Page 3

A cacophony of voices jars me from sleep.

I sit up, looking around my darkened bedroom. My mystic light has vanished, allowing shadows to overwhelm the space. Scooting over the side of the bed, taking soft steps to the window, I peer out into an unusually starless sky.

Torches flicker past, people walking hastily down the street toward the market. Reaching for the pair of pants I left in a heap on the floor, I shove them on under my nightgown. I pull the nightdress over my head to replace it with a shirt. Hauling on boots as I hop on one foot out the door, I intercept Hune in the hall.

He opens his mouth for a moment, but reconsiders, then stalks toward the backdoor of our cottage, with me on his heels.

“Do you know what’s happening?” I grill him as I try to match his pace, marching past that damned water bucket for once.

He glares at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Nothing I can say will make you stay in your room, will it?”

At the shake of my head, he mutters a curse under his breath. Noticing the sword in the scabbard at his back, my heart falls. “War?”

He shrugs, keeping a clipped pace. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I plan to find out.” Other townsfolk begin to press in around us, a few carrying torches or flimsy swords. There’s a commotion happening at the market, people crowding around someone talking on a makeshift wooden stage .

A guard, dressed in full armor, stands tall, addressing the crowd, his arms moving around as he speaks. The deep purple of his clothing bleeds into the night sky, his gleaming teeth and armor look sinister in the torchlight. There’s sweat beading along his hairline, despite the slight chill in the air. A second guard stands behind him, his helmet tucked under his arm at his side.

Scanning the crowd of people, I note more guards stationed at the base of the stage, helmets and full armor on, gripping the hilt of their swords at their sides.

“...King Rathian Zan has discovered powers are being summoned here,” the guard is saying, eliciting gasps from the group. “It’s been years since we’ve needed to conduct random sweeps, but they are necessary once more. Everyone is subject to search; everyone is responsible for alerting us if they suspect a neighbor.”

The mob murmurs; my muscles tremble. Hune presses his arm against mine in silent support. I don’t dare look at him, don’t dare confirm with a glance that I have a reason to be afraid. A hush falls over the crowd as the guard continues.

“To help the process, we’ve brought in our highly trained canines to help sniff out anything out of the ordinary.” With a whistle, a new group of sentries move in, perfectly in step with one another as they lead snarling, overgrown, black dogs through the crowd. Several shrieks ring out. Someone faints at the sight of the gleaming armor and vicious dogs snapping at those standing too close.

“Aledrya.” Hune’s voice is tight. Urgent. I stare forward, eyes locked on the sentry. “I’ll go get Eon, but first you need to leave.”

A dog lunges at a man at the front, spit flying as it foams at the mouth. The guard holding its leash shouts something. The sentries act quickly, converging on the man, moving as one to pluck the suspected from his friends and family.

They drag him onto the crooked stage for all to gawk at. The male trembles as he’s shoved down to his knees before the guard orchestrating this mayhem.

Hune leans over and drops his voice to a volume only I can hear. “I know what you are. You need to get out of here. You know where to go. I can’t go to Eon until you leave. Please.”

Those words. They ring in my head like a sonorous church bell .

“What do we have here?” the guard sneers, looking down at the man. “Why is it that our dogs indicated power on you?”

The man shakes his head, holding his hands out in front of him. “I don’t have any power, I swear it.”

The guard ignores the pleading words, instead ripping his sword from the scabbard at his side. He smiles darkly at the male before him, tsking loudly. “What reason do you have to tell us the truth of your power?” The guard pauses, sweeping his gaze over the throngs of people. “Let this be a lesson to you all.” His tone is entirely too casual for the nature of what is unfolding.

“Aledrya,” Hune implores in a strangled voice. “ Now .”

The guard raises his sword, but I’m already fleeing. In the chaos, no one notices as I break from the group, ducking behind crates stacked high near a shop front. Slipping through one of the canvas tents set up by shop owners, I can hear the thin swish of a sword flying through the air. A sickening thump makes my heart creep up my throat.

