It was all a fucking mess.
And I really just wanted to take a damn nap.
Tray nodded in understanding, then kissed Ella on the forehead, holding her close. “I’ll put the leftovers in the fridge for you,” he said.
“Thanks,” I muttered, meaning it despite my gruff tone. “I’m going to go make sure Zeph hasn’t rearranged my room.”
“Good idea.” He returned his focus to the blonde in his arms, his palm cupping her cheek as he angled her face upward to receive his kiss.
I had spent the last three and a half years envying him and his ability to choose. Not that I’d ever admitted it out loud. My destiny was to serve the crown, a future I’d taken seriously and devoted my entire life to fulfill.
However, tonight the Council rewarded my fealty with an unwarranted accusation followed by a search of my private quarters, all to hunt for evidence that didn’t exist.
No one had believed my innocence.
Not even my father.
After everything I’d given up for those assholes, they’d refused to take me at my word.
And that fucking burned.
I yanked on the knotted tie at my throat and started down the hallway to my room, only to pause on the threshold at the sight of Aflora giggling. She sat cross-legged on my rug with a plate in her lap, while Zeph stood over her with his hands on his hips.
“Seriously, I’m going to start feeding you bark,” he was saying. “Maybe topped with some charcoal blades.”
“Is that what it’s called?” she asked. “The black grass in the fields?”
He snorted. “Yeah, that’s not grass, pixie flower.”
“Well, I know. It’s sharp and brittle and… charcoal-y.”
His lips twitched. “Hence the name—charcoal blades.”
Her nose scrunched upward. “I’m not eating that.”
“Yet you’ll eat a leafy salad patty monstrosity with mussleberries.”
“They’re mouseberries,” she corrected him. “And yes, I would eat that.” She held up her plate. “Please.”
“I’ve already fed you dragon steak and the other version of salad patty. If you want more, you can make it yourself.”
I leaned against the doorjamb, entertained by this entire exchange. But my movement drew both their eyes to me and caused Aflora to jump up off my rug and onto her feet. “Oh! You’re back.”
“I am.” I tucked my hands into my pockets and glanced around my room. “Seems like you did a good job cleaning.”
“Figments,” Aflora said quickly. “Zeph made figments. We were just making sure it’s all sorted. So, uh, looks good. I’ll leave you two to it, then.” She started toward the door, and I moved to block her exit.
“I’m nearly arrested for an explosion at the Academy, and you’re going to leave me with a ‘looks good’?” I arched an eyebrow at her. “Seriously?”
Zeph came up behind her, effectively caging her between us. She lifted the plate to her chest like that would be able to protect her.
“Um.” She bit her lip, considering. “I’m glad you’re okay. We know you didn’t do it. Oh, and Clove had no magical ties that Zeph could find. So we’re not sure who gave her the stonepecker or where she found it, but we’re pretty sure it was done on purpose to set you up. It’s a good thing Shade stopped by to warn us about the search.”
That was a hell of a lot of information in a handful of seconds. I gaped at Zeph. “Stonepecker?”
“Yeah. Aflora’s familiar brought it to her as a gift and dropped it in her lap. We’re guessing it’s how the culprit entered the Academy grounds, but I had to destroy it because of the Warrior Bloods.”
Of course. “What about my other things?” I asked him, knowing he’d interpret my question.