Queen of Fate (Fae of Woodlands & Wild #3)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

I’d na?vely thought Master Fistideeous would simply give me a list of directions on how to twist fate, and I would be on my way. But it wasn’t that easy. He insisted that I learn much more than just my magic.

Days passed on the Isle of Song. Days and days that eventually turned into weeks.

Master Fistideeous made me read scroll after scroll and tome after tome. He refused to just tell me what to do. Instead, he insisted that to wield the power of a goddess required more than mere skill.

I needed to learn. To understand. To respect all of the magic that I’d been given.

And the only way to do that was through knowledge, which required endless days of studying.

My mind felt as though it would burst from all that he was teaching me. He taught me everything...theories about the Veiled Between, history about the mighty semelees, knowledge about a goddess’s lineage, and instruction about my magic.

More than once, I was tempted to flee to the Veiled Between and attempt to twist fate on my own, but the university’s magic didn’t let me. I would know. I’d tried.

On one desperate night, when I’d received word through the daily news castings from the continent that Jax was going to trial, I’d fled to my quarters and dove my magic inward, willing it to take me to the Veiled Between so I could try to twist fate before my teacher said I was ready.

But my magic didn’t work. The island’s magic had trapped my power inside me. After I’d realized that and returned to Master Fistideeous’s work area, he’d patted my hand and told me everything would come in good time .

So I’d gone back to work as instructed, even though life carried on outside of these ancient walls as though my fate wasn’t hanging in the balance.

And so many things were occurring. The Final Match selection had ended. The official Centennial Matches had begun, yet I had no idea how far King Paevin was coming along in his plans to enslave more half-breeds and build his army. Of course, that wasn’t covered in the daily updates we received from the continent.

The only solace I took was knowing that as a lorafin with the ability to twist fate, I could also alter time—something I’d learned in my studies.

But the only question my teacher couldn’t answer for me was what would happen if Jax was executed before I twisted fate. Even Master Fistideeous didn’t know if my mate could still be saved if his soul had crossed to the afterlife.

Six weeks after venturing to the Isle of Song, Master Fistideeous finally declared me ready to leave and gave me his blessing to fully use my magic.

I was an anxious mess by the time we said our goodbyes. Word had arrived that both Lars and Phillen had been found guilty during their trials. It’d been proved that neither of them had been on hunting exhibitions with the prince during the times they’d been away from court, and their executions were set to take place next week.

The others’ trials were still ongoing, Jax’s included, yet it’d also been proved none of them had been hunting either. Their excuse for being away from court when they’d been conducting raids, that they’d used for full seasons, had failed.

The Centennial Matches were also drawing to a close, only a few days remaining, and the continent’s excitement had turned away from Faewood and to the upcoming Ironcrest Ball. I still had no idea what was going on with my court date to secure my freedom. A dillemsill had never arrived, but perhaps it hadn’t been able to find me, considering where I was.

Yet all I cared about was finally returning to Stonewild and using what I’d learned to save my mate and our friends, and to stop the king. My freedom from a guardian could come after that.

Bending down, I wrapped the small gargoyle in a hug. “Thank you, Master Fistideeous, for all that you’ve done for me. I’ll never forget it.”

He patted me on the back. “It’s been an honor, Elowen, truly. Now, don’t forget what’s required. We still need you to return and share what you learn after you twist fate. And I would be lying if I said I also wasn’t looking forward to seeing you again.”

I straightened and secured my bag to my back. “I won’t forget. I give you my word that I’ll return, and I look forward to seeing you again too.”

He smiled up at me, his face no longer terrifying even though it truly looked like a nightmare. “I’ll see you soon.”

I stood on the island’s shores, portal key in hand, not bothering to retrieve the enchanted carpet I’d left outside all those weeks ago. The sun shone above me, but time moved so strangely on the island that I didn’t know if it would be day or night, morning or evening, when I materialized back on the mainland. Locked within the island’s magic, time had taken on no meaning. The only way I’d been able to keep track of it at all was through the daily news castings from the continent.

But I’d accomplished what I set out to do. Master Fistideeous had taught me what was needed to twist fate. Now, all that was left was to actually do it.

Taking a deep breath, I gripped the key and whispered the words to activate it. I thought of Jaggedston, of where I wanted to go.

The realm swirled around me, dropping out from beneath me as the portal key transported me back to Stonewild’s capital.

Only moments later, I landed on solid ground, swaying slightly. My pack was still secured to my back, and in my hand, the portal key fizzled out of existence. Above, the night sky shone, yet I had no idea what time it was.

Materialized once more, I surveyed where I’d been dropped. The palace’s black towers soared in the distance, only blocks away, and an inn stood just behind me. Master Fistideeous had told me it was the closest inn to the palace, and I quickly rushed inside to secure a room.

A wildling stood behind a desk, and he was the only fairy present. A clock ticked on the wall behind him. It was the wee hours of the morning, so I wasn’t surprised that he blinked sleepily.

I dropped five rulibs on the counter, and my heart began to pound at what I was about to do. “One room, please.”

The wildling took the coin with automatic movements and nodded toward the crystal sphere at the end of his counter. “Hand there, if you would.”

I placed my hand on it, and my details scrawled across the ledger before him. He took his time checking me in, even though I was so anxious to get moving that my aura was practically crackling. It wasn’t lost on me that there could be a warrant out for my arrest. I needed to hurry in case the kingsfae were summoned.

It felt as though it took ages before the wildling dangled a key in front of me. I snatched it from his hand, murmuring my thanks, then hurried to my chambers on the second floor.

Once inside, I closed and locked the door behind me, then whispered a spell to hold the lock in place. If the kingsfae came, that would delay them for a while.

