Page 51

Chapter Fifty: Rhea

“Mom, I’m leaving early!” Elora shouts to the back of the bookstore she runs with her parents. The Overflowing Bookshelf is just that, an entire store filled top to bottom with more books than I have ever seen outside of an actual library.

Elora and her mother shout a few more things back and forth to each other while I browse the black shelves that line the entire circular space. It smells exactly how I imagined a bookstore built inside of a tree would—leather and aged paper and earth.

After my walk back home with Cassius, I had showered and then stared at my collection of new clothes, which seemed to grow weekly and had been moved into Nox’s room. What did one wear to go out to a tavern? After much debate, my anxiousness had grown to be too much, so I shouted down the hall to Barron and asked if he could get Sarai. Within a few moments, the lovely dark haired woman had arrived and guided me towards a pale pink dress with a fitted bodice and a loose skirt that stopped just under my knees. Sheer ribbons tied in a bow held the dress at my shoulders. She paired the look with white sandals and then worked on my hair, giving it a small trim at my request before using her magic to twist it into soft curls.

“Okay, are you ready?” Elora comes bounding around a corner, her own dress of a similar fashion to mine except in a lovely shade of dark green that makes her copper hair and fair skin glow.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her, letting her link arms with me as she leads us under the yellow glow of the spelled flames and out the front door where the fragrant floral air greets us.

“Thank you! You do as well! Do you know when the men will join us?”

I had been nervous to tell Elora that I invited Nox and Cassius, perhaps misunderstanding if she wanted this evening to be just for the two of us. But she had been excited instead and broke out into a song about how “more was merrier.”

“I’m not sure, actually. They might not show at all, considering I couldn’t tell them which tavern we were going to,” I confess.

Elora chuckles as she guides us down the side of the busy city center. There are many people out grabbing dinner or shopping, some even chatting together in the middle of the stone road around various statued fountains that line the way. My pulse elevates, but I keep my focus on Elora as she describes the tavern to me.

“There is only one establishment in all of Galdr that is worth going to in the evenings, and that is The Gilded Cup. If they’re smart, they’ll know to come here.” She tugs on my arm, our laughs mixing with music coming from the second story balcony of the large tree that houses The Gilded Cup. Elora pushes the swinging arched door open and comes to a stop as my eyes widen. Lining the edges of the tavern are tables and chairs, men and women sitting in them to drink and eat and engage in conversation. The center of the space has been cleared out of furniture for people to dance in.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” I say to Elora. She smiles and squeezes my hand, her look of understanding calming my nerves.

I try to take in all the details as we start moving again. Instead of a chandelier like the palace has, long ropes with glass orbs holding spelled flames dangle every foot or so from the true ceiling of the tavern. It lights up the center space brilliantly, casting the edges where the tables are in a soft glow.

Elora holds my hand and pulls me through the dancing bodies until we emerge on the other side where a long counter separates us from a man and a large collection of colored glass bottles behind him. “Evren!” Elora shouts over the music of the band playing behind us from the floor above.

He looks up from the glass he is cleaning and smiles wide, shaking his head and sending his curly blond hair out of his eyes. “Elora, I didn’t know you’d be here tonight! Do you want the usual?”

Elora nods, bringing us up to the counter. “This is my friend Rhea. She’s never had cider mead before, so let’s get her started with one of those too.”

Evren’s gaze lingers on Elora for a beat before turning to me. He extends his hand out to shake mine, his wide smile lifting his cheeks. “Rhea, I’m Evren. I’m honored to pour you your first cider,” he says with a chuckle, his cheeks warming to a light pink.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I shout back. He turns to start preparing our drinks, and I look back out over the dancing bodies. The band plays a jaunty tune, the sound of drums, string instruments, and singing echoing off the walls within.

“Here you are, ladies. Two ciders,” Evren says as he sets two glasses filled with light golden liquid onto the counter.

Elora drops some gold coins onto the counter before handing me one of the glasses, clinking hers against it. “Cheers to new friendships and books!” she yells before bringing the glass to her mouth. I slowly follow suit, remembering Alexi’s words about how he hated the taste of mead. Yet, when the drink floods my mouth, the sweet taste of apples dances on my tongue, a fizzing sensation bubbling down my throat as I take a large gulp. “It’s good, right?”

“It’s delicious!”

Elora laughs as she sets her glass down. “Evren! Watch our drinks, will you? Rhea, let’s dance!” She doesn’t wait for either Evren or me to answer before her fingers lace with mine and she guides us into the crowd of people.

“I don’t know how to dance,” I tell her, looking around nervously at the way everyone is moving.

