Page 33 of Realms of Shadow and Sun (A World of Sun and Shadow #3)

Sion's back ached from hours of sitting against the wall. Phillippe and Charly had offered to guard Brandle, but Sion refused. He would ensure Brandle didn't escape or slink off into the night. Despite Cyrus's magical enforcement of the room, Sion felt compelled to keep constant watch.

He stretched his legs, his boot scraping against the stone floor. Relief washed over him at being back in his normal clothing and home lands. As he scratched his head, his mind wandered to recent events, inevitably settling on Selenia. Could it be possible? Was he truly fated to her? It would explain the unfamiliar feelings stirring within him.

From his limited knowledge of fated matings, they typically manifested after the teenage years but before middle age. He hadn't felt this way about Selenia when he last saw her two years ago. Didn't Grayden have feelings for Renya before they were fated? Sion longed to ask him but suspected any conversation about Selenia wouldn't be well-received.

The patter of quiet footsteps drew his attention. He recoiled into the shadows, straining to identify the late-night visitor.

Selenia's slight frame came into view as she rounded the corner, her auburn hair flowing freely down her back. She wore a white nightdress with a crimson robe cinched around her narrow waist. Sion watched as she approached the weapons room door, confused over her purpose here. When she turned, he caught the glint of Grayden's dagger in the torchlight. She attempted to open the door quietly, but it wouldn't budge.

"It's locked by magic, Selenia,"

Sion said softly.

She jumped, dropping the dagger with a clatter that echoed off the stone walls.

"Sion!"

she squealed, her face flushing. He rose and walked over, retrieving and inspecting the dagger.

"How did you manage to steal your brother's dagger?"

She bit her lip. "It's not his. It's Renya's. He had a copy made for her. I knew they would likely be...preoccupied this evening, so I took it from their room."

"Why? Why kill Brandle?"

Sion asked, fighting the urge to run his fingers through her wild ringlets. She looked stunning in the torchlight, her pale skin aglow.

"You know why,"

she murmured, eyes fixed on her silk slippers.

Sion frowned. "For me? Selenia, I'm not worth killing for. I wouldn't want your soul darkened."

When she remained silent, he gently tilted her chin up. Her expression startled him—eyes moist, lips curled in pain. He longed to pull her close, to comfort her.

"You can't kill him, Selenia. We need him to feed information to Cressida."

Her face fell. "Was no one going to tell me this?"

Sion chuckled softly. "In all fairness, I don't think anyone anticipated you coming down here to murder him."

She flinched at the word 'murder.' Sion wondered if she could have gone through with it had she breached the door. The Selenia he knew as a child wouldn't have, but this grown woman before him, with passion in her heart and fire in her eyes, seemed capable of anything.

"I don't know what came over me,"

she sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

Sion's resolve melted. "Hush, my darling. Come here."

He opened his arms, and she fell into them, sobbing against his chest. He fought to control his body's response to her nearness, trying to resist the woman he now suspected he was destined for.

"Oh Sion, I don't know what I'm doing. I never wanted you to find out we are fated. I'm so confused, but I also couldn't bear to have you sent away. I'm so sorry."

"Shhhhhh...dry your eyes, Selenia. You did nothing wrong. I'm just sorry that I don't feel the certainty you do. But I won't lie—I do desire you."

She looked up at him, heat flushing her cheeks and neck. "Really?"

Sion swallowed hard. "Selenia, I'd have to be struck dumb not to want a woman like you."

She trembled in his arms, and he could no longer resist. He didn't want her to feel rejected; no part of him could ever reject her. He brought his mouth to hers, kissing her gently yet thoroughly. Her warmth, her eagerness, her sweetness overwhelmed him. May the Fates strike him down, he thought, but he was becoming seriously addicted to Selenia Snowden.

The moment they crossed into the desert, Sion's eyes were drawn to Selenia. She was dressed more appropriately this time, wearing a thin silk top with delicate straps and a light skirt that fell to her knees. He tried to avert his gaze from her exposed legs. Her pale skin took on a shimmering quality under the harsh desert light.

How could he be bound to her without knowing it? What had that creature—a Murcurial?—done to her? And more importantly, could she do the same for him? If he survived this war, he vowed to seek out the creature and pay whatever price necessary to free his side of the bond so he could be with her fully.

"Are you okay?"

Grayden hung back, studying Sion carefully.

"Honestly, I don't know."

"I know I said some things back at the lodge—"

"Don't worry about it, Grayden. If I had a sister, I'm sure I would react the same way."

