Chapter 3
The shields lower and a honeyguard pulls open the door to our room.
Leon and I break away from each other, our private moment over.
Parting with him leaves an ache, not just from my body, but one deep within my soul that rages to leave Leon’s touch.
That indescribable sensation demands I keep him close.
The same feeling had been drawing us towards each other for years.
Lillian and Viella are the first to arrive. Eyes red-rimmed, Vi throws herself over Leon and me. “I cannot believe this happened, Leon. We are forever grateful you protected Izzy the way you did.”
Leon awkwardly pats her on the arm.
Alachite and Nyvenah are not far behind. They rush towards me; their hair still wrapped in silks at the late hour. Tavien and Nueena are close behind.
It brings me such immense solace to be surrounded by so many that I love here.
Nueena places glittering protective wards that flare up around the room, the falling sparkles fading as they touch the floor. I slip from the bed to stand and embrace Nyvenah. She holds me tightly, rocking us with a gentle rhythm. Alachite moves to comfort me, a heavy hand on my shoulders.
“Dewdrop, are you all right?”
“Physically, yes. Leon stopped them from taking me.”
Alachite looks from me to Leon. “And you?”
“I’m well enough.” With pride in his voice, Leon says, “She helped a great deal, knocked the last attacker over so I could stop him.”
I slip from Nyvenah’s concerned embrace and sit back on the stool next to Leon. He and I stare at each other for a moment.
Lillian solemnly addresses the room. “We’ve searched the grounds, and there’s no sign of anyone else. We do not yet know who was involved, but guessing from their ability to wield fire, we could assume they’re from the Court of Swords.”
“Someone knows Izadella has the crown,” Leon offers in explanation, rubbing his arm where the magic is healing. “They tried to take it, saying they needed her alive when they were shooting those blasted fireballs at us.”
Viella moves up behind me. She hums a soothing song, her fingers heating while she rubs my neck and shoulders. I lean into her tenderness, thankful for her.
“Please tell us everything you remember,” Nyvenah asks gently.
Everyone stares at me with varying expressions of concern or anger as I retell all that happened during the attack, and the powers the males used. I do leave out the details of Leon devouring me like a delicacy in the gardens just prior to the firefae descending upon us though.
Lillian sends me an apologetic frown. “You may need to be removed from the palace and brought to a safer location. Somewhere hidden.”
“No!” Nueena and I say it at the same time.
They cannot hide me away, not now. The coronation ball is in a few days, and missing Nueena’s coronation ceremony would devastate both of us. We’ve been dreaming about the day she would be crowned Realm Keeper since we were dewlings.
“I know we can all protect her,” said Lillian, “especially Nueena, but with the coronation coming up, the attackers will know they are never far from each other. Plus, the entire realm knows Nueena’s schedule for the upcoming events.
They could plan another attack at any one of them, knowing Della would be there. ”
“Whoever attacked them now understands neither Izadella nor the crown are easily stolen,” Tavien counters.
“More protection should be added, but removal is not the answer. The metal net they used to trap Della was made of iron. It could not have come from Ellova. Whoever is working with King Grayden in the mortal realm, whoever gave him the sacred navlue fruit, must know you have the crown.”
“How could anyone have known I have the crown?” I ask. “Nueena glamoured me and I've kept it hidden. The only mortals who have seen me wear it are Grayden’s guards, who no longer have memories, if they survived at all. We are missing something.”
Grayden will stop at nothing to get back the crown. If he is determined to drag me back to Adreania, maybe I am putting everyone I love in danger.
Whoever Ellova’s traitor is, they could use anyone in this room against me. Nausea pulsates in my gut at the thought. Maybe it’s safer if I leave, telling no one where I am.
Then everyone will be protected.
“This is the safest place for you, for now,” Nyvenah agrees, “but if there is another attack, we must consider hiding you somewhere far away.”
Nueena looks at me. “You are not allowed to be alone. Tavien or I need to be with you, or you are to be with Lillian or Viella. Lillian, if you have any honeyguards you completely trust, assign them to protection duty.”
“Of course.”
“Leon did a wonderful job of protecting me,” I interject.
