15 AELIA

A breath slipped between my lips as I stared at the Alder Townhome. Like its palace, the house resembled a living tree with vines wrapped around branches and birds cawing at one another. It was located in the oldest part of the city, where the ancient families of Moriana built their sanctuaries, where they could meet privately. In times long past, they would throw balls to celebrate the Fates in hopes of winning their favor, but now, with tensions among kingdoms at an all-time high, they were used to plot against one another.

A satyr with curly brown hair and bright blue horns answered the door with a bow. “Greetings, Lady Aelia. I am Finneas, head satyr. We have prepared the master suite for you.”

I mustered my best smile, but my heart ached to think about sleeping alone.

“Great. Please have my things taken up.”

He signaled for the other servants to take our things upstairs.

“Would you like anything to eat, my Lady? The chef has prepared a lovely roast goose for dinner.”

“Famished,” I said.

He escorted us to the ballroom, where a chandelier of bioluminescent flowers hung from the ceiling.

“You should have seen this place before the war,” the satyr said, catching me staring. “The parties would last for days. Creatures from all over the continent and across the sea would come to stand in the presence of our Alder King.” His round face beamed with pride before darkening. “But that was a long time ago. This place has been quiet for centuries except for the occasional overnight. It’s good to have some life back here.”

“What about Tharan? Briar? They never stayed here?”

“Occasionally, but they were born after the good times.”

I eyed the satyr, wondering how old he was. His plump cheeks and rosy demeanor camouflaged his actual age.

“Trinity,” Baylis gasped as she entered the ballroom. “This looks like an enchanted forest.”

I hadn’t noticed the night sky adorning the ceiling and trees lining the walls until now.

“It’s modeled after the Alder Forest in the Woodland Realm.” The satyr ushered us to the table where two place settings sat.

“A lot of fuss for only two guests,” I said. “You really don’t have to do this.”

“Nonsense. As I said, we haven’t had guests in ages, and it’s nice for the staff to feel useful.”

We took our seats at the massive oak table stretching the length of the room. What must it have been like to experience this place full of music and laughter? Taking out the Scepter of the Dead, I called on the Morrigan.

She yawned, stretching her arms high into the sky.

“Hello, Commander.” Recognizing where she was, her blue eyes went wide. “I haven’t been here in an age.” She walked around the room, running her hands over the painted walls. “Oh, this takes me back.”

“So, you attended parties here?”

“Oh yes, Eoghan always threw the most amazing balls. This place was really something then. I was really something then. A goddess to be worshiped.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “It was here I came to love Eoghan, although he never had eyes for me.” She took a shaky breath, and her eyes fell to the floor. “I was always his war partner. He never even kissed me.”

Baylis and I exchanged knowing glances, and she urged me to comfort the goddess.

“I’m sorry, Morrigan.”

She waved me away, plopping down into the chair opposite Baylis.

“There is nothing to be sorry about. You can’t make someone love you.”

I swallowed the memory of the embarrassment I’d brought upon myself, trying to make Gideon love me.

“You have no idea how right you are.”

A line of satyrs set steaming plates of goose and roasted vegetables on the table.

The Morrigan poured herself a glass of wine and downed it, pouring another.

“Anyways… enough about my shit love life. Are you girls ready to see your mother tomorrow?”

“As ready as we can be,” I said, gritting my jaw.

“Well, that will be lovely. Tell the Fates I say hi .”

“You don’t want to come?”

She shook her head. “No. I never want to go back there again. I never want to kneel in front of those women and offer up my soul.”

An awkward silence fell over the table, and Baylis and I picked at our food.

“Your mother wasn’t bad. But the other two… will be difficult. They hate that they can’t see the future. Decuma sees the past, and Clotho sees the present. Few want their opinion. They are and were jealous of your mother… or at least that’s what the rumors said.”

Knots tied themselves in my stomach, souring my dinner. I gave her a half-hearted smile.

“Morrigan, did you live when dragons roamed the continent?” Baylis chimed in.

“Yes, I saw the first egg hatch and the last dragon fall from the sky—tragedy. Their wings blotted out the sun, and their fire scorched entire battlefields.”

“Did you ride one?”

She stared off into space.

“I did. I had a dragon named Bruxa. Her beautiful iridescent scales sparkled in the sunlight, and her silver flame turned men to stone.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “I tried to hide her as best I could, but the hunters came for her and…”

She bit her bottom lip.

Baylis placed a reassuring hand over hers.

“It’s alright. I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s fine. I should be over it by now. Death is a part of life. Even dragons die.”

“I heard across the Black Sea they still have dragons,” I chimed in.

Morrigan shrugged.

“It is inevitable some survived. Some say they went underground to wait until the world was ripe for them to emerge again.”

“Sounds like a perfect war machine for Gideon to harness. Let’s hope they stay gone for a while longer,” I said, taking a drink of wine.

