all dead. The king claimed it was Prince Griffin Silas’s doing. But ChromewasGriffin. So, did that mean Chrome was actually alive?
Whatreallyhappened yesterday? I had my theories based on what little information I had, but there was so much that still didn’t add up.
I watched the flow of cars grow with each minute the sun peaked higher in the sky. Time lapsed in a void as I sat, my mind racing with the endless questions while the guilt deflated me.
I sensed Onyx and Hazel approach me from behind. The pair of them took a seat on either side of me. Hazel wrapped an arm around my shoulder, resting her head on it.
“Onyx has some things he needs to talk to you about,” my sister said, her voice so gentle it sounded like it’d break.
I glanced to Onyx on my right, lifting a brow.
