Page 4 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight (A World of Sun and Shadow #2)
G entle hands lifted her head. “Renya, can you hear me?” the voice ventured nervously. She felt something cool against her forehead. It smelled salty, like the bays in California. Was she back home? She felt so discombobulated. Renya had been rendered unconscious and woken up in strange places more times than she could ever have imagined since coming to this world.
She sat up and opened her eyes. She was in the jungle, where the Shadow Queen had…done something to her? Tried to take her power?
Sion sat back on his knees next to her with a wet scrap of fabric that he had been holding to her head.
“Oh, thank the Fates! Grayden would have killed me if I let something happen to you,” Sion said, relief evident in his kind eyes.
Grayden. She needed Grayden. It was like a hunger awoke within her and she needed him more than anything. She wanted to cry because he wasn’t next to her. She didn’t know where he was and how she was going to get to him. Renya choked back a sob, the pain from being separated too great.
“Sion, what happened? I need to get to Grayden.” She looked around, eyes frantic. There was rubble everywhere and it appeared the megalith had collapsed over the cave.
“You have your powers back.”
“I never had powers,” Renya said, utterly confused.
Sion continued. “You’ve had powers all along, they were just trapped within you. Someone put a locking spell on you so you couldn’t access your power. Queen Cressida broke through the magic, with the goal of taking your power, but it backfired. When it was free, you pulled it back into you and it formed some kind of powerful surge.”
Renya flexed her fingers. She did feel different. Her skin felt tighter, as if there was an electrical current constantly running through her.
“Your ears…” Sion started. “You’re fae?”
Renya reached up and traced the outline of her ears. Sure enough, she found a pair of ears identical to everyone else in this world. “My glamour…it must have broken when she unlocked me.”
He nodded, taking her in as if for the first time.
“What happened to the Shadow Queen and Brandle?” she asked, looking around for them. The jungle seemed empty except for the rubble everywhere.
“They fled into the cave when the megalith fell. I heard commotion and arguing from inside, so they are both alive. But the spell she used to unlock your powers weakened her. I’m guessing she’s trapped until she can manage to use her magic to travel out of the cave.”
“She’s trapped in there? Oh my god, I can get away. I need to get to Grayden. Now!” She looked at Sion. “Please, how can I get to the Snow Lands?”
Sion glanced around the clearing. “The Tidal Kingdom,” he said. “King Triston hates Cressida almost as much as Grayden does. They should give you shelter and perhaps assist you back to the Snow Lands. If I can, I’ll send a message to Grayden and let him know where you’re heading.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
“I’m afraid not, Renya. I have to work on freeing the queen. Luckily a bit of rubble hit me,” he pointed to a spot that was bleeding on his forehead, “so she’ll assume I was knocked out. I’ve got to keep up my double role for right now.”
“I understand.” Renya was prepared to stand on her own two feet and accept her role in this world. The sooner she started relying on herself, the better. “Which way do I go?”
Sion looked around, trying to get his bearings. “Go back to the shore, that will be the quickest way to the Tidal Kingdom. As soon as you hit the shoreline, go east. I think the gate to the Tidal Palace is about three hours from here, maybe four. You’ve got a walk ahead of you, but I’ll try to give you as much of a head start as I can.” He walked lazily over to a large tree and picked a fruit reminiscent of a banana.
Renya nodded. “Thank you so much, Sion. I don’t think I can ever repay you.” She moved over to where he stood.
Sion looked at Renya and held out his hand to her. Tucked carefully in his palm was Grayden’s elkten pin. She grabbed it with nimble fingers. “Just make Grayden happy. Fate knows he needs something good in his life. That’s enough for me.” Sion gave her a peck on the cheek and turned towards the blocked cave entrance.
“My queen! Are you alright? I’m trying to free you as fast as I can!” Sion looked back at Renya one last time and gave her a wink as he sat down on the jungle floor, his back against a large rock, slowly peeling his fruit and taking a leisurely bite.
