Favored by the Stars (Bound by the Veil #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Senara

A suffocating stillness descended upon the garden, pressing down on us like a physical weight. The High Lord's and Rys' revelations hung heavy in the air, threatening to crush us under their weight. Thorn's jaw clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grinding together, but his face remained impassive, giving away nothing of the turmoil raging within him. Through our bond, I felt his fear, his anger, his determination to see this through, no matter what. It was his unwavering resolve that kept me from unraveling as my own thoughts spun out of control.

"Moonweaver's Grove?" I asked, unfamiliar with the name since I grew up in the human lands. I glanced between the three men as I waited for someone to fill me in.

Thorn's voice was a low rumble, like thunder before a storm. "It's a place that exists only in whispered legends among the fae. I had heard of it growing up, tales of a sanctuary so pure and sacred that not even the blight could touch its soil. If the moon goddess herself ever walked this world, they said, it was within the confines of that grove beneath trees that sang to the stars. But no one alive today had set eyes on it, and its location remained shrouded in mystery."

"Moonweaver's Grove," I repeated aloud, testing the words as though speaking them would make the idea of the place feel less impossible. "What if... what if we can't find it? And even if we do…" My voice caught in my throat. "How can a place hold the answers I need?"

Rys regarded me with a gaze so patient it was infuriating. "The answers you seek will not come easily, child," he whispered, folding his hands behind his back. "But they are not for you alone to uncover. That is why fate has bound you to another marked by divine light." His eyes flicked meaningfully toward Thorn.

Thorn's hand found my shoulder again, solid as ever. "Then we'll find it," he said simply, his voice rich with quiet determination. "We'll go wherever we have to go. Do whatever needs to be done." He turned to Echo then, his tone sharpening slightly. "But I need to know... What aren't you telling us?"

Echo hesitated; a flicker of something that might've been regret crossed his boyish face, but he quickly masked it with an unreadable politeness that reminded me eerily of Wyn. She had a tendency to make a similar expression when she expected me to figure something out for myself instead of her explaining it to me.

"The grove will test you," he admitted at last. "It is a place of ancient power untouched by time or corruption, but such purity comes at a cost. Those who enter must confront their deepest truths, the parts of themselves they fear most." His gaze shifted between us solemnly.

A faint chill crept down my spine at his words, not from fear exactly, but from the weight of inevitability they carried.

"Your path will take you far from here," Rys continued gravely, his tone almost reverent as though speaking about some sacred pilgrimage. "Through forests older than memory and places where the barrier between our realm and the void thins dangerously." His rheumy eyes fixed on mine, then on Thorn's mark before shifting back again. "You must trust in your connection." He raised one gnarled, trembling hand and traced symbols into the air. The arcs and whorls glowed faintly before sinking into the water's surface like falling stars.

The pool shimmered, its reflection warping as if caught in a sudden gale. Then an image swirled to life: a vast forest blanketed in a rich purple twilight. Its trees stood ancient and towering, their bark gleaming silvery white as though kissed by eternal moonlight. Even through the image, the air seemed alive with magic, soft motes drifting lazily like embers caught on a celestial wind.

"Moonweaver's Grove," Rys murmured, gesturing toward the vision. "Few have ventured there and returned unchanged. Few have returned at all." His tone was grave, a warning wrapped in curiosity, but it only made my resolve harden further.

I stepped closer to the image rippling before us and felt Thorn's steadying presence as he moved alongside me, his right hand slipping around my left one as I reached out, as though he wanted to stop me from getting too close. My fingers hovered just above the water's surface; I could almost feel the forest calling to me through that shimmering barrier. It felt like if I touched it, I could fall in and find myself there instead of just at the bottom of a fountain.

"How do we find our way there?" Thorn asked, his voice low and measured.

Rys hesitated for half a heartbeat before replying, "The Whispering Woods are treacherous for those unfamiliar with their paths, but there are markers hidden within, the remnants of old magic tied to both sun and moon, before the elves and the fae were enemies. Trust in your connection to her power," he said, nodding at me before turning to Thorn with equal gravity, "and your connection to his power as well. The two are intertwined," Rys explained patiently. "The moon goddess receives more frequent invocations, but her mate, the sun god, stands beside her. Always."

"But the courts have been divided for centuries," Thorn countered sharply. There was no malice in his tone, only years of ingrained thoughts and beliefs.

Rys shook his head as though hearing those words physically hurt him. "The moon and sun exist not as opposites but as complements. The moon goddess and the sun god are both necessary parts of our world."