Alachite speaks this time. “He did, but this puts him in danger, too. Leon is mortal, and mortality is far more fragile. The head healer told us his injuries should have been life-ending. The palace is safest for Della, but perhaps it’s time to have another conversation whether Ellova is the best place for you, Leon.
Mortals are not meant to be here and that is just one reason. ” He gives me a regretful expression.
My shoulders slump from his honesty. A war rises in me—to agree that Leon needs to leave or beg Alachite to take it back—but I cannot argue when his words hold so much truth.
What our attacker said back in the garden swirls in my mind. “Step away from her and she will not be subjected to the view of your head being removed from your body.”
“No, but she may watch your death if she wishes.”
Leon threw himself in front of those evil firefae for me. He killed for me, and he nearly died for me as well.
He softly taps the top of my hand, and I realize I’m squeezing his fingers so hard my knuckles are white. When I try to pull my hand away, he interlaces our fingers and softly sweeps his thumb against my skin to soothe my fraying nerves.
My heart twists at the sight of our joined hands, how he seeks to comfort me as if he is not the one wounded.
“I say this with great respect for all of you,” Leon speaks with determination, “but I am not leaving here no matter what risks to my own safety that decision brings. I will not abandon my work on the elixir, nor will I leave Izadella’s side.”
Alachite looks unconvinced. “You are wounded, Leon. You will not be any good to the mortals, or Della, if you are dead.”
“That is my decision to make, my life. I choose to protect those I care about,” Leon says, his jaw tight.
“Izadella was adamant I knew all the dangers when I demanded she stay under my protection, wherever she was going. I was the last person to be seen with Adreania’s late King Jedrick.
There are certainly wanted posters all over the mortal realm with my likeness on them.
My life is in no more danger here than it is there.
At least in Ellova I can still do some good. ”
I’m torn apart, wishing him near one moment and gone the next. I know Leon is right; he may not be safe anywhere, but a cold sweat breaks out over my skin at the thought of him risking his life for mine again.
“How soon can the elixir be ready?” Lillian asks Tavien.
Tavien gives me a sympathetic nod before explaining.
“We have one small batch that will be ready in a day or so. We will not be able to see what, if any, is salvageable from the gardens ’til morning.
Since it was the work of firefae, depending on what type of fire they used, the soil may be ruined as well. ”
I sigh deeply at Tavien’s words, visions of burning flora seared into my soul.
Tavien continues, “If that is the case, we will need to regrow somewhere else if we can, but that garden held great magic from Zarella. It’s possible the flowers cannot be grown elsewhere.
The batch Leon and I have been developing still needs to be tested.
If it is unsuccessful, there will be no need to even try and grow the anafaea again. ”
“What do you propose?” Nyvenah asks him, but the way she purses her lips tells me she already thinks she won’t like his answer.
“We have to ensure the elixir is distributed and is successful. Someone needs to return to the mortal realm.”
“We do not need to go further than Beggars’ Row,” I interject, “and no one needs to stay there.”
Nyvenah spins towards her daughter, knowing Nueena too well. “You are not going.”
“Fine, but we will not abandon the elixir when those who need it can still be saved. Della cannot go; she must be protected from Grayden at all costs. Leon is a wanted man. Tavien is too tall; no one would believe he is mortal were he found. I believe it is safe, but we need to take precautions.” She turns to Viella.
“Have any of our spies said anything that would lead us to believe they are looking for the fae or planning on bringing one back to Adreania?”
“No. Grayden is planning a disastrous war with Kalvorn, but no mention of any fae or Ellova.”
“So, it should be safe for someone to slip in and out?” Nueena says.
“Yes, in theory. That is why I am going,” Viella announces casually.
Lillian practically vibrates with irritation at the idea, fists balling at her side, her voice low. “Viella, please. Send someone else.”
Viella holds up her hand to Lillian, whose face is reddening.
“No one knows who I am in Adreania. If anyone spots me, I will appear mortal; I’m shorter than Izzy.
You know I’ve been there before without any trouble.
Most importantly, you are forgetting the reason I am Ellova’s Spy Guardian, a position, I will remind you, that you recommended me for.
