Page 58 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“Of course not. Don’t even ask that,” he says, taking the letter back from me and tossing it into the fire. “Samael can get fucked. You don’t belong to anyone. Are you ready to go? Did you pack some clothes?”

“Yes, I’m ready,” I tell him, standing up from the chair and pulling my pack over my shoulder.

“Don’t look so worried. I’d never let anything bad happen to you,” Nyx says before taking my pack and tossing it over his shoulder. I gather Chepi in my arms, and Nyx pulls us close, then we vanish.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“I was beginning to worry you love birds wouldn’t come back down from the mountains,” Bim says.

“Pleasure to see you again, Lyra dear. Don’t mind him,” Flora says, brushing past Bim and giving me a hug. I hug her back, and it feels nice. I think we could actually be friends. I’ve never really had any friends before other than Lili, so the concept is new to me.

I sit Chepi on the ground and take in our new surroundings. We’re in a giant manor home. I can tell right away it’s one of Nyx’s homes by the simplistic grandeur of the place. It’s so similar to the castle in the Noble Vale. Chepi rubs against my leg then takes off down the hall, already itching to get a lay of the land.

“I had Bim meet me here because most of our armies are stationed in Onyx territory. I need to speak with some of the commanders and make sure everything runs smoothly while we are away. Flora will keep you company while we’re gone. Should only take a couple hours,” Nyx says.

I nod to him as he and Bim vanish in unison.

“Would you like to go for a walk of the grounds? The gardens around here are extraordinary,” Flora says.

“Sure. That’d be nice,” I say, then yell, “Chepi, let’s go outside.”

He comes flying around the corner, panting. Flora and I both laugh, then we step outside into the gardens. I'm immediately struck by the beauty of the scenery. The lush green grass underfoot and the large square beds overflowing with the most exquisite flowers, their colorful petals like a rainbow blooming in front of me. Everywhere I look, there are enormous fruit trees providing shade, and the air is thick with the sweet, heady scent of blooming flowers.

The manor is situated atop a hill, and from here I can see the landscape extending for miles, the rolling hills and endless sky stretching out before me. Off in the distance, past the edge of the property, I can make out a village. The village appears to be thriving, with hundreds of rooftops visible, and the sound of people bustling about their daily lives reaches my ears.

Nyx told me that Onyx territory was the most populated in all of Nighthold, and now I can see why. The abundance of life here is almost overwhelming, and I find myself wanting to explore the town to see what else Nighthold has to offer.

But today I have more pressing matters on my mind. I share with Flora everything that happened with Elspeth at the palace this morning, and she listens carefully, her brows furrowed in concentration. For a moment, she doesn't say anything, and her expression is inscrutable, making it difficult for me to discern her thoughts.

“That’s…concerning,” she says, her voice low and measured. “Elspeth is powerful, and if she’s digging around in your mind like that you need to be careful around her, Lyra.”

I nod, taking her advice to heart. “I know. I don’t trust her, but I don’t have much of a choice right now. I need her help if I’m going to figure out what’s happening with my magic.”

Flora nods in understanding, and we continue walking through the gardens, discussing my situation and what our next steps should be. Despite my worries, being in the gardens with Flora is a welcome respite, and I feel a sense of calm wash over me in the midst of the natural beauty surrounding us.

“I want you to teach me how to channel,” I say, causing her eyes to flash back to me.

“Lyra, I’d love to, but I have no idea if you’re even capable of channeling.”

“Well, will you at least try? Please,” I press. Her eyes soften.

“Yes, of course I will.”

She leads me to a more open area. There’s a large grass plot with a fountain at its center. She has me walk with her to the fountain then about thirty feet away to the edge of the grass.

“Now I’m going to go sit by the fountain, and once I do I want you to imagine being there with me. Close your eyes and visualize where you just stood next to the fountain and will it to be,” she says.

I watch her walk over and take a seat on the edge of the fountain. Chepi jumps up beside her, and both of them watch me. I close my eyes, focusing on my breathing then on the fountain. I try to visualize the fountain in my mind, the gray statue of a woman at its center, the smell of the water being stirred up. When I don’t feel anything, I open my eyes in frustration. I find both of them still focused on me, only Chepi now lies in Flora’s lap.

“Nothing’s happening,” I say, clenching my fists at my sides.

“Fae magic is heavily based on emotions. Try to think of something that elicits a strong emotional response from you then imagine moving to the spot next to me again,” Flora says.

I try to think about different little things that upset me or make me happy. This goes on for over an hour, and I haven’t so much as stirred the grass at my feet. Flora and Chepi both lie sprawled out in the grass at the base of the fountain. I know what I need to do. I just haven’t wanted to try it yet. I need to think about something more extreme to get a larger emotional response. It’s just all of those things bring up bad emotions that I’ve worked so hard to bury.

“Nyx and Bim should be back soon. Let’s head back inside and open some wine before it gets dark. I’m famished,” Flora says. Chepi perks up. I’m sure he’s hungry too.

“Okay, let me just try one last time then we can go.” I take a deep breath in, and with each passing second my heart races faster. The images that flood my mind are haunting, but I can't stop them. I envision Samael’s footsteps as he creeps over to my bed in the dark of night, and I recall the last night I saw him and the snake bite. It’s as if my mind is a projector and the scenes of that fateful night flash before me. The Lycan ceremony fills my thoughts next, and I can hear Aidan's paws hit the ground, his nails tapping against the old wooden stage. I look at the crowd and see the pain and devastation in their eyes, as if they're living through the terror once again.