I nodded to the scribe in the corner to stop recording. “All right. Go on,” I replied.
“A unique crystal, unknown to most, resides deep within the enchanted mines of my kingdom,” Folliade said. “It possesses an uncommon capability referred to as the multiplication crystal. Due to the need to maintain impartiality, I cannot give it to you directly, as that would compromise my neutrality. However, you could mine them yourself. I will authorize a border permit for three crystals, one for each of the remaining livestock towns. They only work on nonmagical objects, so do not try to multiply your dragons. It will not work. Onceactivated, a crystal can replicate only a single item until its power is drained.”
My unchecked rage was abruptly halted by shock. Perhaps somewhere beneath that bedazzled exterior, I still had a friend, even after the mess our fathers left us.
Caddver, head of the Fire Temple’s Council, proposed a compromise with the Kingdom of Terrain's council for our fathers’ crimes—one meant to avoid open war. He called it a cleansing. In reality, it was an execution. My father and Folliade’s were put to death, and by morning the responsibility of our kingdoms had been dumped into our laps. We inherited fractured people, a fragile peace, and a rivalry forged overnight. Whatever alliance we had was gone. So was our friendship.
“Folliade, on behalf of the Fire Fae, I cannot thank you enough. I will leave right away.” I held my fist over my heart and bowed my head to the Lord of Land in gratitude.
“Don’t thank me yet, Titus,” he said. “You do realize you cannot be the one to claim them at the border. You will need a non-fire Fae to accompany you and officially take possession. Give me their name, and I will sign off on the permit. I cannot have my people believing I am helping Titus, Lord of Flame, son of the Lord who kidnapped our beloved queen and ended our alliance.”
He paused. “Also, my assistance comes with a price. I have reason to believe our missing queen is still alive and possibly in your kingdom. I want clearance to search for her.”
Not a friend, but a bargainer. A trade between rulers. It was clear now, though that did not make it sting any less. I should have known. Nothing is ever free.
“I have been telling you for years. My father had nothing to do with the disappearance of your mother, Folliade. And do not forget, you are not the only one who lost a mother that night. Your father, inretaliation, crossed into my kingdom and murdered my mother in cold blood.”
Flames erupted from my body, then fell away into flecks of ash like soft rain, the only sign of the pain and sorrow I still carried for her loss. I took a breath, forcing myself to compose. “What reason do you have to believe she is alive and in my kingdom?” I asked.
“A month ago, on my mother’s birthday, in the middle of the night, I was delivered a moonstone. My mother’s favorite,” he explained.
“I am failing to see what that has to do with the Kingdom of Flame,” I retorted.
He continued, “A fire sprite flew through my window, and hand delivered the stone to me, Titus.” His eyes were serious, filled with both pain and hope.
I pressed my lips into a thin line. It was suspicious, but not entirely conclusive. Fire sprites, for the most part, live only in my kingdom due to the warm climate. They do not fare well in the others, so I understood why he had drawn that conclusion. Still, if I had any chance of winning this war and saving my people and dragons from slaughter, I would need those multiplication crystals. And besides, I had nothing to hide.
“Fine. I will grant you the clearances needed for you and two others to search my kingdom and castle. There will be restrictions, of course. Remember, Folliade, you may be my childhood friend, but you are no longer my ally,” I declared coldly.
“Of course, My Lord.” He bowed his head and replied mockingly. “What is the name of the non-Fire Fae companion you will be using to claim the crystals at the border?”
Aurelius interrupted, “You do realize we could simply glamour our Fire Fae features and use a fake name.”
The gems on Folliade’s arms shimmered as they caught the sunlight when he turned his attention toward my Master of Dragons. “Of course, but it’s the principle of the matter. If I were ever questioned by my council with a truth stone, I could, with all certainty, say that I did not sign off on three multiplying crystals for a Fire Fae.”
“Ah, the breakfast service is here. I’m starved!” the captain announced, and the gathered captains and advisors dispersed toward the buffet table, leaving Aurelius, Cercies, Folliade, and me at the map.
“Delilah Raye,” I said plainly. If I need to leave, I’m taking Delilah with me. I do not trust my second and third in command around her without me.
Aurelius narrowed his eyes at me. At the very mention of her name, I caught the shift in him, something more than simple interest, something deeper and harder to ignore. I felt him brush against my mind, wanting a private exchange, so I opened it to receive his thoughts.
"Why her?"He asked in my mind.
-Thanks to my father’s twenty-year war over the queens, there are not many non-Fire Fae left in our kingdom, and certainly none that I trust.
“You trust her? I didn’t realize you and Delilah were so… close.”-Well, she will be my mate, Aurelius. I should take the time to get to know her.
"I should accompany you. I can work with her on her dragon skills along the way.”
-No need. I am capable of training her as well, or did you forget that I fly the largest dragon in all Nevaehun? Besides, I’m sending you and Cercies to the remaining livestock towns to see what can be done to increase our defenses and security, so this won’thappen again.
“Surely Cercies and his battalion could handle that without me.”
Why won’t he fucking drop this? How dare he be so insubordinate? I am his High Lord. I had really hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but I think I know what this is about. He does not want me to be alone with Delilah. I saw the way he hesitated before releasing her when she moved to kiss me.
-Last I checked, I was High Lord. Aurelius, do you really want to challenge me?
He gave me a graceful smile and shook his head. “No.”
