Page 35 of Crowned by the Shadow (Bound by the Veil #5)

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Senara

The journey back to the fae realms felt different than any passage I’d traveled before.

With our transformation, Thorn and I perceived the universe in ways impossible to describe with mortal language.

The cosmic threads connecting all realms appeared as luminous pathways, vibrant and alive with energy.

We could navigate them as easily as walking a familiar forest path.

I held Thorn’s hand as we guided our companions through the spaces between worlds. Wyn’s twilight-touched eyes widened in wonder, while Ronan and Volker followed in stunned silence. For them, this journey was extraordinary. For us, it was simply the first step in our new existence.

“It’s beautiful,” Wyn whispered, her voice carrying strangely in this in-between place. “I can feel the balance.”

“Yes,” I replied, smiling at my friend. “Balance is everywhere, if you know how to look for it. I would like to make a stop before we return to fae lands, if you don’t mind?”

The others murmured their consent, and I grinned at Thorn. “Let’s go tell Echo the good news.”

He smiled back at me and squeezed my hand.

When we took another step the chamber where we had witnessed Echo be crowned the new High Lord of the Elves seemed to materialize around us. The young High Lord sat on his throne, as though he’d been expecting us.

“Thorn, Senara,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “You return changed.” His gaze flickered between us, noting the subtle transformations in both of us.

“We return having restored balance to the realms,” I replied, my voice carrying more authority than it once had. “The Void Dragon Empress is no more, or rather, she has been restored to her true form as the Moon Goddess.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Echo’s expression remained carefully neutral, but he studied us more carefully now, his gaze lingering on the subtle glow that emanated from our skin, the way our eyes seemed to reflect more than just the light around us.

“You have become something other than fae,” he observed. “Something... more.”

“We have become guardians,” I explained. “Keepers of the balance between light and darkness, life and death, creation and destruction. We maintain the harmony that allows all realms to exist in peace. How did you know to expect us?”

Echo smiled then, and it was a thing of beauty, showing the audience that he wasn’t just the High Lord infused with the memories and experiences of the past lords, but a young man who was happy to see his friends once more as well.

“Rys,” he replied with a shrug. “He said that we would know if you had succeeded or not by the end of the day and I was trying to be ready for whatever outcome came our way. I’m just glad that you were victorious.”

“As am I. We just wanted to stop by and let you know the good news, but we still need to go to the fae courts.”

He nodded. “Thank you for giving us a reason to feast tonight! Before you go, there is something I’d like you here for.” I raised an eyebrow at the High Lord, but he just grinned. “Kaelyn?”

The Elven woman who had served as a guide for us stepped out from the shadows and nodded at us.

Echo stood and went to her in a sweep of royal robes that looked much fancier than anything I remembered him wearing before, though to be fair I had a lot more on my mind the last time Echo and I spoke.

Echo bowed his head in front of the shorter woman and took her hands in his.

“My love, will you do me the honor of becoming my High Lady?”

She gasped, as did most of the court, before wrenching her hands from his so she could throw them around his neck and kiss him senseless. When they broke apart they were both smiling and laughing.

“I take it that’s a yes?” he asked quietly.

She nodded. “Yes, I would do anything to stay by your side.”

He chuckled then but there was a tiredness to it. “You’re the bravest woman I know outside of Senara, so if anyone can handle me, it’s you. Plus, you’ve had my heart since we were but children.”

They kissed again and I called my congratulations out to them as did the others. We got a nod in return from them and a teary, happy smile from Kaelyn before we turned and stepped into the space between once more.

The next time we emerged, we were on the outskirts of the Moon Court, where we had begun our journey so long ago.

The land that had once been ravaged by corruption now showed signs of healing.

Where twisted, blackened trees had stood, fresh growth pushed through the soil.

The sickly dark veins that had pulsed through the earth were fading, replaced by the natural magic of the fae lands.

“The corruption is receding,” Volker observed, kneeling to examine a patch of wildflowers blooming in what had been blighted ground only days before.

“Not receding,” I corrected gently. “Balanced. The void isn’t gone. It can never truly be destroyed, but now it exists in harmony with light, as it was always meant to.”

Volker nodded, understanding in his sharp gaze.

As we walked toward the heart of the Moon Court, fae emerged from their homes to stare at us in wonder and confusion.

Some pointed at Thorn and me, whispering behind their hands.

Others gazed at Wyn with expressions ranging from fear to fascination.

Word of our approach spread quickly, and by the time we reached the central plaza, a crowd had gathered.

King Sulien and Queen Esylit stood at the front, their silver robes gleaming in the setting sunlight, as though they were the oncoming evening itself. Their faces betrayed no emotion as we approached, but I could sense their wariness, and their curiosity.

More whispers spread through the crowd. I could sense their uncertainty, their fear of the unknown. But I could also sense something else, hope. After so long living under the shadow of corruption, they were desperate for a new beginning.

“Have you come to ask for the court's forgiveness?” Queen Eyslit demanded.

“Hush now, my love,” King Sulien murmured. “Today is a time of celebration, not wrath.”

She ignored him and went on, “And what of the corruption that has plagued our lands?”

“Look around you,” Thorn answered, gesturing to the healing landscape. “The balance is being restored. The corruption recedes because it is no longer being actively fed by the Void Dragon Empress’s hunger.”

“And what does this mean for the courts?” King Xavier asked as he emerged from the crowd, ever the politician. “For the ancient divisions between Moon and Sun?”

I exchanged a glance with Thorn, feeling his thoughts flow through our strengthened bond.

“Those divisions were always artificial,” I said.

