Chapter 1: Seven Years Ago

I couldn't believe this was happening. The most attractive boy in our solar system was leaning in for a kiss. For three years, I had dreamt of this moment. Ever since I saw him at the castle lagoon, dripping wet, with rivulets running down his abs and shoulder-length blonde hair, made darker by the water, I knew I wanted him to be my first everything. Our lips finally touched, and my skin prickled with anticipation.

"Dorian! We need to get going, or Captain Barva will skin us alive," one of his friends shouted, making him sigh. He pulled back, his crystal-blue eyes not moving from my lips as he said, "Find me an hour before the coronation tonight, Vera. I'll make it a night you'll never forget, I promise." He stood up and walked away, his gaze lingering on me. I smiled, laying on the soft grass and watching puffy clouds float by. Tonight would be a night I would never forget.

At sixteen, most Lytharians my age had already sampled the more sensual aspects of life. And tonight was my coronation. I was going to be Empresta, next in line to be Empress when my mother died. To be fair, I had always been the Empresta, but after tonight, it would be official. Imagine that—me, a powerless dud, ruling one of the six planets in our solar system, Lythra. Lytharians usually receive a power when they turn thirteen that aligns with the energy they need to feed on to survive after the Gifting. Dorian had the ability to inflict immense pain with a single touch. He fed off the pain of others. I cringed internally. I'd rather have no ability than that particular one. We were the only ones who needed to feed on others' energies after the Gifting. Draakins needed blood in addition to food to sustain themselves, and the other species fed from the resources of their planet. The other races also received powers when they turned thirteen, aligning with the purpose of their planet. And everyone I knew over the age of thirteen had some sort of ability, except my best friend, Niaka, and me.

I stood up and made my way to the sparring arena, where I knew I’d find Niaka, his sister Artemia, and his brother Cain. Draakins were always doing some sort of combative training; they were a warrior people. I walked to the arena and breathed in the fresh Lythra air. Lythra was beautiful this time of year, the sun casting a soft golden haze over the castle’s spiraling towers. The stained glass windows cast shimmering images on the walls from the setting sun. I reached the arena and heard the telltale clash of blades. I found Niaka and Artemia locked in a deadlock, glaring at each other over the curve of their swords. I made myself comfortable and took a seat next to Cain because this could take a while. I greeted him and asked, "Who's winning?" He signed back, Who do you think?

Cain was born unable to speak. The Marineese healers couldn’t "fix" him since there was nothing to fix. All four of us grew up together, so I knew how to sign before I learned how to read properly.

"Give up, Arty. You know I'm better with a blade," Niaka huffed, already out of breath. I loved my best friend, but he wasn’t the best fighter. His legs and arms seemed too thin and long for him to control correctly. He glanced my way. His black talon-tipped tail whipped back and forth once. Artemia sensed his distraction and swept his legs out from under him with her grayish tail.

"You forget, brother, I can sense lies as easily as breathing," she said, standing over him and smirking. He got up and brushed himself off.

"Merciless as ever, I see. Has no one compassion for a poor, powerless boy?" he feigned hurt, placing a hand over his heart. He sat next to me and threw his arm over my shoulder. "Well, if it isn't my biggest fan? Came to cheer me on as I slay my enemies?" he asked.

"The only thing you're slaying is your chances of becoming a high-ranking officer at the rate you're improving, which is none at all," Artemia quipped as she sat on my other side.

"After tonight, I'll have the Empresta as a best friend, and I'm sure that'll grant me some special perks, won't it?" he asked, his pale gray eyes filled with mirth. He might joke about it, but I knew his lack of fighting skills and power hurt him more than he let on. Their father was the commander of the solar army, and all Niaka wanted was to make his father proud.

I rolled my eyes, shoved his arm off my shoulder, and scrunched my nose. "If you smell this bad at my coronation, you won't grow old enough to enlist," I replied. I glanced at his face, which always seemed too sharp, like his skeleton was still waiting for the rest of him to form. He chuckled and leaned back, using both hands. A curly strand of jet-black hair fell into his eyes. I reached over and brushed it away while adding, "But, yes, I'll have your back when the time comes, always." He tried to suppress a smile but failed. I turned to Artemia and Cain, and we started talking about what we would wear, who we thought would have the most outrageous clothes, and so on. After discussing where we’d meet before and after the coronation, I looked at the time. "Shit, Madame Donne is going to kill me. I have to go," I said, all but running out the door.

