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A glowing figure appeared at my side. He was tall, with sharp ears, and had a familiar essence. An essence I longed for my entire life. His honey eyes held decades of wisdom, and I knew I could trust him.
“Reach within, Elowyn.”
“I don’t know what that means!”
He placed a hand on my shoulder, calming me. “The quiet energy that simmers beneath the surface. Focus on it. Listen to it. You’ll know what to do.”
“How will I know?” I begged, but he faded away.
I yelled and awoke in my chambers, “Wait! Don’t go!”
Sweat drenched the back of my nightgown as I sat up and pressed my palms into my forehead. The room was too small, too stuffy, and I needed air.
Hopping out of bed, I pulled back the lace curtains to find my haphazard reflection staring back at me and sighed. I hadn’t had a nightmare since grade school—when Rhett and his cronies were bullying me. The stress of the trials and the mounting pressure to save my mother must’ve triggered them to come back with a vengeance.
I rested my cheek on the windowpane, my breath fogging the glass, in an attempt to cool myself.
Back then, my mother would make me a cup of tea and sit with me outside, making me count all the stars in the sky until I got sleepy. If the past had a history of repeating itself, I knew I wouldn’t be going back to bed anytime soon. A luxury I couldn’t afford with my first training session in a few hours.
Since tea wasn’t possible, sneaking around the castle it was.
I wasn’t sure if it went against any rules, but I needed all the help I could get. What were they going to do? Hold me captive?
Twisting my untamed curls into a low braid, I pulled the door open and peeked my head out to make sure the coast was clear and slipped into the hallway.
Strings of illuminated light guided my way to the infinite glass doors in the foyer of the great room. I was half expecting to run into at least one person along the way, but the castle was as still as a statue—frozen in time. There were no guards at the doors, no locks or bars, nothing to stop me from leaving. I suppose there wasn’t a point. Where would I escape to? I didn’t know how far away I was from the Dolorem River or which direction to head. Not that I knew any of those details coming into Faerway, but I didn’t want to navigate my way through nocturnal terrain.
I strolled through the gardens, taking my time, noting the lush shrubs and manicured lawn. There was nothing spectacular about any of it, nothing I hadn’t seen before during a tour of Wellington Castle.
However, once I cleared the colossal-sized hedges and veered off the stone footpath, a deep neon blue waterfall came into view, emptying into a glowing lake. The plants and flowers and grass sparkled under the moonlight—appearing to dance in the cool breeze.
The nocturnal bugs emitted a gentle twinkle, casting a soft luminescence that played among the trees, causing them to gleam with an ethereal glow. A soft, refreshing scent of blooming geraniums drifted through the air. It was magical, and something in my soul vibrated to life, connecting me to the surrounding nature.
The gentle wind kissed my skin; a trail of goosebumps was left in its wake.
It was entrancing.
Like I was under a spell. I could’ve stayed out there forever, savoring the beauty.
“What are you doing out of your chambers?” a silky voice crooned from behind me.
I audibly sighed. “I’m sorry. Am I not allowed to enjoy the outdoors?”
Talon circled me with predatory ease, stopping to rest against the tree in front of me. “Despite your upgraded sleeping arrangements, you’re still a prisoner.”
“And prisoners get time outside.” I folded my arms.
Talon licked his lip, studying me. His nearness was unnerving, as were his striking features. I didn’t think it’d be possible for anything to overshadow the mesmerizing nature surrounding us. Yet there he stood, like he wholly and fully belonged there.
He was in his element under the inky darkness: it was a stealth soldier’s perfect backdrop.
“Don’t tell me a few harsh words have you running for the hills, firefly. I thought you were tougher than that.”
“First of all, don’t get used to calling me that. And second, you know nothing about me.”
“Am I wrong though?” He tucked a hand into his pocket.
Not in the mood to deal with his lovely personality, I shouldered past him to stand by the blue lake behind the tree.
