I bite into the pastry, and my eyes flutter closed, a groan escaping me. The outside crackles like sugar-glazed pie crust, while the filling is silky and light.
“Oh my goddess. This is heaven,” I murmur through a full mouth. Not very queenly of me, but oh well.
She laughs, her smile beaming at my compliment as she continues on, leading me on until we reach the beach that borders the edge of her realm. We sink onto the soft golden sand, and I slip my shoes off, feeling the warmth of it as I wiggle my toes in the soft grains. We watch the sun slowly dip towards the horizon—except here, it never fully sets. The sky remains a hazy blend of amber and rose, locked in eternal golden hour. The waves shimmer under the light and my chest aches at the thought of my two best friends who would love it here.
I can’t remember the last time I was at a beach other than the one time I went with Talia and her family. Even Ezra tagged along, and we ended up taking one of my favourite photos of us as a trio. I didn’t live near a beach back home, but every summer, we’d rent a little house on the coast—me, Mom, and Dad. Two weeks of sea, sandcastles, and grilled hot dogs. Every night, my mom would count the freckles on my cheeks, her fingers brushing gently over my face. I’d fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and their soft laughter filtering in from the decking that wrapped around the little home. It was the safest I had ever felt, and I would give just about anything to go back. To have the chance to sit beside them just once more, all of us happy, all of us whole.
Sariya waves her hand softly, golden light gleaming at her fingertips as she conjures a glass from the air and hands it to me. I stare in awe at the pale pink liquid sloshing softly, making the ice cubes clink against the glass.
“This is called Blytrine. It’s made from the blossom fruit trees that I created entirely myself. A fruit tree that only grows under Solara’s light. Please, try. It’s delicious.”
She watches intently as I sip from the straw, and the first taste lights up my mouth. Like pink lemonade kissed by the sunshine itself. It’s refreshing, tangy, sweet, and floral.
“Wow,” I whisper, blinking in admiration. “That’s incredible.”
She smiles proudly. “Thank you, it’s my absolute favourite. I’m glad you approve.”
We sit a while longer, talking about Earth and Solara as I mindlessly run the soft sand through my fingers, watching it slip through my hands, back onto the golden beach.
“Ah, yes, Earth,” she muses, her tone tinged with sadness. “That realm I pour sunshine into.”
“I don’t miss it much,” I admit quietly. “Just my friends.”
She nods, understanding in her golden eyes. “It isn’t like it used to be. It’s so full of misery now, it’s a shame.”
I hum in agreement, resting my chin on my knees to watch as the waves flow in and out, softly glimmering under the light of the sky.
“There is one last place I would like to show you before the day ends. Will you come?”
I look up to see her already standing, a hand outstretched. I rise, brushing sand from my dress before placing my hand in hers. “Of course.”
We return toward the palace,the streets much quieter than they were before, but instead of turning down the main path, she veers left. We continue walking until we appear in front of an archway nestled in between blushing rose bushes. She gestures for me to walk through, and magic prickles over my skin as we cross its threshold.
“Oh… wow,” I breathe.
We’ve stepped into a hidden garden, birds singing a harmony so delicate it feels like the wind itself is joining in. Water features trickle around the edges, their pools reflecting light like scattered diamonds. In the centre stands a marble pavilion, draped in hanging vines and surrounded by weeping willows that cast shadows in soft arcs across the stone.
“I would live here,” I giggle. “No hesitation.”
Sariya smiles, but her gaze shifts towards the pavilion, eyes soft. “I have someone who would love to see you. Delilah.”
My heart skips at the name, my giggle vanishing entirely. My head whips towards the pavilion, a figure stepping slowly into view.
She’s tall, wearing a yellow sundress not unlike my own. Her long blonde hair falls in soft waves to her waist, and she walks with a grace I would know anywhere.
I stumble forward, then another step before falling to my knees. A sob wracks through me so violently that I gasp out the only word I can say.
“Mom?”
Chapter 34
Daisy
“Hello, my little sunshine.”
I sob, unable to stop the sounds that escape me. My mom is here. In Solara.
No… this can’t be real. It can’t be real. She died thirteen years ago. But she looks exactly like how I remember—long blonde hair, warm honey-coloured eyes, her smile so full of love.
