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“We’re both perfectly fine,” Roka repeated. “I merely wanted to experience Alex’s fighting skills for myself. And you were right, Zain. She’s impressive—for a human, anyway. But she still has a lot to learn.”

“How did she injure you?” Kyia asked curiously.

“I was blindfolded.”

While the answer was enough of an explanation for Alex’s friends, the other Meyarins looked at Roka dubiously. Their super-senses would have allowed them to hear the conversation between him and Alex as they’d walked back across the mat, so the Meyarins would have heard all about Aven’s blood in her veins. Curiosity was splashed across their beautiful faces.

“Trae selve raen de linare,” Roka said quietly, and their expressions cleared as they all nodded.

Alex might not have understood the words he’d said, but she was fairly confident he’d just told them he would explain later. Unfortunately, she couldn’t offer the same assurances to her friends.

“What happens now?” Alex asked, wanting to move the conversation along to safer topics.

“Now it’s time for you and your friends to go home, Alex,” King Astophe said.

“That’s it?” Jordan asked, disappointed. “We can’t see more of the city?”

“You’ve seen more of Meya than any other mortal has in millennia,” the king said with a trace of amused indulgence. “While your enthusiasm is admirable, you should understand that the last humans to set foot in our city caused a ripple effect unforgotten over the centuries. There are many of our kind who won’t take kindly to learning of your presence here. Not all of theGarsethwere captured with my son’s banishment, and those who remain hidden won’t hesitate to show their allegiances should a whisper of Aven’s return reach their ears. It’s for your own safety that I ask you to leave.”

Jordan opened his mouth to argue, but Alex interrupted before he could make his opinion known.

“Thank you, King Astophe,” she said. “We’re aware our arrival was an unanticipated surprise, and we’re grateful for the time you’ve given us. Do you mind if I ask what your plans are regarding Aven?”

The king eyed her speculatively, as if he was deciding what to tell her. “I’ll bring the information you shared to the attention of my council, and together we’ll make a decision. What happens after that will depend a great deal on Aven’s next move.”

Alex nodded. It was none of her business, really, and she was surprised that Astophe had answered her. Surprised and pleased. She’d somehow earned the Meyarin ruler’s respect, although she wasn’t certain how she’d managed such a feat.

“Kyia will return you to Raelia,” the king said. “Unless there’s somewhere else you can leave from? Somewhere that doesn’t involve treading upon our sacred Crossroads?”

Alex winced at the hope in his voice. Clearly Raelia was a very important place for them, but there was nothing she coulddo about that. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. We can only return using the door we entered through.”

The king sighed in resignation. “So be it.”

Alex bowed to him and her friends followed suit. She looked over at Roka, wondering if she should bow to him as well. He must have seen the question on her face and he laughed quietly, shaking his head at her. She chose to interpret that as a ‘no’, rather than as him thinking her ridiculous. But both options were equally plausible.

“Despite the circumstances of your arrival and the news you’ve brought, it has been a pleasure to speak once more with those of your race,” King Astophe said. “I hope our paths meet again one day.”

Alex wasn’t sure what to say in response so she smiled and nodded her head.

“I enjoyed fighting with you, little human,” Zain told her. “I’ll look forward to a repeat performance in the future.”

Alex didn’t want to be rude to the scary guard by saying “no way in hell”, so she kept her mouth shut and once again nodded with a polite smile plastered to her face. The big Meyarin seemed amused by her noncommittal response, if his grin was anything to go by.

“I have a feeling we’ll see each other again soon, Alex,” Roka said to her. “Until then, stay safe.”

The smile she gave Roka was genuine. “You too. And thanks for… you know… your experiment. And for explaining things to me. I guess you’re not so cryptic after all.”

Roka’s golden eyes sparkled, the warmth in them so different from his brother’s. “Well, I already told you how annoying cryptic-ness can be.”

“And I toldyouthat’s not a real word,” Alex returned.

“Goodbye, Alex,” Roka said affectionately, and he followed the king and Zain over to where they had first arrived in thevaulted room. The three Meyarins disappeared from view when theValispathswept them out of sight.

“Follow me, mortals,” Kyia said, leading Alex and her friends over to the invisible rollercoaster.

TheValispathtransported them through the palace and continued until they were outside and speeding across the radiant city. The sun was beginning to set behind the cliffs on the horizon and the fading light illuminated the shining Myrox all around them. Mystical trees glinted high above on the Golden Cliffs in the distance; waterfalls sparkled down into the valley like liquefied rays of light; and the river below glistened as if it contained the essence of a thousand stars. The view took Alex’s breath away and she craned her neck to and fro as theValispathmoved them towards the top of the cliffs.

She expected theValispathto stop there, but they continued on, speeding through the gold trees as they quickly turned to silver.