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Tomas had told Eno that the Empire was focused mostly on holding the towers and the Godstone. With any luck, the people of Erya could live their lives safely enough until Caelan could return to set them free.
Before they reached the harbor, Shey turned onto a narrow, little-used road that seemed to wind away from the harbor. After close to a mile, it dipped underground. It made sense that the royal family had a secret entrance to where the stone was being held. The charge of power in the air was growing thicker as they continued down the concrete tunnel.
Drayce leaned closer, a grin on his lips. “How’s the tingle?”
“You are such a pain in the ass,” Caelan muttered under his breath while trying very hard to not smile. That only helped to encourage Drayce.
“Tingle?” Shey inquired from the front seat and Caelan rolled his eyes, swearing silently in his head. Yes, of course Prince Shey had heard Drayce.
“Caelan said the power from the Wind Stone feels like a tingle along his skin.” Drayce happily explained.
“If that’s how it works, I’m glad that the old god hasn’t paid any attention to me,” Shey replied.
With any luck, that was going to be a temporary situation that he fixed very soon. Shey would make a strong ally against New Rosanthe. If something went wrong, Caelan needed to know that there was someone waiting in the wings to pick up the mantle and continue fighting. His friends and the armies of Erya would never stop, but there needed to be someone who could wield the power of a godstone.
After a few minutes, the underground road opened up into a large parking lot. There were several military vehicles parked in the area and a group of soldiers guarding a set of doors. The queen of Caspagir had clearly done all she could to keep the Godstone hidden and safe.
Shey deftly parked the car and they piled out. The tingle had turned into more like pinpricks along his arms and down his spine. It had also moved from mildly annoying to uncomfortable. This was not reassuring for when he would actually be in the same room as the Wind Stone.
Standing by the closed car door, Caelan closed his eyes and focused all his attention on the powers swirling in the air. The God of Storms was the dominant power in the air, but he could still pick up hints of lighter power from the Goddess of Life. It was like a spring breeze, cool and refreshing. He mentally reached out for that power from the distant Life Stone, wrapping it around himself like a coat of armor.
Immediately, the sharp prickles stopped, backing off to the slightest tingling sensation. Far more manageable now.
“Cael?” Drayce inquired softly. His voice sounded distant, but his presence felt so very close. Almost like his personal body heat was mixing with the coolness of the goddess’s power.
Opening his eyes, he looked over to find Drayce standing right beside him, concern filling his bright emerald-green eyes. He stared at his friend, a smile rising on his lips. He’d never noticed it, but Drayce’s eyes were very nearly the same shade of green as the center of the Life Stone. How odd.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.”
Caelan walked to the front of the SUV to find the rest of his companions waiting a short distance away. The guards hadn’t moved from their spots, but Shey had previously revealed that his mother had called ahead to inform the guards that they were permitted to pass through.
“How far is it?” Caelan asked.
“My mother said that from here, we need to only go down one long hall. The final doors open to the holding room under the lighthouse,” Shey explained.
Caelan nodded and gazed over at his companions. “I want you to wait here. I wish to go alone with Shey.”
“No,” Eno immediately growled.
“Don’t trust me with your king?” Shey taunted with a wicked grin.
“Honestly, I don’t. I don’t trust anyone with him,” Eno shot back without hesitation.
Caelan placed a hand on Eno’s rigid shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ve got this.” Eno wasn’t placated in the least, and Caelan’s smile grew. “I’ve got more than enough juice from the Life Stone to protect myself. If there’s trouble, trust me, you’ll hear it.”
“Fine,” Eno muttered, his shoulders slumping. “Just try to stay out of trouble in the first place.”
“Good luck, Your Majesty,” Rayne said with a bow of his head.
Drayce lifted his hand over his head and waved. “Give the God of Storms my love.”
Caelan snorted and started toward the double doors with Shey at his side. The man was easily five inches taller than him and nearly ten years older. It was hard not to feel like a kid next to him and remember that he was king now.
As they got close to the doors, the guards simultaneously swiped cards to release the electronic locks. They pulled both doors open as one, allowing him and Shey to pass together.
