Chapter 41
Elariya
“The Moment the Magic Stirred”
The first tendrils of consciousness pulled me from sleep with soft invisible fingers.
I stirred and slowly opened my eyes. The moment my eyes landed on the low fire in the hearth, I recalled where I was and I turned on my side, searching for Wolfe.
But he was gone.
From the silence in the room I knew he'd been gone for a while.
I’d gone to bed before he got back last night, but a nightmare roused me in the early hours of the morning. The horrors in my mind faded the moment I’d seen Wolfe lying next to me.
I blinked against the dim light filtering through the heavy curtains and smoothed over the indentation in the pillow beside me. The sheets were rumpled, still holding the ghost of his body, but the warmth had long since fled.
Where had he gone?
My fingers curled into the fabric of his pillow, drawing it closer. It still carried his scent and my pulse quickened even in his absence. I pressed my face against it for just a heartbeat, allowing myself this one moment of weakness in the privacy of the empty room.
Gods… so much had happened. And I married Wolfe.
He was my husband.
My mate.
Today was supposed to be the first day of my nightmare life with Thayden. But Wolfe stopped it. He saved me.
Waking up to all those truths was… it was indescribable.
So was the fact that I was here.
Back in Galaythia.
Back in the magical realm.
And I was a princess. Lady Nightblade.
This wasn’t some fever dream or dying hallucination. It was all real. Truly, I was here and I felt like I belonged.
The reality settled over me like a cloak.
I sat up, the cool air raising goosebumps along my bare arms. Smiling, I looked at the window. The curtains sensed my will and drew apart, unveiling the beauty of the land before me.
A flutter of something bright and wild unfurled in my chest. It was excitement.
Pure, unbridled excitement that was poorly timed, given the number of things I still had to worry about, but it was there nonetheless.
And I let myself feel it.
I threw back the covers and slipped from the bed, my bare feet hitting the cool floor as I rushed toward the tall windows. The thin nightgown I wore, whispered against my legs, as if it shared my anticipation.
When I reached the window, it opened for me and I savored the view and the languid air that welcomed me.
It stole every coherent thought from my mind. Beyond the window, the land spread out in all its otherworldly glory and I propped myself on the bay, drinking it all in.
A strong breeze pulled me from my reverie, followed by a little chime on the timepiece mounted on the wall. It had just gone nine. The house would be awake now.
I pulled back from the window, reluctantly tearing myself away. Part of me wanted nothing more than to spend the entire day reacquainting myself with the realm I'd nearly lost. But I didn't have that luxury.
Ironic that time was my double-edged sword. It was the thief with its hand already in my pocket, but it was also my salvation. Each moment I wasted was another moment closer to forgetting—forgetting Wolfe, forgetting myself, forgetting everything that mattered.
I needed to find him. Or see what the others were up to. I was sure they’d be eager to get started on whatever plans had been decided in my absence.
I needed to focus on doing whatever I needed to do to harness my magic. Or rather the aspects of it that would help us find the ring. I knew I was still getting started and unstable at best but if I knew what threshold I had to work toward it would help.
And at some point, today, I needed to start a new journal.
I hadn’t started a new one this month. Everything before now had felt wrong, especially when I first woke from the reset. It would have been like documenting lies or recording nightmares I desperately wanted to forget.
But now…
This was the aftermath. The fog from the battle had cleared and I felt like a new person, in the wake of the pain.
Light had broken through the cracks. Hope had bloomed in the space between Wolfe and me. And fate had opened doors with our union.
Now I had something real to write about.
I got off the bay and turned toward the wardrobe, purpose straightening my spine.
Time to get started for the day.
I made my way downstairs. I could already hear the house staff chattering with excitement in the dining hall.
By the time I got there, the chatter grew louder. Three of the Fae females were setting the table with trays of delicious pastries while Sirril and two other sprites gave instructions. They looked like they were hurrying to get it all done.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked. They hadn’t noticed I’d walked in the room and was standing right beside them.
They all jumped at the sound of my voice, looking startled.
“Oh, my Lady, you’re already here,” Sirril said, his little face wrinkled with mild panic. “The alarm was to wake you. I thought I had more time to make things perfect.”
I glanced around, awe filling me on seeing the effort they’d put in. “It is perfect.”
