2. Ciara
After confirming with Rian and Sophia that the drawing was of the statue that had shot darts at them, I left the palace and marched to the library, because while the book had the drawing, there had been no information about what the statues were. There was a niggling sensation tugging at my brain. I was missing an important piece of information. Two and two weren’t adding up to four. More like two, if I was being honest. Even that was being generous. My long dress swished around my legs with my hurried walk, but the fabric was soft and flowing, like I was barely even wearing it.
A sense of calm soothed my body as the library grew closer. Whether it was the impressive building with a spire for an entrance and the massive wings on either side or the books inside calling to my heart, I wasn’t sure. I opened the teal green entrance door and ducked inside. Sunshine sparkled on the covers of the gold-foiled books in the display section. These were our most precious tomes. The ones I’d assumed would hold our secrets, but they mentioned nothing about our Spring of Life, which I’d found odd considering it was what made us who we were.
I swung right into the human section where Eabha, our ancient librarian, magicked books from Earth to our realm so we could keep up to date. If there was a library dedicated to the Fae in Ireland, why hadn’t the books appeared here? I walked along the rows of carved wooden bookshelves, my fingers and brain searching for the knowledge I didn’t yet know.
Eabha turned the corner of the next shelf and almost bumped into me.
“Ciara,” she exclaimed, placing a hand over her heart. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Aye,” I said distractedly as I perused the titles on the shelf closest to me.
“Are you looking for something in particular?”
I frowned. Was I? Why had I come here when I was leaving soon? Was it the familiarity of the place? The comfort I always experienced when surrounded by books.
“I’m not sure,” I said, running a finger down the closest spine. Even touching books made me feel better. Perhaps that was it. I was worried and needed comfort. I dropped my hand and turned my attention to Eabha. “Have you ever heard of a secret society of humans who protect us?”
An infinitesimal twitch near her right eye marred the serene face she usually kept in place.
I clasped her hands in mine. “Tell me everything you understand about The Fellowship of the Infinite Spring.”
“I never said I comprehend anything.” She ducked her chin and avoided looking me in the eye.
“Please, Eabha, you don’t realize how important this is.”
“Oh, child, I do. I’m not blind.” She raised her chin, meeting my searching gaze with one holding a wealth of knowledge. “I see what’s happening here.”
“If you see, then why haven’t you said anything?”
“Why haven’t you?”
I dropped my hand from her arm. “It wasn’t my decision.”
“The King?”
I nodded my head once. There was no point denying it. We all followed the King. He’d kept us safe for many years, but now our sanctuary was turning lethal.
“I read about them many centuries ago in a book in here.” She faced the long row of shelves. “Would you believe as soon as I placed it back on the shelf, it disappeared?”
“Do you remember what it said?”
“I’m sorry.” She patted my cheek. “It was so long ago. I’ve read so much. My mind is jumbling the words.” She tapped the side of her head. “In recent times, the words are even more confusing inside me. I sometimes think the words are dying.” She lowered her voice and said, “That I’ll die too once they’ve all vanished.”
The declining spring was affecting everyone in different ways. After Aislinn found her fated mate, Fallon, and the group of Fae who we’d left on Earth by accident before the Fae King sealed the Veil, we’d seen firsthand how bad a Fae could turn when one of Fallon’s group attacked them. We’d locked him in the dungeon because he’d become so volatile. Aislinn’s guards complained about their powers being erratic while they were on Earth. I’d even yelled at Aislinn one time, and I’d never raised my voice toward her before.
Roisin was making strange paintings which were not her normal style. As for my other brothers and sisters, they all lived on Earth now and hadn’t divulged if their powers were acting differently. I suspected they were, or they soon would be.
“Is there any information you can think of?”
“Hmm.” Her brows dipped into a frown. “They’re old. Older than me. I remember reading the book and thinking it was strange we didn’t know about them.”
“I wonder…” I paced away, then back again.
“What is running through your mind?”
“If we made them our protectors, would they also be the ones able to influence our spring? What if it’s them and they want to kill us?”
Eabha sighed. “Seems doubtful to me a society designed for protection would try to kill the ones they’re meant to protect.”
“But our powers are acting strange. Your memories are affected. Father is…”
“Is there a problem with the King?”
“I shouldn’t have come here,” I said, swinging around. “We need to find out if this Fellowship is the one causing our problems or if they are trying to help and protect us.”
“Ciara, wait.”
“We can’t wait any longer.” I swept a hand around the library and said, “I’ve searched the books here. The answer isn’t in the Summer Court.”
She stepped closer to me and said, “You grew up with fear for humans, but we used to live in harmony with them.”
