XL

Court of Flames

The next morning, a butler comes into our room. Saying that our request for the letter to be sent to the Black Soul Kingdom was denied. Then he sat our breakfast tray on the coffee table, and left. My whole body was sore. I lost count on how many times my legs were wrapped around Jaejin's waist or how many times I was using his chest as leverage. Jae is the first one out of bed and the first one to look at the letter that comes with our breakfast, which I can only imagine is the Court of Flames way of giving us a bullshit excuse. Not that it surprises me, those old farts want nothing to do with me.

"To the Prince of Black Soul and our very own, Prince Kardos III, we cannot authorize a good enough basis to send a letter of this chaotic nature to King Minjun Cha. Your request has been denied. Sincerely, The Court of Red Blaze." Jaejin reads the letter out loud to me and I grit my teeth. I can feel my molars grind against each other as I do. My father's Court was as old as my grandparents that I wasn't granted to meet. Usually when a King comes into power, a day before his coronation he picks out his Court, usually Court children followed in  their parents steps but this time it didn't happen. Some of the kids either died, or their power hungry parents didn't want to give up their power just yet. When my father came into power, his parents had just  died and he didn't know what to do, so why not use the same Court your father had?

"We're going to do something stupid," I tell him and get out of the comfort of my bed, "And you, are going to wear your crown." I tell him  and I head to the bathroom, I use the toilet, and take a quick shower. When I get out, I grab some clothing to wear for my very stupid idea. A dark blue tunic, black pants, socks, and my trusting leather black boots. When I come out of the bathroom, Jaejin is all dressed as well. A black tunic, a dark green leather jacket and black pants, along with black shoes, and his obsidian crown on his head. Jaejin could always bring the beauty out in everything but the way those obsidian jewels shine don't shine as nearly as Jaejin's beautiful almond shaped eyes. It doesn't take much for me to lean up and kiss my mate on his lips, deepening the kiss.

"Ready to do something stupid?" Jaejin asks me as he pulls away from my lips, and I smile at him.

"I was born ready, JJ. I am a Kardos after all." I grin and he only gives me that knowing smile. We leave our bedroom and down the hallway. I stop and look at the portraits that are hanging up on the wall. Looking at the first Kardos, Endellion Kardos.

"Why are we stopping?" Jaejin asks me and stares at the portraits with me. The portrait seems to be after the revolution, once she became Queen of Red Blaze. Her blue eyes seem to keep me frozen in place. The Kardos line was very much known, especially heirs to the throne for their piercing blue eyes. My father still has the same piercing blue eyes although they hold a sadness to them now. She wears dark makeup on her eyes, and her hair is pulled up. A crown was sitting on top of her head, it's silver and made of fire rubies. That piece is only reserved for the Queen of the Kingdom, since it's so rare, it never leaves Red Blaze. The fire rubies are regular rubies but they were conjured with the power of Kardos fire power and a ruby. They have a slight orange hue to them due to the fire that is trapped inside of the ruby. Her dress is a deep maroon, and the dress has off the shoulder straps. The neckline dips in the middle of her cleavage, just enough to tease. There's gold that goes across the top of the dress, intricate flowers and stems.

"I wonder what it was like to love the first Cha." I look over to him and he just grabs my hand, squeezing it.

"I am just glad a Cha finally got his happy ending with a Kardos finally." Jaejin says and we resume walking down the rest of the hallway. I let Jaejin take the lead and let him burst through the doors, right into the middle of the meeting that the Court of Flames is holding at the moment. Orion looks bored in his chair, and Ambrus, of course, is in my father's chair. My parents left last night for Salak, they said that they wanted a weekend to themselves. I couldn't blame them and I feel like it made my mother take the blame off her shoulders. They needed to have fun, needed to be together, because I was a wreck just from a week without my mate; I couldn't imagine how my father felt all those years. Ambrus cocks an eyebrow at us and I can see the big grin on my sister's face.

"Please tell me you are here to fuck Ambrus' day up, this meeting has been dragging on." Nova tells me in Draconei and I have to bite back my smile.

"Prince Jaejin Cha of the Black Soul Kingdom, and Prince Pluto Kardos of Red Blaze III." The guard finally announces and everybody on the court except for my siblings, stand up and bow.

"You are interrupting a Court meeting, Princes. Can this not wait until we are done?" Ambrus asks, he's not snapping at us but I can hear the restraint in his voice. The bastard is ready to give us some attitude of some sort. What is also wrong with this Court you ask? My sister is the only one that is female. Men that are old and senile, that don't accept modern times, are ruling my father's Kingdom. I can't wait for Orion to take the throne.

