Catherine Wilson [Wilson - The Reigning Star

The Reigning Star

(The Orien Trilogy, Book Three)

Catherine Wilson

Copyright @ 2017 by Catherine Wilson

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof.

This book is a work of fiction. Any names, places, characters, and incidents are products of the authors imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, locales or events is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Jane Dixon-Smith

Edited by Cynthia Shepp

For Jack and Rowan, the keepers of my heart.

Contents

One

Little rascals.

Vivi peers over the stone balcony, daggers shining in her gaze. Her fingers tighten along the edge, and she inches forward, almost knocking one of Queen Rosalines precious plants from its potted perch. A small gasp leaves her throat, and her once-dangerous eyes turn a soft puddle of sheepish green. I smile on the inside, while sending her a stiff reprimand with my stare.

Indeed, I say.

Its the fourth time shes nearly sent that plant to its doom. Those little rascals have known of our presence for quite a while.

When the king and queen told us to prepare for the wrath of our father, I assumed they meant all together, she whispers, turning back to the yard. So I may have accidentally burned a few strands of someones hair that one time. Whos to say its not safe for me to practice with them anymore? I nearly stabbed someone every day for a month while I was trying to learn how to throw that blasted dagger, and nobody said a word then.

Oh, we did. Just not very loud, as we valued our tongues.

I slip a comforting arm around her shoulder and lean into the ledge. Below us, Oliver and Sam look on, while Aras and Ian raise their bows toward the round targets by the wall. Considering the way their blue tunics stick to their backs and how Aras dark, unruly curls reach for the sky, Id say theyve been at it for most of the afternoon.

But its not as if we havent been without our fun, I coax, giving her a gentle squeeze. Why, Id guess those rascals would give their right arm to be able to shoot fire from their palms. Its not their fault we require a different sort of practice.

Vivis lips purse with thought, the slight slump of her shoulders the only sign shes willing to digest my words. I know it cant be easy for her to watch the boys have all the fun while we slave away with a deadly magic that threatens to make us come undone. Weve been all but sequestered with Mother since Vivi showed her hand, surprising us with a gift we never knew she had. Although Papa was aware of her powers since the moment they first locked eyes, the rest of us were kept in the darka promise he made to her only because she insisted on telling us herself. When Vivi asked if I was angry, I had simply laughed.

Who am I to be upset with my sister for keeping a secret that saved her life? To be honest, Im amazed she managed to keep the magic hidden without burning her tiny body from the inside out.

One would think after three days of having to slink around in the shadows like silenced rats, one of those boys would come to his senses and invite us to join their game. Her voice echoes through the closed yard, and I pull back, taking it as a sign that shes done with her slinking for the day. After all, slinking is a hard business for us girls. Its more like stomping, fussing, and accidental burning.

All on Vivis account, of course.

Ah, Vivi. Is that you? Sam lowers his bow long enough to give a backward glance our way. His eyes flick to the target once more, and his arrow spirals neatly to its center. Had I known we had an audience, I might have tried a little harder to impress.

A few quiet snickers fill the air, but one look at Vivis face puts a stop to themquick. If there is one collective understanding about the princesses from Orien, its not to push their tempers. Its a lesson Sam has been hard-pressed to learn.

I cant decide if this makes me like him more or not.

Besides, this war wont be won with steel and arrow, but with the fire of ones heart. We all know you and your sister hold the true victory for our kingdom. If anyone has the right to be jealous, its us.

Yes. Well, that makes it easy. Definitely more.

Me? Jealous? Vivi snaps her fingers, allowing her outrage to flame to life on their tips. Whether she means it to or not, a wild spark lashes out, sending Queen Rosalines plant into a smoking pile of ash. Before any more innocent beings can be harmed, I grab her hands in my own, extinguishing her heat with our mothers cooling touch.

For the first time since theyve somewhat regrettably acknowledged our presence, the three men around him begin to shift on uneasy feet.

No worries, Viviana, Ian calls. He looks up, all shining, white teeth as he wipes a hand across his sweaty brow. Mother never really liked that flower anyway.

Vivi, longing to become one with the plant, wilts. Oh, now youre just being kind. What did we tell you about being too kind? Its not becoming on you.

Not much is, Aras quips, giving Ians shoulder an awkward, but good-natured pat.

My eyes flash to his face, and a familiar heat fills my chest. One of longing and secrets and cool nights spent under a blanket of stars.

The sound of my handsome prince, brought back from the dead.

Though weve come to watch the boys in the few days since Vivi used her magic to set Aras will free, we havent witnessed much interaction between the two. Mostly their meetings consist of Oliver and Sam running through meaningless practice drills, designed more to keep the princes mind busy than for actual protection of the kingdom. We all know that Knox and his promised guards will arrive soon. Its our hope that between Vivi and me, we will be enough to stop them. Thankfully, Therons people are not without their own means of protection. But while Ians ability to block magic will serve him well, Aras is another story. Hes always been good with a bow, but theres not much a flying arrow can do against a raging fire. Especially once Knox finds out Vivi has restored his will a realization were not yet sure has occurred.

Ashen help us if it has.

True, Ian says, letting Aras words slide off as if theyre old friends and not once enemies. His eyes flick up to my own, a silent question written in his stare. Weve hardly spoken since I ran from his rooms, a frantic mess desperate to solve my little sisters wiles. Since then, weve both been busy preparing for what feels like the end. Me with my magic, and he with his duty. We havent spoken of the marriage, but something about his guarded posture tells me we will soon. I think we have a fair understanding of how Vivianas feeling, but what of you, Penelope? How do you feel?

How do I feel?

My gaze finds Aras, who toes his boot in the dirt, studiously ignoring the heat of my attention, though I know he can feel it all the same. Its been two days since our messy reunion back in our chambers when Aras memories were still flooding his heart, and we latched onto each other in desperate hopes of staying afloat. Since then, hes been but a shadow in my world. Always there, yet forever disappearing when I turn around. Although it hurts, I cant say I blame him. Hes returned to a world that is not his own, changed and hardened by a crazed magic and a forced love. Even if I could walk away from this all leave sweet Ian to find another life who is to say Aras wants me now?

The question is a valid one. How do I feel?

At the moment, its as if my entire world has been slowly ripped apart, each piece painstakingly removed and thrown into the air like an exploding firelight in the sky. And then, just when a mighty wind blows with the promise of putting it all back together, I find Im disappointed. For how can I be happy when the pieces are warped, and they no longer fit? But because those thoughts seem a little too dreary and uncomfortable for the heady summer afternoon, I should probably go with a somewhat truth.