“Created out of fear and misunderstanding. I am living proof that Moon and Sun are not opposites but complements. My father was of the Sun Court, my mother of the Moon. Their union wasn’t an abomination, it was balance. ”

Xavier’s eyes widened slightly at this revelation. “Sebastian was your father? My brother?”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “We rescued him from the torture that Fenvalur was putting him through, and he sacrificed himself to save us, to give us a chance to restore what was broken. His final wish was for unity, not division.”

A new voice spoke from behind me. “She speaks the truth.” Volker stepped forward. “And in doing so, she and Thorn saved us all.”

Xavier turned to me. “Eclipse Child. I owe you an apology. We feared what we did not understand. We clung to ancient prejudices while corruption ate away at our realms.”

Sulien looked less convinced. “This is all very moving, but what practical changes do you propose? Centuries of tradition cannot simply be discarded.”

“Not discarded,” I corrected. “Evolved. The courts can maintain their identities while acknowledging their interconnectedness. The Sun Court’s strength and the Moon Court’s wisdom are complementary forces, not opposing ones.”

“There is precedent,” Volker added, taking another half-step forward. His scholarly demeanor had returned now that his wounds were healed. “Before the Great Divide, the courts existed in harmony. Our histories speak of a golden age when Sun and Moon fae collaborated freely.”

“And look what we’ve accomplished together,” Wyn said, gesturing to our diverse group. “Moon and Sun, fae and human, darkness and light… we succeeded because of our differences, not in spite of them.”

Xavier and Sulien exchanged a long look. Centuries of rivalry and distrust passed between them. Finally, Sulien sighed.

“Perhaps it is time for change,” he admitted, while Eyslit made a noise of outrage next to him. “The old ways nearly led us to destruction. And I cannot deny the evidence before me. The land heals, the corruption recedes, excuse me, balances.”

“We will need guidance,” Xavier added, looking at Thorn and me. “Will you stay among us, teach us this new balance?”

I felt Thorn’s hand tighten around mine, our thoughts aligning through our bond. “We cannot stay permanently,” I explained. “Our duties as guardians will take us throughout all realms. But we will return often, and we will help with this transition.”

“I will stay,” Wyn offered, stepping forward. The patterns of light and shadow danced across her skin as she spoke. “My transformation has given me insight into balance that I can share with others.”

“As will I,” Volker added. “There is much research to be done, much knowledge to recover and preserve.”

Over the next few days, word spread throughout the fae realms. Things were changing, and the corruption continued to recede, but the best part was that as the corruption healed itself, so did the distrust that had divided the fae for so long.

Wyn and Volker established a temporary workshop in the neutral territory of the Twilight Caverns, where fae from all courts could come to learn about the true nature of balance. To my surprise, many came, not just scholars and mages, but warriors and artisans, rulers and servants.

“They’re hungry for knowledge,” Wyn told me one evening as we watched a group of mixed-court fae practicing simple balancing exercises. “For so long, they’ve been taught to fear what they didn’t understand. Now they want to understand.”

I smiled, watching a Sun Court warrior attempting to channel shadow magic under the patient guidance of a Moon Court mage. “Understanding is the first step toward harmony.”

Thorn joined us, his presence a constant comfort at my side. Through our bond, I felt his contentment mixed with anticipation. We both knew our time here was limited, our duties would soon call us elsewhere, to other realms where balance needed to be maintained.

“Ronan has decided to stay,” he informed us. “He’s establishing a new guard, one that draws members from all courts to protect the neutral territories.”

A flush stole up Wyn’s cheeks before she said, “Oh, that’s nice of him.”

“A worthy endeavor,” I said, pleased that our friend had found his purpose. At some point, I’d have to ask Wyn about her feelings toward Ronan.

“And Van?” Wyn asked, clearly trying to move on from Ronan.

“He travels between realms, seeking fragments of himself that were scattered when he fractured his essence,” Thorn explained. “The Moon Goddess is usually with him, but her focus is on healing the cosmic wounds left by the corruption.”

I nodded, understanding the enormity of their task. The damage done by the Empress’s corruption went beyond the physical realm, affecting the very fabric of reality itself. It would take time to heal completely, perhaps centuries.

As twilight deepened around us, I felt a familiar tug, a gentle pull on my awareness that signaled our presence was needed elsewhere. Thorn felt it too, his hand finding mine as our thoughts aligned.

“It’s time,” he said softly.

Wyn’s expression fell, though she tried to hide her disappointment. “So soon?”

“Balance must be maintained in all realms,” I explained, embracing my friend. “But we’ll return. This is not goodbye, merely until next time.”

She nodded, blinking back tears. “I’ll continue our work here. By the time you return, we’ll have established a proper academy of balanced magic.”

“I have no doubt,” I said, smiling at her determination.

We said our farewells to the others, to Volker with his ambitious research plans, and to Ronan with his new unified guard. Each had found their purpose in this new era of balance, each would contribute to maintaining what we had fought so hard to restore.

As night fell completely, Thorn and I stood at the edge of Moonweaver’s Grove, the cosmic threads of reality visible to our transformed senses. The pull grew stronger, calling us to another realm where darkness and light struggled to find equilibrium.

“Ready?” Thorn asked, his eyes reflecting the starlight above.

I nodded, feeling a profound peace despite the challenges that lay ahead. We had faced the void and emerged transformed but not consumed. We had found a way to maintain our sense of self and our love, even as we embraced our cosmic purpose.

“Together,” I said, the word both a statement and a promise.

Hand in hand, we stepped into the space between realms, following the threads of destiny that we now helped to weave. The fae realm faded behind us, but it would remain in our hearts, the place where our journey had begun, where balance was taking root once more.

As guardians of cosmic harmony, our story would continue across countless realms and ages. But one truth remained constant: we faced it together, bound by a love that transcended mortality, a connection that even the void could not sever.

And in that knowledge, I found not just purpose, but joy.