Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

Cassiel left the castle behind and flew high into the cold darkening sky. He soared higher until he rose past the waterfall for King Rael’s monument, and landed on the fingertips of the extended palm. Night had fallen and tiny spots of orange torch flames flickered among the trees and along the castle walls. The faint moonlight struggled to shine through the thick storm clouds. The scent of rain lingered in the air.

His wings sagged at his back with the heavy weight of his imminent title.

And his engagement to another that wasn’t his wife.

At the announcement, Cassiel didn’t say anything. Not when he felt Zev’s eyes burrowing holes in his face, not when Malakel laughed, not when Sarrai wore her courtly smile. Lord Jophiel excused them with a note they would discuss more about it at dinner, and Cassiel flew away without a word.

The lordship, the engagement that he would never accept, none of that mattered to him right now. It’s what came after that frightened him.

He had hoped that by remaining an unimportant prince with no standing in court, they would be together without garnering very much attention. That he could hide her away safely from anything that could harm her, but now… things were different.

As his mate, Dyna would be placed under the scrutiny of the court, and it would only lead to her suffering. That had been one of his fears when they first bonded. It was her choice to stay, but if she chose not to be with him anymore…he would understand.

The thought compressed his lungs, making it hard to breathe. His fists clenched until his nails pierced his palms and drew blood. He sighed, watching the tiny cuts heal in seconds.

He shouldn’t have returned here.

Clouds gathered over the castle, and a soft rumble of thunder rolled overhead. Cassiel looked down at the Realm that would be forced upon him. The cold wind blew against his hair and face, doing little to ease the tension in his head.

Cassiel pulled on the delicate chain around his neck until he freed the sapphire ring from out of his coat. It was his mothers, but lately he had imagined it on a different finger.

He cursed under his breath. “Damn it all.”

“Who are you speaking to?”

Cassiel inwardly flinched at the unexpected voice. By its mocking tone, he knew who stood behind him.

“How are you doing this fine evening, cousin? I have missed your sour complexion. I feared the festival would be a dismal affair, but after today, it seems we are in for some splendid amusement.”

“Asiel, never a pleasure,” Cassiel replied dully. “Now piss off.”

Asiel never liked him, and the feeling was mutual. “Oh, is the little prince feeling sorry for himself? Did another usurp your birthright, as well?”

Cassiel’s back stiffened. He hadn’t stopped to think about how Lord Jophiel’s son would feel about all of this. He turned in the direction of his cousin’s voice. Asiel leaned against the monument, hidden in the shadows. Moonlight graced the edges of his wings.

“Why are you brooding over your new prerogative? I understand that you are to be married soon. Permit me to tender my congratulations.”

Cassiel took a step towards him. “You must know I did not plan this. I never wanted Hermon Ridge. I don’t want any of it.”

“You don’t want it?” A coolness laced Asiel’s idle tone. “You don’t need to lie to me, Cassiel.” He chuckled. “Well, you can have it. I decided I’m not angry with you since you brought me such a lovely consolation gift, after all. I don’t think I have been with a redhead before.”

Cassiel sucked air through his teeth. “What?”

“Oh, did you not bring Dyna for me?” he asked with mock innocence.

“If you so much as touch her—”

“Too late. Dyna hurt herself, and well, I could not stand by without providing her with my aid.”

Cassiel froze. “What did you do?”

More thunder rolled, a flash of lightning briefly illuminating Asiel’s face in the dark before the storm clouds hid it once more. “I’m sure you have already imagined it. She was not at all surprised when I healed her with my blood.”

Cassiel’s stomach dopped, but any doubt immediately cleared away. He would have felt it if their bond had been defiled. Dyna would never…

“You still reveal everything on that face of yours.” Asiel laughed and stepped out of the shadows with a smug smile. He was only trying to get a rise out of him.

Yet it didn’t stop the flames beginning to coalesce inside of him. Cassiel clenched his teeth. “Stay away from her.”

“Why? I enjoy meeting maidens. A pure maiden, all the more.”

He was burning now, quite ready to burst.

“Speak to her again, I will break you in half.” His voice came out like a growl from the depths of netherworld. Dark, and cold, and promising death, because it was the truth. He wouldn’t hesitate to remove anyone who harmed her. “She is not another one of your conquests.”

Surprise swept across Asiel’s face, and maybe a little fear, before it was hidden by a smirk. “Then who is Dynalya Astron? After what she did to save you, I wager she is someone very special.”

