Page 40 of Night Fae (Monsters of Veridia #3)

The journey back to the Shadow Palace passed in a blur of exhaustion.

After the chaos at the Barrier Temple settled, they'd gathered their strength and made camp for the night in a clearing just beyond the temple grounds.

No one had the energy for the full journey back immediately.

Malik had slept deeply for the first time in what felt like months, pressed close to Zev.

When dawn broke, they found the landscape transformed. Where reality had been fracturing just a day before, now the world seemed more vivid, more stable.

The unnatural auroras were gone from the sky, and when they rode through the woods, Malik thought the air smelled clean and full of promise.

Villagers emerged from hiding here and there, staring at them in wonder. Word had already begun to spread: the Shadow King and his allies had repaired the broken world.

By the time they drew close to Caelen's palace, people lined the roads, offering food and drink to the returning heroes.

"I wasn't expecting this," Malik commented quietly to Zev as a young fae child presented them with a crown of silver flowers.

"Wear it proudly," Zev replied with a half-mocking smile that was full of warmth.

Malik did as he was told.

When they reached the palace gates, Caelen made an announcement: a victory feast would be held that night. "We've earned this," he told them all, his arm around Daniel's shoulders. "Our moment of glory."

Knox didn't seem convinced of this plan, but before anyone could grumble too much, servants whisked them away to chambers prepared with hot baths and fresh clothing. Healers checked their wounds and offered potions for recovery. Within hours, the palace got ready for a celebration.

Despite his exhaustion, Malik found himself swept up in the excitement of it all. After all they'd been through, a chance to simply breathe—to celebrate being alive—felt not just welcome but necessary.

That night, the great hall of the Shadow Palace sparkled with more light than seemed possible given its name, hundreds of crystal orbs suspended from the ceiling containing dancing magefire in shifting colors.

Music drifted through the air, a hopeful melody that spoke of their victory. Malik couldn't locate where it was coming from, even though he sat at one of the high tables overlooking the hall.

Whoever was playing, though, it was beautiful. Everything here was.

Malik could hardly believe how much his life had changed in so short a time.

"Is something wrong?" Zev asked, sat by his side. "You haven't touched your wine."

"No." Malik picked up his glass. "Just lost in thought."

Zev's eyes softened, and Malik felt the warmth of their connection humming between them, their mate bond a constant reassurance.

"Too much to process?" Zev asked quietly.

"A little," Malik agreed. "Mostly I'm wondering what happens next."

Before Zev could answer, a commotion erupted at the entrance to the hall.

Lyrian strode in, resplendent in shimmering aquamarine formal wear that matched his hair.

Behind him tottered a diminutive elderly woman with the same aquatic coloring but weathered like driftwood left too long in the sun.

Her white hair was arranged in elaborate coils studded with pearls, and despite her age, she moved with surprising vigor.

Lyrian was saying something to her, but Malik couldn't make out what.

He could make out the response, though.

"Nonsense!" The elderly siren's voice carried across the hall with impressive volume. "I didn't travel all this way to sit quietly in a corner. Where's the Shadow King who finally got himself a proper mate?"

A hush fell over the gathering. Caelen, who had been engaged in conversation with several dignitaries, turned toward the commotion with a raised eyebrow. Daniel, at his side, grinned widely.

"That," Zev murmured, "is Madam Nyrissa, Oracle of the Western Seas and Lyrian's grandmother."

Malik remembered her from the novel. "Isn't she the most powerful seer in all of Veridia?"

"Yes," Zev agreed. "She's also the most tactless one."

Madam Nyrissa spotted Caelen and marched directly toward him, parting the crowd through sheer force of personality. She stopped before the Shadow King, squinting up at him critically.

"Hmph. You look better without that shadow god squatting in your head," she announced, then turned to Daniel. "And you! Skinny little human. Good job not dying."

Daniel blinked in surprise. "Um, thank you?"

"You're welcome," she said, patting his cheek with surprising affection. "Now, where's the good liquor in this place? That ceremonial swill they served at the temple dedication was like diluted seaweed."