Before Thorn could object again, Echo interrupted, "There is one more matter before you leave. Moonweaver's Grove is sacred ground; it does not bow to mortal whims. You will need guidance to get through the Whispering Woods alive and find the grove, plus protections to traverse its magic." He raised his hand lazily in a motion that seemed dismissive until another figure stepped out from behind one of the carved wooden archways lining the courtyard.

A young elf woman with silver hair braided intricately down her back approached us silently. She looked more like the elves I had seen before, the ones that escorted us from Sanctuary, with a pale purple tint to her skin. Her movements were graceful but deliberate, like water weaving over stones. She wore fitted leathers adorned with simple runic patterns that pulsed faintly with light as she moved.

"This is Kaelyn Lightspire," Echo said, introducing her without preamble. "She is one of our finest trackers and deeply attuned to the magic of the Whispering Woods."

Kaelyn inclined her head toward us in greeting but said nothing at first. Her violet eyes flicked between me and Thorn for a moment before they settled on me. Something in her gaze was sharp, almost appraising, as if she were measuring whether I could withstand what lay ahead.

"Shouldn't be too hard for her," Kaelyn said lightly, though there was no malice in her tone, just dry observation tempered by years of experience.

I blinked at her sudden remark, unsure how to respond. Thorn straightened beside me, always ready to stand up for me or fight for me, but I squeezed his hand subtly before he could say anything.

Kaelyn smirked slightly at my reaction, or maybe at Thorn's tension, and crossed her arms casually as she regarded us both again.

"I'll be accompanying you on your journey," Kaelyn said, her tone matter-of-fact. "The Whispering Woods are treacherous, even for those marked by the celestials. You'll need someone who knows how to navigate its shifting paths and hidden dangers."

I nodded, grateful for the help despite the elf's blunt demeanor. "Thank you," I said sincerely. "We appreciate your guidance."

Kaelyn's eyebrow quirked, as if my politeness surprised her. "Don't thank me yet," she replied. "The woods have a way of testing even the most seasoned travelers. And where we're going? Well, let's just say it's not a place for the faint of heart."

Thorn shifted beside me, his stance protective. "When do we leave?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of urgency.

High Lord Echo stepped forward, his youthful face grave. "At first light," he said. "Time is of the essence. The longer we wait, the stronger the Void Dragon Empress grows."

Rys nodded in agreement, his rheumy eyes distant, as if seeing beyond the garden walls. "The balance shifts with each passing moment," he murmured. "You must be prepared for what lies ahead."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at his words, but I squared my shoulders and met his gaze. "What do we need to do?"

The old scholar's eyes focused on me, a glimmer of approval in their depths. "First, you must understand the nature of your bond," he said, gesturing to Thorn and me. "It is more than mere affection or duty. The goddess has tied your fates together for a reason."

Kaelyn snorted softly. "Great. A crash course in celestial romance. Just what we need before traipsing into certain danger."

I shot her a look but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Her sarcasm was oddly comforting in the face of such weighty revelations.

High Lord Echo ignored the tracker's comment, his gaze intense as he addressed us. "Tonight, you will rest. And I do mean rest." He paused and gave us both a meaningful glance. "Let the light of the moon, her light, guide you as you sleep and strengthen your bond."

Thorn nodded solemnly, but I could feel his unease through our connection. This was all so far beyond what either of us had ever imagined.

"And tomorrow?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

"Tomorrow," Kaelyn said, her tone softening slightly, "we venture into the heart of the Whispering Woods. Pack light, but pack smart. Once we're in, there's no turning back."

"Pack?" I glanced at Thorn. "They took everything when we arrived and then placed us in the, uh, previous High Lord's care."

"All will be provided for you," Echo said as though he'd been expecting all of this.

As the gravity of our task settled over us, I felt Thorn's hand squeeze mine, his warmth a steady anchor as he led us from the room. Whatever lay ahead, whatever trials we would face, we would face them together; that much I was sure of.

The moon hung low and heavy in the sky as Thorn and I made our way back to our chambers. The weight of our impending journey pressed down on us, filling the silence between us with unspoken worries and fears. As we reached the door, Thorn paused, his hand resting on the ornate handle. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to let me know that something was on his mind.

A few moments later, he led me to the edge of the bed and knelt in front of me. "Senara," he breathed, his voice rough with emotion. "Are you sure about this? We could... we could find another way."