"I am afraid not, do you mind if we sit, Ambrus?" I ask him and chairs are brought up to the table for us, but since Jaejin is a cheeky bastard; there's one open seat where Ambrus would usually sit. So JJ sits in it, pulling me on his lap. A hand placed on my thigh and I know if I turned around, I would see a cocky smirk on his face.

"And what is it, Prince Cha?" Ambrus seems to spit Cha out as if it hurts him to say. He only speaks Embery so I hope the lessons have been doing good for Jae. I only look at my Jaejin and I know when to step in if needed but he won't need me to but when he starts speaking in Embery it takes everything in me not to jump him. I don't even care if there's my siblings here or other Court members.

"Why was the request denied?" Jae asks him, his Zraeg accent is peaking through but I think that makes it sexier. Knowing three languages, just like me. It makes me feel warm inside. Ambrus cocks his head to the side and a low growl comes from my lips.

"Cut it out, Vamos, you know exactly what we are talking about." I snap at him, and am proud when my accent gives me the edge I need.

"You want the Kardos family to go to Sanseong, how is that even a smart idea? Pluto, your mother just got returned. What makes you think she would even go?" It's Kolos who speaks up, my father's maester.

"Because I already asked, and she trusts me to protect the family." Jaejin snaps at him, and I know that edge in his voice. I know that temper all too well.

"You expect me to trust you of all people? You are the son of the damn monster. What if you are the same-" I can't help it. My hands slam on the table, and I can feel it, the shift of me tapping into Kígyó's magic, the way my eyes change into yellow feline eyes. I try to not let it bother me but the way they came for my mate was unacceptable. I wasn't going to stand here and just let them talk to him like that.

"The only problem here is you, we both know that Jaejin and I could overrule your-"

"I am acting King at the moment, what you try to do-"

"Heir is in charge of the Counselor, Ambrus, and this is the first I am hearing about this. What do you mean by this letter?" Orion asks the both of us and Jaejin pulls me back into his lap. He kisses the side of my neck where my mark is, trying to calm me down which just makes me frustrated because it works.

"Have I mentioned how hot it is when you get like this?" Jaejin murmurs and then looks to my brother, "I wanted to create a treaty between the two Kingdoms. Have our fathers sign it, along with us, and I wanted the entire Kardos family to come to Sanseong for the week."

"And why is that a bad idea, Ambrus? Isn't it technically your job to try to make Treaties? So we don't get into unnecessary battles? That might send my warriors into a fight they don't believe in?" Nova snaps at him and all the men look at her as if she's grown a second head for speaking her mind.

"Quiet, little girl." Kolos barks and Orion snaps his head to Kolos, fire in his eyes. Kolos gets the message and looks away.

"Send the letter, Zsolt." Orion instructs the spymaster and Zsolt is smart so he vanishes into flames. Kolos and Ambrus look at all of us, with a glare. Both of their lips are curled up in a snarl but I don't care anymore.

"Say it." Jaejin snaps and Ambrus is the one to speak up.

"You both will bring Ruin to your Houses. You are both young and naïve. You will be the ruin that comes to Eclia if you send this letter, tell Zsolt nevermind, Orion Kardos." He snaps at my brother but my brother doesn't back down. I can see his hands gripping the wood, and I can see a slight of fear in his eyes but mostly flames.

"I am the Crown Prince of Red Blaze. I am Orion Kardos. I am your future King, what my word says, is law, is just, is a word from the God, Ovion himself, is it not?" He gets in his face, his fangs flashing at him.

"If I may-" Kolos starts but Orion conjures flames in his hand, looking at Kolos.

"You may not, Kolos Pataki. You are here because my father grants it, do not confuse my tolerance with respect. You are nothing but bugs under my shoe, till you are a Kardos heir, till you become reborn with fire, you will not test my decisions when it comes to my Kingdom. Do we understand each other?" Orion barks at him and Kolos looks down at the table, nodding. Orion looks to Ambrus who holds eye contact but then looks down to the table as well. Then I meet my brother's eyes and he winks, standing up and walking out of the room. I follow along with JJ, with Nova close behind us.

"Already on it, Orion." Nova said and Orion turned around once we were in the kitchen.

"I will not go without some guards, I want Krizta in charge while you are gone. I expect stables ready for us, it will be a bit of a journey so everybody needs to pack. I will let the stable hand know to give us the large compartment saddles for our dragons. I really hope your father is up to this, Jaejin Cha." Orion instructs and then looks at my mate. Jaejin only gives us a half smile and reaches out to shake Orion's hand which my brother gladly returns.

"Me too, Orion Kardos, me too."