Caelen, to his credit, recovered quickly. "Madam Nyrissa, we're honored by your presence. I'll have the steward bring out our finest reserves."

"You'd better," she sniffed, then spotted Malik and Zev across the room. "Ah! There's the dreamwalker and his human!"

Malik felt Zev tense beside him as Nyrissa made her way toward their table, Lyrian trailing behind her with an expression of resigned embarrassment.

"Grandmother, please?—"

"Hush, child. I want to meet the one who pulled this gloomy fae out of the Fields." She planted herself before Malik, eyes sharp and knowing despite her irreverent demeanor. "So you're the one. Hmm. Not what I expected."

Malik wasn't sure how to respond. "I'm... sorry?"

"Don't be sorry. Be proud," she waved him off. Then she reached out and patted Zev's cheek much as she had Daniel's. "You're looking less constipated than last time I saw you. Good for you."

Zev raised an eyebrow at the siren. "Meanwhile," he said, "you look just as close to expiry."

"That is only because your eyes are useless," Nyrissa chided Zev. "You see death everywhere, and I must say, I do wish you'd killed that preening prince while you were at it. Would have saved us trouble down the line."

"Grandmother!" Lyrian looked horrified.

"What? It's true. That one has ambitions that'll cause problems." She waved dismissively. "But that's for another day. Where's the food? I haven't traveled between courts in fifty years, and I'm famished."

As if summoned by her words, servants began bringing out the first course. Nyrissa claimed the seat next to Malik without invitation, leaning in conspiratorially.

"You've got questions buzzing around your head like hungry moths," she observed. "Ask."

Malik glanced at Zev, who gave a small nod of encouragement.

"Will the barriers remain stable now?" Malik asked, voicing the concern that had been foremost in his mind.

Nyrissa's eyes clouded over briefly, the irises swirling like water in a whirlpool. "Stable enough," she answered. "Your friend with the stolen power will see to that."

"Leon?" Malik looked around the hall, suddenly realizing he hadn't seen Leon since they'd returned from the temple. "Where is he?"

Nyrissa shrugged, helping herself to Malik's untouched wine. "Doing what barrier keepers do, I imagine. Sticking his fingers in the holes in reality." She drank deeply, then smacked her lips. "Not bad. For Elucian wine."

Throughout the meal, Nyrissa continued to offer unfiltered commentary on everything from the food to the various court dignitaries ("That one's sleeping with his wife's sister—and the sister's husband").

Malik found himself growing increasingly fond of her, especially as he watched Lyrian's ongoing embarrassment.

At one point, she launched into a story about how Lyrian had once tried to charm a school of special fish to perform synchronized swimming patterns and instead caused them to beach themselves in formation.

"He cried for three days straight," she concluded, as Lyrian sank lower in his seat. "Wouldn't eat seafood for a year!"

As the evening wore on, the crowd began to thin. Soon, only the core group remained.

Malik noticed Zev growing increasingly pensive, his gaze distant. Through their bond, Malik sensed not distress but contemplation, as if Zev were turning over possibilities in his mind.

"What is it?" Malik asked softly.

Zev's eyes refocused on him. "I was thinking we should go to bed soon."

"Oh, did you?" Malik shot him a smile.

Before Zev could answer, one of the tall doors to the hall swung open. Leon stood there, but not as Malik had last seen him. Something about him had changed fundamentally. His posture was straighter, more confident, and faint silver light seemed to shimmer around him.

But his companions drew even more attention than he did.

Trailing him were two striking Veridian men, a tall one with blue skin and bioluminescent markings that pulsed softly along his forearms while his tail coiled around his own leg, and a leaner one with pale skin, amber eyes, and the pointed ears that marked him as fae.

And between them, Jamie.

Daniel shot to his feet. "Jamie?" His voice cracked with emotion.

Jamie grinned and spread his arms wide. "Surprise?"

Daniel rushed across the hall and crashed into his brother, nearly knocking him over with the force of his embrace. "I thought—we couldn't find you—how did you?—"

"Get here? Meet them?" Jamie gestured to the Veridians flanking him. "It's a long story. Let's just say I found my bookstore in an unusual spot. And they were inside."

