Chapter Six

Addie

 

Something weighs on Kellan, heavier than it did yesterday. Each time I approach him about it, he waves me off as if I’m nothing more than a silly child. To say its infuriating is an understatement. If we are to win this invisible battle, we need to be honest, and we need to share anything we know – and I know he knows something.

Yet again, Kellan is with the council, trying to work out a way to keep the peace, while I’m out at yet another Academy with Dante, giving another ridiculous speech about staying strong in the face of adversity, and how we should always look to make ourselves better. If you ask me, we have more important things to be worrying about, but Kellan insists we must show the people we rule as a united front. Perception is, according to Kellan, half of the war.

He’s right. They cannot know anything is amiss until necessary. People only need to know what they need to know. Too much knowledge can be dangerous.

It’s insane if you ask me, but apparently no one did, and my opinion doesn’t matter.

Xander trails behind us, lurking in the shadows. He’s there in case of any danger or unrest. Exactly what sort of unrest, I’m not sure. There haven’t been any issues between the species in hundreds of years.

Speaking to all of these people makes me wish for solace, the kind I used to feel when I was back at the Academy when I trained alone with my Sai.

My Sai, I haven’t felt them in what feels like forever. I suppose a Princess isn’t supposed to play with daggers.

I roll my eyes before looking around the hall of the latest Academy we are visiting.

Despite my desire for solitude, when I see the people, I feel this connection with them and it helps me remember why I wanted to fight in the first place – but what I wouldn’t give for some quiet.

I watch as the children rise to their feet, applauding as Dante finishes his inspiring speech. The man has a way with words, and the people love him. I feel a pang of sadness deep in my chest. He would be a good King.

Oh, the story of our lives. Nobody wins, because we’re all losing. Fighting different fights, wanting different things. It kills me that I’ve put him in this position. If it had been one of the others I’d have picked, they’d have never stood down, never even contemplated giving up the chance to be a ruler by my side, but I guess that’s why I picked Dante. I watch him as he leaves the stage and crouches down, talking to the first years here. Treating them as his equals. He has this natural grace that always makes me smile.

I glance back at Xander, stiff as a board, watching Dante, watching me. He’s taking it all in. I can’t begin to imagine how hard this is for him, too. Why he insists on torturing himself like this is beyond me. Dimitri, Kaden, any of them, would protect me just as well – and it wouldn’t torture them in the process. I give a wide smile and make my way down to join Dante.

One person stands out from the crowd. She’s a tall girl, taller than most, with sharp, birdlike features, but the curves of her face make her beautiful. I stop, watching her as she stands to attention, studying me. Her long raven hair is the only part of her that moves. I turn and head towards her. I’m not sure why, but something about her compels me to her.

“Hello,” I say awkwardly. I never was good at small talk.

“Your Highness,” she says, her eyes still fixed on me. I can almost hear her heart beating in her chest, but she stands strong, trying not to let it show.

“What is your name?” I ask, standing tall, seeing if she’ll bow to the intimidation. She might be taller than me, but I’m well practised in the art of being cold and intimidating -  I learnt it from my mother. She gave me the mask I’ve learnt to wear when I need to.

“Luna. Luna Blackwood, Your Highness.”

“Luna. And you’re human?” I ask, intrigued. I know she is. She is at an Academy. Other species train and school separately. I do not agree with it, but it is the way it is done. She nods, sharply in response.

“And what exactly is it you want to do when you graduate from the Academy, Luna?”

“I want to be in the Red Guard, Your Highness. The Royal Guard, specifically,” she tells me, still stood ramrod straight. I look at her and see so much of myself in her, except she’s more disciplined than I was.

“Any particular reason?” I ask.

“You, Your Highness,” she says boldly. “You have shown all of us, human, fae, vampyr, that it doesn’t matter where you started, you can be whatever you want to be. You unite us. You do not fit to a mould. I want to protect that.”

I almost take a step back, taken away by her words. “Thank you, Luna,” I say earnestly, dropping the cold exterior. “I truly never expected such an honour.”

“You inspire many of us, Your Highness. It is well known that you wanted to be in The Guard, and that the former Head of House Bane refused you. Now, we all know why, and it pushes us to strive to follow our dreams. You would have been in The Guard, and we all know it.”

I wave Xander over, and Dante see’s this interaction, following him as he moves over to me.

“Luna, please meet Xander Bane and Dante DeVaux.”

“It’s a pleasure, Luna,” Dante says with a soft smile.

Xander nods. “Hello, Luna.” He holds out his hand and she takes it. If she is intimidated or afraid, she hides it well and I smile proudly.

“Luna would like to join the Red Guard, the Royal Guard, to be precise,” I tell them and Xander quirks a brow.

“Is that right?” He directs the question to Luna.

“Yes Sir. It would be an honour.”

“I think, Luna,” I say with a smile, “that you should join me at the Palace this weekend. I’m sure Xander can work out the logistics for us. I’d love to have you come and train with us. With me,” I tell her.

Her eyes go wide and she smiles. It’s the most emotion that I have seen. I look to both Xander and Dante. Neither of them are giving much of anything away, but I do not care. I have always loved learning with other species, with Fae, and Vampyrs and Wolves, but it’s apparently another ‘not done’ thing.

One day, it won’t be like this. I make a promise to myself in this moment to narrow the divide, to make sure future generations get to experience all of the wonders of the world, and each other. Segregation is such a brutal ideal, and now that I can do something about it, I vow I will. Together we are stronger.

“Luna, I need to go, but I will see you in a few days,” I tell her before leaving her to go back to her friends.

“Are you sure…” Xander starts, but I stop him.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m not certain what it is about her, but I like her. She has something special, and she deserves to be able to stretch her limits. Just as you once allowed me to test and grow mine,” I remind him.

Dante tries to hide a smile as he says, “Remind me, to never try to stop you from whatever you’ve put your mind to. It would appear you are completely unstoppable.”

“Isn’t that the damn truth,” Xander mumbles. I think that’s the first thing they have ever truly agreed on – and I’m not sure I like it.

 

***

 

The wait for Luna to arrive this morning has felt like an age.  Even Sophie noticed I was excited. It’s been so long, too long, since I trained and fought with my Sai, I can’t wait to get back to it. I pace outside in the courtyard, dressed in the closest thing I could find to my old black training uniform.

I hear a familiar voice call out to me, laughing. “I see not much has changed with you and training.”

“Dimitri!” I say as I run towards him and hug him. He might have been in on the whole, ‘Xander isn’t dead’ thing but I have missed my old friend. I’ve learned that holding grudges gets me nowhere, and I’m learning to let go of the things out of my control. I have enough to worry about without holding on to that poison. Just look at how that has all worked out with my mother.

He hugs me back before pulling away. Leaning down to the bag at his feet, he pulls out a box so familiar to me. It’s almost like home. My Sai. I contain my squeal at the excitement of seeing them, trying not to rip off his hands in my hurry to feel them again.

“Xander thought I’d be of more use here today,” he says with a small smile.

“He’s not coming?” I ask and he shakes his head. “Okay,” I sigh, some of the wind gone from my sails. Then I hear the sound of tyres on the stones of the courtyard and the sadness dissipates.

Luna is here.