Ebony Ascends: The Envy of All

By Nova Blake

It's time. There is only one path before me now.
I must return to my kingdom and take back the throne.
I must face the woman who killed my father – the woman who tried to kill me.
The risks are high. Any one of my men could die. Hell, I could die. But I know now that some things are more important than a single life.
It's time to take up the crown and be the queen I was always meant to be.
It's time to take the fight to her.
It's do or die… Reign or run forever.
And I'm tired of running. I'm tired of hiding.
I want it all…my throne, my men, and I'll fight to the death claim them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nova Blake
• Release date: Jun 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393295495

Book preview

Chapter 1

Despite my desperate desire to get this over with, we'd waited several days before packing up to leave the human world.

It was strange to think of it like that - not mine, not where I belonged.

I knew that now. But still, it felt like these last months had contained a lifetime. One in which I didn't really know who I was, or why things were happening, but a lifetime nonetheless.

Without this world, things between me and the guys wouldn't have changed. My royalty had been a barrier for some, and an obstacle to sneak around for others, but here in the human world, it wasn't what defined me. The fact I'd no memory of it helped us get to where we were now and I wouldn't change that, not for the world.

The past few days hadn't been spent doing nothing, though. There had been a lot of conversation between us all. Now that I knew who I was, it was a matter of merging my old memories with my new knowledge, of balancing and weighing things. Of seeing how I felt.

Not just about the guys, but about me, too. It was pleasantly surprising to know that although we'd been leading quite different lives; we weren't all that dissimilar.

Princess Ebony was bolder than me, braver, and yet she hadn't had as much awareness of others as human-world Ebony did. Reducing me to just a regular person had cured me of my airs and privilege, and for that I was pleased.

But now it was time to put my crown back on, to fight for the freedom of my people.

Are you ready? Colton asked.

I moved away from the kitchen window and crossed the room to where he stood, wrapping my arms around him and tucking my head under his chin. I'd never get tired of the feel of his arms around me, of the shelter he gave.

I am. I let out a sigh, sinking against him. But I'll miss it being just us in this world. Once this is over, things will change.

Colton's body tensed at those words.

Not this, I assured him. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I don't care if you were born lower than me. None of it matters. You're mine, and I am yours. I tilted my head back, and he lowered his lips to mine, the kiss sweet and tender. Loving. I kissed him deeper, going up on my tiptoes so we were closer, running one hand through his hair and gasping against his lips when he grabbed my butt.

Come on, we can't get too distracted yet, he said, the smile in his voice sending a deep rumble through me.

I wish we could, I replied, swallowing the other words, the ones that hoped we'd have plenty of time for this after. There had to be. I kissed him lightly on the cheek and then stepped away, taking a deep breath to center myself. Want to get the others?

Not really, but I will. He slid his hand down my arm, squeezing my fingers before stepping away and back into the role of my protector.

We'd seemed to settle into an easy peace. Not just me and Colton, but all of us. The return of my memories meant that I knew all of them, from both before and now, and I could finally relax when they said that it was always my choice, and trust that they didn't mind sharing.

I wasn't sure what the limits of that were, and to be honest, didn't have any room in my head to think about that either. There were bigger concerns.

Like Zephyr.

I picked up my backpack and shouldered it, stepping through the front door and into the sunlight. He was there on a stretcher we'd made to carry him back to the fey world with us. His condition hadn't changed in any way, which was okay. I mean, I wasn't ready to face him yet, but at least he wasn't getting any worse.

Because I didn't want that either. I wasn't sure what I wanted. He'd betrayed me, badly, and if I'd been a little less sure of what the right choice had been, I might have been swayed. It could have been me lying there breathless and frozen. And yet I understood his desperation. He loved Eliana and he would do anything to save her.

Which was exactly how the others felt about me. Only, his loyalty lay with his true love, with his family.

And yet, I couldn't quite get my head around that either. He hadn't been willing to kill me - hell, I didn't even think he actually wanted to hurt me - but he had been willing to strip me of my throne and my memories.

Which is kind of what we did by bringing me here anyway…

Yeah, it was going to take some time for me to work through this, which meant that it was fine by me if he stayed comatose for now, at least until I could resolve the whole evil, murderous queen issue and come back to this one.

He doesn't deserve your time or attention, Princess. I turned to see Felix approaching from the woods.

I know. I just… I sighed, my shoulders slumping. Trying to get my head around it. I kind of know why he did what he did, but also, he did it to me, and-

You're his princess. His loyalty should always be to you first. Felix came to me and tilted my chin so that I was looking at him. He was one of your personal guards, honored with the duty of protecting you at all costs. All. Costs.

But- I pressed my lips closed, bit down on all the excuses that were bubbling inside. I was the princess, and I needed to keep my shit together.

And Felix was right. Zephyr had broken his vow, and it didn't really matter that I understood why. He could have come to me. Talked to me about it. Been honest.

