243rd King of Ravaryn
Son of Adrastus Draki and Edana of village Blackburn
Ability: Pyric, fly (did not present ability to shift like father)
Hmm.I had known the previous king of Ravaryn was a draig, but it hadn’t occurred to me that Rogue may also be one. Although, if this book was to be believed, I guess he wasn’t. But for him to have pyric magic, his mother must have been a flame worker—that wasn’t an ability typically possessed by draigs.
Flipping a few pages forward, I found Adrastus.
The resemblance was there, but he was older, his eyes a lighter shade of red, angrier, more vibrant. His hair was just as black as Rogue’s but cropped short. His expression was severe, almost a scowl. Something about the way he was drawn aligned with everything I’d ever heard of him, rendering him just as harsh as legend claimed he was.
“He was brutal,” Rogue said behind me.
I jumped, my heart racing. He walked around the table and sat across from me, leaning back in the chair, legs spread.
His eyes dropped to my arm, narrowing, and I followed his line of sight. In this tunic, the hand print bruise forming around my bicep was visible, already purpling. He sat forward as his gaze shifted to my other arm, eyeing the matching mark.
“I’ll kill them,” he seethed, deathly still, before jerking to his feet and striding to the door, leaving a trail of swirling smoke in his wake.
“Hey—” Jumping to my feet, I jogged after him. I grabbed his wrist and he whipped around, eyes wide as he looked at my hand on his arm. “Youordered them to take me,” I said, dropping my hand. His eyes snapped to mine with furrowed brows.
Our faces were so close, I could almost feel his breath on my cheek and my feet instinctually took a step back. With a tight jaw, he nodded once, averting his gaze. I took another step back, returning to the table.
He followed suit, sitting in the chair across from me once again.
“Alden recommended it to me,” I said, suddenly feeling as if I was trespassing.
“You met Alden, did you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, and I nodded. “Well, if anyone would befriend the human, it would be him I suppose.”
He tilted his head to stare at the sketch of Adrastus, his hand lifting to his scar absentmindedly.
“Did he do that to you?” The question fell from my mouth before I had a chance to stop it and I froze, feeling the blood seep into my cheeks.
Dropping his hand, anger flashed behind his eyes. His mouth fell open and snapped shut.
“That’s a bit personal, don’t you think? Or do you just not have simple fucking manners where you’re from?” My cheeks flushed furiously at each word he spoke. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised though, considering how barbaric Auryna is.”
I released a breathy laugh, indignant.
“Funny, coming from the creature who quite literally kidnapped me and is holding me hostage. If anyone was raised without manners, I would say it’s you.”
We glared at each other, both tense, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. Without looking away, he took a deep breath, rising to his feet.
“You should return to your chambers, Ara. It’s getting late.”
I scowled after him as he strode to the door.
“Oh, and consider them dead,” he said over his shoulder.
My fists clenched on the table. Taking a forced breath, I closed the tome and searched the shelves for another book. Grabbing a seemingly interesting one, I plopped down in a large, leather reading chair.
There I remained until the early hours before dawn, just to spite him and his infuriating commands.
* * *
The sound of the door handle clicking open pulled me from my sleep the following morning. My hand flew to the dagger, gripping the handle under my pillow. As Thana entered the room, I released it, sliding my hand from the pillow. She pushed the door open with her shoulder, hands occupied with a breakfast tray.
“Good morning,” I said as she set the tray on the bed, glancing at the one from the night before, still untouched.