Kaelen POV
Kaelen stood in the courtyard of House Zephyr's estate, his body still aching from the construct's attack. The morning air was cool against his face, carrying with it the scent of jasmine from the garden walls. Three days of rest had done much to restore his strength, but the suppression poison still lingered in his veins, making his Aether magic sluggish and unpredictable.
Today was his father's funeral.
He'd spent the past hour staring at the formal black clothes Aldwin's servants had laid out for him. The tunic was fine silk, embroidered with silver thread in patterns that would mark him as nobility. A cloak of deep midnight blue completed the ensemble…House Zephyr's colors, not Valerius crimson.
Going to the funeral would be suicide. Lyren would have guards positioned throughout the ceremony grounds. Salyer would have prepared traps. Even with House Zephyr's protection, he'd never make it out alive.
