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She turned back to him and extended her hand. “The light is created by the people. You’ll see. It’s very safe for both fae and vampires.”
He took her hand and by now he’d gotten used to the glow and knew that it wasn’t at all like the damaging rays of the sun. But how the hell was it possible for wraiths to create this kind of illumination?
As the remaining vines moved out of Willow’s way, and together they stepped into the light, what greeted his eyes caused him to stop dead in his tracks.
“What the hell?” he murmured beneath his breath. What is this, Willow? What am I looking at and how could I not have known this existed in my realm?
She turned to him. “I never wanted to lie to you, Malik, but I withheld the knowledge of this very ancient wraith colony because I’m their Protector.”
He stood beside her and let his gaze travel slowly around what was a large town square, the street laid with granite pavers, shops on both sides over which families lived. Every window and doorway was jammed with wraiths watching them, and the square was full of curious citizens as well. But what also surprised him was that most of these wraiths were in what he believed was a fae form.
He turned to Willow. “Fae, yet not fae?”
“It’s the form these wraiths can take to move more easily about in the world. The shifting from fae to wraith is a skill that is learned from childhood.”
He shook his head because his mind spun. He couldn’t seem to make sense of what he was looking at.
She once again took his hand. “Come this way. I want you to meet the leaders of this colony, both of whom knew Davido a couple thousand years ago.”
Sweet Goddess. Very few realm-folk lived into the range of multiple millennia.
The crowd that had gathered in the square, near a tall stone obelisk, parted for them until he saw a beautiful fae wearing an elaborate necklace of feathers and beside her an elegant male fae with his wavy hair swept away from his face. They were a handsome couple.
The closer he drew, however, the more he felt their shared power, a joint power that seemed to emanate from the earth. He understood in that moment that he was looking at Realm royalty, figures from past eons that had served the Nine Realms in a quiet capacity all their lives. He resonated with their commitment, just as he knew Willow did.
“Mastyr Malik, may I present Illiandra and Gervassay of the Ashleaf Realm Colony?” She turned to the couple. “Mistress Illiandra and Lord Gervassay, Vampire Mastyr Malik of Ashleaf Realm, in service these two-hundred-years.”
Very formal.
Illiandra spoke. “We are honored to meet you at last, Mastyr Malik. My husband and I welcome you to our colony and we’ve opened our hearts and our homes to you this fine realm night. Mistress Willow, will you and Mastyr Ma
lik receive a blessing?”
“We will.”
Malik felt the pressure of Willow’s hand on the inside of his arm and didn’t at first know what she meant by it, until two lovely young fae girls moved forward to spread out a thick rug before the couple.
Willow leaned close and whispered, “We’re expected to kneel.” In any other circumstance, he might have balked at the requirement. He didn’t expect anyone to ever abase themselves before him, all realm-folk being equal.
But right now, in Ashleaf Colony, a frequency rose up and surrounded him of such great peace, that he felt as though he must be in the presence of the Goddess. Maybe he was.
He lowered himself to his knees and Willow followed suit. He bowed his head, so overcome that his soul felt ready to bust out of his skin.
As Illiandra began speaking in a different language, every vibration he possessed moved softly through his body. His surroundings were completely forgotten as the woman’s voice rose and fell. In the middle of it, he took Willow’s hand and she gave his fingers an answering squeeze. He could feel that she was as overwhelmed as he was.
Odd to think he’d expected to meet a few wraith families living in various farmhouses, and instead he found a large town and a spiritual depth that stunned him.
When Illiandra finished, he felt her touch his shoulder, the cue to rise. The moment he gained his feet, Willow as well, the two girls quickly gathered up the rug.
For a long moment, Malik could neither move nor speak. His heart felt incredibly full. He finally turned in a slow circle, wanting to greet all the onlookers as well, the very quiet fae-wraiths that watched him with open, innocent expressions. How different they were from the Invictus, those wraiths turned by Margetta’s foul methods into vicious killers.
He lifted his arms, palms up, then spoke in a loud voice. “I am so happy to meet all of you tonight.” He then pressed one fist against his chest.
There was silence for a moment, after which a loud sustained cheering filled the square.
He turned with a question in his eyes toward Willow, but she only smiled. They love you, she pathed. They know the sacrifices you’ve made, the laws you’ve instituted on their behalf. Many of them have half-breed children, and grand-children in various parts of the Nine Realms.
Malik had never needed to be told his role was valuable in Ashleaf. Hell, one of the first things he’d done was to enact laws to protect wraiths and half-breeds. But this acknowledgement, so full of obvious appreciation and gratitude, moved him as nothing else could.