“If Erissa and Gideon get ahold of the power in the alleged Wells, there’s no telling what monsters they could pull from the depths of hell.”

“Speaking of… Any news from beyond?” I eyed the Morrigan with suspicion.

“It takes time to travel through the realms beyond the veil,” she snapped at me. “I will report something as soon as I hear it.”

“Very well, I believe you.”

“Thank you.” She downed her wine. “Now, if I can ask you something…”

“Sure.”

“How are you planning on getting to the Island of Fate? The waters are treacherous, and the island has been sealed off for ages. I don’t know how they got your mother back.”

I leaned back in my chair, exuding confidence. “I lived in the shadows for half a decade. I know how to find people who will do impossible jobs.”

“Is it the water that is dangerous or something lurking within?” Baylis asked.

“Both. The water is choppy and never settles, and giant river serpents lurk in the depths surrounding the island. If you manage to make it onto land, the Fates will be protected by the Eternal Guard, fierce warriors whose sole purpose is to keep them safe both from themselves and others.”

I took a deep breath. I didn’t even want to see my mother, and now I was going to have to fight to do so. My sister laid a reassuring hand over mine. “We’ll find a way, I know it.”

“We have no other choice.”

Amolie arrived the following day from Vantris. Bright and full of energy, she bounded into the breakfast nook.

“Good morning, Springborns,” she said, kissing my cheek.

“Good morning… What’s gotten into you?” I asked as I fought the sleep still clinging to my eyes.

“Oh, nothing. Just this.” She dangled her fingers in front of my face. On her fourth sat a large emerald sparkling in the morning light.

Grabbing her hand, I examined the stone.

“Amolie… you and Roderick? Bound?”

“You’re not mad? I wanted you to be there, but we didn’t know if we’d have more time…”

“Of course, I’m not mad.” I pulled my friend in for a hug, heart bursting with love. “I’m so happy for you. You two deserve each other.”

“Let me see!” Baylis squealed with delight.

“This calls for champagne!” I rang for one of the servants, who quickly brought over a fresh bottle and poured us three glasses. “To Amolie and Roderick!” We clinked our glasses together and sipped the bubbly.

“Well, now that that’s out of the way. We can get down to business.” Amolie sat beside me and piled her plate high with sausage, eggs, and fresh biscuits. “The portals always make me famished.”

“It’s the magic. It speeds up your metabolism. Magus is unaffected, but as humans, it takes a lot of energy to access the portal.” As I was now a magus, the portal didn’t affect me as much, but it would make me ravenous when I was fully human. I’d send a note ahead to have a meal prepared for me on the other side.

“So what’s the plan?” Amolie spread a thick layer of butter onto a flakey biscuit.

“We need to find someone to take us to the Isle of Fate. The journey is treacherous and filled with monsters, and that’s not even including the things that will undoubtedly try to kill us once we’re on the island.”

“Ha! Well, what else is new? Everything is always trying to kill us.”

“I think we all know who can help us with the monsters.”

Amolie arched a brow. “Ursula?”

“The one and only,” I said, finishing my champagne. The bubbles buzzed through my brain and down to the ends of my fingertips. “She likes to hang out at the Rusted Bucket near the docks.” I looked at the clock on the wall that read 10 A.M. “We should go soon.”

“What about a boat? You can do a lot of things, Aelia, but I’ve never seen you captain a boat.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” I said. I finished my coffee and got to my feet.

While I waited for the others to get ready, I turned the whisper stone and lit a cigarette. “Tharan? Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you, my love.”

My whole body relaxed at the sound of his voice. “I miss you so much. I could barely sleep last night without you.”

“I know, my darling. My heart aches every second I am away from you.”

My pulse quickened at his words. “How far are you away from elven territory?”

“We’re close, just a few more days.”

“You’re making great time.” I let smoke plume into the air. “You wouldn’t happen to know a sailor crazy enough to brave sea monsters.”

“Hmm…”

I pictured him staring out the window of an elegant carriage, the winter sun illuminating his glowing skin. His hair was tied back behind his ears, and he had a cigarette between his perfect lips.

“An old war buddy of mine resides in Ruska, but he’s eccentric . He might take you.”

“Where can we find him?”

“He lives down by the docks. Last I heard from him, he was the captain of a ship. His name is Conrad Teeling. Ask the Harbor Master about him.”

“You’re too good to be true. You know that?”

“You won’t say that after you meet Conrad,” he chuckled.

I pictured the corners of his eyes creasing when he was pleased with himself.

Footsteps shuffled down the hallway.

“I have to go. Stay safe, and don’t do anything stupid,” I whispered.

“I love you too, Aelia.”

Baylis entered the parlor dressed in a wool cloak in the color of Robin’s egg and with gray fur trim.

“Ready?”

“Just waiting on?—”

“Me?” Amolie appeared behind Baylis, her curls pinned neatly on the top of her head.

“Yes, let’s go.”