Page 78 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

L ita looked for Caspian, who was also looking toward her from the other side of their encampment.

Once they reached Elysia, Grayson promised to take his barrier down.

He would have to. It was where the fairies lived, after all.

She saw him smile and wave at her, telling her he was okay, and she returned the gesture.

It was finally time … time to reunite with her mother. She felt Asher’s warm arm swoop around her.

“Ready, love?” Asher kissed her temple and watched her beam up at him.

“Ready.”

The brush was thick and unyielding, each branch seemingly determined to impede their progress.

The centaurs strained against the resistance, using their powerful muscles to forge a path for Lita.

As they pushed through the dense thicket, trees towered above them, reaching toward the sky with gnarled and twisted branches that seemed to form an impenetrable canopy overhead.

Each step forward was a battle with nature itself, but the centaurs were determined to clear a path for their companions.

A wall of pine trees loomed ahead, shrouded in a thick mist. Without needing to be told, Lita could sense that Elysia was on the other side.

Grayson took the lead, walking backwards while shielding Lita and Asher with his body from the sharp needles of the trees.

The scent of pine overwhelmed her senses as they pushed through the darkness of the tree barrier.

Gradually, rays of light began to filter through, growing brighter with each step until finally Grayson stepped aside to reveal the vast expanse beyond.

Lita and Asher were mesmerized by the view before them.

It was radiant and inviting, with vibrant trees and flowers lining the white cobblestone paths.

Houses dotted the landscape in every direction.

Overlooking it all was a majestic white castle, situated near a shimmering lake.

The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and faint voices—perhaps from fairies—could be heard in the distance.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Caspian asked, now standing by Lita’s side.

“Caspian!” Lita wrapped her arms around him like she hadn’t seen him in years. He chuckled and patted her head.

“I’ve been here the whole time, Leet. I didn’t disappear on you.”

Lita felt Grayson’s body shift in front of hers. She turned to see a very tall, very muscular man in front of them. The two were staring at each other in an intense showdown. It was easy to tell. This was another guardian.

Lita couldn’t help it. She started giggling uncontrollably. The two men looked at her in confusion. Then Asher started laughing, hearing her thoughts.

“It’s like seeing another Grayson. Do you guys not even get along with each other?” Lita stopped her giggles and saw the two men give her sheepish smiles. Everything, every moment, was confrontational to them. Even with another guardian. They literally trusted no one.

“The queen is expecting you. Please proceed down the path to my right,” the other guardian said as he stepped aside.

Asher wrapped his arm around Lita and started walking down the trail.

“Asher.”

He turned to see everyone standing there but not following. “You guys go on. I think this meeting should be without an audience. We’ll look around the place.” Caspian smiled and motioned for them to go ahead.

Lita nodded back to him in appreciation and walked through the gates with Grayson and Asher. They entered the castle grounds, which were littered with flowers of every color imaginable.

“Good thing I don’t have allergies,” Asher teased.

Lita was about to say something when she saw him. It was Nathon, her father, and walking next to him was her mother.

“Daddy!” Lita first ran into her father’s arms. He scooped her up and held her tight. “Why didn’t you say something? You just left. You just disappeared and didn’t tell me anything. You vanished in a big ball of mystery.” Lita blurted out her thoughts as he lowered her to the ground.

“I couldn’t tell you anything before. We couldn’t risk you remembering.

I left the way I did … well, honestly, I had been searching because I couldn’t remember how to get here.

Then I finally remembered where I had stashed the map.

It was in a safe deposit box in town. I was too excited.

I dropped a quick letter in the mail and made my way here as fast as possible.

I missed Alice so much. I was counting down the days until I could be with her again.

” Nathon reached out and pulled her forward.

She looked a bit shy, nervous about being reunited with her daughter.

“I guess I don’t understand. Why couldn’t you visit her?

Why couldn’t she visit us? I have so many questions.

” Lita locked eyes with her mother. She hadn’t seen her since she was a little girl.

For most of her childhood, she thought she had died, but here she was …

very much alive. She took a small step toward her, and Alice pulled her into her arms.

“My sweet little girl. Look how beautiful you are. You’re simply wonderful.

I wanted to visit, but I couldn’t. I had to bind myself to Elysia.

In order to protect you, I had to discard my human body.

It was the only way to hide all of your fairy essence and keep you protected until you were older.

I forbid your father to come. He wasn’t allowed to leave you alone until you found your partner.