His friend nodded, his gaze returning to Renya. Sion noticed Grayden's eyes rarely strayed from her for long, and he envied their certainty in their love. Sion had never considered love, never thought he'd live long enough to experience it. He was broken, irreparably damaged by the Shadow Realm, but for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps there was a happily ever after for him as well.

Sion watched Grayden gallop ahead on his horse, eager to ride beside Renya as they approached the Sun Realm. They all gathered before the gate, waiting.

"How did you get in last time?"

Cyrus asked.

"We crawled through a drain,"

Phillippe said. "Not quite the warm welcome I was looking for."

Cyrus laughed, then lifted his fingers. A golden gust of air rushed out, and the gate swung open.

"Once all the soldiers arrive from the other kingdoms, I'll cloak it again."

"What do we do with him?"

Charly asked, nodding towards Brandle, who was chained and bound on a horse tethered behind Charly.

"We have an inescapable dungeon,"

Cyrus replied.

"Tell me about it,"

Phillippe mumbled. "I got stuck in the passageway."

They filed into the bustling city, citizens waving and gasping at the sight of Cyrus.

"I guess I should have let everyone know I was back,"

he said absentmindedly.

They rode along the golden streets, people stopping to stare as their entourage passed. Phillippe waved and winked at everyone until Grayden smacked him on the back of the neck. Sion heard Selenia giggle behind him, amused by her brother's antics. He slowed down to ride beside her.

"A bit different than the last time you rode through here?"

"Yes,"

she replied. "It's quite beautiful. I'm envious that Renya has a place where she belongs."

"Selenia, you belong in the Snow Lands. Who knows, Cyrus might eventually want Renya to lead here, and I know Grayden will follow her anywhere. You could be in charge of the Snow Lands."

"I don't have usable magic," she said.

"If everything works out right, you might."

"Do you have any magic left?"

He frowned, considering. "Perhaps a little. Cressida—"

he cringed at saying the name aloud "—would grant me small amounts of power to do her errands. I haven't used magic since. It feels...tainted to me."

Understanding shone in Selenia's eyes as she gave him a sympathetic smile. "I know the feeling."

"Of course you do. I'm sorry, my dar—Selenia."

She waved away his apology. "Maybe you're right. Maybe one day we'll have our full powers back—and I'll be able to control mine, and yours will be pure again."

Before he could respond, Phillippe let out a loud whoop from behind them. Sion turned to see hundreds of soldiers marching towards the gates. The first group entering the city wore breastplates with shiny scales that caught the sunlight. They all carried large pewter tridents. Leading them was King Triston, Sion guessed. He wore similar armor, but his helmet bore the carved figure of an eel. Riding beside him was a woman in a flowing periwinkle gown, a pearl crown perched upon her long hair.

Sion watched as Phillippe flicked his horse's reins and raced towards the pair. As he approached, the woman's face lit up. Sion's jaw dropped slightly as Phillippe pulled a small trinket from his pocket and handed it to her. Though too far to see what it was, Sion noticed the woman's delight as she carefully tucked it into her woven bag.

"Wow. Phillippe has a crush,"

Selenia said, her eyes on her brother. "Never thought I'd see him try to woo a woman."

"Who is she exactly? I know she's obviously from the Tidal Kingdom..."

"Esmeralda, King Triston's sister. She's become good friends with Renya."

The Tidal soldiers continued to march into the city, Triston riding ahead to speak with Grayden, and his sister moving to chat with Renya. The Tidal princess was clearly an inexperienced rider, and Phillippe trailed after her, watching her carefully.

Behind the Tidal soldiers came the Spring Land army. Dressed in dark green with daggers at their hips and bows slung over their shoulders, they moved quickly in cadence. Sion had never met Samatra or Thesand, but they rode ahead of their army, greeting Renya and Grayden like old friends. Sion felt a burst of pride, seeing how well his friend had assumed his role as leader. Grayden had come a long way from the scared teenage boy whose head Sion once had to dunk in a trough to sober up. Sion knew Grayden and Renya would make fine rulers, and he vowed to help them however he could.

More and more soldiers filed into the city, heading for the barracks on the east side of the palace. Sion hung back, letting the leaders talk. After being away for so long, he wasn't sure of his place anymore. No longer a spy, but not quite a member of Grayden's family.

Selenia stayed by his side, and he was grateful for her presence. Somehow, she grounded him, made him feel less alone. Together, they watched as the final wave of soldiers, this group from the Twilight Kingdom, shuffled past. Selenia let out an excited sigh as they marched by.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Queen Kalora brought Julietta. I was hoping to see her again. She's been a good friend to me."

She gestured towards a blonde-haired girl wearing a bright orange dress.

"I'm glad you have someone your age to talk with."

She scowled. "Age doesn't matter, Sion."