Page 63 of Crave Me

She wrapped her arms around my neck, her pupils flaring with power.

“You mentioned that other gods and goddesses live in this realm. Do you mean gods like the one you call Odin?” Her words were just loud enough for me to hear over the water pouring down behind her.

“Yes, gods like Odin. He leads Spirit and Sapphire with Lady Gabriella. And no one questions or threatens his ability to reign despite his ample power.”

Which suggested Nyx could potentially maneuver herself into a similar position in Gold and Garnet. We just needed to determinehow.

I drew my thumb along her hip bone as I added, “The monarchs just need to better understand your abilities. And they need to believe that you don’t mean our world harm.”

They would also require assurances that she didn’t intend to overthrow any of them, which would be the hardest battle to fight.

The Great Sacrifice had ended in peace, but it hadn’t erased the ongoing power struggle that existed between the Houses. We were just quieter now about our conflicts.

“It won’t be an easy feat,” I concluded. “I’m not even sure you’ll want to stay. But we can try to make it possible.”

She hummed, her gaze searching mine. “I’m not sure I’ll want to stay either,” she murmured. “But my magic seems to want me to.”

I frowned, my thumb still against her hip. “What do you mean?”

“My magic sort of attacked me earlier.” Her nose scrunched a little. “Or it felt like it did, anyway. Like it was telling me not to retaliate against your people… maybe because they’ll someday be my people?”

“Is it common for your magic to… attack you?” I asked, wary at the prospect. Because it suggested that she couldn’t control her powers.

Which would make it impossible to convince the monarchs to accept her by my side.

“No.” Her lips twisted a little. “It was my medallion that did it, which isn’t technically mine so much as an enchantment tied to me. But like any energy source, it has a personality of its own.”

“A personality of its own,” I repeated slowly, not fully following what she meant. “How…?”

“Hmm.” She twirled a piece of my hair around her finger at my nape, her gaze drifting to the side as she lost herself to her thoughts.

I waited, hoping this silence would lead to an explanation.

Because as far as I was concerned, energy was often controlled by the being that had created it. Yet she’d made it sound like her medallion enchantment possessed a mind of its own.

“My medallion is autonomous. I suppose you could even say it’s sentient in a way, as it can resemble different forms, and it certainly has its own free will. But it’s strongly associated with me and my fate.”

“So it’s an enchantment… with a conscience.”

“Yes.”

“And you created it?”

Her eyes returned to mine. “I wished for it. And while I could wish for another enchantment, I’m rather fond of the first one. So I’m hunting it because that’s what it wants me to do.”

She took one of her hands away from my nape to pool stardust in her palm.

“You see, I come from the time of creation, which means…” She tossed the sand-like magic into the air and smiled as snowflakes appeared. “I create.”

One of the crystals touched my skin, the icy texture immediately melting into lukewarm water.

“That’s how Lissa could wish for a real-life elf,” I realized. “Your magic creates life.”

She nodded. “And life typically has a conscience.” She shrugged. “So my medallion does as well, and it’s misbehaving because I think it wants to stay here.”

“I see.” I moved my hands to her lower back, holding her just a little closer. “Then you agree that we should find a way to make that possible.”

“I agree that it’s a direction I’m willing to explore,” she replied, her free hand returning to my nape. “But I’m not sure how to win your monarchs over. You mentioned that gods and goddesses live among you, but I haven’t seen any yet.”