Fragile Reign (Mortal Enchantment Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

gets better and better. “Okay, let me get this straight. There are books that may have the answers I need, but no one can read them?”
    “An akasha can read them.”
    An akasha who could access their power. Unfortunately, that wasn’t me. Frustration overwhelmed me, but I was out of options. “Please take me to these books.”

 

Chapter Five
    Rowan
     
    It had been nearly two years since I last stood outside the fire court castle. My last visit was one I would never forget. I was carried out on Marcus’s back—mutilated and close to death. I still have nightmares. Almost every night since, I see my mother watching with delight as my best friend was forced to tear off my wings. A punishment for not killing Kalin. But I wasn’t the only one who suffered. Marcus couldn’t deal with what he was made to do. He stayed away for over a year, trying to cope with his own emotions.
    Although he went away, Marcus returned when I needed him most. Ariel had kept in contact with him, sending him an urgent message for help. He arrived in time to assist in Taron’s rescue, saving countless lives in the process. Unfortunately, we couldn’t save everyone. Many fire elementals—including Liana—were killed. Tensions with the air and woodland elementals are at an all-time high. I was determined to put an end to the turmoil by claiming the throne.
    Marcus led me toward a portal at the base of the inactive volcano. The pathway took us inside the castle. We headed down one of the many dimmed hallways. I expected to hear the usual racket: screams from pleasure, screams from pain, or just general excitement. To my surprise, there was dead silence. The only noise I heard was the tapping of my leather boots against the black obsidian flooring.
    I ran my fingers down one of the walls, still warm from the surrounding volcano. Instead of the normal smoothness, a layer of grime covered some areas. Glancing at my fingertips, I saw something I wasn’t expecting: blood. I stopped so I could take a better look at the wall. It was smeared with dirt, ash, and dried blood. I bent down and noticed more blood on the floor. “Check this out.” I said to Marcus, pointing out the splotches. “Can you tell how old this is or who it belongs to?”
    Marcus approached the wall, taking in a long inhale. “It’s hard to say. Some of the blood is new. Other spots are older.” He moved farther down the hall, sniffing as he went. “It’s definitely from fire elementals. Multiple elementals.”
    The battle with the other courts took place in our territory, but they never reached inside the castle. That meant something happened after the fighting had ended. A cold chill ran down my spine. Something told me Valac was to blame for this. I couldn’t come up with any other way to explain it. There had to be someone here who could tell us what went down. “We need to find the council members.”
    Marcus nodded. “Let’s start with the throne room.”
    “Agreed.”
    My mouth fell open when we reached the entrance. The golden door was held on by only one hinge, blocking our way inside. It took both of us to pry the heavy metal out of the way. Once we reached the interior, I noticed the piles of ashes scattered all over the floor. The ashes of deceased fire elementals always returned to the eternal flame. Why were they still here? Marble statues that stood for thousands of years lay in broken pieces. The lava rock throne appeared to be intact, minus a few cracked steps. “What the hell happened?”
    “I have no idea.” Marcus said, scratching the back of his neck. He looked as stunned as I felt. “But whatever it was, I’m glad I missed it.”
    “Prince Rowan?” A weary voice called out.
    I turned around. It was Xavier, one of Liana’s elected council members. He was an incubus. One of the few left in the world. He wore a tattered red council robe with gloves over his hands. An incubus could enslave mortals with a simple touch, making him one of the