Vesryn grabbed the sides of her face, hauling her mouth back to his. “Oh, there’s more to my hospitality that I have yet to show you.” His lips swept over hers. “But that’ll unfortunately have to wait for another day.” His eyes darted into his apartments. “I am rather…late.”
Hearing the dismissal, Serenna stiffened as he released her. Well, he did say he has business in the capital even if this feels abrupt.
Serenna tried to walk normally rather than shuffling to Vesryn’s bathing chambers. Since the prince was in a rush to leave, she swiftly tidied herself up and rebraided her wind and passion-mussed hair.
Returning to the sitting room, she found Vesryn staring out of his balcony windows, hands clasped behind his back. The setting sun descended under the island’s horizon, throwing splashes of reds and golds across his silver strands.
“Thank you,” Serenna said, hurriedly adding, “For taking me flying today.” Cheeks heating, she didn’t draw attention to what they just did.
Vesryn turned toward her, one side of his mouth tugging up. “We’ll make a ranger out of you yet.”
Sensing the prince barricading his emotions from the bond to close himself off, Serenna froze. He absently thumbed his bottom lip, his focus seeming to drift.
Worried that something had shifted between them, an anxious feeling claimed Serenna’s mind. Silently chiding herself, she shook out the tension in her shoulders. He obviously enjoyed himself and must be preoccupied with his obligations tonight.
“I’ll…see you later,” she said as the unusual silence constricted the air.
Vesryn straightened and gathered his power. “I can portal you to your rooms.” Essence unfurled, wending around him in a rush.
“No need.” Serenna said weakly, clearing her throat. “I’ll head down to the mess hall. Dinner should start soon.”
The prince simply nodded, his attention wandering back to the campus grounds. To assuage her mind, Serenna almost asked what was bothering him. Instead, she swallowed her concern and left his chambers. I’m sure he needs to inform the council about the wraith prisoners and doesn’t want me sharing in his fretting.
Lost in thought and turning over the last few minutes, Serenna picked at every word. She wove her way through the corridors, heading to the stairs to begin her descent. An overwhelming haze of cloying perfume accosted her nose as she rounded a corner.
Serenna staggered in her tracks, nearly running straight into Ayla.
CHAPTER 20
SERENNA
“What are you doing up here?” Serenna blurted, the words slipping out as she skidded to a halt. She’d never observed anyone aside from the prince’s staff and Jassyn at the top level of the Spire.
Ayla’s manicured brows rose. “I don’t need to explain my presence. But, if you must know…” she trailed off, flashing her teeth. “I’m expected.”
Registering that her sister wasn’t in uniform, Serenna’s eyes popped. A silky emerald gown cinched her slim waist, clinging to her generous curves. Serenna’s mouth went slack at the plunging neckline. The dress was more fitting for a night carousing around court than traipsing through the hallways of the Spire.
Jewels glittering with Essence garnished Ayla’s creamy skin. Her striking, flame-colored hair somehow both contrasted and complemented her regal gown. Ruby locks coiled around a silver diadem studded with matching magic-infused gems. Ayla looked more magnificent than the gathered nobles that Serenna had seen at the start of the term—like she belonged among the aristocrats in Kyansari’s courts.
Like their princess.
The thought plummeted her heart straight to the floor. A monstrous weight of despair settled on her chest as she processed Ayla’s statement. She’s going to Vesryn’s chambers.
“Getting an eyeful?” Ayla sneered, the question snapping Serenna’s attention back to her face. “I know this might be taxing for someone like you to imagine,” she said, venom dripping from her words, “but believe it or not, some of us receive invitations to royal functions.”
Their sire’s eyes—the color of the sea that Serenna now despised sharing—impaled her like a glacial shard of ice. Ayla pointedly sniffed, her ruby lip curling as her gaze roved over Serenna’s sleeved riding leathers.
“I see you’re adopting the same disgusting habits as the prince and spending time around those flying beasts.” Serenna flinched when Ayla reached out and swiped a finger across the shoulder of her uniform, like a disgruntled tavern owner inspecting the level of grime on the bar. “I thought I smelled that reptilian rank from five floors below. I have no intention of satisfying the prince’s every depraved desire if he prefers riding his females like he does those creatures.” Ayla crossed her arms, the motion nearly toppling the rest of her cleavage from her dress. “But I suppose someone of your standing is suited for tending to those perverted needs.”