I arrived at my room, bursting through the doors. My room had turned into a dressing room. My vanity was adorned with exotic cosmetics, each container a piece of art—vials of iridescent pigments, perfumes contained within crystalline orbs, and powders that shimmered like crushed stardust. My dress was draped over my bed, and a small army of staff occupied my room.

"Where in the planets have you been, girl?" Madame Donne, my seamstress, shrieked. "The coronation is in three hours, and we haven’t even started yet. Do you want us to be out on the streets?" she added in a shrill voice.

"Of course not, Madame Donne," I replied sullenly.

"Well, don't just stand there. We have a lot to do. Come in!" she demanded, gesturing aggressively for me to stand on the podium. I sighed because I knew from experience this would be a long and painful process.

One hour later, I was entirely plucked and painted to be presented to my people. I stood in front of the mirror and admired Madame Donne's work. She was the best in the solar system. My curly golden hair was artfully arranged on top of my head, my pale blue eyes rimmed with golden powder, making them appear more blue than colorless, and jewelry adorned my arms, hair, neck, and pointed ears. But the true star of the show was my dress, a beautiful rose gold floor-length gown that shimmered with every movement.

"You've outdone yourself, Madame Donne," my mother's voice drifted from the door, startling me out of my thoughts. Everyone in the room, including me, bent the knee, swooped into a curtsy, and lowered our gazes as she approached the mirror.

"Thank you, Empress. You do me the greatest honors," Madame Donne replied, her words laced with admiration and submission. The Empress waved her hand, permitting us to be at ease.

I straightened my posture and looked at my mother. We looked almost exactly the same, except where her hair was straight, mine was a cascade of curls. She was everything I wanted to be one day—powerful, beautiful, and ruthless. She fed on submissive energy and could make any mind bend to her will, a useful power to have when you are the Empress of an entire planet.

"Are you ready, my dear?" she asked, holding her arm out for me to take. I nodded, and we walked to the ritual grounds. She explained what I must do and what would happen during the coronation, which was good and all, but I’d heard it a million times. I assured her I knew what to do and what to expect.

"Good, good, dear," she said absentmindedly.

We approached the ritual grounds, and hundreds of people were already socializing. There was a clearing at the heart of the grounds, bathed in the dwindling sunlight that filtered through the canopy like blessings from the heavens. The floor was a canvas of rich, natural tones adorned with intricate mandalas of petals and leaves, created by the meticulous hands of druids in reverence to the event. These complex patterns guided the path, leading to a majestic throne carved from ancient oak. A throne I would be sitting on in a few hours.

"Now remember, you have two hours to have some fun," she said with those parting words, kissing my cheek before leaving me in the throng of people. Two hours—only two hours to go, then I’d be Empresta, and my training to rule would begin.

I walked away from the crowd to the clearing where Niaka, Artemia, Cain, and I had arranged to meet. I’d spend an hour with them, and afterward, I’d find Dorian so he could make good on his promise. As I neared the clearing, I heard them bickering and struggled to keep a smile off my face. I hoped things wouldn’t change too much after tonight.

Niaka glanced up, and a wide smile spread across his face. He boomed, "Empresta, so lovely to grace us with your presence. Your beauty is like a mirage in the hottest deserts of Pyra."

Candles and blankets littered the clearing floor. I commented, "Is this all for me? You guys really shouldn't have. And you don’t look too bad yourself, Niaka." This was surprisingly true; his hair was stylishly messy, with a few strands resting against his forehead, making him look a little older than he was. He still didn’t quite fill out his suit, but at least he seemed to have made an effort, and it paid off. He and I were about the same age and the youngest of our little group. Artemia and Cain were the oldest by two years, Cain being the older twin.