“Neither do I! Just let the beat of the music guide your body. Tune everyone else out.” Elora raises her hands in the air and begins to shake her hips side to side.

I gaze back around the crowd of people and observe how they all seem to be doing the same thing. Keeping to themselves and dancing in whatever way they want. So, for the first time in my life, I throw my hands up in the air and I dance.

We take breaks to go drink our mead, Elora insisting that I alternate with water as well so I don’t get drunk. I do feel a pleasant hum in my body, one that isn’t caused by my magic. We return to dancing, Elora spinning me out and back to her as we laugh. The band picks up the beat of the music, the glass bowls holding the spelled flames on the walls shaking from it. My heart races, the people surrounding me blurring, but all I feel is joy and happiness and freedom as I smile. Warmth lifts up from my stomach, my magic stretching like a waking cat. It heightens my focus for a moment, and I can’t help but look towards the front door of the tavern.

“What is it?” Elora asks, gasping for air as she slows her dancing to follow my gaze.

The tavern door opens, and though I can’t see their faces because of the people surrounding us, I just know it’s Nox. “He’s here!” I tell her, smiling widely.

“Who’s here? What are you—” She stops mid-sentence as the crowd begins to part and we watch Nox and Cassius head in our direction.

Nox’s gaze roams over the entire space as Cassius greets a few mages with friendly smiles and handshakes. My heart leaps into my throat when Nox’s eyes finally lock with mine. He looks incredible—trading in the all-black training gear that he wears most of the time for a dark blue button-up tunic, the top few buttons undone and showing a swath of his tanned skin. The long sleeves are rolled up to his elbows while the bottom of the tunic is partially tucked in at the front. Black trousers and calf-high black boots draw my eyes down his body, but when I bring them back up again, I can’t look away from his hair. He’s gotten it trimmed, the waves a little shorter on top than before. His face is clean shaven, though I’ve learned that he prefers it that way. He looks regal and devastating and absolutely, utterly mine .

“How in the Five Realms did you know he was here?” Elora asks at my side. I don’t have an answer for her because I’m not sure, other than my magic seeming to awaken at his proximity. I assume it’s because his signature is so strong.

Nox easily cuts through the remaining crowd, his broad, tall frame making him stand out and garnering more than a few eager stares. But his eyes are entirely focused on me as they leave a searing trail down my body. “Beautiful isn’t a descriptive enough word for how stunning you look, Rhea,” he states, his eyes darkening under the low light of the flames. His hand finds its way to my hip, his fingers flexing there as he leans over to kiss my cheek while I grip onto the front of his tunic.

“Okay, okay. Enough of that,” Cass chides playfully as he comes up next to us, a hand planting on each of our shoulders.

Laughing, I reach back and grab Elora’s hand to draw her up closer to our group. “Cass, this is Elora. Elora, this is Cass.” They exchange greetings, Elora also saying hello to Nox before she announces that it’s time to dance again.

I lose count of the number of songs that are played, my dance partners cycling between Nox, Cass, and Elora. When a new tune starts, the crowd cheers before they separate, men going to one side and women going to the other. Realizing it’s some sort of choreographed dance, I opt to watch, encouraging Nox to stay while I head back to where Evren is and take a seat next to the counter. The music picks up its tempo and the two groups surge together in the middle, their steps light and beating in time to the rhythm.

“Would you like another cider, Rhea?” Evren asks, blowing a blond curl away from his forehead.

“I’m good for now. Thank you, Evren.”

He grins and then walks towards the other end of the counter where a man has taken a seat. A stony face looks my way, the man lifting his new drink in salutation. I dip my chin and then move my gaze back over the dancing crowd.

I find Nox as he pairs up with a familiar head of dark golden blonde hair. Haylee takes his hand, her smile wide as together they follow the choreography with everyone else. I rub my finger over Alexi’s bracelet while I watch them, trying to force down the odd feeling in my chest. As if she can feel my gaze on her, Haylee’s gray eyes connect with mine, and I think her lips give the smallest twitch. Though the moment only lasts a few seconds at most, I feel my stomach sink when she leans in towards Nox, their bodies nearly chest to chest before he spins her. The men and women shift again in their dance, Nox partnering with an older woman and Haylee with a different man, a brilliant smile once more painted on her face.

I shiver, shaking my head before looking down at my hands. My magic hums warmly inside me, but for the first time in weeks, I can also feel the prodding of something icier. I blow out a frustrated breath.

The song ends, both lines bowing to each other before they disperse and the band starts a different tune. Elora is the first to make her way to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Are you alright?” she asks, leaning into my body.

