Of Life and Death: [A Dark Academia Paranormal Romance]

Chapter 33

EMMA

What time is it?

When a chill breeze sweeps past my arms, I cross my hands,bringing them closer to my chest. Dark shadows from the burning candles loomacross the walls like phantoms, marking the path we take down to the queen'sreceiving chamber.

The queen.

My biological mother is a queen.

Rylan is a silent wall beside me. Ever since I'd told himabout my blackouts, I can't help noticing the tension that radiates off him, orthe subtle distance he puts between us. The 'Traveller' walks ahead of us,leading our party through the dark, echoing castle.

I rub my exposed arms against another chilling gust. Theclink of metal brings my attention to the side. A towering general dressed headto toe in a frightening suit of armor walks beside us. In his hold is a tallsword.

Involuntarily, I draw closer to Rylan. "How are wegoing to get back to school?" I whisper to him.

"You traced us here, you're going to trace usback."

"And if I can't?"

"That's not an option."

My eyes trace the hard line of his jaw before I look away,stifling a sigh of frustration.

Our little group stops.

The Traveller knocks once and soon the mighty doors arepulled open from within. A portly herald calls with a burst of grandeur,"Eidhem Jarr of the third descent. Prince Rylan Ryder and princessEmmaline of the first descent."

I flush, an awkwardness coming to settle in my chest. Ithink it is a little odd that, even despite the ruins of Al Hara, the queen hadstill managed to retain a herald. It either showed a stubborn sense of pride,or an insufferable ego.

The room is mostly filled with dust and half the furnituresare covered with old blankets. I notice the front edges of the rugs are darkand charred, like it'd been burned.

My eyes finally land on the queen. She's attended to by justone servant girl. The open wound on her arm has bile rushing to my throat. Iwhip around with an angry scowl. "Rylan!"

The queen does a little wave as if to ward off my concern."Let it," she says. "I should have known better than to messwith a dragon's beloved."

My eyes widen. "We're not..." I look behind toRylan for support, but I'm shocked at the frozen look on his face.

"I would like a moment with you," the queen says,bringing my attention back to her. Those dark eyes sweep through the room."Alone."

A stiff moment. The servant girl bows and starts to leave.The herald does too, followed by the general, and then, after a lingering lookin my direction, Rylan follows suit. But I notice the Traveller stays behind,melting in the shadows. This doesn't bother the queen.