When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER SIX

My cheeks flushed with another blast of heat as his palm lit up.

"I didn't mean it like that!"

The red glow intensified, getting even brighter. He hitched a brow and smirked as he tapped one of his horns. "Don't tell me us shifters get you all hot and bothered."

"Bastion!" I shouted, hiding behind my gloved hands as I shook my head, grateful for the darkness hiding the furious blush staining my cheeks.

His eyes sparkled as he said, "See you tomorrow, Aer," and tucked his wings against his back, dropping off the edge of the cliff. He let himself plummet hundreds of feet until he came dangerously close to the sparkling lake of Clear Water. At the last second, he snapped his wings out and propelled himself upwards, sending me another wink as he passed by and disappeared behind the clouds as he headed home.

Serene twisted her head, curious gold eyes searching mine. The iridescent scales on her face glistened as she huffed a breath in my face, blowing back the dark strands of my hair.

I arched a brow. "What're you lookin' at?"

Serene's eyes found the sky and she turned her head back around in a dramatic manner that was the closest thing to a dragon eye roll as one could get, then backed up a little to give herself space to gain speed. Running towards the cliff, she pumped her white wings and flew above the empire.

I ignored the wind whipping my splotchy cheeks as we circled the mountain. Admiring the massive peaks, I gazed at the distant lights flickering on the homes built into the mountain and felt my stomach flip as we approached the castle. 

The Nyrial Castle rested in the center of the Wrexial Mountains, atop one of its highest peaks. It towered above all the towns resting in the mountains. Two spires in the shape of sharp icicles poked the skyline with flags donning our empire's crest of four colored circles symbolizing each Elemental Force, huge double doors with clear dragon head knockers, and nearly one hundred stairs spiraled up the mountain leading to the entrance of my pretentious home. There was an ice sculpture of a dragon on either side of the doors with a guard positioned next to them.

The majority of the ice structure was hidden inside the mountain where it had been carved and hollowed out to create the extravagant ballrooms, halls, bedrooms, kitchens, training areas, libraries, and offices. My father's office was located on the highest level of our home where the castle had been dug out to the opposite side of the mountain, allowing the floor-to-ceiling windows to display the sprawling views below.

And that was where I found myself once Serene and I had landed at the base of the daunting stairs. I'd rubbed the dragon scale in my pocket, recalling Serene to the dragon realm. Her essence flowed into the scale as she vanished in front of me, and I pocketed her scale, giving it an affectionate pat as I made the journey up the stairs.

My reflection stared back at me, rosy cheeked and wide eyed with untamed windblown hair, as I stared at the back windows in the emperor's office. It was so dark out that the windows doubled as mirrors as I stood examining myself.

I could never seem to tame the unruly mass of dark hair flowing down my back and the freckles dotting my nose and cheeks stood out against my pale skin. I'd gotten the freckles from my mother who'd been raised in the warm, sunlit town of Quincey and one of her green eyes. My other blue eye and dark hair came from my father. I'd always been jealous of my mother's beauty. Her dirty blonde curls, gentle facial features, and welcoming green eyes offered compassion and love. 

But no one had seen or heard from her after a blast erupted in the pharmacy she'd been an Apothecary in. The demon attack resulted in reactive chemicals mixing together to create a noxious explosion. An entire portion of the mountain had collapsed, resulting in an avalanche that rocked the surrounding towns. Not one body had been uncovered due to the hazardous toxins and chemicals still consuming the area. I chewed my lip, pivoting to find my father sitting at his desk with his back to me, engrossed with the pamphlet in his hands.