Go left , Artemis hisses, and I obey without thinking twice. Her direction takes me to a dirty alley I didn’t know existed, breaking into a sprint.

Right, then hide, she bellows, and I dart to the right where the alley opens to another dirt path. I hear voices behind me and take cover under large bags of trash piled outside a shop. It reeks of fish and mold, but I lay perfectly still under the heap. Male voices float through the air, I can tell from the light tinking as they stroll, they’re wearing armor. Guards, then.

Mercifully, they pass, leaving me beneath the trash still hidden.

They’re gone, now go. Artemis’s voice is a roar in my ears, and I spring into action, sprinting out of town. I take the more challenging path that is less likely to be occupied, scaling those damned rocks and shredding my fingernails in the process. I ignore the barking pain, scrambling as fast as I can up the side, hurling myself on the edge. There’s no time to dwell on the dangers of running along a rock edge in the dark.

Panting heavily, I race for the tree line, praying that the only thing I encounter out here is that strange, foreign male with promises to get me the Beneath out of here. I spot something flying overhead, my heart pounding in time with the creature’s magnificent wings.

Every step takes me further from my foster family. The lump in my throat getting harder to swallow.

Artemis? My voice cracks, even down our mental tether.

A beat of silence. I’m still outside of Torrent, keep moving. The urgency in her tone keeps me barreling into the thick woods.

I fall to my knees at the water’s edge, my stomach turning over itself at the adrenaline and the exertion of getting here so quickly. “If you’re here, please show yourself,” I squeak, a sob forming on my tongue. “Please.”

Silence.

Tears start to slip, my fingers vigorously swipe at the liquid pooling under my eyes. Forcing myself upright, I feel something heavy in my pocket. Reaching in, I realize I’d left the gifted stone there from the other night. Making idle strokes over it, my heart breaks at the loss of what could have been.

“Whichever of the gods is listening; if I get another chance to leave, I promise I won’t look back. I’ll go,” I swear. Beg . “Give me a second chance.”

“No need to get the gods involved; I told you I wasn’t leaving without you.” The man’s voice comes from behind me, through the trees. A garbled sound of relief leaves my throat, turning to face him.

“You’re here.” I rub my eyes again, ensuring he’s not an illusion. The man studies me, not yet approaching.

“And you’re coming with me before those guards find us.” It’s not a question, but I no longer need it to be.

Swallowing, I nod. If he feels any relief about that, his face doesn’t show it. He merely gestures for me to follow and stalks off at a clipped pace. I make to leave, but not before I deposit a small mystic light near the water's edge. Now, I need to pray it stays alight until Hune finds it. To know that he recognizes what it is and who left it.

I know what you are.

We trek through the woods in silence, only pausing when we reach the edge of the trees, his Phoenix waiting for us. Fleeting comfort comes over me as the bird clacks his beak at me gently.

We crest the lush valley I had been in with Artemis mere days ago. The darkness here makes it feel so serene, so different from the vile happenings in town at this very moment.

Clearing my throat, I speak for the first time since we left the creekside. “I feel like I’m entitled to know your names now. I’m not going to run back into the city shouting your identity to everyone.”

“Lamond,” the man tells me, then nods toward the bird. “That is Ganthral.”

I assume they’re tethered, so I forgo asking. Instead, I peer up at Lamond. “Are we staying within Torrent?” We’re about halfway down the valley now, and I want as much distance from the guards in town as I can get.

His laugh is dark, the dark hair framing his face shifts as he appraises me. “Beneath, no.”

At least we believe in the same hell.

A sigh of relief escapes me, and I rub my chilled arms. “When am I going to get actual information from you?” I prod. “I am going with you without a fight, doesn’t that prove anything?”

