Chapter Eight #2
Zander held a hand out to her and waited. He had planned to wait to share all of the island’s secrets with her, but it seemed like she could use a distraction. If she wasn’t ready to return to the Fae Realm yet, he wasn’t going to push her. There was no rush.
“We have to go higher up into the mountain. Would you like to try shifting into smoke?”
Grinning, she slipped her hand into his and bounced on the toes of her boots a little in excitement. “Can I really?”
“We won’t know until we try it.”
The last few days, Zander had been helping her adapt to her new god powers.
Not so much instructing but simply guiding her whenever the opportunity arose.
As an ancient reaper, he had a wealth of knowledge to share with her.
It would have been faster for her to just search his memories for anything she wanted to learn, but there were countless battles and bloody scenes in his head he wasn’t sure she was ready to see yet.
When it came to using magic, she was usually a fast learner.
She only needed to be shown once before she understood how to do something.
While she used to be dependent on her fae magic before they bonded, now there was no distinction between her fae and god powers.
After their magical exchange, his magic had altered hers.
Now, Kami was a true god.
Although she wasn’t as powerful as Zander, the infusion of his source magic had supercharged her. Not only did that make her stronger than other gods, it allowed her to pass through his protection wards unscathed.
Even her appearance had been slightly altered.
From the moment they’d met, he thought she was the most beautiful female ever born.
But now, she was even more glorious. Her pale blonde hair was now a stunning shade of icy silver, and her glowing blue eyes had swirls of silver and black in them.
That was a true testament to the source magic inside of her.
“Why don’t I help you shift this time so you know how it feels?” he suggested.
She beamed a smile at him. “That works for me.”
Not wasting any time, he instantly shifted them both into black smoke and sent them drifting on the air current that would take them higher up the mountain.
Kami felt an intense pressure as they shifted.
It was different than teleporting, far more complex.
It was almost like being squeezed into a tiny container, yet it seemed like it should have felt like the opposite since her form was freely drifting through the air.
It was an odd sensation, but she quickly adapted to it.
As they floated toward the side of the mountain, she sensed a secret doorway hidden there. Rather than opening the door, they drifted straight through it. It was a little unnerving to be fully conscious without a form, yet at the same time, it was totally thrilling.
They glided through a dark passageway, taking multiple turns that would have been completely confusing if she had been walking the path on her own.
She knew the tunnel was meant to be disorienting to keep intruders from reaching their goal.
If someone was lucky enough to break into the mountain, they would wind up wandering around for days.
She barely felt a thing as they passed through each of the magical wards.
Like everything else he safeguarded on the island, there were several layers of protection they had to go through.
She’d originally thought he was paranoid, but now, she just considered all the layers of security being methodical and painstakingly thorough.
When they finally arrived at their destination, she barely had time to gasp before they were standing in their original forms again.
Glancing around, she saw he had brought her to a mysterious cave that seemed untouched by time.
An opening at the top of the cave allowed starlight to trickle in, casting shafts of light that shone down on a magnificent tree growing on an island in the center of a small glassy lake.
The tree in the middle of the cave was surrounded with an ethereal aura of light, creating a dreamlike haze around it.
The tree was massive, a towering marvel with a wide trunk and a large cradle of branches.
Its bark shimmered with dark hues of bronze and gold, and its leaves were a rich, vibrant green that had a silvery gleam.
Small, pear-shaped fruit grew on the branches, hanging down like pretty pink teardrops. Kami wondered what that fruit tasted like, but it almost seemed like a sin to even consider picking one off of a branch.
The tree exuded a quiet energy. Its very existence was a calming presence, like a living bridge between the physical and magical.
Flowers of every possible color covered most of the island and surrounded the base of the tree like silent worshipers.
The air in the cave was thick with the scent of rich soil and a touch of something magical.
Thick vines hung down from the ceiling like emerald curtains, swaying in the occasional breeze that made it seem like the cave itself was breathing.
Dark stone walls were covered with softly glowing runes that were etched into the stone. Those ancient symbols pulsed with light as though they were alive, watching, ready to react if one wrong move was made.
The pool of water surrounding the island shimmered like glass, daring those in the cave to gaze into its depths to catch a glimpse of their soul’s hidden reflections.
Zander took Kami’s hand and guided her toward the edge of the lake.
He flung out his other hand and sent a pulse of magic into the water.
A few seconds later, a small fountain began to rise up out of the pool.
Magical energy seemed to flow out of the fountain, filling the cave and making the glowing runes on the walls pulse even brighter.
As the fountain grew taller, she saw there were three tiers.
Water cascaded down the sides, spilling back into the glassy lake.
At first, she thought the lake was dark blue, but now she could see the water shifted from blue, purple, and silver, just like the lagoon in their bathing room.
It felt wrong to break the silence, but she had to ask, “Is that the Fountain of Youth?”
“Yes. And that is the Tree of Life.”
Staring in awe, it was hard to believe she was actually in the presence of two of the most revered magical artifacts in existence.
“Doesn’t the tree need sunlight to survive?” she blurted out.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “Starlight is what nourishes it best.”
That sounded really strange to her until she realized the sun was also a star.
It was just closer, but she wasn’t sure that mattered here in the In Between.
She also reminded herself that magical relics had their own set of rules.
Some ancient, mysterious artifacts operated on principles that often defied mortal understanding.
That was what made them so dangerous.
“What are you doing?” she hissed when he began to pull her toward a small stone path that curved around part of the lake and led to a small dock.