“Of course! That dance looked like fun!”

Elora reaches for her drink, downing the last few dregs before holding it up in a signal to Evren. “It was. I’ll teach you the moves so you can join us next time.”

Nox abruptly tugs me up from my chair, spinning around until he’s sitting in it and I’m standing between his legs. I wrap an arm around his shoulders, running my hand through his hair and tugging his head back gently to look up at me. “Who would have thought that princes were taught tavern dances in addition to waltzes?”

He shrugs, his hands sliding in a distracting line up and down my sides. “I’m a man of many talents, as you are well aware.”

Though warmth builds in my core at his words, I tap my finger on my chin, feigning ignorance. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. You might have to show me later.”

Heat sparks in his eyes as he brings me even closer. “How should I demonstrate for you, Sunshine? With my fingers? My tongue?” His voice is a gravelly rumble as he nips at my ear, making me gasp at the sensation. “Or how about with my c—”

“Hey! Daxel.”

My head whips around to the man standing behind us, the same one that had lifted his glass in my direction earlier. Nox’s demeanor shifts instantly, his face settling into a bored expression. I turn around and sit on his thigh, staring up at a tall man with short blond hair—his light gray eyes narrowed in our direction. His appearance is disheveled, the red tunic he wears is wrinkled and partially unbuttoned down his chest.

“Arin, it’s good to see you,” Nox replies coolly, his tone one of indifference. His hand wraps possessively around my hip, and the man, Arin, glances briefly at it before his lips curl into a malicious sneer.

“ Bullshit . You’ve been hiding since you’ve been back. Though I suppose the rumors why are true enough.” He turns his gaze to me, something dark swirling in it that makes my magic creep up my torso. Nox’s fingers tighten on my hip as shadows seep towards us from the corners of the room. The band continues playing, but those closest to us halt their dancing.

“Ah, Arin. Glad to see you’re still making terrible decisions,” Cass says as he moves in close from the dance floor and rests his hand on Arin’s shoulder.

Arin shakes himself free, stumbling as he does. “Shut the hell up, Cassius. This is between Nox and I.”

“And what exactly is between us?” Nox asks.

“I want a rematch,” he growls, the light above glowing directly on him and showcasing better how red his eyes are. A rematch? “While you’ve been gallivanting around the kingdom—doing gods know what—I’ve been training. Getting stronger. Stronger than even you, and I want a rematch.”

“No, Arin. I’m not going to fight you again, and I’m certainly not going to talk about it here. You’re drunk—”

“Did you not hear what I said?” he interrupts, his face growing more flushed. “Or are you too afraid now that you might lose ?”

“Gods above, let it go,” Cass says with exasperation, taking a step so that he is between Arin and Elora. Arin shoves at his shoulder hard, but Cass hardly seems to register it, as his body barely moves.

Nox tenses beneath me as he sits up straighter. “Enough, Arin. Go home.” Tension crackles in the air from the rise of everyone’s magic. Arin’s hands begin to glow a dark green, and another flash of black writhes on the floor towards his feet.

“Arin, what are you doing?” Haylee shouts as she pushes through the crowd and comes to stand in front of him. “Are you drunk?” Arin shakes his head but wobbles from the movement. She huffs out a breath and pushes him roughly towards the exit, completely unafraid of the magic still glowing from his hand—unbothered by the death glare he’s giving Nox. Haylee tosses a small wave and a sympathetic look over her shoulder at us before shoving Arin out of the tavern.

“What was that all about?” I ask, turning to look at Nox.

He sighs, kissing my temple and drawing me closer as his magic settles. “Arin has always had some weird grudge against me. I’ve never quite figured out why, only that he tries to antagonize me any opportunity he gets. Before I left for the Mortal Kingdom, he challenged me to fight in front of Dilan.”

“And you won,” I surmise, watching Nox’s lips twitch.

“Uh, he didn’t just win, Blondie. He kicked Arin’s ass easily , even without the use of his magic,” Cass claims, elbowing Nox in his arm.

“You did?” I ask, my gaze shooting back to Nox’s.

He lifts a single brow, a smirk slow to grow. “You don’t have to sound so surprised.” And then, leaning in closer, he whispers, “Do you not find my body to be that of a warrior’s?”

I melt from the seduction in his voice, the pure desire in his gaze when he draws back. “Maybe I need you to show me again.”

Nox chuckles darkly while Elora pushes around Cass to stand in front of us. “Well, that was… whatever that was,” she says, referring to Arin, “but can we please get back to dancing now?” Her hand extends out towards me, but I send a questioning look at Nox.

