Portia (18 page)
“Were we? I got a little muddled.”
“Liar.”
He points to his own face. “Lust demon.”
Somewhere below us, a herald plays a regal tune on his silver trumpet. Electric excitement charges my nerves.
“That’s my cue,” I say.
Tempest kisses my cheek. “You’ll ace this one, luv.”
“Thanks.” I step up to the building’s edge. My heart pounds so hard, I think it could break out of my rib cage. A large crowd has gathered below. I cast a quick spell to enhance my voice, and then I’m ready to begin.
“I stand before you today, Empress Portia Phi Tau Xavionus Guritha Rixum.” I pause and double-check that I got everything right. My name’s become a sentence lately. “I am here with my Rhana, Emperor Tau Epsilon Omicron Theta, to hereby declare that as of this date, I shall begin my official rule as Empress of Furonium.”
No one does anything. The crowd below stays silent. I glance over at Tempest. “What did I miss?”
“The declaration.”
I snap my fingers and point at his nose. “Right.” I turn back to the crowd. “I hereby declare the following.” I raise my arms high. “Let the Procession begin!”
The crowd leans back and tilts their heads up to the skies. Dragon scales crawl up all their necks and faces. Acting in unison, they let out a single roar. The air vibrates with the force of their cries.
Tempest and I take hold of each other’s hands. Together, we race toward the edge of the roof. I focus on the warmth of his palm in mine, and not on the possibility of being a Portia-sized pancake if I can’t manage this next bit properly.
Before I know it, Tempest and I have reached the building’s edge. We leap forward. Air roars in my ears and whisks over my skin. I remind myself to try and picture my dragon form, but my body is already changing. It’s like Tempest’s been saying. My dragon nature has started to take over. Within seconds, I’m in my dragon form: red, long, and sturdy with a headdress of horns. I spread my wings and pump up toward the clouds.
The crowd goes berserk. Behind us, the Kathikon take to the skies as well.
Tempest flies along at my side. “Well done, Portia.”
“I didn’t do anything that time. It just happened naturally.”
“Which is why it was perfect.”
There’s an odd sensation as my extra-long mouth breaks into a smile across an impossible number of teeth. “Thank you.”
“Now, we head east.”
Tempest and I fly off for our first stop on our Procession through Furonium. This is Thornclaw territory. As our shadows pass above the fields, the Thornclaw lean back, roar their lungs out, and take to the skies. With the Thornclaw behind us, we move on to other lands. There are all-white dragons who hide in snowdrifts, Mindaray with wings as small as petals, and Electrophus who burst out from the red-tinted seas.
By the time Tempest and I start making our way back, there are so many dragons following us, our entourage darkens the skies. I feel like I could burst with exhilaration and pride. I’m leading my people in flight.
My people.
I’ve never thought that before about the thrax or the quasis, but now, that’s the right word for the Furor.
Mine. Just like Tempest.
As we return to the Palladium, I can see the different balconies of the building are now filled with new people. My family is the final stop on my Procession. The Eastern balcony is crammed with thrax in their multi-colored gowns and tunics. My long dragon’s throat constricts with joy. At the balcony’s edge, there stands G, Walker, and Hildy. They wave at me, their faces beaming.
Tempest and I fly around to the Western balcony. This one’s filled with quasis wearing purple. A multitude of tails wag or sway. My pulse jumps. Grandma Cam stands at the railing, waving to me. She wears her Presidential suit and purple sash of office.
Tempest and I swoop up over the top of the Palladium. There, we find my parents waiting for me, arm in arm. They’re in full get-up as King and Queen. Dad’s in a tunic with the Rixa eagle crest. Mom wears a black over-gown atop her white Scala robes. Silver crowns glisten atop their heads. When she sees me, Mom raises her arms high and summons a column of igni around her and Dad. The small lightning bolts of power swirl around my parents in a cyclone formation before climbing up into the clouds. Mom lowers her arms, and a gateway opens in the sky.
My dragon’s mouth stretches into an even wider smile. Mom’s opened a portal to Heaven.
The first to descend through the clouds is my grandfather Xavier. He’s in full archangel mode with his golden wings, gleaming armor, and sword of white flame. Behind him follows a host of angels, their voices raised in song.
I discover something. You know who gets weepy around singing angels? Everyone. My eyes tear up instantly. I glance over to Tempest. “It’s nice.”
Don’t cry, Portia. Keep it together.
Tempest lowers his voice. “By the by, this song is what they sang when Xav took office as archangel.”
It was?
And now, the blubbering starts. “That’s…so…beautiful.”
“Are you all right, luv?”
“Yes.” I sniffle loudly. “I’m just so happy.” I scan the scene, seeing everyone I love. Well, almost everyone. There are two very noticeable absences. My heart sinks. “Are Maxon and Lianna coming?”
“I’m so sorry, Portia.”