Cassiel studied his expression, trying to decide if he should snap off one of his wings and shove him off.

“You are right, I did lie,” Asiel confessed, moving around him. “Dyna was indeed wounded, and I did offer to heal her, but she so adamantly refused. She was quite tenacious on the subject, as if the very thought offended her. I cannot help but think that she has already taken the blood of another. Yours perhaps?”

“No.” But he had denied it too quickly.

Asiel answered with a gloating grin. “I hope you did not think that sounded at all convincing.”

A tension wove between them as they stood beneath the coming storm.

“What will Father think when he finds out that his precious nephew broke another one of our sacred laws by freely giving away his blood, and to a human, no less?”

Cassiel worked his jaw. His cousin would have mentioned their bond if he really knew about it. All he had were suspicions. “Dyna aided me because I did the same for her. I saved her life with my blood. When Lord Jophiel learns of it, it will be because I’m the one to tell him. Not because you are threatening me.”

Asiel paused. “Very well,” he said amiably and turned away, losing interest.

That had been too easy. Where was he going with this?

“You are a prince, Asiel. Your actions reflect upon your father. Show him respect in that regard.”

His cousin sneered at that. “When have I ever played the role of a dutiful son? The only one he expects that from is you.”

There was some intent in there, something bitter and accusing. Cassiel supposed he may deserve Asiel’s anger for the loss of his inheritance but he wouldn’t let him take it out on Dyna.

“I meant what I said. Stay away from her.”

“Now why would I do that?” Asiel laughed. His wings lifted him into the sky, his smile anything but kind. “Don’t you see? I like pretty things I cannot have.”

The sky was flashing with streaks of lightning by the time Cassiel arrived in the guest wing of the castle. He flew into a private garden with an open veranda that led to the rooms on one end, and the main corridor into the castle on the other. Stone braziers in each corner lit the space with warm firelight.

Zev and Rawn already waited there, seated on the edge of a flowing fountain.

“Why didn’t you refuse?” Zev demanded as soon as he landed.

“I could hardly get my thoughts in order, let alone speak a coherent sentence,” Cassiel said. “Even if I had, I could not outright decline the engagement. I was not given much of a choice.”

“There is always a choice, and I wouldn’t have chosen to stand there like a fool.”

Rawn moved between them. “My friend, please do not judge that which you do not understand. Cassiel is royalty. He must abide by certain propriety.”

Zev growled, his eyes flashing yellow. “Unless my memory serves me ill, you’re bonded to Dyna. You cannot marry another.”

“Perhaps it does serve you ill,” Cassiel snapped back. “I made a promise to always protect her, and that is what I’m doing.”

“How is this protecting her? Confess to your uncle and that will put an end to your engagement,” Zev said. “Better yet, why are we even arguing about this? We should leave now while no one is watching.”

“You don’t understand. This is a command by the High King. His word is law.” Cassiel sighed. He had broken too many rules already. “Running would dishonor my family name and belittle everything Lord Jophiel has done for me. I hold him in the highest regard. Don’t ask me to insult him.”

This was a delicate matter and he had to approach it very carefully to avoid any backlash falling on Dyna.

Zev exhaled sharply. “This is what I feared, Cassiel. That she would be hurt and cast aside. You’re willing to simply accept this?”

He glared at him, his tone hardening. “I never said that, nor do I plan to cast her aside.”

“Then why didn’t you tell him?”

“Because I gave Dyna my word that anything regarding us will be decided by us. No one else.” He had felt how important choice was to her, and he would have to be reduced to a wretched thing first before he ever took that from her again. “If I had revealed that she is my bonded, not only would I have broken my word, I would have to explain that I healed her. Which is another law I have broken. As a result, two things would happen. Either my certain exile or… Dyna would be forced to become Lady of Hermon Ridge.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

They stared at him.

“You do not wish for that?” Rawn asked.

Cassiel lowered his gaze, not willing to say the court would strongly contest against a human holding such a position. He hated to think that. “It does not matter what I wish for, Lord Norrlen. The only thing that matters is what she wants.”

He turned to the veranda where he felt her presence in the hall before she stepped out. Her cream grown fluttered in the wind, soft curls falling around her face. She was so beautiful it left him breathless. Always had. Even in the dark of night, there was something indescribable about her that brought out the light like his very own sun.

But the bond on her end was silent, and it made him ache. For a second, he was afraid of what she would say, but then her eyes welled and he was done worrying about everything else.

“Only we will decide what happens next,” he said, holding her gaze. “Together.”