The blue-skinned man stepped forward with a formal bow. "Azelon of the Tideborn."

The smaller man inclined his head. "Corin."

Daniel smiled warmly at the two Veridians. "Thank you so much for taking care of my brother."

"Oh no," Corin said. "He's the one who took care of us." A small grin lifted the corner of his lips. "Your brother is quite remarkable."

"Quite so," Azelon agreed.

"You two…" Jamie shook his head slightly.

Daniel stared between the three of them, understanding slowly dawning on his face. "Wait… are you…?"

Jamie shrugged. "I made myself part of the community I was thrust into."

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "Part of the community?"

Corin slung an arm around Jamie's waist and drew him close while Azelon's tail abandoned his own leg to coil around Jamie's.

The message was fairly clear, even from where Malik was sitting.

Beside him, Nyrissa cackled. "This human sure found himself interesting company. You would not believe what the Tideborn can do with their tails."

Malik blinked and tried very hard not to imagine what the old siren was implying.

Fortunately, Leon stepped forward, drawing attention back to himself. The silver glow around him had intensified slightly. "I found him," he explained. "With... I'm not sure what to call it. The awareness that came with Yuri's power. I could sense Jamie's presence in Veridia."

"You went after him alone?" Adrian asked, concerned.

"I traveled the shadow paths," Leon said simply. "It was easy."

Nyrissa snorted. "Of course it is for you. How does it feel to have one foot in every world?"

Leon looked at her briefly, then focused on Adrian and the others again. "I think I need to stay here."

"Stay where?" Daniel asked.

"Here. In Veridia. At the Barrier Temple." Leon's expression was resolute. "Someone needs to maintain the balance we created."

"You can't go home?" Adrian asked.

Leon smiled faintly. "I am home. Or rather, I'm between homes. It's where I belong now."

Malik felt Zev's hand find his under the table, fingers intertwining. He glanced at Zev, who was watching Leon with something akin to sympathy.

"So you're the new Barrier Keeper," Knox said, stating rather than asking.

"Yes. And part of that role will be ensuring that those with connections across worlds can still maintain them.

" Leon looked around at the gathered couples—Daniel and Caelen, Adrian and Knox, Zev and Malik.

"Travel between worlds won't be simple or common, but for those who have reasons. .. I'll keep the path open."

That sounded reassuring, but Adrian wasn't convinced. "There used to be four Barrier Keepers," he said. "Can you do it by yourself?"

"For now, yes. As long as things remain this stable.

" Leon looked pensive. "In time, I'll find others to help me.

There are more barriers than the one we just kept from shattering, more worlds out there than you can imagine.

There must be more keepers somewhere." He licked his lips.

"Yuri eliminated a good number of them."

"Why did he do it?" Malik found himself asking.

"I don't want to excuse his actions," Leon said.

Malik nodded. "I only want to understand."

Leon hesitated, but then he said, "He thought all the separate worlds would be reborn as one, as a whole, as a better, optimal world. He believed all life would be reset, including the souls of the departed."

"He was mourning someone," Malik concluded.

Leon nodded. "He had a child he was not supposed to have.

It was against the rules for Barrier Keepers to procreate.

" An unamused smile twisted Leon's features.

"They didn't like that it led to creatures like us.

People with mixed heritage who destabilize the barriers by existing.

The effect isn't as pronounced in us since we're so grounded in our home worlds now, but Yuri's child…

" Leon lowered his gaze. "They executed her. "

Malik didn't know how to respond to that.

Daniel did. "That's bullshit. I don't like this organization."

"Me neither," Adrian agreed. "But that doesn't mean it's okay to kill everyone and throw the world into chaos."

"No," Leon said. "None of what he did was okay."

Nyrissa's voice cut through the gloom. "See that you'll be a better keeper than he was. I don't want another apocalypse in my lifetime, thank you very much." She raised her wine glass. "To a brighter future!"

With that, she brought the discussion to a close.