Yes, my magic will be taken but you know I have spent decades ensuring I know how to defend myself.
Most of that training came directly from you.
Now, do you think I am incapable of this? ”
Lillian is quiet for a long moment before she grits out a low “No. Of course not, but you have other spies. It does not have to be you.”
Viella’s cheerful disposition fades away.
“Anyone else I send will need to be briefed on the situation. Questions will arise. Most of my spies, like many in Ellova, see Adreania as the enemy, not a place filled with oppressed and starving mortals. To them it is the birthplace of Drystan’s vile line.
Many lost family in the war or they disappeared when Ellova was sealed off to the fae who refused to go to battle.
We have a bloody history with the mortals, but innocent lives worth saving are still there.
They cannot fight back against Grayden if they are dead, and if we have any hope of getting Izzy on the throne that is rightfully hers, we need allies. ”
My stomach drops.
I want to be brave, to charge into Adreania and make everything right. To be the ruler they need, but the thought makes me want to run into the forest and never return.
Lillian’s tone borders on begging. “Elle, it’s dangerous.”
She rarely uses Viella’s shortened name in front of us. Maybe this conversation is best to happen between the two of them.
“Are you forbidding me from going?” Viella asks, raising one beautiful, sculpted eyebrow.
Lillian turns with a wave of her hand and strides away from her mate. A small drink cart has appeared in the corner, filled with wine, teapots, finger sandwiches, and frosted bottles. She grabs a glass, pours the liquor, and drinks in one long gulp. “No.”
“Then unless anyone else has a better idea, we can discuss this in the morning. The coronation is drawing nearer. Let us use this time wisely—figure out who was behind this attack and how they knew about the crown.”
Lillian pours another splash of the golden liquor and sits down, defeated. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, I cannot have my commander and spy guardian both in danger,” Nyvenah says, her tone final.
Lillian opens her mouth to argue but takes a long swig instead.
Tavien turns to look at me. “Fire magic may be a Court of Swords trait, but we need to start asking which court stands to gain the most. We know it’s not the Gem Court.
After Reyna, Lazalai is the Guardian I would trust the most. She loves you like a daughter.
She would have come to you first instead of putting you in danger. ”
Lazalai is not one for power. Most of my court are exceedingly happy in the jeweled temples, creating and crafting, spending time with fellow artisans. We are poets and writers, painters and sculptors.
We are the court of lovers; warriors we are not.
Alachite nods. “If they were all masked, and none here knew the dead, then all Guardians would need to be alerted. Camarra is already here for the coronation. I will send a message to the Court of Swords and Court of Shells. Bria and Koray will need to arrive earlier than expected to be spoken with on the matter.”
“I agree.” Nyvenah paces around the room. “They should be updated. They need not know the details but should be aware of a hostile new mortal ruler and the potential threat if the two other kingdoms go to war.”
“They may not wish for Ellova to involve themselves in the affairs of mortals,” Viella says, making two cups of almond tea.
Nyvenah laughs. “That is not for them to decide. They have a sworn duty to protect Ellova. A mortal war would spill into the Merawood Forest, and we risk being discovered once more. Their involvement is not needed if they refuse the call of their Realm Keeper, but the High Court of Ellova has a long memory.”
Leon sits up and gingerly gets out of bed, addressing the room. “It's been a long night, and I wish to return to the west wing. Izadella has not slept well, and I am in desperate need of a bath.”
I gently place my hand on his arm. “We should wait for a healer.”
“No need. Whatever magic she used worked wonders. Any recovery needed can be done in our rooms. You will sleep better in your own bed.”
Lillian nods. “I will assign a trusted honeyguard first thing in the morning.”
I resign myself to being followed around for the foreseeable future, but I would rather it not be a stranger entangled in my life, even if my anger at Everett has not dissipated. “Can you see if Everett is available?”
“I will ask Koray. If they approve and Everett accepts, he will be at your door tomorrow.”
Well, at least I will have a friend nearby.
Nyvenah gives me one last hug and embraces Leon. ‘Thank you for keeping her safe.”
“It is my honor.”