"Yes, well, if you’re born with such good looks as I am, it doesn’t take a lot of effort," he said with a self-satisfied smirk.

"Oh, please, he took about two hours to do his hair," Artemia quipped. Artemia was wearing her usual leather pants and black T-shirt combo, her straight black hair in her usual prim bob.

I turned to Cain and asked, "How do you put up with these two every day?"

As Cain signs, I take in his appearance. He’s always been the best-looking of the four of us—black, layered, shoulder-length hair, a well-defined, tall body, and deep brown eyes that seem to hold secrets. Cain gives me a look and signs, If I find the answer, you'll be the first to know.

I grab Niaka’s and Artemia’s hands and pull them down as I plop myself onto the blanket. Cain takes his place next to Artemia. We lie on the blankets, looking up at the stars. It became our thing the day we became inseparable eight years ago. Whenever one of us faced an obstacle in life, we would come together and gaze at the stars. For Artemia, it was usually about a girl she liked who didn’t like her back. For Niaka, it was being bullied and beaten up by the other children. And for me, it was generally the pressure of being royalty. Only Cain never seemed to have any problems or obstacles—none he shared, anyway.

"I wish we could stay like this forever," I say, squeezing both their hands. "Promise me, whatever happens, we’ll still be us."

"Always, don't worry, Vera, we aren’t going anywhere," Niaka says softly.

“Yeah, you better not ditch us for royal friends,” Artemia adds.

We lie there for a while, talking about the future and where we’ll be in ten years, until we eventually find comfort in each other's silence. As the minutes tick by, I become more nervous and excited to meet up with Dorian. I sigh and sit up. "I have to go in a few minutes. I'll see you both after the coronation, yeah?"

They sit up, and Niaka asks, "I thought you had two hours. Where are you going?"

I give him a secretive smile and reply, "I'm going to meet Dorian. Let’s just say the next time you see me, I'll be Empresta and a… well… educated woman." I stand up. The others also stand but don't look as happy for me as I expected.

Niaka’s smile is tight as he says, “That’s great. We all know how long you’ve had a crush on him.”

With a look of utter revulsion on his face, Cain signs, Please tell me you’re not going to have sex with that bastard?

“Cain,” Niaka warns in a low voice.

I reply, thoroughly confused, "Yes, I am. I don't understand where all this anger is coming from."

Cain looks away, dragging his hand through his hair. An incredulous sound escapes his lips. Maybe it's because that piece of shit has beaten Niaka up more times than I can count, or because he takes a new girl every other day.

He’s not wrong. Dorian has a hefty reputation when it comes to bedroom affairs, but that's why I want him to be my first. I was never under the illusion that we would start a relationship or anything. I put up my finger and say, “First, he stopped beating him up two years ago.” I put up another finger and add, “Second, I want him to be my first because of his reputation and he is downright gorgeous.”

Niaka’s face falls. Do they all disapprove of my decision? I turn to Artemia, but her face gives nothing away.

Cain continues, Ah, I see—you want to fuck him because he’s pretty and popular. I thought you were better than that, Vera.

Now I’m getting angry. Where did this even come from? Why aren't the others saying anything? I raise my voice a little. "Those are two good reasons to want to have sex with someone, Cain. Tell me, what reason would be acceptable to you then?"

He glances at Niaka, who shakes his head. Cain ignores him and signs quickly, Mmm, let me see. Wanting to spend all your time with someone. Finding ways to touch them. Always seeking them out before all others. Looking at them like you were made for them and only them. Like you’re meant to be together.

The angrier Cain gets, the more the shadows around us seem to grow and wither. When Cain turned thirteen, he developed the ability to manipulate and control shadows. Why is he getting so worked up over this? Is he jealous? Oh gods, does he love me?

My voice softens as I try to tell him in the kindest way possible, "I care for you, Cain, but not in that way.”

His eyes widen, and he signs, Not me, Vera. Are you really that blind? You and Niaka—

“Enough,” Niaka shouts.

Cain turns his anger on him. No, not enough. If you’re too much of a coward to tell her, I will. He turns back to me. He loves you, Vera. He—

Artemia finally intervenes, "Cain, this is not your decision to make."