“Are you saying I should trust them?”
“I’m saying don’t jump to conclusions with no evidence. You’re smarter than that.”
I dipped my head, then strode from the library. Eabha comprehended more. I was certain, but I didn’t have time to pry the secrets from her muddled brain. Any other time I asked her a question, she knew the answer straight away. Were we all deteriorating? Dying? If that was the case, then I needed to hurry.
Lifting the length of my dress, I ran as fast as I could, following the path through the fields until I arrived at the tower housing the doorway to the Veil. Many guards stood surrounding the place. Their expressions made me slow my steps. I spotted Malachi talking to the guard nearest the tower, no not a guard, a scribe.
I rushed up to them. “Are you ready?”
“Princess.” The scribe bobbed his head. “The doorway is unpassable.”
“Ridiculous.”
His lips pursed. “I assure you, it is not. When the guards opened the door to check the sudden surge of power coming from inside, we almost lost them to the turbulence of the Veil. I have never seen the Veil so disrupted. It doesn’t want to be contained. It wants free like a lot of us. I’m afraid the torrent inside the tower will rip you to shreds.”
“But we have to leave.”
“I’m sorry.”
Darkness swarmed my entire body, covering me from head to foot. Raw power thrummed from my palms.
“Ciara.” Malachi’s voice penetrated the thick rush of power. A bright white light shone from his hands as he wielded his power and lunged into the shadows. His hands found my shoulders, and he drew me into his embrace. “Breathe. Relax.”
I shuddered. What was wrong with me? Drawing in a steadying breath, I hauled the shadows back until the darkness surrounding me dissipated.
“There you are.”
“I’m here.” I tipped up my chin to stare into his blue eyes. “Thank you.”
“I’ll always find you. No matter how dark it is.”
I smiled. “Because you’ll manipulate the light.”
He smiled and shrugged. I squeezed him briefly, then stepped out of his embrace.
“If we can’t use the doorway, what do we do?”
“Simple,” Aislinn said.
I snapped my head her way, having not noticed her and Fallon’s approach while the darkness consumed me. I’d always struggled with my power. Mother was pregnant with me when the Trappers burned her at the stake and almost killed her. Almost killed me too before I was even born. It was like the night had left darkness inside me. Perhaps this was why my powers commanded the shadows.
“How so?” I asked.
“We’re Fae royals. We’ll make our doorway.” Aislinn twirled one of her daggers around in her fingers.
“I’ve never been through the Veil.”
“So you shouldn’t,” Aislinn said in her big sister’s voice.
I narrowed my eyes at Aislinn. She slid the dagger into a holster, then lifted her hands. Power coated her palms, making the area around her glow a beautiful shade of purple. Since my power was darkness, my hands didn’t glow a beautiful color. They developed shadows. Darkness. I doubted if I called on the Veil, it would look pretty the way Aislinn was making it part for us.
“Ready?” she asked, then swung her head to the side. “Erin, what are you doing here?”
“Is Fallon’s sister coming too?” I asked as she appeared, twisting her hands in a nervous gesture.
“No, Erin is staying here,” Fallon said.
Erin flung her arms around Fallon and hugged him. “Be safe.”
“I will,” he said. “You realize I can protect myself.”
“Yes, but you’re my only family.”
Fallon nodded, then clasped Aislinn’s hand.
Erin stepped closer to us. “I’m Fallon’s sister.”
“Ciara, Aislinn’s sister, and this is Malachi.”
Malachi held out his hand. Erin placed hers in his.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Malachi said.
A small smile tugged at the edges of her lips. They stared at each other as though caught in a haze.
“Sorry, time to go,” I said, tugging Malachi’s other hand.
“Have we met before?” Malachi asked.
“No,” she said.
“I feel like…” he trailed off. “Never mind. I’ll see you around.”
“Sure,” Erin said.
I tugged Malachi toward the Veil, even more eager to leave the Summer Court. We stepped beside Aislinn and Fallon. Aislinn gave me a questioning glance, but I shook my head. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I didn’t like it. Malachi never looked at other women. He probably did, but he never did it when he was with me.
I didn’t like the way my chest hurt when he stared at Erin. I hated the way my power had surged to the surface when he’d touched her.
If he wasn’t my best friend, then I’d say he was my fated mate by my reaction. It was probably because we were best friends. Born on the same day, we’d grown up together, safe inside the Summer Court.
Now we were venturing into the unknown. At least he was by my side on this epic journey. I’d always imagined Malachi being by my side, but I hadn’t factored in what would happen when we found our fated mates. With the way Malachi had gazed at Erin, perhaps he’d found his today.