CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Once upon a time, a young maiden fell in love with a god. A lowly deity, the ruling gods paid him little heed, relying on his limited power to convey messages via the mind to the outer reaches of their world.
—Fabia’s Fables, “People of the Stars.”
Istared at the roof of the small, cedar cabin I shared with Nerissa, unable to stop the torrent of thoughts flooding my brain. My fingers cautiously rubbed at my chest. A long, crimson line ran from the hollow of my throat to the base of my sternum. Nerissa deemed the slice shallow enough I didn’t need stitches, but tender bruising shadowed the long line. My lungs ached with each breath.
“What are these?” I finally asked, dreading what another hour of silence would do to my psyche. I held my wrist in the air, and the red stone glowed in the dimness of theHydra’scabin.
A disgusted sound escaped Nerissa’s lips. “I have no idea. Something that can subdue magic. Stop it completely, apparently.”
Carina and Kresida hadn’t said anything about the matching cuff on Nerissa’s wrist. If they noticed it, they didn’t show it, though we didn’t have more than a couple minutes before we were hauled onto theHydraand locked up.
I opened my mouth to reply when the warm summer breeze of Lotrennia filled my lungs.
Tiberius soared over the lush green canopy of Ayla. He banked and angled down, fixing his focus on the bright spires of the Gilded Fortress jutting out of the vast expanse of greenery.
You’re okay, I gasped as the casting connection formed, swift relief flooding my senses.
Yes, I’ll explain soon. His response came a moment later.But watch.
Tiberius circled high above the white stone rotunda that hung over the waterfalls surrounding the castle. A large gathering of elves stood on the border of the giant balcony, more lining the living bridges and streets below the castle.
He swooped lower, close enough to see who stood at the center of the glimmering stone, and my heart plummeted.
Three forms took shape as he descended. Queen Antares, dressed in a tight-fitting gown of shimmering gold that stretched into a ten-foot train, stood at the center, a veil of sheer white with glittering golden embroidery attached to a delicate golden crown wrapped in living vines. She held her hands to the sides, palms forward, as Bayne stepped toward her.
He was dressed in a dark golden tunic and formal, fitted pants. He looked resplendent, with a golden crown upon his dark head and a vine snaking around its edges.
Palms forward, he placed them upon the queen’s. Numbness spread throughout my body, or maybe it was Ti’s. We watched them move their joined hands to the side and over their heads before sliding to the opposite hands and bringing them down the center, clasping them between their chests.
Khato, Master of Spells, slowly approached, murmuring words we couldn’t hear. Tiberius hovered for a moment before the vines entwined on their crowns burst with white flowers, Bayne’s power activating, and they made their way to the edge of the platform overlooking the elves of Ayla.
My heart pounded against my ribs as they clasped their hands once more, raising their joined fist above their heads to a resounding chorus of cheers echoing through the trees. Their fists lowered, and the queen’s face tilted up to meet Bayne’s...
“What’s happened?” Nerissa’s voice cracked in the silence of the small room on board theHydra.
My breath escaped in small, panicked huffs as the cast broke, and Tiberius’s consciousness ripped away from my own.
I was quiet for a moment, unsure I’d be able to keep my voice from shaking. My heart thumped in my chest, and Nerissa turned to me, her elven ears no doubt picking up its beat.
“Lyvia?”
A shuddering breath escaped my lips. “I think…” I began, my voice unbearably small. “I think your brother is married.”
Saying it out loud…a small piece of my heart cracked as I relayed everything I’d seen, barely able to keep the flood of shock and devastation at bay. Nerissa’s stillness turned preternatural.
“Was there music?” she breathed.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I…”
Nerissa stilled further, if that was possible, before lifting a hand and hesitantly patting the top of mine. Once. Twice. I glanced at her stony expression and noted the slight pinch of her brows before she looked away, and my heart squeezed in response.
“Bayne is doing what he thinks he needs to. He will resist.”
“Aquila hasn’t indicated any change?” I took a shuddering breath. “What if it wasn’t a marriage ceremony… What if he’s soulbound to her now?”
“Aquila has heard nothing. But Bayne wouldn’t. He can’t.” Despite the consistent shaking of her head, doubt plagued her words.
