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“I suppose we’ll need to hire the Fire Wolf again,” Norivun replied.
“I was thinking the same.” I inclined my head since we had no idea how to navigate theotherrealm, much less find a warlock as powerful as the one we’d battled. “Which means, we’ll need to return to the Nolus continentto ask for Bavar Fieldstone’s assistance again. He helped us find the Fire Wolf once. Perhaps he’ll do so again since we have no means of contacting the hunter ourselves.”
Nish gave an exaggerated sigh. “Back to the endless warmth and blooming flowers, then.”
Sandus snorted and crossed his arms. The movement made his wing’s black leathery membranes catch the firelight. “Are you truly complaining about getting out of the snow, just for a wee while?”
“He is,” Ryder replied for him. “Just wait. If we have to venture to theotherrealm again, I’m sure his griping will reach a whole new level.”
Sandus laughed. “Our plan is sorted then. Tomorrow, we’ll venture back to the Nolus capital.”
A glimmer of excitement danced across Haxil’s features. A similar response unfurled within me. Despite all that had happened, the guard and I shared a conspiratorial wink.
“Do you think we’ll be able to meet some of the magical species in theotherrealm if we go there?” he asked me in a low tone.
“I was thinking the same thing.” I grinned. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could converse with them?”
Haxil’s eyes lit up, and Norivun chuckled.
My mate leaned down and whispered into my ear, “Your curiosity and endless wonder are endearing. Have I ever told you that?”
I kissed him softly, and the feel of himstirred the bond inside me. It’d been so long since we’d been intimate with one another. The past few days away from him had been agonizing, and it didn’t help that prior to that, his guards were always around, leaving us little privacy. Our encounters had always been brief with the threat of danger looming over our heads. What I wouldn’t give for weeks on end with nothing but our bed chambers and perpetual peace surrounding us, so I could finally enjoy my husband as I’d been wanting to.
The prince’s nostrils flared. “Is there something you’re thinking about, my love?”
A blush stained my cheeks, and his guards snickered.
Norivun drew me closer, then nipped my ear. “Soon.”
“Is that a promise?” I whispered.
“Indeed, Princess.”
CHAPTER 9 - ILARA
The next morning, we ventured back to the Nolus continent. Norivun’s affinities were all responding once more, even though he wasn’t fully recharged, but he insisted he was strong enough to carry on.
So we landed near the same gates we’d entered the first time we visited the capital. The sprawling city covered a large hilly mound that stretched upward at the heart of it. Thousands of stone and thatch buildings lined the rising landscape, stretching along zigzagging streets, and at the top of the large hill stood the opulent golden palace.
We approached the gates as we had our first time here, and the sentries’ expressions didn’t falter. I couldn’t help but wonder if they remembered the supernatural creatures they assessed each day. Likely, hundreds if not thousands of visitors entered the capital on their watch.
But if they remembered us at all, their expressions belied nothing. As before, when they assessed us, their black eyes turned to pure silver. When finished, they released their spears and allowed us entry.
Thankfully, unlike the first time we’d arrived in this city, Drachu didn’t have the pendant that controlled my powers. It was still hidden in Norivun’s safe, still concealed under his illusion spell. It was just one more thing that we would have to figure out at some point.
Still, walking up the familiar streets very close to where Drachu had sucked my affinities caused a shiver to skate up my spine.
“What is it, my love?” Norivun stepped closer to my side, his shoulders so broad and his aura so potent that several Nolus fae skittered away.
“I was thinking of Drachu, his pendant, and what he did at this exact place.”
A low growl rumbled in Norivun’s chest, and his hand drifted to my lower back. “He’ll never control you again.”
“But what are we going to do with that pendant?”
“We’ll have to find a way to free your magic from it, which will likely take returning to the Adrall Temple to find that priestess.”
I gazed up at him, shielding my sight. Bright sunshine streamed down on us. “What if she refuses?”
