Page 46 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“So other than Lyra wanting to see me, what brings you two here?” Bim asks.

“Well, I got to meet Timmy and Polly as well. I also learned what a Riff is today,” I tell Bim gleefully.

“What the fuck, Nyx? You saw Polly and didn’t bring me a Riff?” Bim laughs and takes a swig of beer.

“I came to talk to you about Cloudrum. I’m taking Lyra to the Lycan Realm,” Nyx says, and Bim spits his drink out across the counter.

“What!? Why?” Bim asks.

“She needs answers, and I want to help her get them,” Nyx says stoically.

Bim looks over at me before asking, “Answers?”

I start to tell him about the Lycan ceremony, but he already knows most of everything that happened because Nyx relayed it to him earlier. I tell him that I need to speak to Aidan and find the old Sorceress, because they’re the only ones who might be able to give me insight into what the ceremony means. I tell him about the prophecy from my father’s journal and the midnight mind.

“Samael will be looking for you the moment you set foot back in Cloudrum. It's dangerous.” Bim runs his hands through his hair.

“They did something to me. I may feel like myself right now, but what happens when things start changing? I have no idea what they did to my body, what they put inside me. I need answers so I can be prepared before it's too late. I don’t want this midnight mind to make me go crazy, and I need to know what being the key means. Is Zomea even something we want to unlock a bridge to?”

A look of understanding crosses his face. “I know, Lyra. I’m sorry. What they did to you—it’s despicable. You have every right to know what it means. I just don’t know if you’ll get the answers you’re looking for from Aidan of all people. That guy’s a prick.” Bim’s voice comes out softer.

“I have to try,” I tell him with a sense of urgency.

A woman comes into the room. She’s beautiful with curly red hair falling over her shoulders as she strides straight toward me. Large chocolate eyes lock onto mine before she grabs me, embracing me in a tight hug.

“Lyra, I’m so glad you’re better. We’re going to be great friends,” Flora says before releasing me.

I’m stunned for a moment but recover quickly. “Thank you, and thank you for healing me.”

Flora just smiled and nods at me while pulling a stool over. She folds her deep red wings behind her, settling down next to Bim, whose wings are not out, and I wonder why some of the Fae choose to have them out and some don’t. I’ll have to remember to ask Nyx about it later. Bim quickly fills Flora in on what we’re discussing. I take another drink from my beer, waiting for her to protest us going back to Cloudrum as well.

“Why don’t I take Lyra with me to the elder’s library today? We can try to find more information on Euric, Zomea, and this prophecy he talks about. If we do, then maybe you won't have to resort to speaking with Aidan at all. If we don’t, then I agree you both need to go and find out what you can,” Flora says.

“Have you ever exhibited any other unnatural abilities? Other than the premonitions?” Bim asks.

“I don’t think so. Why?”

“It’s because you’re half Fae, and the Sorcerers may come into their magic when they turn nineteen, but the Fae are born with their magic. Not only are we born with magic, but when a parent dies we usually inherit pieces of their magic as well no matter what age we are when it happens,” Nyx says.

“What they’re both trying to say is if you have midnight mind and your nightmares started after your father’s death, then that’s something you inherited from him. But you should’ve been born with some Faery magic of your own as well,” Flora says.

“I’ve never had any abilities as far as I know other than the dreams,” I say, trying to think if I’ve ever felt any kind of magic in myself before.

“Interesting,” Bim says, glancing at Nyx.

“There’s somewhere I want to take you tonight, but I do have a few things I need to do. Would you like to go to the elder’s library with Flora?” Nyx asks, looking at me.

“Yes, that sounds great. I appreciate the help,” I say.

“Flora, channel her back to my place before sunset,” Nyx says.

Flora gets to her feet and comes around the table to my side. “Are you okay to channel with me?”

I wonder if it feels the same to channel with all Fae. I guess I’m about to find out.

“Yes.” I rise to my feet, taking Flora’s offered hand. I cast a final glance over my shoulder toward Nyx and Bim before everything turns a brilliant shade of red. The sweet aroma of strawberries from Flora envelops me, and a warm gust of wind begins to lift my hair. Though I can’t see anything, I don’t feel the same darkness that I did with Nyx. Instead, the gentle red wind tickles my nose as I feel the soft grass beneath my feet. Flora holds onto my hand until I’m steady, and I look up to take in my surroundings. We’ve arrived at the stunning obsidian palace.

“The elder’s library is here at the palace?” I ask quickly. Obviously it’s here, because why else would she channel us here? An unusual feeling starts to settle into my stomach at the thought of running into Colton again.