“Oh no. Lord Nightblade wanted us to make your favorite breakfast meals from scratch. No magic. He says it tastes better and I’m inclined to agree. Especially the cinnamon buns.”
I smiled then I found myself laughing.
“What my Lady? Is something not to your liking?” Worry deepened his frown.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I’m just…” I looked at each of them and my smile brightened. “I’m happy to be back. Please, everything is perfect. You don’t need to do anything more.”
Understanding filled their eyes. All of them. They smiled back at me.
“What else would the Lady of the manor have us do?” Siiminal, the tallest female asked. She’d been extra attentive during my first days here. I also thought she suspected I’d try to escape.
“I…” I began and then I thought of something nice. “I would have you take the day off and do something fun. Something you really want, whatever that may be. You all work so hard. I’m sure Lord Nightblade would agree that a break is in order.”
They seemed happy with my request.
“Thank you, my Lady.” The girls chortled in a chorus.
“You are welcome.”
They sauntered away but Sirril and the other two sprites remained.
“We stay, My Lady,” Sirril said. “For protection. It’s Lord Nightblade’s strict orders. But perhaps we will take your offer another time.”
I nodded. “I hope you do.”
“We are all happy to have you back, my Lady. And more excited about your union to Lord Nightblade.”
“Thank you.” I gave him a gentle smile.
“We’ll just go finish up those buns and allow you to get started for the day. I believe Lady Arielle will be along soon.”
The sprites bowed and left.
I was about to sit when Arielle appeared at the door. She stopped, leaned against the frame, then gazed at me. Dressed in a casual pair of pants and a ruffled sleeved blouse, she looked different from the powerful mage she’d been yesterday. She looked… more like me. Normal and ordinary.
Expectancy crossed her face, but she seemed to hold back.
For a moment I wasn’t sure what to say. Before the wedding—Wolfe’s and mine—we weren’t exactly on good terms. When she delivered me to my family and we parted it had left a hole in my heart.
But at the wedding she’d been no different from family to me.
And she gave me that dress. She knew, even without actually knowing, I wouldn’t have wanted to marry Wolfe in the dress Thayden had gotten me.
I should speak first. If only to say thank you or apologize again.
“Hi, I was—” We both said at the same time.
We tried to speak again and the same thing happened.
Realizing we weren’t going to get past good morning we burst out laughing and rushed toward each other.
We hugged, and when we pulled apart, she took both my hands and we spun around like children, giggling as if we didn’t have a care in the world.
“Gods, I’m so happy to have you back.” Arielle gave me another quick hug.
“Me too.”
“Yesterday was insane and so exciting,” she squealed. “And Thayden’s face,” she said, dragging out each syllable, looking at me as if the statement summed up the day.
I laughed again, completely understanding what she meant. “I know. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how he looked. It was pure defeat.”
“I’m glad I was there to see it. And meet your family. Oh my goodness, I love them all. Emabelle is a gem—and I think we might be kindred spirits.”
I couldn’t agree more. There were moments when Emabelle and Arielle felt like the same person. The only difference aside from the obvious was that Arielle had to tone down because of her royal duties and Emabelle remained unfiltered.
“And your grandmother…” She placed a hand to her heart. “I was already in awe at your grandmother but she’s amazing. I wish she were mine.”
We laughed again.
“I’m sure she would love to hear that. She was fond of you too.”
“Oh good. Did they all get back okay?”
“Yes. Wolfe sent them home in a portal.” I relaxed my shoulders and rocked back on my feet. “Magic. It was strange seeing it being used so freely in the mortal realm without the worry of witch-hunters.”
“I know. Your union was quite a day to be remembered, Lady Nightblade. Nothing like that has happened for over a millennium.”
“Wow. I did not know that.”
“Come let’s sit and talk. I want to hear about the parts I don’t know.” She took my hand and ushered me to the table. “We have two hours before we leave for Hyxian and then I have to get you ready for your wedding celebration.”
I gave her a wide-eyed stare. “What? All of that is happening today?”
“Sure is. We’re going to have a very busy day.”
“Where’s Wolfe?” I glanced back toward the door. “Have you seen him.”
“Nope he’s away on business with Alaric and Bastian. Garrick will check on us throughout the day. I got the message an hour ago.” She grinned. “I don’t think we’ll see Wolfe before the ceremony today. There’s a lot to do and I’m guessing he probably went to see his uncle to talk to him about you.”