If I'd known royal life involved this much screaming , I might have asked for a refund on reincarnation.
"INCOMING—!" yelled Thalos.A cannonball made of storm energy whizzed past my ear, singeing a few golden strands of my mane.
"Are they seriously throwing thunder at us?" I shouted, ducking as another blast hit the tower.
"Is there no such thing as diplomacy in this world?"
Thalos, valiantly blocking sparks with his shield, yelled back, "They are the Sky Serpents, my Queen! Diplomacy for them means sending smaller lightning bolts first!"
"Great! Remind me to send them a fruit basket when this is over preferably something not electrified!"
Another blast hit the courtyard. Half the roof collapsed, sending a decorative statue of me tumbling past. It landed nose-first into a fountain.
"Well, at least it's an accurate depiction of my grace," I muttered.
I spread my wings still a little unsure of the "don't crash into clouds" rule and launched into the air.
The sky above the citadel looked like an angry painting: swirling grey, flashes of light, and flying creatures locked in combat.My soldiers, pegasi and gryphons alike, darted around me in brilliant motion, defending the palace
But above them all hovered a massive airship, shaped like a dragon with metallic wings.And standing at the prow, calm and infuriatingly smug, was him.The rival sky king.
I didn't know his name yet, but the universe clearly had a thing for drama, because the man looked like sin carved from sunlight. Silver hair whipping in the wind, sharp jaw, eyes glowing like stormfire Oh and he was smiling at me in the middle of a battle.
"Who the hell smiles during an invasion?!" I yelled to no one.The mysterious man raised his hand. A sphere of electric light formed in his palm, crackling.
"Oh, no you don't!" I flapped my wings hard, creating a shockwave that scattered his attack.
"Try that again, pretty boy, and I'll turn your fancy airship into modern art!"He actually laughed.
A full, warm, infuriatingly charming laugh."Fusaichi Pegasus herself," his voice boomed through the wind. "The new Queen of the Winds. You're smaller than I expected."
"Excuse me?!""Though your wings are… impressive." His gaze flicked toward them in a way that made my feathers heat.
"Very radiant."
"Are you flirting with me *during* an invasion?!"
"Multitasking," he said smoothly, then threw another bolt of lightning at me.
The next few minutes were pure chaos. I dodged, spun, and yelled things that probably weren't royal vocabulary. My soldiers stared in awe possibly because their queen was doing aerial gymnastics while shouting, "Stop throwing electricity at my face!"
Finally, I managed to fly up beside his airship, perching on a metal rail.He turned toward me, arms crossed, smile infuriatingly calm.
Up close, he was even worse. Strong, confident, the kind of man whose mere smirk could make a goddess forget her job."Who are you?" I demanded.
"Prince Kael of the Sky Serpent Dominion," he said with a mock bow. "Conqueror of storms. Rival to the Pegasus throne. Admirer of… beautiful opposition."
"I'm sorry, what?"
He grinned. "You're much livelier than your predecessor. I expected the new queen to be another dull-feathered monarch."
"Dull?" I gasped. "I'll have you know I'm accidentally fabulous."
Before I could hurl more sarcastic lightning his way, his ship lurched hit by one of my generals' counterattacks. Sparks erupted, and the deck tilted sharply.
Without hesitation, Kael grabbed my reins well, technically my mane and pulled me clear of the explosion.
We tumbled through the air, his arms wrapping around me instinctively, wings flaring to balance us.
My heart hammered not from fear, but from the sudden closeness.
"I didn't ask for a mid-air hug!" I snapped, cheeks burning.
"Would you rather fall?" he teased.
"I'd rather not be rescued by my enemy!"
"Then stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you might kiss me after the war."I sputtered.
"In your dreams, Sky Prince!"He winked. "Every night, apparently."
When we finally steadied ourselves, both our armies had frozen mid-fight, staring up in confusion. Their leaders currently tangled in what looked suspiciously like a romantic spin hovered above the battlefield.
I cleared my throat. "This… doesn't mean I forgive you for attacking my palace."
Kael smiled softly. "And this doesn't mean I'll stop testing your defences. But—" His voice dropped, lower, gentler. "You're not what I expected, Fusaichi Pegasus."
"Good," I said. "I hate being predictable."
The tension between us sparked like the lightning we both commanded half rivalry, half something dangerous.
Then, with a roguish smirk, he spread his silver wings.
"Until next time, my Queen."And before I could throw something at him, he vanished into the clouds leaving behind chaos, thunder, and one very confused heart.
Back on the ground, Thalos hurried to my side, still singed. "My Queen! Are you unharmed?"
"Physically? Fine. Mentally? Possibly flirting with the enemy."
He blinked. "You… what?"
"Don't ask." I sighed, glancing toward the horizon where Kael's ship disappeared.
"Apparently, the universe thinks I need romantic tension and lightning battles."
Thalos groaned softly. "The prophecy grows stranger by the day."
"Tell me about it," I muttered.
"Next thing you know, he'll show up at the peace summit with flowers."A pause.
"My Queen," Thalos said slowly, "the Sky Serpents just sent a message. Their prince requests a personal meeting tomorrow."I blinked.
"He didn't" Thalos nodded grimly.
"He did."I groaned, burying my face in my wings.
"Perfect. Just perfect. I survive a war only to go on a date with the enemy."