With a final farewell nod, Renya headed back towards the beach, avoiding the pile of rocks and dodging huge palm leaves. The vegetation was enormous, far bigger than anything she had ever seen at home. The tips of the palm trees sparkled green with large veins of silver throughout. A giant butterfly flew through the air, its size larger than Renya’s head. It landed peacefully on the palm leaf and fluttered its delicate wings. It really was beautiful here , Renya thought. A gentle breeze tugged at her hair, and she sighed. She was safe, for now at least. But she needed to get to Grayden. She couldn’t fathom this strange new desire for him. She wanted him before, and she was certain she loved him. But now, she was so certain of her feelings for him. How could she have left him? The decision seemed so crazy now. She didn’t care if she lived or died, as long as Grayden was beside her. Why did he make her go back through the portal? Sion told Cressida that Grayden loved her. Yet, he was still able to send her away. Maybe he didn’t love her as much as she loved him.
Realization swept over her while she struggled through the hot sand. She loved him. She hadn’t been willing to admit it fully to herself, but she was deeply, madly, irrevocably in love with Grayden. She longed to see him again, to continue the delicate dance they started in the snow cave. Heat rushed through her, and she wasn’t sure if it was the memory of Grayden’s mouth against hers or the tropical climate. At any rate, she unlaced the top of her riding outfit and slid it down her shoulders. Luckily, she wasn’t wearing one of the more scandalous undergarments Selenia had made her buy.
She felt instant relief as the cool ocean breeze hit her sweat-covered body. She was dressed for the Snow Lands, definitely not for a tropical beach. She smelled the salt air, so reminiscent of California, and continued her slow pace down the beach. Driftwood blocked her path every fifty feet or so and she climbed over it, dragging her thick skirt behind her. She tried to detach the skirt from the leather pants underneath, but Doria had done a magnificent job sewing the outfit together. Sand trailed along the hem and the dress was covered in grime, blood and sweat. She hoped whomever she met at the Tidal Kingdom would take pity on her and let her in. Without thinking, Renya brought her hand to grasp the elkten pin outlined in her pocket. Sion knew it was given to her by Grayden when he found her in the nightmare dungeon, and she hoped it was enough to grant her safe passage back to the Snow Lands and keep her safe from the Shadow Queen until she could be reunited with Grayden.
Her body burned with an intensity that rivaled the tropical heat, every fiber of her being aching for Grayden. Renya's mind was consumed by vivid images of him—his strong, muscular arms that had held her so securely, the broad expanse of his chest where she longed to rest her head. She could almost feel the roughness of his calloused hands against her skin, a testament to his years of training and combat.
The memory of his scent engulfed her senses—that intoxicating blend of pine and cinnamon that was uniquely Grayden. It was a scent that spoke of strength and comfort, of snowy forests and warm hearths. She inhaled deeply, as if she could somehow capture that aroma from the humid jungle air.
Her lips tingled with the phantom sensation of his kisses. Those kisses that were a contradiction—rough with passion yet tender with care, exploring and tasting her with a reverence that made her knees weak. She brought her fingers to her mouth, tracing where his had been, desperate to recapture that feeling.
Their last night together replayed in her mind with startling clarity. The heat in his gaze, the trembling of his hands as he touched her. Renya's cheeks flushed, her skin prickling with desire at the memory. They had both wanted more, the air between them charged with unspoken longing. Yet Grayden had held back, his honor a shield against his desires.
His restraint, his careful treatment of her, stood in stark contrast to the men she'd known before. Men who saw her as something to be conquered, not cherished. Grayden's gentle touch, his constant concern for her comfort and consent, was like a soothing balm to her soul—as refreshing and welcome as a cool breeze on a sweltering day.
She recalled the look of shock on his face when he realized he was her first. At the time, she hadn't understood his reaction. Now, she wondered if some part of him had sensed what she was only now realizing herself.
Yes, she'd had boyfriends before. But she'd always held back, always pulled away when things became too intimate. It was as if some hidden part of her had been waiting, reserving herself for someone special. For someone who would see her, truly see her, and love her completely.
The realization hit her with the force of a physical blow, leaving her breathless. All this time, she had been waiting for Grayden. Her body, her heart, her very soul had been waiting for this man from another world, a man she hadn't even known existed.
