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I’ve said nothing to her since I was dragged back here after the challenge, and I hadn’t planned on it, but her comment pulls me up short. “Party?”
“Of course. Did you not know?” Her smile widens into a grin at catching me off guard, gesturing wide as she encompasses everyone in the room. “After each challenge you complete, there will be a celebration. Let us celebrate with you.”
“Oh,” I reply dumbly. “Wonderful.” I have no idea how else to respond without giving away my true feelings about this new little bombshell.
The last thing I want to do is be paraded around at a party when I just broke my soul open to save my mates, followed by fighting a mythical creature. Verbally sparring with the queen at a party while pretending to celebrate my victory sounds like a nightmare. The corner of her mouth twitches, confirming what I suspected—this is exactly why she’s throwing these celebrations. Not only does it make her look like a generous queen, but she also knows they’ll make me uncomfortable, and that, while I’m exhausted and aching, I’m more likely to make a mistake and offend someone. This is all a game to her, a game of how popular she can be, and right now, she’s feeling threatened by my performance in the challenge.
“You are dismissed. Luna, make sure they are looked after properly.” The comment is warm, like she truly cares that we’re taken care of, but it’s abundantly clear that she’s done with us from the vague wave of her hand. Now that she’s finished dealing with me, she can return to having the witches’ full attention.
Luna curtsies to her monarch and walks over to meet me, gesturing for me to follow her. “Come, champion,” she teases quietly before she walks straight towards the double doors, which magically open to let us out.
I turn my back on the queen, rolling my eyes at Luna’s comment and following her from the hall, my mates close behind me. As soon as we’re in the hallway and the doors shut behind us, I feel like I can breathe again, the band of anxiety around my chest finally releasing me.
“Are you okay?” Luna asks quietly, sidling up to my side. “That looked rough.” From the sadness in her eyes, I know she’s not talking about my fight with the minotaur or the hedge creatures, but my inner battle in the arch. The comment makes me wonder exactly what they could see while it was happening, and for a second, fear grips me.
“You didn’t… You couldn’t see…” My voice is a croak, and I trail off, not knowing what to say. I don’t want my mates to hear what happened there, since they would worry. Mercifully, Luna understands.
Reaching out, she places a hand on my arm. “No, no, don’t worry. We could only see your body and expressions.”
Releasing a shaky breath, I nod in response, not having the words to explain my relief. I feel sick from the stress of it all, but I just want to go back to my room and cuddle up with my mates. I need to feel them and remind myself why I’m here.
Sensing my distress through our bonds, my mates drift closer, not really knowing what’s causing it, yet feeling the urge to ease it. Syn snarls lightly at Luna, assuming she’s the one behind it, but I place a hand on his arm and shake my head, silently asking him to stand down.
We say nothing more, and Luna leads us back to my room. My mates surround me like my own personal guard, sending little looks my way as though to assure themselves that I’m still here. Once we reach the corridor that leads to my room, we say our goodbyes to Luna and quickly enter.
As soon as the door shuts, I turn and look over each of the guys. “Is everyone okay?”
There are some acknowledgements, but each of them allows me to examine them without protest, sensing my need to do this. I check Syn over the most thoroughly, making sure that his shoulder has healed properly. Thankfully, the process of shifting forms has sped up his healing, and he seems to be okay. It’s only once I step back from him that I see everyone is still gathered in a semicircle, wearing varying looks of concern on their faces.
Joel clears his throat and steps forward, reaching out and cupping my cheek with his large hand. “Laelia, areyouokay? The bond feels… taut.”
Of course Joel would be able to see through my mask. The events of the day finally sink in, weighing heavily on my shoulders. Did they experience what I did with the arch? Was that part of the challenge for everyone, or did the queen save that experience just for me?
“Did any of you have to pass through an arch?” My question is asked tentatively, needing to know if they feel the same hollow feeling inside them that I do. I almost don’t ask. If they know nothing about it, then they’ll ask me to explain, and I’ll have to tell them about everything I saw. What if they are disgusted by what I tell them?
They frown and shake their heads, confirming what I thought. That task was saved especially for me, and now they are going to discover how broken I am.
Atlas is staring at me with a furrowed brow, which slowly turns into a shocked expression. “An arch… Laelia, do you mean the archway of truths?”
Dread rises within me like a tidal wave threatening to wash me away. He’s heard of the arch, and he looks horrified by the possibility that I had to pass through it. I say nothing, but my expression must give away my answer, because he curses loudly and turns away from me. His anger reaches me even through our incomplete bond.
The others have been watching this little interaction between Atlas and me in silence, but they can’t hold back their questions any longer. Distantly, I wonder who’s going to be the one to ask the question, but I’m struggling to think past Atlas’s reaction.
“What’s the archway of truths?” Nicolai asks, his expression concerned.
Atlas finally turns around, and although I can still feel his anger, when he glances at me, his expression softens, and I realise his outburst isn’t aimed at me. Sagging with relief, I lean against Joel, snuggling up against his strong, supportive body.
“It’s a magical gateway. You have to walk through it to pass, however, in the process, it will strip away everything you are and reveal the truth about you. It reduces most into dribbling wrecks. No one has ever passed through and stayed sane.” Atlas’s eyes stay on me during his entire explanation. Low curses sound from the others, and even Joel grumbles beside me, wrapping an arm around me protectively.
“Laelia, did you pass through the archway?” Atlas asks quietly, his expression carefully blank now as he tries not to scare me.
My breath is stuck in my throat, but there’s no use denying it. “Yes,” I choke out. Before any of them can begin to fuss or try to do anything, I put my hands up and back away from them, untangling myself from Joel. “I’m fine though.” It’s a lie. Now that my adrenaline is fading, and the drive to protect my mates is gone, everything feels like it’s crushing me. The others will feel my lie through our connection, but I continue to back away.
“Laelia—” Atlas starts, but I cut him off with a tight smile.
“I’m going for a shower. I won’t be long.” All of a sudden, I don’t want to be touched, and now that I know they are safe, I need to be alone. Turning, I scurry away from them and practically run to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
As soon as I’m alone, I fall apart. The fact that I can feel their concern and yearning to be with me, to comfort and protect me, only makes me feel worse. This isn’t something they can protect me from. When I stepped through the arch, I knew it would be hard. I was warned after all. However, I had no idea how tough it was going to be. I made sacrifices for my mates, which is exactly what the queen wanted.
