Kingdom of Shadows Read online

  Kingdom of Shadows

  Stones of Amaria

  Jen L. Grey

  Kingdom of Shadows Copyright © 2019 Jen L. Grey

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  About the Author

  Also by Jen L. Grey

  Chapter One

  Cinder

  As Cinder focused on the ruby that sat in the middle of the black volcanic wall, she held her arm in front of her body.

  “Reach out and use your connection with Fury.” The Ancient Seer’s voice was enchanting but there was a lethal edge to it.

  Fury stiffened beside her. It was a topic of contention between the two of them.

  When they first came to Lifetime Academy, he’d saved her from the brink of death. She’d let her foolish heart get in the way that night, until they discovered the Seer had trapped them here. That’s what reinforced her belief that letting your heart lead made people miss critical things. She refused to let that happen again.

  The power that coursed through her grew so strong. It was amazing how much her magic had strengthened the past few ashes. It was now so strong she had difficulty handling it.

  “You need to connect to your mate.” The Seer’s voice became louder and it echoed against the cave’s walls.

  If Cinder wasn’t concentrating so hard, she would tell the Seer exactly what she thought. It was as if she was pushing for their bonding, and Cinder would be frozen before she’d let someone push her flames.

  All too soon the thrumming inside her body became too much and she dropped to her knees. It almost felt as if her insides were in flames.

  “Oh, come on.” Joash rolled his green eyes and ran his fingers through his perfectly styled brown hair. “This is the third time you’ve messed up.”

  “Now listen here…” Fury’s brown eyes narrowed and his breathing quickened.

  “Stop it.” Good Hades, she didn’t need him jumping to her defense all the time. She could take care of herself. But… skatá. It was sexy. “I can take care of myself.” She picked herself off the ground and tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulders. “At least I can conjure flames and have a chance at hitting the target, unlike some people that are trapped here.”

  Joash’s face quickly went from a smirk to a scowl.

  “She got you there.” Hestia’s quiet laughter filled the hostile silence.

  “I liked you, dear sister,” Joash said as he moved his glare to her, “a lot better when we were back home.”

  “I’m sure he did.” Pele rolled her light blue eyes and stepped on the other side of Cinder.

  Now Cinder had Fury on one side and Pele on the other. That’s how the past solar cycle had been. Her protective and sexy-as-Hades mate and her loyal guard from North Pyr. She hated to admit it, but she felt extremely safe between those two, so she had to keep reminding herself that he was the enemy. Her heart kept insisting he wasn’t, but how could he not be? He was the heir to South Pyr, the very same royals who were responsible for the split in the kingdom to begin with.

  “You got something to say to me?” Joash puffed his chest, although his hands trembled slightly.

  She didn’t blame him. Pele could kick his ass and not break a sweat.

  “I’m kind of hungry.” Brenton stepped next to Joash and nodded toward the exit. “Why don’t we go grab something to eat while the others finish up?”

  That was the one thing that didn’t surprise Cinder. Brenton was a weasel so of course he’d want to buddy with a piece of skatá. “Don’t you think both of you should stay for training as well?”

  Even in their situation both Joash and Brenton ensured their appearances were perfect. Brenton wore his custom Northern Elite Clothing that only a few families in their Kingdom had. It was just a slight downgrade from Cinder’s own regal line.

  And somehow Joash seemed even more stiff and snobbish than when this all started. Since we’ve been stuck in the cave, he’s been belligerent and not willing to train. It’s as if he enjoyed everyone else’s misery. “Oh, and witness you failing even more?” He snickered and rubbed his chin.

  “That’s enough.” Fury stepped in front of her, back rigid and hands clenched. “I’m tired of you mouthing off.”

  She shouldn’t enjoy him protecting her, but he was so riled that there was no way of talking him down. Whether they liked it or not, they were mates, even if they couldn’t truly be together.

  “Oh, what are you going to do about it?” Joash chuckled and tilted his head. “You’ve never had the fire to do it before.”

  “Come on, Joash.” Brenton glanced between Joash, Fury, and Cinder. “Let’s go. There was something I wanted to talk to you about anyways.”

  At least Brenton didn’t attempt to upset everyone. He was just selfish and lazy.

  “I think you should listen to your… friend.” Hestia’s brown eyes, the exact shade of her brother’s, locked on his.

  “Enough of this.” The Seer clapped her hands, the sound similar to an erupting volcano. “Joash and Brenton, go get something to eat. You’re distracting the others.”

  “But…” Joash placed his hands on his hips.

  “I said go!” Her distinct magical voice roared and Cinder had to place her hands over her ears.

  “All right.” Joash turned and marched further down the hallway that led into a huge kitchen where pantry the always seemed to be stocked.