The longing for him intensified, a desperate, all-consuming need that threatened to overwhelm her. It wasn't just physical desire, though that burned hot within her. It was a soul-deep yearning to be in his presence, to feel the security of his arms around her, to lose herself in the depths of his green eyes. She needed his strength, his kindness, his unwavering support. She needed his love.
Renya's steps quickened, driven by this new understanding. Every moment away from Grayden now felt like an eternity. She had to find him, had to tell him how she felt. No more hesitation, no more doubt. She would give herself to him completely—body, heart, and soul. And this time, nothing would tear them apart.
Her boots were full of sand, and she decided to take them off and walk barefoot along the beach. Losing the tall boots helped cool her off and she walked in the surf, the glistening water lapping at her toes. A pink crab scurried past her, making its way out to sea, tapping its powerful claws as if to challenge her. She looked ahead and saw her path along the beach was blocked by an outcropping of rocks. Renya frowned. The tide must be coming in. She pondered if she should try and climb over the rocks, take her chances in the ocean, or find another way around. She was a strong swimmer, having grown up swimming in the warm ocean waters framing California’s coast, but she wasn’t sure how the water was here. If she got caught in a riptide or if there was a drop-off, she could find herself in big trouble. Renya hadn’t survived tygres, the nightmare dungeon, and the Shadow Queen just to be taken out by the ocean. She licked her parched lips and glanced at the rocks and looked at her bare feet and the tall boots she carried. Renya trusted neither to help her traverse the sharp rocks. She sighed and walked back towards the jungle, figuring it was the safest path forward.
Renya's feet sank into the damp earth with each step, vines and branches clawing at her clothes as she forged ahead. Her lungs burned, desperate for air in the thick, humid jungle. Still, she pressed on, Grayden's name a silent rhythm matching her heartbeat. Her fingers curled into fists, nails biting into her palms—a physical promise to never let him go again.
As she ducked under a low-hanging branch, a bead of sweat trickled down her temple, carrying with it a memory of her Aunt Agatha. Renya paused, her hand instinctively reaching out as if to grasp her aunt's arm. She could almost see Agatha's fierce expression, hear the quiet determination in her voice. She visualized Agatha, free from her bindings, hands weaving complex patterns as she searched for a way to open a new portal. The image was so vivid that Renya's own fingers twitched, mimicking the intricate gestures she'd seen her aunt perform.
For a moment, Renya stood still, caught between two worlds—the one where Grayden waited and the one where Aunt Agatha was trapped. Then, with a deep breath that filled her lungs with the earthy scent of the jungle, she pushed forward. Her path to Grayden was clear, and with each step, she dared to hope that Aunt Agatha might be blazing a trail of her own, one that could reunite them all.
Renya passed more palm trees and saw the same type of tree Sion picked a piece of fruit from earlier. Her stomach gurgled in hunger as she appraised the strange produce. Renya pulled the long, yellow fruit off of the tree and examined it as she continued to walk. Its skin was tougher than a banana, but other than that, it looked comparable. She peeled it and took a tentative bite; it was akin to the taste of a banana, only juicy instead of mushy. Renya could tell she was getting dehydrated and was thankful that it helped to satisfy her thirst.
She heard a bird chirp near her and looked to her left. Perched on a branch was a tropical bird with a large purple beak. He stared at her, turning his head as if to figure out what she was. His bright plumage was every color of the rainbow and Renya couldn’t believe how brilliant-hued he was. In fact, she noticed, looking around her, everything seemed more colorful. Was she just used to the muted colors of the Snow Lands? Or was this area more colorful?
The exotic-looking bird shook his wings and flew off as she continued walking. The bottoms of her feet were sore and starting to blister. She thought about putting the boots back on but the humidity threatening to strangle her changed her mind. Renya debated going back towards the shore and taking a quick dip in the ocean, but she didn’t want to waste any more time. She needed to be in Grayden’s arms. Focusing on her one goal, she picked up the pace, eager to get to the Tidal Gate before sunset.