Chapter 27
Elariya
“Where Magic Knows All”
“Wolfe really lives here?” I was still gazing ahead at the manor with wide eyes, half expecting the glamour to fade. The manor seemed so normal for Wolfe. It was more fitting for a nobleman than the shadowed god I'd come to know.
“He does.” Arielle chuckled, genuine amusement dancing in her voice. “What did you expect?”
“Just not this.”
“I guess that's understandable.” Garrick tilted his head and regarded me with curiosity. “It doesn't seem like his style, does it?”
“No. Not... really.”
Arielle motioned toward the house. “Vyrenth Hollow was built thousands of years ago by Wolfe's grandfather so that the Nightblade tasked with caring for the dragons could be closer to them.”
“There are dragons here?” Unexpected excitement bubbled within me.
“Two of them at the moment, but knowing Wolfe, more may be on the way. They live in the caves beyond the cliffs.”
“Where does he get them from?”
“Azilgieth, the Dragon Isle.”
“There's a whole island full of dragons?” That must have been terrifying and enthralling at the same time.
Garrick nodded. “It's more like a kingdom. Nearly as big as Galaythia.”
I gasped, my imagination running wild. “That's incredible. I can't imagine what it's like to be around dragons.”
“You'll probably never see them,” Garrick said, and something in his tone suggested this wasn't negotiable.
“Why not?”
“The path to the caves is secret, and they're not allowed to fly near the house.”
“They are dangerous creatures, my Lady,” Sirril cut in, his usually cheerful demeanor turning serious. “Not for the fainthearted, nor those outside dragon bloodlines.”
“He's right,” Arielle agreed. “That's one part of the tour we'll be skipping as per Wolfe's explicit instructions.”
A pinch of disappointment settled in my gut. All this talk of dragons, and I most likely wouldn't see any. It was like setting out to stargaze and finding a starless sky. Still beautiful, but incomplete.
The carriage slowed to a stop in a cluster of ornamental hedges and marble statues, severing any further discussion of dragons.
Garrick opened the door for us and we all stepped out onto perfectly manicured grounds. The elks proceeded toward a stable area in the distance, their movements still carrying that otherworldly grace.
Still captivated, I watched them trot down the path, wishing Emabelle were here to see them.
The elk were the kind of creatures you had to see for yourself to fully experience their majestic beauty.
No words could capture an accurate description of their ethereal presence.
The same could be said for everything else I'd seen so far in Galaythia.
“Come on.” Arielle linked her arm with mine again, her silver hair catching the sunlight, making it look like a crown atop her head. “There's much to see.”
She ushered me forward, following Garrick and Sirril to the main doors, which opened for us without a touch, as if the house itself welcomed us home.
A homey warmth settled over me once we crossed the threshold and stepped into the entrance hall. The ceilings soared above us, lined by crystal chandeliers that cast rainbow prisms across honey-colored stone.
Sunlight poured through tall, mullioned windows, casting soft gold across the polished floors. Our footsteps echoed off them in a gentle rhythm, and whispers seemed to dance along the walls even though we weren't speaking. It was as though the house held memories in its core.
I gazed ahead at the wide sweeping staircase that led up to the next floor, my heart fluttering when a fleeting thought popped into my mind that maybe Wolfe was up there, waiting.
It made no sense to think that he'd made his way home ahead of us, that he'd come down any moment now that we were in his house. My poor mind considered it anyway. I was even foolish enough to feel a stab of disappointment when there was no sign of him.
“I'll tend to the rooms while you get something to eat,” Garrick offered, branching away from our group to head upstairs.
“Thanks, Garrick,” Arielle said, giving him a sweet smile.
Garrick dipped his head and continued up the stairs two at a time. From there, Arielle and Sirril took over my introduction to Vyrenth Hollow.
I was taken to a grand kitchen that rivaled any I'd ever seen, even those in King Varis's castle. There, I met the eight members of staff who resided in the house.
There were three sprites from Sirril's clan, and the rest were three older Fae females and two males. Seeing them made me recall Wolfe's explanation of age. He’d said if I saw anyone who looked older, it meant they could be thousands of years old.
