Chapter Twenty

The royal family’s ability to use the natural beauty of Regnum and incorporate it into the infrastructure of the roads, buildings, and bridges never ceased to amaze me. Despite most of the citizens being human, they still managed to create pure art in most aspects of their lives - leaving proof that they once existed. Yes, dragons, merfolk, and many other races held exceptional talent as well with artisans and architects, but the humans just seemed more unique with the way they captured beauty and immortalized it.

Magnificent resorts glided under us with colorful walkways, stained-glass windows on temples to Cato glinted under the sun’s rays, and canopied stalls lined roads and common areas with patrons of every kind coming to see the merchant’s wares. In some ways, it was similar to the calming aura of Hyperion. Everyone seemed to smile and showed off their work with pride. Demarcus, though the people were good people, didn’t have the same gleeful aura as Regnum. Everything in Demarcus served a purpose. Regnum’s people had a way of weaving joy into their lives without rhyme or reason. To them, not everything needed a purpose to be enjoyed or exist.

Keeping Celina’s form close to my body, I indulged in her love for flying as we glided over the towns and villages. Despite her scales never forming, she delighted in the freedom that only the skies could bring. Squealing melting into laughter as we banked over the waters that met the shores of Regnum’s coastline - her small heart pounding in anticipated exhilaration against my own as we laughed during a free fall to only be wept up by the sea breeze and back into the clouds.

This child, so much like her mother, deserved to feel the wind caress her light cheeks every day. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like she would ever feel the independence of it. It just wasn’t meant to be. Though, I would fly around with her as many times as she asked. It was the least I could do.

Elek’s flight pattern was less eccentric, with his eyes consistently scanning both the land below us and the skies around us - as if anticipating an attack. The boy never just glided or soared for the thrill of it. To him, observed from my many times bringing him out to see the world, flying was nothing more than an effective means of transportation. Never had I seen him so much as smirk at the feeling when one’s stomach shifted whilst in mid-freefall. Nor had he been allowed to enjoy such experiences, thanks to the man that took point on our long journey.

If I had been there… if I had seen what had happened… Elek would have become a king that day. It was only out of my concern for Aurora’s health that prevented me from ripping Marek apart. Though, as I sat beside the young boy on his bed, caring for the stitches left on the back of his skull, I had never been more inclined to murder than that moment.

For a mere moment of hesitation over the punishment of another fae defector of Silvania, Marek took it upon himself to backhand my nephew soon after beheading the fae himself.

Of course, after I heard and saw the remnants from dried puddles, once I landed in Thanases from my trip to Oksana, Marek was already long gone. To inspect the bases, supposedly. I instructed the servants not to inform Aurora, knowing that she would only fade faster if she thought she failed as a parent. Rather, I brought Elek to Ignatia for a weekend to recover, under the guise of spending quality time with him. I would have liked quality time, however, he was so insistent on going home I had to sedate him for a majority of the time to allow the gash to fully heal.

Landing at the road leading to the castle, I tucked my wings in and motioned for Elek to do the same. Humans were often unaccustomed to dragons, though there were many visible merfolk walking the merchant stalls in the market just behind us. Even a few naga, their tails hidden under long robes, received less side eyes than us.

“Leave them out.” Marek commanded Elek, casting a challenging gaze at the child. The young boy did as he was told and released his nightmare enticing wings.

This would have been a petty argument to engage in, though I was quite tempted. I also knew why he wanted to display their wings, to demonstrate power and dominance. I could crush you whenever I wanted - is what it told the people of Regnum and I wasn’t going to participate. I kept my own tucked away as his disgusting brown ones were left peacocking to the world. Compared to other dragons, and even half-dragons, Marek’s were smaller in comparison and mis-shapened. Deformities could be overlooked, even admired, if only his personality didn’t match their appearance.

Only Jovan and his two children greeted us at the large double doors to the sand-colored palace. He seemed only slightly aged since I’d seen him last, on a diplomatic visit for my father some years prior. Compared to Marek’s menacing persona, Jovan’s aura carried an air of a just and gentle nature. Though, when he extended a hand to Marek, his jaw visibly tensed, as did Marek’s. It was no secret of the strings Dea Gavrill pulled to secure Regina for Regnum, nor was Marek’s affection for her.

“Marek, good of you to come,” Jovan’s welcome came through tight lips and an even tighter handshake. His knuckles began to go blue as I stood beside the children and watched in fascination.

“Thanks for having us,” Marek returned before his eyes started to wonder, not to the kids but of the visible absence of the queen. He didn’t even introduce his own children or myself before he began to side-step Jovan and find his room, leaving us at the doors.

The human king gave us a bafflingly look as if trying to readjust a sail on a doomed ship.

“Welcome to Nautica, Prince Elek and Princess Celina,” he began and then gave me a questioning gaze.

“Huri, sibling to Queen Aurora,” I bowed, giving him the mercy Marek would not. His face softened as his mouth seemed to form a genuine smile.

“Welcome, Huri,” he said before the lines on his face creased. “Aurora’s sister, huh? I’m sorry to hear of her health. Please be sure to come see me during your visit. I’ll send you home with some of our spring waters.”

Too kind, like her.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I bowed again in gratitude. It wasn’t often another monarch displayed such genuine kindness. Not anymore. “I appreciate your concern and generosity.”

Giving a nod, he then motioned to the young children beside him.

The boy, Zander from my reports, had a similar appearance to his father - especially from the times I had seen Jovan as a child. Though, his complexion matched the lovely darker tones of his mother, as I remembered from having seen her from afar during one of Marek’s stays in Hyperion. A handsome boy, and hopefully would grow to be as gentle as his father.

When my gaze shifted to the girl… the air in my lungs became trapped, as I took in the young five-year-old girl, who was tightly gripping her ten-year-old brother’s hand. There she was. There she finally was.

Although her long, black hair matched the same hues of her father’s and brother’s, this little angelic girl’s face was clear the remnant of Diana. From the shape of her nose to the near identical green eyes. The only difference were the golden sparkles glittering around her irises, as if showcasing to the world who she really was - not just some illegitimate child to a human king.

“These are my children,” Jovan introduced, “Serafina and Zander. I hope they will get along nicely with the twins.”

His words seemed genuine as he continued to smile, as if hoping the children wouldn’t pick up the feud of their parents. When he turned back to face his children, there was only a pure sense of love in his eyes. It was evident that no matter the circumstances of his children’s births, he was a devoted father - something my little ones didn’t have the luxury to experience.

The reaction on the twins' faces were quite curious to watch as they took in the other siblings. Celina’s face was bright and cheery as her feet began to fidget. She stared at Zander in wonder. If I didn’t know better, I would have called it love at first sight with her shuffling and blushing.

Elek’s body took on a much different posture. In fact, he appeared completely alarmed when he set eyes on Serafina. The boy who showed nothing to the world appeared as though he had been struck in the face by the tail of Thanatos. And, seemingly unaware of his movements, he brought a hand up to his chest and clenched his shirt tightly.