Again, with that dramatically raised eyebrow. I’m astounded it hasn’t become one with his hairline. “Coming with us willingly, or out of options?”

What an irritatingly observant male.

“Didn’t feel like being a rabid canine’s dinner,” I mumble, sending a rock skittering down the pathway with the toe of my boot.

“Fantastic, so we agree.” Lamond chuckles, scanning the valley around us.

Before I can respond, he grabs my hand. “Do you get sick with motion?” he asks, brows now knitted together.

“Er—” I start, but the earth rips out from under me. My mind can’t comprehend what just occurred to make us move so quickly. We have traveled at least a mile, because we now stand before that damned invisible Wall. I sway, still reeling from the abrupt motion.

“For future reference, that pace would make anyone sick,” I gasp, finally regaining my composure.

Lamond smirks, Ganthral flying in from behind us. “My question was rhetorical, I suppose. We needed to mobilize.”

Orienting myself, it dawns on me he’s trying to take me past the Woven Wall. Looking back toward Ganthral making his descent to land, I’m acutely aware that I should have pushed for more answers from Lamond.

My long, blonde and unbound hair feels out of place. The loose blouse and flowy dark green pants I’d shucked on feel incredibly vulnerable compared to Lamond’s dark, fitted pants and shirt. He's turned to look at the incoming bird, so I take a moment to mark the large sword strapped to his back, the multiple daggers at his side. The most intimidating weapon in his arsenal looks to be the ability to move at breakneck speed.

He peers over his shoulder at me. “Are you all right over there?”

“To make myself clear, I’m going of my own volition,” I say evenly. Although I’m well aware that just because I came willingly doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have taken me by force if I had continued to decline his invitation.

Lamond’s eyes dart to mine, then back to Ganthral, now landing twenty feet from us. “That’s true. However, if you change your mind, I'm afraid my chaperone services only go one direction.”

I swallow around my heart still lodged in my throat. “You would leave me here?”

“That’s what I said,” he responds nonchalantly.

“Then why did you even bother with trying to convince me to go?”

His eyes darken. “I’m no jailer, and you are no prisoner. There is an interest in having you in the Fae Realm; I’d like to take you there to see for yourself. However, I’m not your keeper. If you want to return, suit yourself.”

“An interest in me by whom? I’m no tool to be wielded.” I squint at him, my hands moving to my hips defensively .

“You could be—with the proper training—a tool to wield for yourself . The world is at your fingertips, you just don’t realize it yet,” he says sternly, rolling his shoulders. Holding my stare for a moment, he seems to soften. “Right. We need to go through the Woven Wall, have you been?”

He asks like it’s a damned holiday destination.

“I think you know that I haven’t,” I respond drily.

“An actual answer would be useful, Aledrya.” A single brow quirks, showing his chagrin.

Little does he know—or perhaps to his delight—the irritation is damned mutual.

“No,” I relent. “I can’t say that my family has done much summering in the great Beyond.”

Lamond ignores my cynical tone. “It’s quite lovely in the Spring.”

I am already beginning to loathe this male.

Let’s not make more enemies than required, Artemis growls in my mind.

I never would have gone with him if I had known I had to cross the Wall, I retort down the tether, earning a second growl in return.

Coward. Her voice is sharp enough to slice. I did not pick you because you are weak, and I would never abandon you. Go with him. I’m waiting for you.

“If you and your bird are done…” Lamond drawls, rolling his eyes at my frown. “We need to get out of here while we still have darkness on our side, daylight will be in less than an hour. I’m not going to off you, but we have to walk through. I can’t use my summoning to get through its Blocks.”

I’d long wondered what they had used to create the Woven Wall, as no one would ever discuss it. I tuck that bit of information into the back of my mind. “At the risk of making myself appear ignorant, what are Blocks? What is going to happen when we go through them?”

