Chapter 7 #2
“The ring,” Grandmother spoke. The word cut through the room. “That is what this all circles back to. Your father has the ring, and the Seer said your time magic can find it.”
My gaze snapped to her. “Yes.”
Grandmother inhaled slowly. "Finding it would fix everything. It would break your curse."
"It would." I swallowed hard. "But I don't have control over my time abilities yet. I wouldn't even know how to unlock the basic spells I managed in Galaythia. And the Seer said I need to find my familiar—a dragon." The enormity of it pressed down on me. “It's overwhelming.”
“It is. And you cannot practice here in the mortal lands. Nor would you be able to get the necessary training that would enable you to harness it.” She inhaled deeply.
“The element of time is one of the most intricate of abilities to harness. Some mages never obtain their true potential because the Fray holds back. The ability to control time can be dangerous even in the right hands.”
“So, what do we do now?” Emabelle asked in a tight voice. “Finding the ring is a priority. But we’ll be in danger if Thayden comes back and Elariya is gone again.”
All three of them looked at me. And I knew, in that moment, that whatever choice I made next would cost us something.
“I’ll do this part first. Go and help find Wolfe if I can. But…” Here came the hard part. “I’ll return before Thayden does.”
Mother stood and gazed down at me, worry clouding her eyes. “Elariya—”
“I have to do this, but l won’t abandon you, either.”
“Oh, my sweetheart.” Mother cupped my face. “I’m so sorry this burden rests on your shoulders. I don’t care what takes priority. I just don’t want you to go.”
“I have to, Mother. I have to. I think you’d do the same thing if you were me.”
Mother's hands trembled against my cheeks before her arms fell away, heavy and lifeless at her sides.
Her shoulders caved inward, her elegant posture dissolving into something raw and defeated as she folded into herself.
The steel that had always held her spine straight crumbled, leaving behind a woman hollowed by fear. I had never seen her look so breakable.
“We need to let her go,” Grandmother said.
Mother lifted her head, fresh tears glistening in her eyes. She nodded and held my face again. “You must follow the Nyzith strands. They will lead you to your destiny.”
Gods, I’d written that in my journal. A dream about my mother saying those same words to me after we were attacked by the Ruskiel at sea.
Hearing her say them now confirmed it was no dream.
I nodded, and she smiled before releasing me.
“Is there a spell to take you to Galaythia?’ Grandmother asked.
I drew in a breath. “I just need to speak the mage greeting, and they’ll come.”
“Go ahead,” Mother whispered, swallowing hard.
The ancient words burned in my throat, demanding to be released. I straightened my spine, channeling them in my mind. The air around us seemed to thicken with anticipation, as if the very atmosphere knew something momentous was about to unfold.
“Na már iyah,” I said, my chest rising with a staccatoed breath.
As soon as I spoke, the air rippled like water disturbed by a stone, shimmering with an otherworldly heat that made my skin prickle.
Reality seemed to tear at its seams, and through the gossamer veil stepped Arielle—her platinum hair cascading like liquid moonlight.
Beside her emerged a towering Fae warrior, his dark hair shaved close at the sides while a thick braid fell over one leather-clad shoulder.
Battle-worn bracers encased his forearms, and twin daggers gleamed at his hips.
But it was his otherworldly beauty that took my breath away.
His face was a masterpiece of sharp cheekbones that could cut glass, skin that seemed to glow with inner luminescence, and eyes that held depths no human gaze could match.
His features were too perfect, too symmetrical, carrying that uncanny quality that whispered of immortal bloodlines and ancient power.
He almost looked human, even though the delicate points of his ears marked him as a creature born of magic.
From the protective way he glanced at Arielle, I guessed him to be Bastian, her love and Wolfe’s second-in-command.
The two looked me over with relief. I took that to mean they were happy I’d decided to join them.
Grandmother, Mother, and Emabelle gazed at them stunned.
Emabelle especially looked thrown by Bastian’s presence. Yes, he was handsome, but she’d never seen a Fae before.
Arielle broke the silence by stepping forward and taking my hands into hers. “Thank you for deciding to help us.”
“It’s okay. I… have to be back in seven days.” I glanced back at my family, showing them I’d keep my promise. “It’s important. My family’s lives depend on it.”
Arielle nodded. “Then I will have you back in seven days.” She acknowledged my family with a small smile. “We will take the greatest care of her.”
“Arielle, we need to go,” Bastian urged, glancing at the air around him that was still shimmering. “The rift is weakening, and I can only cloak us for a few minutes.”
“What route are you taking, girl?” Grandmother asked Arielle.
Arielle bowed, showing my grandmother the respect she’d gained as high mage. “My Lady, we will take the ghost roads. I’ve been using the threads from the ethereal realm to conceal our powers.”
“But if you take Elariya there, you’ll be detected by the sentinels for using magic,” Mother cut in. “Those with human blood aren’t meant to walk the ghost roads, let alone access them from the mortal realm.”
“I’m going to place Elariya in a deep soul sleep,” Arielle explained. “That way, her soul will be hidden from detection and safe.”
“I’ll be asleep the whole time?” I asked.
Arielle looked back at me. “Yes, but you’ll be perfectly safe.”
I nodded. “Then I’m ready.”
I turned toward my family. Mother stepped forward first and pulled me in for a deep hug. She held me so tightly I feared she wouldn’t let me go.
“Come back to me safely, my girl,” she whispered in my ear.
“I will.”
We pulled apart, and I moved to Grandmother next. “Be vigilant, my child.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I always worry about you.” She pulled me to her and planted a kiss on my forehead.
It was Emabelle’s turn next. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stepped closer to me.
I hugged her, all feeling aside.
“Oh, Elariya.” She hugged me tighter.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be safe.”
“You better be.”
We pulled apart, and I allowed myself one last look at my family before I walked over to Arielle and Bastian.
“Ready?” Arielle asked.
“I am.” I nodded once.
“La lune encantaer, li la lune da mier,” she chanted.
Ripples of light floated across from the window then crept up my body from the soles of my feet. The light wove itself into golden threads that wrapped around me in a cocoon.
Up and up and up it went.
I found the faces of my family but focused on my mother until the threads of light stole her from my vision.
Light enveloped me, forcing me to close my eyes, then I slipped away, drifting into darkness.
Into a deep, deep, deep sleep.