“You wanted to try the fruit.”
“What?” she gasped. “Are you freaking kidding me? I was joking!”
“No, you weren’t,” he countered, dragging her along even though she tried to stop him. “You might as well ask. The tree only gives fruit to those it wants to. Even the birds and butterflies have to be invited into the cave.”
“The tree is alive?” She mentally facepalmed. “Of course, it’s alive. I meant, it can communicate with us?”
He nodded. “It doesn’t speak, but it can convey impressions to us.”
The stone pathway was narrow, and Kami did her best not to let her feet slip and splash into the water.
It would have been easier if Zander let her trail behind him, but his grip on her hand forced her to remain by his side.
She didn’t want to inadvertently offend the Fountain of Youth, especially with the Tree of Life watching her every move, judging her.
Shaking her head, she realized just how crazy that statement sounded.
When Zander chuckled, she glared up at him.
“What? It’s a valid concern.”
“The Fountain is just an object. It does not decide who benefits from it. The Fountain just produces the magical water.”
“Magic is confusing.”
He chuckled. “No need to pout, beloved.”
When they reached the dock, she saw a small boat was waiting there. After he helped her step onto it, he wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her steady when the boat immediately started gliding across the surface of the lake. Leaning her chin against his chest, she stared up at him.
“Why didn’t we just teleport over to the island?”
“There are magical wards surrounding the island that probits teleporting to it.
It didn’t take them long to reach the island.
The boat glided to a stop next to the smooth stones surrounding the island.
Instead of sand, they stepped out onto verdant green grass.
Rather than bending, the blades of grass felt like tiny springs, bouncing gently beneath their feet with each step they took.
Up close, the island was even more breathtaking. The tree was even larger than it had seemed when they were standing on the shoreline. Even the air felt different on the island. It felt cool and fresh, almost like they were standing out in the open instead of hidden away in a dark cave.
She glanced over at Zander and saw his lips were curved into a soft smile as he watched her. She loved how he automatically reached for her hand again. She’d never thought much about holding someone’s hand before, but the simple gesture seemed intimate when she was doing it with him.
His fingers interlaced with hers, warm and steady, making her feel grounded amid the strangeness of their surroundings.
Every time his thumb brushed gently over her skin, a comforting sense of belonging settled over her.
The ease with which he reached for her, and the security she felt in his grasp, made her realize just how significant such a small act could be.
It wasn’t just physical closeness.
It was trust, protection, and a silent reminder of the bond between them.
Her brows furrowed as the flowers shifted, creating a path for them to walk on to get closer to the tree. When they were standing under the lush branches, Zander gently pushed her forward with a hand on her back.
“Go ahead. Place your hand on the tree trunk and ask it for what you want.”
Shuffling forward, Kami moved closer to the tree. The trunk of the tree was almost as wide as a car and felt rough against her palm. Her mind went blank for a moment, and she was unable to formulate what she wanted to ask for.
Guilt flickered through her. She didn’t really need a piece of fruit from the Tree of Life.
That was something that should be reserved for worthy people who needed it, not just someone who wanted to taste it.
She could always give the fruit to her sister instead.
Perhaps that would calm Jackie down and help her accept Kami being mated to one of the most fearsome supernaturals alive.
Or maybe she should gift it to her father and the real former queen of the Winter Kingdom.
Nick and Bianca Frost were still recovering from what the Goddess of Illusions had done to them.
After years of being used as a magical battery to power up the Realm of Illusions, Bianca still hadn’t woken up from her magical coma.
It would take a lot for her to recover, so perhaps the fruit might help wake her up.
While Nick was Kami’s real father, the fact he had been tricked into having a child with someone who wasn’t his fated mate was a big problem for him.
Even though it wasn’t Kami’s fault, he had refused to see her the few times he had woken up briefly.
She didn’t blame him, though. The Goddess of Illusions had messed with his head for years, and that was bound to have lasting effects.
That was a stark reminder that she no longer had a complete family.
She felt Zander move behind her, and he pressed up against her back as his arms wrapped around her, surrounding her with his warmth.
She instinctively leaned back into his protective hold, enjoying the comfort he offered.
The steady beat of his heart and the gentle pressure of his arms wrapped around her reminded her that she wasn’t alone.
“No, you are not. You still have your sister, your brother-in-law, and your brother.” He squeezed her gently and rested his head on hers. “But above all, you have me. You will always have me.”
That made her smile. Forgetting about the tree, she turned around and wrapped herself around him. “As you have me.”
Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers in a gentle kiss. Then, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.
Their relationship was still new, slowly unfurling like the flowers scattered across the ground near their feet. Even so, Kami already felt love blooming in her heart, and the depth of her feelings grew stronger with every moment they shared together.
She was startled when the tree began to move.
As they continued to embrace beneath the protective arch of branches overhead, the Tree of Life began to glow brighter.
It felt as if the tree itself were recognizing the sincerity of their love when three luminous pieces of fruit were slowly lowered from the branches so they hung in the air in front of them.
“You have been blessed.” Zander plucked one of the pink pears off the branch and held it out to her. “Go ahead, beloved.”
She hesitated for a moment, sincerely stunned by the offering. Then, she lifted his wrist so he was holding the piece of fruit between them. “We should both have a taste.”
Leaning closer, he smiled. “Blessings to our mating.”
“Blessings to our mating.”
And with a single bite, they were both gifted with the sweetness of life.