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“Yes.” I nodded, unsure of my answer even as I spoke it, “Yes I’m still going ahead with it.”
Gracie nodded, a small, unsure smile on her face, and leaned forward to wrap her fingers around the handle of the still steaming teapot that sat on the coffee table, filling a mug for both of us.
~~~
Leo stood in front of me, his hand clutching the door handle of his cabin. The sun was at the midpoint in the sky and sweat dripped down the back of my neck uncomfortably. I did not remember the walk out to his cabin being so difficult when Cyrus had brought me out here, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through the rough terrain into the forest and found the cabin within an hour.
The heavy heat in the air made it nearly impossible to breathe as I had moved through the thick forest, and once I found the smooth cobblestone path that led to the flower covered arch, I almost wept in happiness. The cabin windows were open, again, and I could see Leo through them, his head dipped low into a book.
I looked up at the Fae male in front of me, my chest heaving as I took deep breaths and tried to keep myself from collapsing onto his porch.
“Your Majesty,” He greeted me with a smile, bowing his head slightly, “This is a surprise.”
I nodded, straightening myself up and rolling my shoulders, my breathing slowly returning to normal.
“Leo. I was hoping you could help me.”
Leo moved to the side so I could step into the cabin, and the air cooled instantly. I recognised straight away the feeling of the cooling enchantment that was placed on my bedrooms, and inwardly rejoiced at the break from the stiffing heat.
“Of course, Your Majesty. What can I do for you?” he asked, moving to the small kitchen area, and grabbing a glass, clicking his fingers, and filling it with water. I had to stop myself from snatching it from him when he offered it to me and gulped it down in two mouthfuls.
“I wondered if you would be able to teach me about my magic.” I said once my glass was empty. I sat the glass on the coffee table beside my leg and clasped my hands in front of me, looking up at Leo again. “I want to know what type I have.”
Leo’s answering grin was blinding, and I could see why Emily had fallen in love with the male. He was handsome, and I’m sure fourteen years ago he was even more so. Fae aged slower than humans, and Leo had been in his late twenties when he had left Earth during the raid on our castle. He had to be nearing his mid-forties now, but he did not look a day over thirty. His skin was sun kissed and his hair, while long, was pulled back into a tie at the bottom of his neck.
“Of course, I can, Your Majesty. It would be my honour.”
11
Kira
The castle was silent as Gracie and I moved through the dark halls.
The sun had set hours ago, and once I could no longer hear Cyrus moving around in his chambers, I slipped my feet into my shoes and sneaked out into the quiet hallways. The moon cast silver onto the marble floors through the windows, and as I made my way towards Gracie’s room, I managed to sneak between the shadows, avoiding any staff members that still milled about, finishing their duties for the day before they headed to bedthemselves.
Gracie was waiting for me when I reached her room, my knuckles barely grazing the wood of her door before it swung open, and her mischievous face greeted me. I covered my mouth with my hand as I laughed at her, her excitement about sneaking around the castle in the middle of the night completely contagious.
She closed her door lightly behind her and gestured for me to go first. Our footsteps were muffled by the scattered rugs around the hallways, and before long we had found ourselves descending a staircase at the back of the kitchens. Gracie had heard about the secret floors beneath the castle from a passing staff member one day when we had first arrived, but we had yet to go and find them ourselves.
Now, as we moved past the entrance to the dungeons and down a dimly lit hallway, I wondered if finding them was necessary. The floor had turned from the polished marble of the castle to heavily packed dirt and rocks, and the spiders crawling on the walls were making my skin crawl, but Gracie’s comforting presence at my back was enough to spur me forward.
I pushed against a heavy, wooden door with creaking iron hinges at the end of the dungeon’s hallway, wincing as the groaning of the door opening echoed throughout the tunnel. Gracie’s eyes widened at the noise, but the silence that followed was enough to let us know that nothing was waiting for us.
Nothing, apart from more stairs.
I groaned quietly, my legs already burning at the thought of climbing all of these stairs back up. Gracie laughed, moving past me and going down first this time, and I followed behind her begrudgingly.
When the floor levelled out, we paused long enough for our eyes to adjust to the newly bright space.
Torches lined the walls at even intervals, a door standing between each torch. The walls were polished brick, and the floor the same marble as the main part of the castle. I raised an eyebrow as I looked around, taking a step off the dirty stairs and onto the hard marble, my shoes squeaking slightly.
“This is… weird.” Gracie muttered, running her hand along the smooth wall as she moved towards the first door. Her hand landed on the gold handle and shook it quickly; locked.
I frowned, turning on the spot and counting how many doors there were in the corridor altogether.
“Twenty, that I can see.” I said, my voice echoing in the space. “What in Lides name do they have down here?”
Gracie shrugged, her arms swinging as she moved to the next door and tried that handle, only to let out a huff of frustration at it being locked also.
