The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove #1) - Kaitlyn Davis Page 0,49
heavy and her voice sharp. “May I present Lysander Taetanus, born of the god Taetanos, Crown Prince of the House of Whispers.”
Her eyes still on the prince, Lyana couldn’t help but notice that he flinched as the queen said his name. In a beat, the grimace was gone. He spread his obsidian wings and dipped into a low bow as he placed the gilded dagger in the offering basket. The other twelve ravens stood in a line behind him, a wall of black, all of them garbed in ebony jackets, trousers, and boots, not a lick of color on them aside from the pale ivory or muted tan of their skin. The only thing that made the prince stand apart was the royal seal dangling from a chain around his neck and the mask on his face.
Lysander stood, but his eyes stared at the floor, obstinately refusing to glance up. Lyana pursed her lips but didn’t look away as the queen continued.
“May we gift our offering to the god Aethios in the name of Taetanos, god of fate and fortune and all that comes in the life that follows. Metal ores and jewels from our homeland to keep the House of Peace prosperous, and our gratitude for all that you sacrifice on our behalf in serving our god Aethios, the highest of them all.”
The prince flew swiftly to the empty throne by the queen's side, not sparing Lyana a second glance. Not sparing anyone a second glance, really. Even his own mother wasn’t given so much as a smile as he took his place and kept his eyes down.
No need to be a grump, Lyana thought, fighting the desire to cross her arms and frown. Yes, she’d fibbed a little. Yes, she’d let him believe she was someone else. Yes, she’d wanted to shock him. But really, the least he could do was pretend to be thrilled, just a bit, just a smidge. Wasn’t he happy to see her? Wasn’t this a good surprise? Wasn’t he relieved, like she had been when she’d discovered who he was?
Alas, even from across the room she could see the taut muscles in his neck as his jaw clenched. If he wasn’t careful, she might be tempted to see what the hummingbird prince was all about after all.
At least he knows how to make a girl feel special, she huffed, snatching her gaze from the raven prince as her father stood, spreading his wings and his arms.
“The House of Peace thanks you and your gods for these kind offerings. We will present them to Aethios in the hope that he will show his favor with a gift of his own.”
Lyana glanced at Luka. Together they stood, leaped from the dais in unison and landed on either side of the offering basket. This moment was the most important one of the night, and she wouldn’t let any prince sour it for her. Instead, she fastened a smile on her lips and gripped the handle tightly, lifting the basket with her brother as they took to the air once more. They carried the offerings over the royal dais and through the doors behind, which had silently opened as her father spoke.
The sacred nest.
Lyana filled her lungs with the power that lingered in this hall. Behind them, the doors to the atrium slid shut with a click. Before them, the golden gate of the nest loomed. A priestess stood with a key, waiting until they landed before slipping the small door at the base of the gilded bars open to welcome them and their gifts inside.
No matter how many times Lyana walked into this room, she was still in awe. The towering crystal dome. The trees and vines and flowers draped over every surface. The chirps of hundreds of doves housed in the nest. And most of all, the orb floating in the center of the room, a few feet off the ground, alight with a glow nearly as bright as the sun, touching every spot around it, pulsing with an energy Lyana could feel in her core—the power of Aethios. His god stone thrummed with the same sparkling magic that ran through her veins. Some swore it was silver, others gold, others a mix of the two, but whichever the case, the orb thrummed with might. Every house had a stone, but his was the most powerful—his was the arch stone keeping their world high among the clouds and safely in his realm.