Page 27 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

‘To make sure he becomes the greatest king,’ their father added, his chest swelling with pride.

Alina resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

‘He must rest now,’ the queen concluded, her words spoken with the finality of a command. And just like that, Alina had her chance. Without hesitation, she tightened her grip on Ash’s arm and pulled him away from the gathering, away from the scrutinizing gazes and suffocating expectations.

They vanished down the corridors, slipping into the sanctuary of her chambers. The moment the door shut behind them, Ash collapsed onto her bed, his breath shallow, his golden skin slick with sweat.

Alina exhaled, leaning against the heavy door. ‘You lasted less than the last time.’

Ash’s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—’ She rubbed her forehead, exhaling again. ‘I know you forgot about the party, and you weren’t in the right mindset for so many guests. It wasn’t fair of me to—’

He lay still, staring up at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling in shallow bursts.

Alina sat beside him, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘I know it’s overwhelming, Ash. But you’re getting better at controlling it.’

He shook his head, his voice barely audible. ‘I cannot… cannot be k-king.’

She scoffed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you can.’

Reaching for his hands, she pried open his fists, smoothing her fingers over his tense palms, massaging away the pressure until they relaxed.These hands were meant for a crown,she thought.For a sword. But not for trembling. Never for trembling.

‘You will be a great king one day,’ she reassured him.

Ash’s golden eyes shone with uncertainty. ‘They laugh… at me.’

Alina’s jaw tightened. ‘No one laughs at you. Father would have their heads if they did.’ But even as she spoke the words, a pang of bitterness twisted in her stomach. She knew the truth as well as he did—perhaps better. They did not laugh, not openly, but theywatched. She had seen the whispers slither between courtiers when Ash took too long to respond, when his words snagged on the sharp edges of his tongue. They noticed the slight hesitation in his speech, the way he struggled to hold their attention in a room too full of eyes.

Alina's gaze softened as she looked down at him, at the golden drakonian man lying on his back, trying to steady his breath.

She could still remember the first time Ash had suffered an attack. It had been his tenth birthday. He was meant to stand before the entire court, a boy-prince on the cusp of kingship, and deliver his speech. They had practiced for weeks, just the two of them, rehearsing the words until they became second nature, until his stutter faded into something nearly unnoticeable. But the moment he had stepped before the assembled nobles, the moment all those expectant gazes had locked onto him, he had frozen. His chest had caved in, his breath stolen away by unseen hands, and before he could utter a single word, he had crumpled to the floor, gasping for air.

Since that day, Alina had made it her duty to help him. They practiced in the evenings, hidden away from prying eyes, shaping his voice into something steady, something unbreakable. And for a time, it had worked. Now, in small gatherings, in controlled environments, Ash could speak without faltering. But in crowds, in the presence of so many strangers,the panic still crept in, the weight of expectation too heavy for him to bear.

He preferred the sword, preferred the raw simplicity of battle. When he fought, there was no room for stammering, no time for fear. On the training grounds, he was not a prince they believed to be flawed. He was a warrior. A weapon.

Her fingers traced over his, reassuring.I see you, the gesture said.And I do not waver.

Ash swallowed, his voice quieter now. ‘The wyverian princess.’

Alina stilled. ‘What about her?’

‘She will… know.’

Alina forced herself to exhale, to remain composed. ‘She doesn’t have to know. She is here to marry you, that is all. You do not need to spend time with her, Ash.’

His golden eyes darkened. His brow creased, lips pressing into a thin line.

‘Don’t give me that look. It’s true,’ she pressed.

Ash sat up, shaking his head. ‘She will be my w-wife.’

‘And if you wish it so, her only function as your wife will be to give you an heir.’

The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them.

Ash’s stare turned to ice. He pushed himself off the bed, rising to his full height, his shoulders stiff with anger.

---