Lamond blows out a breath. “The Blocks are safeguards created by spell-masters. They can keep things in, or out. In this case, it keeps our realms apart. We need to stick together so we end up in the same place. Keep your head down and keep contact with me while you’re crossing. Don’t engage or make eye contact with anything you see in there. We’ll go through those two mountains.”

“ Wait —” I start to protest, because that sounds petrifying, but Lamond holds my hand firmly while Ganthral spreads his wings wide, touching both of us.

We hit the Blocks, as Lamond called it, and all the air is siphoned from my lungs.

“Breathe,” Lamond commands, his voice far away now. I force air into my lungs and ground myself by remembering his grasp on my hand.

The air here is boiling. Suffocating .

I know he said to not engage with anything in here, yet I can’t help but look up from the dirt to peer at my surroundings. We are indeed on a barren path between two small mountains. An orange glow replaces the darkness, as if the sun and moon are on their own timetable here. Life has withered away; no trees, grass, or animals seem to care to live here.

It looks an awful lot like a nightmare.

“Keep moving,” Lamond instructs, as he tugs my hand. When I look to my left, neither Lamond nor Ganthral are there, despite being able to feel Lamond’s hand in mine. Rotating to glance back, I see a white-faced man standing where we’d come through. He’s so skeletal that he sways in the wind, his black and torn cloak rustling along the ground. My heart leaps into my throat again, and I find myself frozen.

Not real. Not real.

“One foot in front of the other, now. Stop looking,” Lamond orders from somewhere far in front of me, his grip tightening on mine.

The man grins as I peel my gaze away, but not before I see his massive rows of razor-like teeth. I’m panting with the effort as I force my eyes forward, placing one foot in front of the other.

“Keep going,” Lamond murmurs, diminishing my fear ever so slightly. I squeeze his hand in response. A soft tickling of feathers lightly brushes the back of my neck, and I’m comforted knowing Ganthral is nearby .

The haze thickens as we walk through this strange land, no breeze or clouds to block the heat. Despite it still being dawn in the valley, the sun is perched at its highest point here. The sun feels like it’s entirely too close, the waves of heat have my breathing labored already. I try not to think too much about where we are, if the day and night are truly opposites here.

I lose my footing on what feels like a rock, but Lamond holds firm onto my hand, hauling me upright. I glance down my nose, and notice I’ve tripped on a human skull . I suck in a sharp breath and remind myself I’m not here by myself, but my mind doesn’t wish to behave, spiraling into panic.

“You look like you would be more scrumptious than the other two.” I hear a voice everywhere around me, I can’t discern if it is male or female.

“Ignore it,” Lamond urges. “Do not engage with it, do not fear it. We’re already halfway.”

My mind spins at his words. It feels like we’ve been here for hours already. “What is that?” I ask Lamond quietly.

“I am everything you fear and disgust. I am nothing, yet I am everything.” The voice swirls around me, making me lightheaded. In a single blink, the gangly man is right in front of me, and gods if he isn’t even more terrifying up close. Those teeth are putrid, with many rows of narrow sharp points jutting out. His eyes are wholly black, void of any kind of emotion or life. His skin is so white, I can see blue veins beneath it.

Lamond sighs—fucking sighs at this monster. “So arrogant. He’s nothing but a nuisance. Ignore him.”

The creature hisses in the direction of his voice, Lamond snickering in response. I wonder what kind of horrors he has seen that make this creature laughable.

Actually, I don’t wonder at all.

The creature falls into step next to me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I don’t wish to learn if this creature can attack me even with my hand in Lamond’s, so I keep my eyes trained forward.

“I can if you are afraid of me, little girl,” he croons into my ear. Trying to calm my racing heart, it registers that I need to regain control before I turn and flee.

I need to distract myself; draw my mind away from whatever this creature is. The dark, old lullaby pulls from my subconscious, and I murmur the lyrics under my breath.

“‘It is the baby who disturbed you’

‘Who scared me?’ says the house god

‘The baby has disturbed you, the baby has scared you, making noises like a drunkard who cannot sit still on his stool.’”