But he'd lied. And I knew better than most how much trouble sneaking around and lying could get you into.

What are we going to do with him? I asked.

By your command, we're leaving him with Bettina. Felix raised an eyebrow. Having second thoughts? Want me to shave all his hair off and draw penises on his face?

I let out a whoop of laughter, tears pricking my eyes. I wiped them away quickly, almost choking on the laugh. Felix's grin was wicked, and my heart hitched just looking at him. He was always at his finest when he was making me smile, and no one could crack me up like he did.

I grinned, trying to take a breath to settle myself back down. Thanks. I needed that.

Oh, you need me? He pressed a hand to his chest with an air of self-mockery, but I could see the warm glimmer in his eyes.

I do need you, I said, tilting my face up and closing the distance between us. I was still breathless from laughter, but now it was a different kind that came over me. Kissing Felix was surprising, and fun, and while it had never gone further than a kiss, I knew it would one day and I put the promise of that into my lips.

When we drew apart, he whispered. You can need me anytime, Princess. Any time at all. His breath brushed over my lips, my cheek, and I wished there was time for more right now.

One day. I kept telling myself that. One day, there would be time to explore all of my men in all the ways we could want. We just had to survive this first. And if I could stop thinking about that little part of the equation - having them all survive - maybe I could think straight. It was a clenching feeling in the back of my throat, a sliver of ice wedged into my belly.

Someone could die. Someone probably would die. And yet, I couldn't imagine life without any of them, and every time that thought crossed my mind, I felt a little less sure about what lay ahead.

Come on, Princess. The others will be here any minute and we need to get moving. Are you ready? He looked me in the eyes, his gaze assessing whatever it was he found there. You're as ready as you're going to be.

That sums it up. I shrugged and turned to look at the house. It was nice here, well, not here exactly, but the last house. This world. It's beautiful in its own way and I think I'm going to miss it, or at least the peace it afforded me.

Hopefully one day soon you can have peace again in our world. This one will be safer without us here, he said with a trace of sadness.

Well, safe from us at least, Hunter said as he exited the house. Ready?

I watched as the others filed out of the house. Brax closed the door and then locked it, which seemed so strange. We weren't coming back. We didn't need to keep it safe.

I'm ready for everyone to stop asking me that, and I'm also ready to get moving. Yes. Let's do this. I nodded once and then turned to the path we'd take, sucking in a deep breath and moving forward.

Sheehan and Hunter trotted ahead of me, while the rest of them lifted Zephyr or took up the rear guard. A crow flew over my head, casting a dark shadow across my body, and I shuddered, hoping it wasn't a bad omen.

I needed all the luck I could get.

#

It felt like we made it to the gate in record time, or maybe it was just that I felt more drawn to it now.

The trepidation of my last trip had completely vanished. I knew what lay ahead, roughly. It was amazing what a difference it made - being in full awareness of myself, of my men.

They let Zephyr down for a rest when we arrived, and I went to stand by Hunter.

How are you going to remove the flowers? I asked.

He turned to assess me and then looked back out at the array of white. I'm not, he said softly. We are.

You mean you want me to give this a go? I crossed my arms over my chest and squeezed, nerves creeping in. Sure, I'd taken the potion, I knew more things. But this?

Hey, you're all back together, right? He raised an eyebrow. Are you good?

I chewed on my lip, considering the question. I could certainly feel my magic now, humming beneath my skin, but it was so much a part of me from before that I'd never needed to think about it. It had been pure instinct, basic nature. Human world Ebony had introduced a new thread of doubt and uncertainty to me and I didn't think I liked it.

Yeah, I'm good, I said, choosing to push that all down and just let things unfold. I could do this. Of course I could. Hell, I was probably the one that made the flowers do this in the first place.

Still, I felt a little sad at the thought of killing them all. Destroying the only lasting impact I could have on this place, despite the fact that I knew it was the right thing to do.

I reached out a hand and gripped Hunter's, giving him a little nod.

Take Zephyr through. Half of you can move on to Bettina's, and the rest wait until Ebony and I come through. Got it? He gave my hand a little squeeze as he spoke, and I gripped back. The others nodded and followed orders, stepping through the portal as though it was any other door. Once the last of them was through, Hunter turned to me. You're okay, right? I haven't really had a chance to check in, and…

And there is never a moment to be alone with anyone these days, I finished, though I'd managed it with Colton and I didn't regret an instant of it. I will be okay. I just need to get this over with.

I let go of his fingers and stooped to pick a flower, lifting it to my nose and inhaling deeply. It held a magic of its own and I closed my eyes, letting it be a balm to my nerves.

Hunter waited patiently until I looked at him. I tucked that single flower into my hair and then reached for his hand again.

Let's do this.

His fingers slid into mine and I sucked in