I didn’t know how long I’d been in the beast realm, just that my power was waning, and a cool sweat had started to dampen my hairline. Kost had been dutifully silent while I’d sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes half-closed as I held my parents’ bestiaries in my open palms. Seeing other beasts in the realm was rare, but as I focused on my well of power, allowing light to bloom around me, I hoped the bestiaries and my magic would lure my parents’ creatures to me. My beasts had arrived almost immediately—they’d abandoned their homes and rushed to the open plains where I rested. The forest was alive with their calls, birds dancing along the branches and creatures of all kinds weaving around trunks. Even those who preferred the mountains or remote dunes had come, and they’d stayed with me for support.
But as the minutes ticked by, my doubt grew. If I couldn’t lure them out, what was I supposed to do? Wandering the great realm wouldn’t do me any favors. I’d figured simply staying put—making my location steady and known—would make it easier for my parents’ beasts to track me down. I’d even asked my creatures to spread the word, a lesson Wynn had taught once. Beasts talk, he’d said. And no one knew the realm better than them. A few had disappeared after I’d whispered my task into their ears, but none had returned. Nothing had happened, really.
Tipping my head upward, I stared at the puffy clouds dotting the clear blue sky. Onyx, Dominus, and Reine lingered a few feet away, each of them stretched out with their bellies turned toward the sun. A cool breeze ruffled the tall grass, and Reine sneezed. They were utterly at peace. And as much as their presence soothed me, they couldn’t slow the drain of my power.
“Your mark is receding,” Kost said quietly, the first words he’d uttered since I’d shared my plan with him and sunk to the ground. He lingered beneath the shade of a willow tree with Felicks at his feet. His own beast seemed largely unconcerned with our presence and, like my legendary felines, had opted for a nap.
I let out a huff. “I know.” Poof, my Groober, inched closer to my thigh. His soft, pink fur was soothing to the touch and had helped to keep me grounded, but I’d been careful to avoid his ears. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally scratch them and perfume the air with valerian and lavender. I’d only end up drifting off to sleep in the realm and possibly miss my parents’ beasts entirely.
Kost picked a stray piece of lint off his ebony vest and flicked it away. “Can I help somehow?”
“No. Not unless Felicks has shared something insightful with you that I’m unaware of.”
“No.” He gazed at the amethyst orb atop his beast’s head. Now, it was clear and free of smoke. When a new future was brewing, it would cloud and Kost could tap into what his beast saw every two minutes. But, since Felicks had fallen asleep, the orb nestled between his ears had stayed woefully clear. No telling the future when he wasn’t awake to view the events unfold.
“At this rate, I’m worried that even if we do find my parents’ beasts, I won’t have the energy to get us home.” I held my arm out before me and studied the network of rosewood vines and leaves visible through my white, long-sleeved blouse. Between that and my skintight breeches, I’d opted for comfort in case we ran into trouble and needed to move quickly once in Wilheim. But now, I wasn’t even sure we’d make it there.
“How much longer can you hold out?” Kost asked.
“I can’t say for sure… Maybe an hour?” I curled my fingers around my parents’ bestiaries. I didn’t think it would take much energy to follow one of their creatures through an open door into our world, but I’d still have to summon my Telesávra once there so we could quickly and safely return to Hireath.
“I see.” Kost frowned. Bending down, he smoothed Felicks’s fur. His grim expression worried me more than I cared to admit. We’d moved so quickly in order to take advantage of the gift Yazmin had unknowingly given us. But what if we hadn’t worked out all the details quite right? What if Kost ended up stuck here? From the moment I’d awoken, I’d pushed Noc to make this happen. Maybe I pushed too soon, too hard.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. We could call it. Go back to Hireath and try again once we knew more. Dousing my lure, I made a move to stand when the blades of grass before my feet shifted. Fable, my Gyss, appeared. Her mossy hair fell over her shoulder, draping across her leaf dress, and she pushed it aside to offer me a wide, mischievous smile full of sharpened teeth.
“Fable. Did you find anything?” I spoke aloud for Kost’s benefit rather than pushing my thoughts to her. He straightened and left his spot in the shade, coming to my side and crouching before Fable.
She placed her hands on her hips, and the wisp of smoke where her legs would’ve been shifted with the motion.See for yourself.She jerked her head over her shoulder, and my gaze roved to the thicket of trees bordering the plains.
At first, I didn’t see anything—just the swaying leaves dancing in the faint breeze. But then something shimmery appeared, like a haze over a desert horizon, followed by a lengthy arm that solidified in shape and color. A slender, near-invisible beast that didn’t belong to me emerged from the shade of the forest, and a grin split my face.
“An Iksass.” One of my parents had tamed the same creature as me. Unfurling my fingers, I thumbed the bestiaries’ spines and jolted at the sudden spark of warmth that flared to life when I grazed my father’s name.
I told him what you were trying to do, and he followed me here. The rest is up to you.Fable dusted her hands before her, clearly proud of herself for finding my father’s beast.
Excitement swelled in my chest, and I brought my attention to her. With a gentle finger, I poked her belly. “Thank you, Fable.”
She giggled in response, lovingly pushing my touch aside before waving me off.Don’t get caught.Parting through blades of grass, she headed for the forest.
Kost stood and I followed suit, taking a careful step toward the Iksass. “Hey, there. I’m Leena, Verlin’s daughter.”
The beast inched closer. With a tender limb, he pushed aside a lock of hair covering the mark that had crawled up my neck. Soon, it would disappear down my shoulder and retreat back to my hand. We didn’t have much time and connecting with this beast was likely my only chance at seeing my parents. The Iksass’s watery scent teased my nose as I held still. I wasn’t exactly afraid, but I didn’t want to spook him, either. The memory of my father was so faint, so distant, that I had no other way to reassure this creature that I was, in fact, Verlin’s daughter. I also had no idea when my father had tamed an Iksass. Had this beast been around when I was a child? Did he recognize me? I couldn’t say for sure, but when he let his arm fall away, a strange, almost reassuring sigh scraped through the air.
“It’s been a while since you’ve seen him, hasn’t it?” I asked.
The beast nodded.
“Can you take us to him? Force your way out of the beast realm?” Calling on my power once again, I allowed my lure to bloom around me. I wanted my father’s Iksass to trust me, to feel the light and love I was offering and know that I’d never harm him.
He hesitated and then reached forward to nudge my father’s bestiary.
“He’s in trouble.” My voice broke, and I squirmed my eyes shut for a breath. “I know it’s not normal to do something like this. But I promise I’m not trying to deceive you. IamVerlin’s daughter, and I have to get to him.” His beasts never would’ve thought to try this without my aid. Only newly tamed beasts or those with new masters occasionally forced their way out of the realm, and so his Iksass—along with all his other beasts—would’ve continued to live peacefully here.
Tilting his head to the side, he studied me silently. Each second that passed felt like a decade.
Please. Please believe me.
Finally, he pressed my fingers firmly against my parent’s bestiaries and let out a soft, reassuring moan. Tears welled at the back of my eyes as relief surged through me.