I frown, look at Niaka, and ask, "What is he talking about? You don't like me like that, do you?"

He glares at Cain, then runs his hand through his mass of curls and turns to me. His voice is laced with something akin to sorrow as he answers my question. "I have been in love with you for as long as I can remember. But I know you do not feel the same way, and I am happy to be in your life as your friend. And I want you to be happy. If Dorian can be that for you, I'll smile and support you in any way."

Cain interrupts. Stop with the bullshit, brother. We both know this hurts you.

Niaka snarls at his brother, his canines elongating out of anger. This is the angriest I have ever seen him. I’m so confused my thoughts seem to fracture into a million pieces, and I struggle to latch on to anything.

"Yes, it hurts. But just because I love her doesn’t mean she owes me the same feeling in return. For gods’ sake, Cain, why would you even do this? She’s our friend."

Cain snorts. Friend? She doesn’t treat you like a friend. She always finds ways to touch you. Her eyes shine differently when she looks at you. I did this because I know you’re too cowardly to say anything.

My frown deepens. Is Cain telling the truth or seeing what he wants to see because he wants his brother to be happy? Niaka grinds his teeth, and his eyes begin to shine with unshed tears. He shakes his head and turns away to storm off. I take a step in his direction, but I’m too confused to attempt to comfort him right now. So I send one scolding look in Cain’s direction and turn the opposite way, done with this whole thing.

As I walk away, I hear Artemia tell Cain, “You better make this right.”

Yeah, that’s never going to happen. How are we supposed to come back from that? I feel wetness on my cheek and realize I’m crying. Why? I have no idea. I don’t know how late it is, and I’m certain my makeup is a mess. I walk to the place where Dorian told me to meet him. I don't even know if I want to have sex right now. My heart feels like it’s broken into a million pieces, and that confuses me even more. Is Cain right? Do I love Niaka? I don’t know what to think, and I certainly can’t comprehend how I’m feeling at the moment. I need time to think. I'll tell Dorian it isn’t going to happen tonight and find Madame Donne to fix me up.

I find a rock to sit on and wait for Dorian. Screw Cain for ruining what was supposed to be the greatest moment of my life. A sob escapes my lips. I put my head in my hands and allow myself to cry.

“I can see why you would want to get rid of her,” a deep voice says to my right.

I snap my head up and open my eyes. The first thing I see is my mother. The second is a girl about my age standing next to her; the third, the most noticeable, is three huge men.

"W-w-what’s going on?” I stutter.

“My dear, I am sorry it had to come to this. I had such grand plans for you when you were a baby, but then you turned out to be powerless…” She strikes me across the face. “…and useless. Did you really think I would crown you? Lythra needs someone powerful, not a silly little girl like you. Take her!"

Two of the three men grab me and put chains around my neck and wrists. "Please, I—" They gag me before I can finish the sentence.

I don't understand. My mother and I were never close, but she never gave any indication of something like this.

BOOM! An explosion goes off near the ritual grounds. She looks in the direction of the sound.

"Good, it's starting. Take her off the planet and kill her. I don't care how you get it done, but don't do it on Lythrarian soil. I don't want an ancestor taking pity on her and showing everyone how she died. She has royal blood, after all." She turns toward the girl my age and snaps her fingers at the third man while ordering him, "There must be nothing left of her but a charcoaled husk, understood?"

He replies without hesitation, "Yes, Empress." Stretching his arms out, he blasts a stream of scorching flames over her entire body

All I can hear are her screams. All I can taste and smell is her burning hair and flesh. I start violently gagging. How did everything go so wrong so fast? Tears stream down my face. One of the men yanks me to start walking. The other man leers at me and whispers in my ear, his vile breath making me gag all over again, "Don't worry, pretty. You will be sold in pieces at the meat market soon. Then all this will be over." I look at my mother, trying to beg her not to do this. She walks over to me and caresses my cheek. Hope blooms in my chest and with her next words, it withers away just as quickly, “It is a shame you would have been a beautiful Empresta.” She walks away, and with every step she takes leaving me here, death takes a step closer.