I turned to face him, taking in the concern etched across his features. In that moment, he looked so vulnerable, so unlike the stoic warrior I knew. I reached out, cupping his face in my hands.

"Thorn," I whispered, "I'm terrified. But this isn't just about us anymore. It's not even just about the fae anymore. It's about everyone: the fae, the elves, even the humans who don't know what's coming. We have to try."

He leaned into my touch, his eyes closing briefly. When he opened them again, there was a fierce determination burning within. "Then we do this together," he said, his voice stronger now. "No matter what comes."

He glanced at the window, and I followed his gaze. The moonlight that was streaming in seemed to intensify, bathing everything in an ethereal glow. I felt a sudden surge of energy, as if the goddess herself was reaching out to us.

"Thorn," I gasped, watching as my skin slowly began to shimmer with a faint silvery light. "Do you feel that?"

He nodded, his own skin taking on a golden hue. "It's like... like the sun and moon are singing to each other," he murmured in awe.

Drawn by some instinct we didn't fully understand, we moved towards each other. As our hands intertwined, a burst of energy pulsed between us, filling the room with a dazzling display of silver and gold light.

Visions flashed before my eyes: ancient forests, shimmering pools, and creatures that I didn't even have the words to describe. Then I saw Thorn and myself, standing side by side against a darkness so profound it threatened to swallow the world. Through it all, there was a thread of hope, delicate but unbreakable.

As the visions faded, I found myself wrapped in Thorn's arms, both of us panting. The room had returned to normal, but something had changed. Our bond felt stronger, more alive than ever before.

"Did you see...?" I began, looking up at him.

"Everything," he finished, his voice filled with wonder and a touch of fear. "Senara, I think...I think we just got a glimpse of what we're truly up against."

I nodded, my mind still reeling from the experience. "And what we're fighting for," I added softly.

We readied ourselves for sleep and settled onto the bed, neither of us quite ready to rest despite the late hour. There was so much to process, so much to prepare for.

Thorn's arms encircled me as we lay on the bed, his warmth a comforting presence against the chill of uncertainty. The visions we had shared still danced behind my eyelids, fragments of a future both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

"What do you think it all means?" I whispered into the quiet darkness.

Thorn was silent for a moment, his fingers tracing absent patterns on my arm. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "But I think... I think we just got a glimpse of our destiny, the path we're meant to walk together."

I nodded against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat. "It's so much bigger than us, isn't it? Than anything we could have imagined."

"Yes," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "But we're not alone in this. We have each other, and now we have allies, too."

I thought of Kaelyn, with her sharp wit and keen eyes; of High Lord Echo, young in appearance but ancient in wisdom; of Rys, the scholar whose knowledge spanned centuries. Each of them would play a part in the journey ahead. I couldn't help but wonder if Wyn, Ronan, and the other fae would play a part as well, or if this was something they would ignore for as long as possible.

As if sensing my thoughts, Thorn continued, "We should try to rest. Tomorrow will bring challenges we can't even fathom yet."

A heavy sigh escaped me. I knew he was right, but I was too overwhelmed to sleep. The magic that had coursed through us earlier still hummed beneath my skin, a constant reminder of the power we now carried.

I wanted to claim Thorn and be claimed by him, if only to shut my mind up for a moment, but just as I was about to wiggle my bum suggestively against him, he spoke.

"Close your eyes," Thorn said softly. "Let the moonlight guide you, just as Echo said."

I did as he suggested, forcing myself to ignore the ever present need that pulsed against my skin. Instead, I focused on the silvery glow that filtered through my closed eyelids. Gradually, I felt myself relaxing, sinking into a state between waking and dreaming.

In this twilight realm, I saw flashes of the journey ahead: dense forests with trees that whispered ancient secrets, shimmering barriers that pulsed with otherworldly energy, creatures both beautiful and terrifying that lurked in the shadows. Through it all, Thorn was by my side, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of images.

As the night deepened, our breathing synchronized, our heartbeats falling into a shared rhythm. Our bond seemed to strengthen with each passing moment, weaving our fates ever tighter together.

As the first rays of sunlight crept into the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of renewal. The worries that had kept me up all night had dissipated, replaced by a newfound determination.

Beside me, Thorn stirred from his slumber. "Did you have a dream?" he asked groggily.

I sat up, my body pulsing with anticipation. "It was like... a map unraveling in my mind. There's something important waiting for us, something more than what Echo and Rys told us about. I can feel it."