Page 32 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

V oices whispered in the distance, though Ava didn’t know who they belonged to. Her head was on someone’s lap and a hand stroked her hair. A cool rag was being dabbed across her forehead, her face and her neck.

She opened her eyes, vision clearing, and Casimir’s face came into view.

“Where am I?” she whispered as he continued to stroke her hair.

“In my suite,” said Thorne, sitting in a chair on her right. “It was the closest.”

“Where’s everyone else?” she asked.

“They’re still in the dining hall, giving you space,” her brother said.

She sat up and Casimir moved closer, rubbing her back. “I can’t do it.”

“Yes, you can,” they said in unison.

Thorne pulled his chair close and grabbed her hands. She raised her eyes, meeting his. “Ava, listen to me. You can do this. You must. ”

“I’m not strong enough. I’m not ready. I—I need more time.”

“Where is that woman who never gave up on the obstacle course? Or the one who fights and argues with me every step of the way? The one who rode a dangerous sea monster with no fear? The one who gives Raine’s shit right back to him? That woman is strong enough.”

She sat in silence, unsure what to say as she mulled on Casimir’s words.

“Ava,” said Thorne. “You are fae. Take your rightful place. Demand it. Do you remember what I told you at the tavern?” She nodded. “We don’t do anything alone. But more importantly, you belong to us. All of us.” He brought his face closer to hers. “What would Mother say?”

“Crush them,” she whispered.

“What are you going to do to Andras and Deidamia? The ones who stole everything from you. Who are trying to steal more,” his voice rose. She had never seen him like this. This was the king. The leader of her kingdom. Of her home.

Her home .

Fury rose as she thought of what she’d lost at their hands.

Of what else she stood to lose in the future should she fail at her task.

She was terrified of facing the Elderoak journey, but she was more terrified of losing this.

Her friends and her family. The peace and belonging she’d found at last. And that’s what she would lose if she didn’t do this.

What everyone would lose.

“I’m going to crush them,” she answered with determination as she stood.

They watched her. The king and the general, pride on their faces.

“Are you ready to go back to the meeting?” asked Thorne.

“Yes.”

Thorne led the way. Casimir took her hand, interlocking their fingers, and squeezed before bringing it to his lips and kissing her knuckles.

They returned to the dining hall and took their seats, Casimir placing a hand on her leg.

Ever since they unleashed themselves on each other earlier, he couldn’t not touch her.

As if he was scared if he stopped it would all disappear.

She reveled in it and let it steady her, keeping her calm as she prepared to face this insurmountable task.

“Are you alright?” Raine asked from across the table.

“No.” She looked at him, steel in her eyes. “But I will be.”

Pride flashed on Raine’s face as he nodded.

“So, let’s say I pass.”

“You will pass,” said Casimir.

“ When I pass. What happens next? Will I be different? Will I suddenly have magic? What will it feel like?”

“We don’t know,” Jorrar said. “In our records we’ve never had a fae born in the human world before. Therefore, a human has never attempted the journey.”

“We can only assume,” said Thorne. “I’m positive you will feel different. And you may even look different, more fae. You’ll have magic but probably not a significant amount.”

“Because I still have to go through my great tribulation, huh?”

It was the ordeal the strongest fae often went through, causing the well of their magic to increase. It was what Deidamia was trying to induce during Ava’s weeks of torture.

“Yes,” Thorne responded. “When your blood opened the portal, you obviously had enough magic in your lineage to do so. But it wasn’t enough for anything else.”

Ava shook her head and rambled, words spilling out as the memories of her imprisonment assaulted her.

“They tried everything to get my magic to erupt. Burning me, pulling out my fingernails, slicing me with knives. They even rubbed some type of acidic powder into my wounds once—” she stopped when she saw everyone staring at her. “Sorry.”

“How did you not die?” asked Quinn.

Casimir snapped at her, “What an insensitive question.”

“Sorry. I worded that poorly. What I meant was, even though you’re technically fae, your body is still human. I don’t think most humans would survive torture like that. Some fae would even succumb.”

“I’m not sure, but they never took it far enough to kill me, I guess.

Most of the time I passed out from the pain.

She had healers come in and patch me up enough to make it to the next.

Though one time…the worst time…she had the healers give me something to ensure I wouldn’t pass out.

To prolong it to see if that would work.

That was when she whipped me over and over.

” She paused, taking a breath. “I gave up that day. I was hoping she would go ahead and kill me.”

Casimir was shaking, wary eyes watching him around the table. She rubbed his arm, trying to calm him.

“Exactly how long were you there?” asked Jorrar.

She thought for a moment. “I don’t know. I lost track of time. When we arrived in Eorhan, they put me in shackles and threw me into a prison wagon. I have no idea how long it took to get from the portal to their camp. I was there for a long time. A month? Maybe longer.”

“Do you know how often you were tortured?” Raine asked.

“I think every couple days,” she whispered.

The heat of power emanated from Casimir. Jorrar called his name. “Casimir. You must calm yourself.”

Vines by the windows grew larger, snaking their way around the room. Casimir gritted his teeth, and Ava grabbed his face and made him look at her.

“Hey,” she whispered. “I’m here now. I’m fine. I’m safe.”