A lone bed with a cream coverlet and dainty pillows strewn across it greeted me. A latrine also waited in the chambers’ corner, and a thick rug covered the clean wood floor. It was a huge step up from the hovel I’d slept in weeks ago near the wharf.

My heart began to pound as I stood there.

This was it.

This was the moment I’d spent the past six weeks working toward.

Never mind that I’d never attempted such a thing before, and perhaps I was a fool to do it, considering what would happen if the courts found out, but if it meant my mate would be free, our friends would be saved, and King Paevin would be stopped, then I’d spend the rest of my life dealing with the consequences if it came to that.

I dropped my bag at my feet, and the heavy weight of it sank like a stone. Another anxious breath lifted my chest, but I climbed onto the bed, lay down, and closed my eyes.

The mattress dipped, soft and comfortable, but I would have lain on a hard rock in the freezing cold if needed.

Forcing my breaths to slow, I took one last moment to steady my fear, then dove myself inward, downward to my bottomless depth of power.

Take me away.

The silent command was all that was needed to call upon my lorafin magic. It rose up inside me, the power of a goddess, so quickly and easily. Without my collar and with the new skills I’d learned, it was as simple as breathing.

Cold shadows coasted through me, and then I was blazing across the galaxy, shooting through the stars until I arrived at the Veiled Between.

My ghostlike essence parted the Veil as immense power hummed inside me. I’d never felt magic like this before. It burned and soared, extending all of the way to my toes, lighting up my fingers, beating through my soul. Without my collar, I was truly free .

And for the first time in my life, I understood my potential.

The second my being fully drifted through the Veil, several semelees rushed forward.

Queen of Darkness, Commander of Fate, you’ve come. What do you seek? They all bowed to me, their potent magic swirling around me like billowing stars.

I took another deep breath, knowing Jax’s survival depended on me and this moment, and I hung onto the knowledge of what my gargoyle scholar had taught me. Engulf the semelees. You and they become one. It is the only way for a lorafin to command the fates.

I ran a hand along the semelee nearest me, my fingers trailing across its cold scales. Stepping closer to it, I did as Master Fistideeous instructed. I imagined my magic opening like a well inside me, a bottomless hole that allowed the semelees to join with me.

The semelee’s energy rose, its silent understanding like an approving teacher. You’ve learned much since the last time we saw you, Lorafin. It slithered inside me, and the feel of its power connecting with mine made me gasp.

I took a moment to steady myself as my magic grew. Already, the single semelee’s power was combining with mine. Energy radiated from me. Blazing, potent power. The power of a goddess.

Billowing beyond the Veil, I anchored myself to this new feeling, and once the strangeness of it began to pass, I moved to the next semelee.

You as well , I commanded it, my voice echoing with the strength of the cosmos.

It surged forward, its power rushing into me. Again, the strangeness of it took my breath away, but I didn’t stop.

I turned to the next semelee, then the next, sucking each one inside me as their power joined with mine.

Moments passed as my power grew, brimming with energy, crackling with sheer force. It was so much power—a galaxy of might.

The semelees grew in numbers, overpowering time itself, until I was swirling in shadowed darkness.

Each and every one connected inside me, power bursting from my limbs, until finally, at last, I was the queen of fate.

I paused momentarily, knowing there was no going back after this moment, but also knowing I would give my life to save my mate’s.

And I’d spent the past six weeks considering each of my next words over and over. One wrong word, one tiny mistake, and the rippling effect could stretch through eons.

Whispering, I said the words that could damn me or save us completely.

I command you to twist fate. I command you to free the crown prince of Stonewild, Prince Adarian, and all of his Dark Raider band. I command you to set them free by rewriting time so that my guardian was never allowed to escape his chambers and accuse them. And I command you to have King Paevin’s evil plan abolished so that we may save the captured half-breeds and their enslaved children, eradicating the king’s plan in the process to wield an army and destroy the kingdoms. I command you to venture with me to the fae lands and rewrite history and time itself.

A clash of power reverberated through the cosmos.

It is as you wish , the semelees hissed inside me as one.

I shot through the galaxy, the semelees riding inside me, morphing into the terrifying shadow creatures that the history books had spoken of. Master Fistideeous had taught me of this power, of times in our pasts when previous lorafins had commanded the fates. The potential of a lorafin queen made me one of the most powerful and dangerous creatures of our land. Yet I would never be a slave because of it again.

The semelees and I collided with my realm in a sizzling crash, shooting through the sky, barreling toward Stonewild’s capital, and gliding right through the wards of the supernatural courts as though they were tissue paper.

We came to a crashing halt. Floating in the large entryway, high above the kingsfae and processing staff, the semelees and I hovered. The huge creatures coasted out of me and through the air, their deadly fangs coated with venom, gnashing the air as they waited for my final command.

Screams sounded.

Fae ran.

Eyes wide with horror gazed up at us.

It was the same looks I’d seen when I’d been five summers old. The one other time I’d brought several semelees back with me, not even realizing what I’d done.

But this time it was different. When I was five, they’d simply joined me on my journey. I hadn’t pulled them inside me, and I hadn’t controlled them. I hadn’t even realized what I’d done.

But now I did. I was a lorafin by birthright. The gods and goddesses had chosen to give me this power, and it was mine to command.

And I was choosing to wield it.

I hovered in the courts’ terrified midst as the shadow creatures billowed around me.

And I lifted a hand, knowing once I said the words, there was no turning back.

But Jax needed me.

Our friends needed me.

Bastian needed me.

The half-breeds needed me.

The kingdoms needed me.

My voice echoed through the chambers, mighty, godlike, and entirely mine .

I command you to rewrite time. I command you to twist fate.

Yes, my queen , they hissed simultaneously.

And then the semelees unleashed.