So, while it was hard for him to let you go, it was also his invitation to come to Elysia.

Of course he would forget how to get here.

” Alice gave Nathon a small smile. She glanced up and pinned her gaze on Asher. “Come here.”

Asher walked forward and gently rested his arm on Lita’s back. “Nathon, pleasure to meet you again. And thanks for the heads up on what I was getting into,” he joked.

Nathon gave him a broad smile. “Thank you for taking good care of my daughter.”

Another big man walked up behind Nathon and Alice. At the same moment, Grayson came up and stood next to Asher.

“I guess all guardians are overly suspicious and in need of a stiff drink,” Lita teased and poked her finger into Grayson’s side.

Alice nodded with a smile. “It’s their job to not trust anyone. Even our partners at first.” She turned and looked at Nathon, then looked up at her big protector. “They all become friends in the end, though.”

“Where was your guardian the day you disappeared? Honestly, I don’t ever remember seeing him before.” Lita looked up at the man in confusion.

“I kept him in Elysia. He couldn’t stay with me in your father’s pack. I also needed him here to watch over Elysia for me.” Alice patted her guardian’s back. It looked like she was reassuring him. He probably felt bad not being near her that day.

“So can you never leave Elysia ever again?” Lita was still trying to figure this part out.

“Now that you’re here, you can help me release the seal I created.

It will allow me to leave freely once again.

It takes a queen and a princess to release the seal.

There is a lot to talk about. We have years to catch up on.

There are also some important things we need to discuss.

” Alice glanced at both Lita and Asher. There was so much to tell them.

“What’s your name?” Lita looked up at the big guardian next to her mother. Grayson was family to her, so this guy had to be like family to her mother as well.

“It’s Dylan.” His eyes met with Grayson’s again. There was definitely tension in the air.

“So much for sleepovers. I guess the kids don’t get along,” Asher teased, as he and Lita snickered together. Their sense of humor seemed to fall on deaf ears. Asher cleared his throat and Lita giggled up at him.

“Lead the way.” Lita walked behind her parents, with Asher’s arm wrapped around her protectively. Grayson followed closely, barely allowing an inch of separation between them. Lita guessed that Dylan’s presence kept his feral instincts on edge.

They walked into a white stone room with glistening marble floors, and in the center, a crystal-clear fountain cascaded down into a clear pool.

It was stunning. Alice and Nathon sat down at an ivory table, and Lita and Asher sat directly across from them.

Both guardians stood near their royals’ sides.

It actually looked like an intense interaction.

“I’m glad you’re here. There are some important things that you should know.

First … Abaas. Abaas is a half demon who wishes to take over everything.

He wishes to create a world that doesn’t shelter the weak.

His ambitions will grow. What is a small nuisance now will eventually turn into a big problem.

Prophecies and destinies are always cloudy, because there are so many factors that can change them.

However, what I have seen is a demon uprising.

He will lead an army to take over Elysia.

We will all need to unite to take them down.

This is where both of you come in. It is you and your bloodline that will rise against this army.

Lita, you are a very important key. You are very special.

You have the power to draw people to you.

They respond to you. You will gather together mighty allies.

The dragons will be tough, but you will need their help as well. ” Alice saw her daughter nod slowly.

“I’m actually not shocked to hear this. Seraphina already told me the gist of it.” Lita watched her mother’s eyes widen.

“The fire deity?”

“Yes, she’s my summon. She’ll come if I call for her. She granted me the power to control fire.”

“They’ve chosen to support your fight. That’s wonderful news.” Alice was relieved. If the deities were getting involved, then they planned to help with the outcome.

“She told me that my bloodline, my children, would help unite and bring allies together. It all started with you marrying an alpha werewolf. Now for my next question, Dad. Was my mom really your mate? Or was this done for prophecy’s sake?” Lita looked at the two as they laughed together.

“If I wasn’t head over heels for your father, there’s no way I would have stayed with him. It was fate. Your father never expected to find a second-chance mate, but that’s exactly what he got.”

Lita saw how the two of them looked at each other, love reflecting in their eyes. There was no way she could ever be parted with Asher for that long. How in the world did they do it?

Asher smiled and tugged her tightly into his side. He agreed. There was no way he could be parted from her. He would have left his pack and moved to Elysia with her. He couldn’t be parted from his whole world. That reminded him.

“Actually, there’s something that we want to talk to you about. There’s something wrong with Lita.”