Wings of Shadows ~ Book 1 ~ Beginnings ~

A King's son

Irritably, Raiden kicked a loose stone across the cobbled street as he trailed after his father.  Why did this one have to be a girl?  All the other boys his age had their Lucent already.  New arrivals were getting more scarce every year, and he was already almost eight years old.  
It wasn't fair.

"Uncle Raze! Uncle Raze!" Kayda's shouting drew him from his sulking.  She nearly stumbled as she hurried over, alarm written across her face. 

"Kayda. What's wrong?" his father demanded. 

"It's Rivynn," she interrupted, panting. "Dad sent me to get you.  She just collapsed, and there's so much light..."

Raze's eyes narrowed.  "Where is she now?" he demanded.

"Liam is taking her to the Temple.  He said if she isn't matched today," she paused and glanced at her cousin, then continued quickly. "Her power will consume her, and she will die."

"But we have no females ready for their Lucent yet..." Raze stopped mid-sentence and slowly turned to peer down at his son.    "Raiden, come with me," he ordered abruptly and headed for the Temple. 

Confused, he hurried along behind his father. 

The Temple was reserved for rituals and ceremonial purposes only.  He had only been inside twice before.  The first time was to witness his cousin's Pledge to receive her Lucent, Brooke.  The second had been just a few weeks ago when the priests had administered a temporary suppression tonic to him. 
He grimaced, recalling the salty, bitter taste of the concoction and the horrible sluggishness that had followed - for days. 

Roake and Jarren, the head priest, met them at the entrance. 

"What happened?  I thought your Lucent could keep the child's power repressed until the next Draycent female came of age," Raze demanded.

"Liam tried," Roake countered. "But like I tried to explain before, she is older than most of the children I collect."

"And she is very strong," Jarren interrupted.  "I have never seen a Lucent with this much power before.  She could be..."

"She could be the match we've been waiting for," Raze muttered and eyed his son.

Raiden frowned trying to make sense of what they were saying.

"Are you sure you want to even consider this?" Roake cautioned. "You know better than anyone, there are good reasons Pledges are of the same gender."

"I am well aware of the history and the risks," Raze snapped.  "But I also know that we have already tested twenty Lucents, and none of them were anywhere near powerful enough to be considered a viable match.  We are almost out of time."

He turned to the priest.  "In your opinion, what are the chances of finding another match for Raiden in time?"

A match.  With that crybaby... Realizing what they were discussing, Raiden stepped back.

"No!" he cried, interrupting.  "I'm not having a girl as my Lucent!"

His father turned to him with cold, stern eyes.  "That is not for you to decide," he said firmly. 

"I don't care!" he snarled.  "I won't do it."

"I am not only your father, but I am also your king, and I will not have my own son Unpledged and forced into The Waiting Slumber."  His father's voice held no sympathy.  "So you will do as I say. Do I make myself clear?"

Raiden shook his head and glared back defiantly.  He didn't want a girl Lucent, and he especially didn't want that one.

Ignore his son's rebelliousness, Raze turned to Jarren.  "Make him compliant.  We are doing this now."

Seeing his protest had gone unheeded, Raiden tried to run, but words uttered by the priest stopped him dead in his tracks.  Then, that same horrible sluggishness he had felt before from the tonic swept over him, sapping his will and his strength. 

His uncle caught him as his body went limp, but Raze strode inside the Temple without even so much as a glance in his son's direction.

Through a haze, Raiden could only watch helplessly as he was carried to the inner chamber where he would receive his Lucent.