  Cinder watched as they retreated and took a few deep breaths trying to calm her insides.

  “I’m sorry about him.” Hestia sighed and kicked at the smooth, black ground. “He’s getting worse, not better.”

  “Don’t apologize for anything.” Cinder didn’t want her to feel responsible just because they shared blood.

  “He’s always been selfish.” Fury spun so he was facing back in our direction. His dark eyes caught hers, and his almost-black hair was tousled from the training they’d been working on for the cycle. “It just took this for me to realize how bad he was.”

  Fury

  It killed him that Joash treated Cinder with so little respect. Almost everyone close to Fury treated him like that but she didn’t deserve it.

  Her eyes glowed bright and her hand began to reach toward him. Just as she was about to touch him, she dropped her hand.

  His phoenix wanted to grab her hand and pull her close, but he forced himself to hold still. Damn that Seer for barricading them in this cave. They’d been so close to having their phoenixes bond before it was ruined.

  Cinder had told him that they needed to focus and not lose sight of their people. Her eyes only had a soft ember to them then, and her long blonde haired blew slightly from the breeze that was free to enter through the magical barrier. “We were doomed before we met so there is no reason for us to keep investing in a relationship that’s only going to break us.”

  They’d both walked back to their individual rooms after that, he knew better than to try to persuade her. She was right after all, though he still wanted her just as bad as he had that night. “I’ll talk to him.”

  She ran a hand smoothing back the strands that had fallen from her ponytail. “No, please don’t.” A spark of vulnerability shone through her eyes. “I’ve got to handle him on my own.”

  “No, you don’t, Your Highness.” Pele scowled in the direction Joash and Brenton walked. “No one should talk to you,” she said as she bowed her head and turned to Fury, “or you like that. You are both born from royal blood.”

  His heart thawed a little more towards the Northern woman, which didn’t bode well for him when it came to Cinder. They may act more on emotion, but it didn’t appear to be a weakness. “Unfortunately, he’s gotten away with too many things in our kingdom, but that ends now.”

  “That’s an understatement.” Hestia’s bitterness laced her words.

  “Good, but right now we need to focus on our training.” Cinder brushed off her pants and stood tall. “What’s next?”

  “It’d be nice if you stopped fighting me and open yourself up to your bond.” The Seer’s voice had lost the thunder from before and returned to her normal musical tone as she took a few steps closer to them.

  “That’s not an option.” Cinder straightened and lifted her chin as if she was challenging the woman.

  Fury’s heart seemed to darken a little more. He understood why she was acting this way, but why couldn’t they have their pass ion like all other destined mates did?

  “You’re stubborn.” The Seer lifted her hand and turned it over so her palm was facing upward. She began to move her fingers and closed her eyes. “The time is nearing so let us prepare.”

  Her hand glowed bright with oranges, reds, greens, and yellows. The power began swirling and grew smaller. The colors fought one another and began to meld, blending into one. It was as if the gods were fighting over the magic in her hands. All of a sudden, the dark cave lit with bright light. It blinded him and he reached for Cinder, but all his hand caught was air.

  Cinder

  In all her life, she’d never seen anything as beautiful as the magic which resembled flames. When the cave brightened, Cinder stepped toward the Seer, unable to stop herself.

  This could be a trap, yet something yanked inside her and she was at its mercy. As she neared the Seer, a stone about half the size of Cinder’s hand laid in the ancient woman’s hand. “What the Hades….”

  The Seer grinned. “It’s a powerful stone that I hadn’t planned to show you yet, but you’re so stubborn with your mate bond.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” The bond was there, they just hadn’t connected so it shouldn’t be causing a problem. But it seemed as if the stone reflected her soul and it seemed jagged, maybe even chipped.

  “Your Highness,” Pele stepped beside her and grimaced at the old lady, “maybe if it’s that powerful we should wait.”

  That did sound logical, but this stone almost seemed like it belonged to her. Her eyes watched as the flames danced.

  “Hey, now.” Fury’s voice was filled with concern as he stepped next to Cinder and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her back against him. “Watch it.”

  At first she resisted, but the thrumming of their mate bond calmed her, eased her soul. She blinked hard and shook her head. “What the ice happened?”

  “You felt its power.” A small chuckle escaped the old lady. “And that’s just the beginning.”

  “Why have you hidden it for so long?” Hestia spoke from the edge of the room. “Couldn’t you have brought peace with that instead of letting Pyr stay split?”

  “Oh, you’re a smart child.” The old lady smiled so large her teeth glistened from the flames of the stone. “But some things must be done in their own time. It’s just now time to right all the wrong.”

  A cold shiver coursed through Cinder. How come those words didn’t seem comforting?