A sting of heat flushed the tips of Serenna’s ears as Ayla so graphically described the activity she’d engaged in hardly minutes ago. Unsuccessfully masking her dismay, Serenna silently convinced herself that what was between her and the prince went beyond physical desires. He told me what’s between us is more than a bond.
Ayla traced the delicate gems nuzzled against her chest. “I suppose our sire gave you the same advice about getting close to the royal line.” She emitted a breathy laugh, adjusting the jewels. “I have no qualms about sharing, so long as you remember that your place isn’t in court.”
Serenna couldn’t say that the admission even felt like a threat. Ayla didn’t so much as bat those excessively darkened lashes upon seeing her departing the prince’s dwelling level.
Serenna was well-informed of her place, considering Vesryn had escorted her to the dungeons instead of to a ball. Her nails dug into her palms as she swallowed her disgust. I suppose his “obligations in the capital” include entertaining his betrothed.
Serenna finally found her voice, unfurling her fingers before she broke any bones. “I have no intention of partaking in any sharing of the prince.” She wished she didn’t splutter like she was in the wrong, but the impact of jealousy collided with her disbelief.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Ayla flicked an ironed curl away from her eyes. “From what I’ve gathered, your human upbringing interferes with embracing our culture.” She picked at one of her lacquered nails. “A shame really, since all our sire drones on about is how you’re squandering your bloodline’s potential.”
Serenna blinked, wondering if her sister knew about her shaman heritage. But she didn’t have time to worry about it as Ayla relentlessly railed on.
“I’ll suppose we’ll be seeing more of each other up here.” Ayla’s slippered foot toed the purple runner, nose wrinkling as if the rug offended her. “Since you’re not involved in Kyansari’s inner circles, I’m sure you have yet to hear that the prince and I will be wed at the Winter Lunar Solstice. The king demands the stability of the Falkyn line by producing heirs for the realm—especially now with the prince star-bent on leading this silly war.”
A ringing started to mute Serenna’s ears as Ayla expectantly peered at her from under a curtain of lashes, unblinking like a viper poised to strike.
“It would be a shame, really, if the prince perished before we produced offspring. In fact”—Ayla tapped her painted lips—“after our dinner tonight, I plan to have him.” She released a girlish giggle, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Is he as thorough of a lover as everyone in the capital claims?”
Every sentence was a blow, every word a punch to Serenna’s gut. Ayla patiently waited for her answer. As if Serenna had any hope of recovering from that verbal assault. Vesryn warmed himself up with me so he could go all night with her. Is this his way of “handling” the engagement? Serenna flushed further, the rushed moments on the balcony now aggressively ambushing her with regret.
Breaking Serenna’s silence, Ayla’s laugh chimed through the hallway. “Well, no matter.” She dismissively waved. “I’ll find out for myself.” Ayla fussed with her gems again before glancing back at Serenna, her eyes widening with mock worry. “You know what?” She gasped. “While I’m thinking about it, we might not be able to produce heirs since I’m nearly a pure-blood.” Ayla closed the distance between them with a single step, crowding over Serenna with her height. She lifted Serenna’s limp braid, turning over the mahogany plait in her palm, as if inspecting the darker human coloring. “Perhaps you’d like the honor of stepping in as a surrogate.”
Serenna nearly released a bitter laugh, her inability to speak carrying the weight of a thousand unsaid words. Ayla acted as if the likelihood of Serenna conceiving was any greater than her own. She had to assume they both shared a similar cycle as the other elven-blooded—twice a year.
The reminder of Elashor’s degrading expectations doused Serenna with ice, freezing a lump of anger in her throat. Has my worth to the realm really been reduced to bearing spawn for Ayla? I refuse to live in her shadow.
“Anyway, I must be going,” Ayla said, glancing out through the arched windows. “I’ll inquire with our sire if he’d like to consider you as a candidate to carry the prince’s offspring if we’re unable to reproduce—I figure you have enough human blood in your veins.” Ayla slipped past her, escorted by her mantle of fragrances as she glided away. “Enjoy your night,” she said, flashing a vicious grin over her shoulder. “I know I will.”