I nod slowly. I haven’t heard a word from Maxon since that day at his castle. Lianna keeps saying that he needs more time, and I understand that. But seeing this huge display from my whole family? It only makes me miss Maxon more. A guilty weight settles into my stomach. I should be thankful that my family’s here. Plus, I’m alive, have Tempest, and have found a new home where I truly belong. The fact that my bullheaded brother isn’t here shouldn’t bother me.
Only, it does bother me. A lot.
My grandfather hovers beneath the singing choir, his golden wings beating out in time with the music. Pops’ bright blue eyes catch my dragon stare, and I know he can guess my thoughts. He offers me a sad smile.
Hold it together, Portia.
Tempest nudges my neck with his dragon snout. “How about we call an end to the Procession? We need to get ready before the feast.”
“That’s a good idea.”
And then, I see it.
Hazy shapes begin to appear on either side of Pops. My breath catches.
This can’t be right. I must be seeing things.
The two forms come into clearer focus. On the left side of Pops, there now stands Lianna. She’s in water elemental mode, so her body looks like it’s made from swirling rain. I exhale with relief as I see who stands to Pops’ right.
It’s Maxon. He’s here.
My brother is in full air elemental mode. His body appears to be made from curling smoke. He steps across the sky like anyone else would walk across the pavement. He pauses before me.
“Hey,” he says.
Hey.
How my brother can stuff a world of meaning into one word, I’ll never know, but he always does.
“Hi.”
“Look, I’m so sorry. I got mixed up in my own damn mess and I acted like a dick. Forgive me, yeah?”
Warmth and happiness fill my chest. While my wings keep up their steady beat, I nuzzle my snout into his shoulder. “I forgive you.” The barest breeze moves over the crown of my dragon’s head as Maxon ruffles my scales.
Some things never change, I guess. I’ll always be his little sister. For once, that doesn’t seem like such as bad thing. I suppose becoming Empress makes me value the few places in my life where I can still hide in the shadows.
Maxon turns to Tempest. “What d’you say, T? Are we good?”
Tempest winks. “We’re good.”
Maxon’s smoky face breaks out into a huge smile. “Since we’re late coming to the party, Li and I wanted to do something special. Try and make up for things.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Just being here is enough.”
“Nah, I’m the Monarrki of Air. I can do more than show up.” He turns to Lianna, who’s drifted over to his side. “Ready?”
Lianna rubs her hands together. “You know it.”
Maxon raises his left hand. A thin column of wind cuts through the clouds over our heads. A beam of bright light pokes through. Lianna raises her hand as well, adding a swirl of raindrops into the new brightness.
I gasp when I see the results. Rainbows appear everywhere. And I thought the angelic choir was going to break me. Rainbows from my gruff brother kick the angelic choir in the gut and call it names. Philosophically speaking, of course.
“That’s beautiful, Maxon.”
“You like it?”
“Yes.” My voice breaks. “I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s the first of its kind, anywhere,” says Lianna proudly.
My lower lip trembles. “Thank you.”
“You still all right, luv?”
My eyes line with warm tears. Suddenly, it seems like a huge miss that dragons don’t have pockets or extraordinarily large handkerchiefs for situations like this. “Yes, I think so.”
“Are those happy tears?”
The choir hits a crescendo. My chest feels so full of joy, it could burst. “Definitely.” I clear my throat. “I’m ready to declare the end to this Procession now.”
Tempest beams. “Ace it again.”
I inhale a deep breath and try my best to pull myself together. Although now, the Furor nation is so overjoyed with the free angelic concert and rainbow light show, I think I could burst into flame and they wouldn’t care. I cast another quick spell to enhance my voice.
“My people!” I cry.
They keep cavorting through the skies and darting in between rainbows.
Tempest’s irises turn demon-bright. A low growl echoes from his chest. Everyone quiets, even the angelic choir. Tempest’s been teaching me all sorts of dragon stuff lately. That’s another trick I’ll have to add to the list.
“My people,” I continue. “You’ve touched my heart with your warm welcome. I can’t wait to lead with Tempest at my side. I hereby declare this Procession complete!”
The Furor all roar together. The sound is deafening and beautiful.
I close my eyes. A memory appears. I’m running down the marble staircase of the Ryder Mansion, worried about being late for my lecture. Back then, my life then was magic, Firmament, and family. The closest I’d had to a boyfriend was that drycleaner guy.
I shake my head in amazement.
As of today, my magic has changed from almost impossible to nearly all-powerful. My family includes a nation of dragons. And my love life? That’s the best change of all. I nuzzle into Tempest’s neck. His dragon scales feel warm and leathery. “The Procession’s over. Let’s go home.”
Tempest gently links his front claw with mine. My chest fills with warmth and love. “There, now,” says Tempest. “I’m home already.”
I remember the first time I saw him on that balcony, a few months and a thousand years ago. Part of me knew it then, too. Wherever Tempest is, that’s my heart’s home. Together, we fly off into the clouds.
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