There’s a snort beside me. “Ah, ha! I knew I heard you singing back in that forest. We’re going to need to work on your tactics to mask fear, because this is unnerving.”

I can feel my cheeks burning, but I ignore him, continuing through the chorus of the lullaby.

“‘…he has disturbed your sleep.’

‘Call the Little Star now,’ says the house god.”

Oh gods, I can see a line in front of us that looks like the edge of this foreign place.

“Don’t think this is the last you’ll see of me,” the creature hisses into my ear, its breath hot against my skin. I gag at the stench of him. “I remember, little girl. And deep down, so do you .”

I can’t imagine whatever lies on the other side of the Wall is scarier than this creature. There will be no trek back to the Human Realm anytime soon.

As Lamond and Ganthral press in closer, wind assaults my face, my eyes water as a force yanks us forward. A soft breeze hits my cheeks, and I greedily gulp down the pleasant air. The Blocks spit us out with such speed, we’re rolling down the piedmont away from it.

I sit up, drinking in my surroundings. Dawn is breaking on this side of the Wall. The vegetation here looks similar, but it’s somehow lusher, the air purer .

I reach to tuck my hair back, my fingers brushing my ear. I find delicately arched tips there. Jerking my hand away, I whirl to Lamond, whose ears are now also elongated and pointed.

“Are my—”

“Yes,” he says, allowing me a moment to process.

Baffled, I run my fingers over my ears again. Noises are amplified, the soft whoosh of birds beating their wings in flight is a sound I can hear even from the ground.

I know what you are.

“Can you explain to me why you sang that very unsettling lullaby?” Lamond asks, a smile tugging on his lips as he pushes himself from the ground.

My cheeks heat, and I am rightly red now. “I don’t know why. It’s a song I’ve known since I was young. I enjoy singing, and it was a distraction from that thing. What was that?”

Brushing off his pants, Lamond checks Ganthral for any signs of distress from our journey. “It wasn’t bad, I was merely curious. And to answer your question, Abacae. Like I said, it's a nuisance. It can’t hurt you if you ignore them, so good thinking with your song. Don’t do it again, though.” He flashes me a grin.

When I orient myself enough to stand, I take in the scene around me. Dainty, vibrant birds of all colors flitter from tree to tree overhead. A group of Phoenix flying above catches my eye; moving in perfect formation. I spin in a circle so I can track their flight. They have varying colors and sizes, some of them deep reds or yellow. Each one of them moves with such grace, I’m mesmerized by the way they float as one. My tether to Artemis thrums in time to their beating wings.

“Where are they going?” I breathe, unable to tear my gaze from them.

“Zindell Valley. Situated just outside of where we’re headed.” I break my stare to look at Lamond, happiness softening his features. “Xecelsion, specifically. Welcome to the Fae Realm.”

I take in the rich green of the trees, so at odds with how barren the Human land is. The air here is more temperate, warm, yet a cool breeze keeps the atmosphere mild .

“I never knew what could have existed on this side of the Wall…no one ever spoke of it.”

Lamond snorts. I can hear even Ganthral letting out a low chortle in response. “People are afraid of the unknown. Not sure why Rathian bothers with the lies when the many creatures trapped within the Wall would kill most who attempt to cross it anyway.”

There isn’t a shred of doubt that I would have been one of those who died, if not for Lamond.

Welcome home. Artemis’s words feel warm, beckoning. Our tether is stronger on this side. I don’t bother to hide my smile, because I’d long wondered where she disappeared during our time apart.

Now I’m finally here.

“I unfortunately need to pull another speed maneuver to get us to Xecelsion. No one wishes to live this close to such an odious thing, so we need to travel a ways.” Lamond waves his hand toward the Wall at our backs. I nod, daring a glance at it again. Its presence feels iniquitous, a ripple in the world that should not exist.