  Chapter Two

  Fury

  Something tickled Fury’s face, startling him awake. He jerked to a sitting position and caught someone’s hand.

  A loud laugh filled the room and Joash stood there with a tuff in his hand. He crumbled the soft rock and volcanic ash hit Fury’s face. “You should’ve seen your face.” Soot pooled in the corner of Joash’s eyes and he jerked the hand Fury held to get out of Fury’s grasp.

  No, this is the end. Fury gripped harder, not letting Joash’s hand free.

  Joash’s smile fell and he yanked yet again with no success. “Let me go.”

  Fury’s body quivered with rage and with his other hand, he grabbed Joash’s neck and threw him against the wall. “Do you think you’re better than all of us?”

  A loud thud filled the air as the back of Joash’s head slammed and bounced off the volcano. “Ouch!” He shook his head and groaned. “Get the skatá off me.”

  “Not until you answer my question.” Fury was breathing hard and he was attempting to stay in control.

  “Brenton, get this dimmy off me.” Joash’s face turned a shade blue as his phoenix bled through.

  “Now, guys…” Brenton stared at the ground and kicked at his feet.

  “Shut up.” Joash didn’t respect anyone but himself. It went beyond selfishness. The only reason he was showing his true colors now was because there was no one here that would do anything about him. Fury lowered his voice and took a step closer so his face was just a breath’s distance away from Joash’s. “You may think you’re something, but remember, you’re nothing without every single one of us.”

  “Oh, that firefly has gotten to you.” Joash tried to laugh but it was cut short when he couldn’t slip from Fury’s grasp. His body stiffened. “You’ve gotten stronger.”

  “I’ve been training, unlike some dimmies here.” Honestly, he’d gotten a lot stronger since he opened himself to the mate bond when Cinder was in trouble. He’d had to save her, and he’d do it again in a heartbeat. She was strong where he wasn’t and merciful in ways he was never taught.

  “Just apologize, Joash.” Brenton sighed and ran his fingers through his combed hair. “I told you it was a bad idea.”

  “Look, you’re right.” Joash lifted his chin and stared Fury in his face. “I’m here for me and I’ll do whatever it takes to wind up on top.”

  For some reason, Fury thought he’d be relieved to hear the truth, but it didn’t change anything at all. It was almost icy-hot. He released his grip and turned around to head to the bathroom so he could wash the ash from his face.

  “That’s it?” Joash laughed and fixed his shirt around his neck. “I knew you didn’t have it in you.”

  “Come on, just drop it.” Brenton rubbed a hand down his face and sighed.

  It took all the strength Fury had to not turn around and engage. At the end of the cycle, that’s what Joash wanted… for him to lose his heat.

  He walked into the bathroom and went straight to the shower. Could this cycle get any worse?

  Cinder

  Dragging her body out of the shower, Cinder felt like it took everything in her to get her arms and legs to move. Last night she struggled with sleep. Every time her eyes closed, she either dreamed of that stone or of Fury, then she’d wake up in a panic with her heart pulsing for them.

  She’d better figure out a way to get rejuvenated. If this cycle was anything like the past several ashes, she was in for another bout of torturous training.

  Despite her best efforts, her mind kept replaying what the Seer had said. She’d alluded that maybe Pyr would be reunited … could she and Fury have a chance after all?

  Volcanoes! She couldn’t bet her heart on hope. Even if the country was reunited, it’s not like the Northern and Southern royals were going to magically like each other. And, at the end of the cycle, who was going to come out on top? That was a whole other mess just waiting to happen.

  Within flickers she was dressed and ready and marched back into the bedroom.

  “Someone is on a mission.” Pele frowned when she glanced in Cinder’s direction. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Cinder snapped and walked right past her. She didn’t have time to deal with questions. They’d kept her up all night, she was at her limit for the cycle.

  “Hey, she’s just worried.” Hestia’s calming voice called from the corner of the room. She was near the invisible door and took a few steps toward Cinder. “You’re always so strong and steady so it’s alarming to see you like this.”

  Skatá, Hestia was right, but even Cinder was allowed to have a bad cycle once in a while. Guilt coursed through her, and she plopped on the bed. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I didn’t sleep well.”

  “It’s okay.” Hestia walked over to Cinder and stood a few flicks in front of her tapping her fingers on her legs. “Even you’re allowed to be grumpy. Is there anything we can do to help?”

  Now Cinder felt like an iceberg. “No, there isn’t.” She sighed and glanced at her loyal guard, who was frowning and glancing at the floor. Her long blue hair was tied in a ponytail as per usual. “I’m sorry, Pele. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.” Cinder needed to be the bigger person.

  “No apology needed.” Pele stood and forced a small smile on her face. “Our stay here has been long and stressful. We all have our breaking points.”