Page 105 of Of Realms and Chaos

For a second, I laid there—stunned and embarrassed—but then Wrath’s laughter sounded from behind me. “You have outdone yourself, Strange One. I understand why so many males are fighting for your affections. You are clearly quite the prize.”

I reached back, smacking the dalistori. He did not care enough to dodge me, just continued laughing hysterically—maniacally.

Huffing, I sat up, my hand going to my wounded cheek. That would be fun to explain to the nosey emperor. Only a few shoes had lost purchase, so it took no time at all to clean them up. The last thing that remained on the ground after I straightened the final pair of shoes were my sheath and dagger, the two separated by the fall. Carelessly, I snatched the leather up first, watching in bewilderment as something fell out of it.

Not just something.

My heart galloped in my chest, the pounding beat faster than Frost racing through the Forest of Tragedies. When my fingers grazed the folded piece of paper, I nearly sobbed in relief. It was the last note I had received from Bellamy.

I opened it, laughing at the ridiculous words.

Today the sun does not shine, and I wonder if that is because you are not here. It seems you have stolen more than my heart, Princess. Please come home, I do not think I can take many more days of gloom.

Stupid, sappy demon.

Dashing out of the closet, I ran to the entirely glass vanity, slumping down into the chair. Hands shaking, I grabbed the quill out of the pot of ink, trying my best not to let it drip on the paper. It felt oddly nice using a quill again. I had mostly used them back in The Capital, only switching to pencils regularly because of Bellamy. Still, my nerves would not allow me to relish in that comfort as I wrote on the paper.

I am okay. Please do not slaughter innocents or freeze over entire villages. Trust that I will come back to you as soon as I can.

I love you.

It was all I could think to say that would not send him into a panic or have him trying to portal himself to other worlds like a lunatic. Yet I also could not help the smile that lifted my lips at the thought of him appearing in these rooms. There was so much we still needed to talk about, secrets we both kept. But he was worth every struggle and stumble.

Folding up the paper, I briefly brought it to my lips, placing a gentle kiss to it. “Please work.”

Three deep breaths later, I tossed the paper into the air, watching as it fell. In my head, I chanted the same two words.

Please work. Please work. Please work. Please work.

When the paper hit the ground and remained there, a single tear crawled down my cheek, falling victim to gravity just as the note had.

And then came the rage. Head falling back, I let out a piercing scream, furious to the point that I could do nothing but let it free. The room—no, the castle itself—shook, all the many pieces of glass around me twinkling or falling to the ground. A chorus of breaking glass sounded, and then the windows shattered, raining down upon me.

Something hard smashed into me, sending me flying onto the ground. Whatever it was nearly knocked the breath from my lungs, so heavy it felt as if I might suffocate from the pressure of it.

“Dammit, Asher. You can’t do things like that.” So casual was the tone that, even if I did not know his voice, I would bet my life that Padon was the one on top of me. He was as aggravating as ever, but in this instance, he was unfortunately right.

Why had I done something so foolish? How had I done that?

A clicking noise sounded, mixing with the crunch of glass as someone else entered the room.

“Padon! I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. It was like my mind suddenly decided I was angry and—” The melodic voice abruptly cut off, a loud gasp following her apology as she probably took in the disaster.

“Don’t be sorry. I felt it too. This mess isn’t yours alone. You should see my office.” With a wry chuckle, he looked up, facing the female. I got a brief glimpse of bright orange hair before he readjusted to cover me again. “Plus, it wasn’t really our fault. Asher had a bit of an episode, and it seems that her magic took on a life of its own. It wasn’t your anger at all that you felt, Kar. Can you check on everyone else within the palace? I imagine there’s a lot of cleanup to do.”

The female did not respond, but I still heard her heeled steps retreating and my door shutting as she left. When Padon rotated on top of me, our faces far too close for comfort, he smiled widely, as if he were proud of what I had done.

“Now, that was an interesting way of getting my attention.” Prick. I shoved him off, wishing I could unsee the arrogant smirk he flashed me. A booming laugh came from him as I sat up, which I quickly silenced with an elbow to his gut. Then it was Wrath who laughed as he made his way to me from his spot under the bed.

“All I want from you is to watch you fall to a painful death. Preferably after I push you.”

Was that too far?

“Asher, are you trying to tell me about a sexual kink that you have?”

Nope, not far enough.

I groaned in annoyance, tiptoeing my way around the glass and to the door that would—hopefully—take me far from him. But he grabbed my wrist, tugging my body into his.

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