A muscle ticked in his clenched jaw, violence in his stare as he trembled, vines writhing more aggressively and growing around the room.

“Take a walk, Casimir,” said Thorne. He turned to Thorne, fury in his eyes as if he was about to push back. “That’s an order.”

He stood and left the room, flowers blooming behind his feet as he walked away. The vines receded and the room returned to normal.

Ava turned back to the table, heart racing with worry. “Could someone please explain?”

“I’ve never seen him like that before,” Quinn said.

“Ava, I don’t think you’re ready for this conversation,” said Thorne.

“What?” She looked at her brother. “That’s not fair. Tell me.”

He sighed. “When powerful fae become very angry, they can lose control and their magic erupts. He was on the verge of that. It’s something we must learn to manage or there could be consequences.”

“Why was he so angry?” she asked.

Raine looked at her, dumbfounded.

“I know it was hard to hear about what I went through, but none of you were on the verge of losing control.”

Raine shook his head at her. “You’re blind, Ava. You really can’t see it, can you?”

“Can’t see what?”

Jorrar cleared his throat. “Since fae are historically primal creatures, this anger sometimes comes out when someone they care about is harmed. Someone they care about romantically.”

“Oh. And you’re saying he cares about me. I know,” she said.

Raine narrowed his eyes. “He cares about you a lot .”

“You’ve already told me that. There’s something else you aren’t telling me. ”

Raine scanned the silent room. “Fine. I’ll explain since no one else will.”

She focused on Raine across the table, her heart racing with anticipation.

“There’s a term we use. It’s an old fae word. Different from the one you asked me about.” She fidgeted in her seat. “Miraêl Li’ra it’s called.”

“What does that mean?”

“Soul-bonded,” answered Thorne.

“Okay…oh. Oh wow,” she said, reeling. “Like…a soulmate thing?”

“Yes.” Raine looked at her pointedly.

She bit her lip. “Are you saying Cas and I?—”

“Yes.”

“Does he know?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“Why hasn’t he told me?”

“You think you would have reacted well to that conversation?”

She opened her mouth and closed it again. He was right. If Casimir had come out and told her they were soulmates too soon, she probably would have panicked and withdrawn further.

But for some reason, she wasn’t panicking now. It made sense. The way they seemed to be drawn to each other.

“So, what does this mean?” she asked.

“We have complete choice in our relationships,” Jorrar explained. “You don’t have to accept the bond.” He paused. “But if you do, that bond is powerful. More than you can even imagine.”

“I have feelings for him,” Ava said. “Strong feelings. But I haven’t felt any unique sensations. At least I don’t think I have.”

“It will likely happen after the Elderoak blesses you,” said Raine.

“And be prepared because it will be intense. Did you notice how angry he got when I walked in your room earlier?” She blushed at the reminder and nodded.

“I’m lucky we’re friends. If it had been a stranger, he probably would have attacked them. ”

“Why?” she whispered.

“There’s a sense of possessiveness. A need to protect. During times of vulnerability, or if the other is hurt…or hearing about people hurting them…” he trailed off.

“Like me describing my torture.”

“Exactly.”

“How long has he known?” she asked.

“I’m not telling you. You need to talk to him about it,” he said.

“Do you know anyone else who is soul-bonded?”

“It’s very rare,” said Jorrar. “Kai and I are not. Astrid and Soren are the only ones we’re close to who are.”

“Okay,” Ava said, mind still reeling with the news.

“Sorry to change topics,” interrupted Thorne. “But we need to finish our planning for the journey.”

Footsteps echoed in the dining hall as Casimir returned. He reclaimed his seat and grabbed Ava’s hand, pulling it into his lap.

“Are you alright?” she whispered.

He nodded. “I’d never heard the details before. It was…difficult.” Ava squeezed his hand, and he turned to the group. “What did I miss?”

“We were about to finish discussing the journey,” said Thorne.

“Wait,” said Quinn. “Sorry to go back to this, but how did you escape the camp, Ava? You never told us.”

She smiled, remembering the kindness of Remy, the hobgoblin she had befriended while there. Her fellow prisoner who she’d parted ways with on her journey to Mosshaven. She hoped he was alright .

“A healer,” she said. “She helped me and another prisoner. I think she created a distraction.” She turned toward Casimir. “That’s when I saw Aro.”

“Aro?” said Jorrar. “He was at the camp?”

“Yes,” she answered. “The healer said something about hurrying because the distraction wouldn’t last long.” She paused. Something was nagging at her. “I still don’t understand how Aro found out.”

“Luna,” Casimir whispered.

“What? I—yes. She said she was looking for help. Did she get Aro?”

Casimir nodded.

Something was still bothering her, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “The healer wasn’t one of the daemons,” she went on. “She said she wasn’t there willingly, and she wouldn’t leave with me. I tried to make her, but she refused. She said she had her own plans.”

“Ava,” Jorrar whispered, suddenly tense. “Did you learn her name?”

She looked at him and the healer’s face flashed in her memory. Silver eyes like Jorrar’s. Exactly like Jorrars. When she’d asked about his grandchildren, he’d told her their mother was a healer. And they never found her body.

Oh no.

“Her name was Isolde.”