“At least tell me what to expect of the city.” A shiver of fear passes over my spine. Despite the enchanting feel of this realm, I’m still stranded and at the mercy of this Fae male.

The Fae in question’s face is unreadable, though. It seems as if he’s considering what to tell me and when to tell it.

“I’m already here, Lamond. Just tell me,” I insist, turning to face him fully.

There is a hint of a smile on his mouth before he schools his face back to neutral. “ Exactly . We’re already here. Why would I tell you about the town, when you can see it for yourself?”

“Must you avoid every question?”

“Only useless ones.”

Heat prickles along my neck, and I feel frustration built off the foundation of fear rising .

Careful, that’s a dangerous combination, Artemis warns, and it feels like she’s directly behind me. Her voice feels like part of me, instead of at the back of mind.

“I came with you willingly; all I’m requesting is a bit of trust in return.” My palms are clammy, and I notice Lamond's eyes widen, staring at my clenched fists.

Wrinkling my brow, I follow his line of sight. It takes several moments to process what I’m seeing.

Dark red flames engulf my hands, fire dancing around my sides, but somehow it isn’t scorching me. I can feel my jaw unhinge, as I stare in wonder at it.

My brain can’t latch onto a single thought, questions swirling at this newfound skill, wondering if I had been suppressing this power while in the Human Realm.

“If you are still wondering why we came for you, I would think that answers it.” Lamond gestures to my flaming hands. I can feel my mouth still hanging open at this new revelation. “You are more powerful than you realize, and that is a very dangerous thing for you in the Human Realm.”

He stares at me, expectedly.

“What is it?” I reply, still dazed.

“Are you planning on extinguishing yourself so that we can continue?”

“Oh.” I peer at my hands. “I’m not sure how.” I bring my hands up to inspect the glistening flames closer. Fire flickers at the tips of my fingers, but somehow it inflicts no pain. Alarm bells are ringing in my head, only dulled by the pride budding in my chest.

Lamond watches me with scrutiny, so I add, “I’ve never summoned fire before.”

Ganthral sniffs at my hands, inspecting them closely. A rumble sounds in his throat, and I recoil, not wishing to be his breakfast.

Lamond scoffs a single laugh. “Relax, he’s impressed with the quality of your fire.” He steps closer, pointing toward my hands. “Right, so you need to focus on the flames. Isolate the emotion that created it and think about what it would feel like to smother it, so to speak.”

Staring blankly, I rotate my hands to inspect the front and backs. The flames are still tingling my hands even though my brush of anger has subsided. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, imagining I’m bathing in the creek back home. Instead, it brings back memories of me filling that damned bucket.

“Whatever you’re doing is impressive, but also terrifying,” Lamond says sternly, and I crack my eyes open. Sure enough, my hands are blazing even stronger now, with reds flicking at the ends of the white-hot flames. “What did you do?”

My cheeks heat at my failed attempt. “Let me try again.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I imagine the water's frigid temperature instead of the reason I always trekked to the creek. A rush of cool goes through my body, the sensation in my hands vanishing. I open my eyes to peer at my hands. No flames remain, and by a miracle, no burns or injuries.

“Primary power is summoned by our intense emotions, some are harder to tame than others. Fire is notoriously one of the trickier ones to control, so good job with that.” His voice is emotionless, as if the compliment pains him. “Ready?” He holds his hand out.

“Can you summon fire?” I can’t rationalize that I could have powers I’d never even known about.

“No. Stop asking me questions, we need to go,” Lamond replies curtly, sticking his hand out, palm up.

I give him an incredulous look, and he sighs in response. “We have to be touching for me to do this,” he adds warily.

I relent, taking his hand. “See you soon, Ganthral,” I say to the elegant Phoenix preparing to fly. He sweeps his neck down in a bowing motion, making me smile.

Lamond takes off across the woods, dragging me across the world at a nauseating speed.