“Why don’t you go ahead, Rhea,” he answers, placing a soft kiss on my lips. “This warrior’s body needs a rest.”

I laugh and then grab Elora’s hand, letting her lead me back out onto the dance floor—where we spend what feels like hours laughing and dancing together.

I hum as I walk hand in hand with Nox after leaving the tavern, Cass having gone with Elora to make sure she makes it home safely. We pass different statues and water features built around the center square, one in particular drawing my eye enough to tug Nox towards it.

A beautiful woman, her hair long and wrapping around her hips, stands in the center of a pool, the water shooting out from the perimeter towards the middle. She wears a crown with a flaring sun centered on it, two mirrored crescent moons on either side, and stars filling in the gaps between them. Carved on her in exquisite detail is a long dress that clings to every curve, a line drawn down the middle of it. One of her hands is extended in the air, as if offering the city of Galdr whatever is on her palm, though I cannot quite make it out. The other palm is drawn down, something round in the middle of it that has darkened with time.

“This is the first queen of Void Magic,” Nox says at my side.

A sweet-smelling breeze ruffles my hair as I stare at the woman, her expression carved into one of soft happiness. There are no words etched onto the statue, nothing to indicate who it is other than the lore of it having been here for a very long time.

My finger reaches out to drag along the cold stone of her arm. “She’s beautiful.”

“Indeed,” he answers, but when I look to him, he’s staring at me.

We continue our walk back to the palace, the two guards stationed at the front doors opening them as they bow to Nox. The inside is quiet, not much more than the late night shuffling of steps by the palace aides, until the sound of voices carries down the hall and into the main foyer.

Nox stops, his head tilting to the side before his cheeks lift with a smile. “Bahira,” he says, looking down at me. “I think my sister is talking through the Mirror with my parents. Can we say hello?”

“Of course.” Nox had previously told me what the Mirror was and how it worked, the magic of it linked to the land and blood of the current ruler.

He leads us down the hallway towards the council room, knocking on the door in a rhythmic pattern before opening it. Sadryn and Alexandria stand together in front of a tall oval-shaped mirror near the head of a long twelve-person table. Their gazes turn towards the door, and Alexandria motions for us to come over. I can feel Nox’s excitement as his parents take a step to the side to make room. Through the glass of the Mirror—which looks as if it’s liquid—stands Bahira with her curly brown hair pulled up into a high ponytail, the long strands dangling past her shoulders. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and even through the faintly distorted image, it’s impossible to miss how beautiful she is. And, once more, how intimidating.

“Hello, nerd,” Nox says, leaning back against a chair and wrapping an arm around my waist.

“Hello, idiot,” Bahira responds, someone on her side of the mirror chuckling deeply at her response. Her eyes narrow as she turns to look to the side before focusing back on us—on me . “You must be Rhea.”

“It’s a pleasure to officially meet you, Bahira,” I say, a bit shakier than I would have liked. Her smile is small but genuine, and I get the feeling that she doesn’t offer brilliant wide ones to anyone until she is sure about them. I understand that to my core.

She updates Nox and their parents on her journey so far in the Shifter Kingdom, detailing the experiments she is running and things she is doing, even from afar, to hopefully help the Mage Kingdom and its people get their full magical capabilities again. The conversation eventually dwindles to goodbyes, Nox squeezing me more tightly to him. As Bahira steps back from the Mirror, a woman’s sing-songy voice calls her name out followed by another deep chuckle. The glass gets cloudy, like an impending storm, before it settles back into an unassuming mirror.

“She looks well,” Alexandria says to Sadryn, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his chest.

“Are you surprised?” he replies in a teasing tone, rubbing his hands down her back.

“No, no, of course not. But I can’t help but worry.”

Sadryn kisses the top of her head and whispers something only she can hear before lifting his gaze to Nox. “I’m glad you were able to—”

“King Sadryn of the Mage Kingdom,” a voice, slightly altered, abruptly booms through the Mirror. I stiffen, my magic rushing to my throat.

Nox holds me closer to him, his voice soft as he says, “It’s okay. This is how the rulers communicate through the Mirror. It’s probably King Kai using it for Bahira again. She must have forgotten to tell us something.”

Sadryn steps closer to the Mirror, the glass altering as the magic runs through it. But it isn’t the fact that a phantom voice rang through the Mirror that has my heart beating at a frantic pace. It’s the cadence of the voice, the note of malice within it. I recognize that voice deep within my bones. It is one I still hear in my nightmares, one I’m afraid I’ll never fully be free of.

My fear is confirmed when the image on the Mirror settles and King Dolian’s face is there.