Page 38 of Where We Belong

Her jaw is tight, and her green eyes burn with annoyance. But I ignore it, my smile a little more genuine now. My hand lifts toward an empty seat at the back of the room.

“She is here to observe our lesson today. I expect you to make her feel welcome during her very, very brief time with us.”

Some flinch as she walks past, as if the black flames will jump from her hands without warning. We had reassured them multiple times over the weeks that the wards were strong enough to suppress it until help came, but teenagers like to make up their own ideas. The sentries at the door must have had the same thoughts; a few taking up positions at the back of the room. “Right.” A snap of my fingers sends the workbooks marching across the floor, each one floating up to settle neatly onto its desk. Agni’s catapults toward her and slams into her table with a deliciously loud thud. She jerks back, hand flying out to stop it from skidding. I swallow my grin. “You all did well on your recent evaluations,” I continue, “but there were a few recurring errors in your answers about the royal mating bond that need addressing before your finals.” With another snap, pages flutter and come to a stop at the same page. Agni’s eyes narrow as she leans over the hefty volume, which chomps at her fingers when she tries to open it. I may or may not have given her the rogue edition.

“Let us start simple. You were all correct that only those within Feye’s bloodline experience the mating bond, in order to continue the royal line. But you struggled with the complexities of it. So, riddle me this. The first kiss activates it on the male’s side, afterwards, what type of things might he be feeling?” Hands shoot up. “Go ahead, Alastor.”

“Protective.”

“Good. What else?” I say, pacing a little as more hands fly into the air. I nod at Posy.

“Jealous, maybe angry eventually, if the bond stays unrequited for too long.”

My heart warms with pride. “Brilliant, more of this please. But actually, it is so intense that his rage could very well become uncontrollable, especially if sparked by jealousy. And what about physically? Remember, we might have a bonding ceremony coming up very soon, perhaps the final one we will ever see in Sheyole, so it is good to be aware of the customs.”

My eyes are pulled towards Agnis’ grating voice. “Are you talking about me and Kaed, Aiden?” Indeed, I am. But not in the way she thinks. Let us see if she can put two and two together and realise what he has ignited. What burns beneath his skin. I fold my arms, as if to squeeze out the irritation that has risen in my chest. “Anyone?”

The students exchange hesitant glances.

“Wren Junior, what about you?”

His sniper gaze meets Agni’s, those pale blue eyes that run in his family full of mischief. “As far as I’m aware, the male’s body will only work for his betrothed. So, the honourable Captain Kaed wouldn’t be able to, you know, with anyone but you, Princess. You, however, can have all the dalliances you like. Though he might kill them after.”

Agnis’ lips part as though to ask yet another question she could have the answer to if she simply picked up a book or had a meaningful conversation, so I step in because her voice agitates me. “Although a tad crass, you are correct. It is not something one enters lightly. And it is why we usually wait until the ceremony before the couple first kiss, to avoid all of this.”

Frustration is evident in the tightness of her shoulders, as is the fact she really has no idea Kaed kissed her. Hopeless. Perhaps she will have to learn the hard way.

“So, it forces you to love someone? That’s so— how is that fair?” Her voice carries a hint of desperation. I wonder how desperate my father’s screams were in that house, perhaps as desperate as my mother’s as she used her last breath to cry for me.

“No, dear sister.” I lean against the edge of my desk. “It does not force anyone to love. Just to protect, but it can turn obsessive. It ensures the safety and continuity of the bloodline. But you need not worry about the last part.”

Chapter 37

Ashley

I beckoned death, I welcomed it,

no fear of dark or pain,

I think I hate Aiden. No, I know I hate Aiden. I have never loathed someone so much, so quickly, even after hearing a tragic backstory. My name is Ashley. How many times do I have to say it? It’s just disrespectful at this point. When he dismissed his little disciples, I stormed away. There was no way I was spending another second in his pompous orbit. As I stalk towards the palace gates, a white chariot, its wheels blazing with fire, comes to a stop near the front entrance. Pulled by something half horse, half human. My jaw drops and all that annoyance fizzles into nothing. They’re muscular and gorgeous with golden skin and eyes to match. They chatter and neigh in musical voices while the King steps out of the golden doors. His soft face makes my heart stutter. Too many conflicting feelings are dredged back to the surface when he smiles warmly at them and bows. Dressed in a gorgeous cyan blue with a darker-toned cape, his hair is rough around the edges and tiny grey coils frame his face.

“Please, come inside to freshen up,” he says, “Gods knows I must, and my wonderful cook always prepares far too many Bloodpear pies. It would be a shame for them to go to waste.”

One of the centaurs shakes his head. His dark mane starts at the front of his scalp, like a Mohican, and ends at the base of his spine. “We are honoured, Your Highness, but we must return.”

The King chuckles. “Next time, then. Safe travels, friends.”

With a final bow and a promise to indulge the King on another date, they launch the chariot into the sky. When he waves, my irritation is immediately reignited. How dare he? How fucking dare he? He brought me down here, only for me to get kidnapped and tortured, and then left me alone in that palace with my prick of a brother. And now, he’s grinning about pie. If he thinks he can ignore me again, he’s about to learn otherwise. The Volker around him march forwards to grab me but he waves them off before he even turns around.

“I hope you received the correspondence I sent to you through Aiden. I hadn’t heard back from you.”

I halt in my tracks. That bastard. “No. I didn’t.”

The King’s thick brows pull downwards. “Sorry, Ashley, it must have slipped his mind.” Yeah fucking right. “I had hoped my absence would not trouble you. I was called away to Cinder Cliffs to speak of your return and the trials that await us. And by the gods’ grace, the unrest is quieted, at least for now. If the choice were mine I wouldn’t have left.”

His eyes light up as he pulls me into a hug and I’m thrown straight into memories of Dad. So, I let him hold me for those few seconds, pretending it’s him and that I’m not alone. Pretending this wasn’t the first time in a long time that I could feel in my heart and under my skin, that someone cares about me. I nearly pull him in again.

“Do you mind if I freshen up and meet you back here this evening? I shall send for you.” I nod, forcing down the hot sting in my stomach. “Thank you, my dear.” He gives one last squeeze to my shoulder, and then I watch him walk away.