When they introduced themselves and explained they'd served the Nightblades for several millennia, it expanded my concept of Fae immortality in ways that made my mortal mind reel.
They prepared a delicious feast for us. Food that tasted like it came straight from the heavens.
Fruits that burst with flavors I'd never experienced, bread that was impossibly light and airy, and wines that sparkled and warmed with every sip.
I ate so much I felt I might burst from sheer indulgence.
Once we'd eaten, Arielle gave me the tour of the house.
I was led through passageways lined with tapestries that seemed to move when I wasn't looking directly at them, a library where books shifted shelves when you passed, as if they were organizing themselves for the next visitor.
There was room upon room of breathtaking beauty.
All immaculate. All touched by magic. And nothing was ordinary.
My new bedroom was as luxurious as the chambers I'd seen in King Varis's castle when I was little, and far grander than my parents' room at home.
It had a massive four-poster bed in the center with sheer drapes swooping around it like captured clouds, and a wrought-iron chandelier above that added to the grand decor.
Best of all was the balcony that overlooked the view of the sea and the mountains beyond. I almost couldn't wait to have some time to myself to explore and discover what other wonders I might find in this place.
We ended the tour outside, where we sat under an ancient willow tree with sweeping branches that provided perfect shade and a magnificent view of the caves and the infinite sea.
The maids brought us fresh lemonade in crystal goblets and delicate cookies that dissolved on my tongue. I didn't realize how late it was until I looked at the ornate sundial and saw that the afternoon was almost gone.
Another day had nearly ended. It was now twenty days until my next reset. The last ten days had been the most eventful of my entire life. I couldn't imagine what the next twenty would bring in this place that spoke to my soul.
Arielle poured us both lemonade from the crystal pitcher on the silver tray and handed me a goblet.
“Thank you.” I took it and sipped, savoring the fresh citrus taste.
Arielle observed me with those knowing eyes. “You seem a lot stronger than this morning. How are you doing?”
I drew in a steady breath and thought about how I was feeling. “I can sense that I've healed substantially. The weakness and lightheadedness are practically gone.”
“Good. I was hoping that would happen.” Her smile brightened with relief, but then it faded just as quickly, as though someone had snuffed out her hope. “How are you feeling otherwise? I mean... about being here. I know it's a complicated question, but I had to ask anyway.”
I appreciated her honesty, but that question cut straight to the heart of my internal war.
“I'm... conflicted.” I sighed. “I miss my family and my home desperately.
I've never been away from them before. But I've always dreamed of visiting the magical realm.
Everything is so beautiful here. And there are things I've never seen nor felt before.”
Because this is where you belong.
The remnant of Wolfe's voice hummed in my head, tugging at the edges of my heart with invisible threads. I wished I hadn't thought of him, but now that I had, I thought he was right.
I did belong here. But this place awakened something foreign within me and desires I'd never harbored. Like this treacherous pull I felt toward Wolfe.
I would never, ever utter such words when they didn't even make sense to me. I was under no curse nor enchantment that prevented me from remembering Wolfe's mission. The thought made my stomach clench with dread.
“There's still so much more to see and love about Galaythia.” Arielle spoke in a hushed tone, her voice smooth and reflective. “But I understand that it's not home.”
The statement pushed me back to that question of trust again. About whom to give it to. And when to give it.
Trust was harder for me, even attempting it when I knew I'd forget the relationships I'd built by the next new moon. This situation was different. Trusting the right people would lead me back to those I loved, back to my life, no matter how complicated it was.
“No. Galaythia isn't home.” The words scraped out of my throat. “And I know I'm not a guest here.”
The awkwardness in Arielle's expression was almost palpable. “I know. I wish with all my heart that the circumstances were different.”
“So do I, but they aren't. I guess I've come to realize that the only way out of this is to accept my father's crime and do what I must.” I left out the part about looking for a way to escape, but Arielle was no fool. None of them were. They already expected me to try.
“I can only imagine how hard this must be. Especially after last night.”
My gaze faltered, my eyes dropping to my lap. “The Ruskiel's trap felt like a twisted, cruel joke.” I drew in a breath, clearing the emotion that thickened my throat, and looked back at her. “It hurt because I'm closer to my grandmother than I am to my mother.”