Chapter 10 Great Responsibility
Great Responsibility
We’d staunched the bleeding with the spare clothing in my rucksack before heading back to the Summer Palace on foot—Endymion reassuring me that Luca’s stasis was temporary and he’d be fine.
He’d tried to strike up a conversation several times over the past hour, but I hadn’t engaged; too lost in a cavern of thoughts to pay mind to anything outside its dark confines. Though, that didn’t stop me from sensing his worried gaze.
My heart seemed to ache as much as the seeping wound at my shoulder, but despite all that, I fought like hell to grapple my spiraling emotions. They wouldn’t serve me moving forward.
One thing was certain; I couldn’t keep living at the mercy of others.
I needed to figure out how to control this ancient power everyone hunted me for before its fickle nature got me killed. If it was as powerful as everyone claims it to be, then I’d turn myself into a weapon and obliterate anyone who threatened me again.
I’d found myself in the center of a political minefield, my ignorance chafing with every step I took westward to the palace. I needed to understand this realm. More importantly, I needed a plan.
This was no longer about saving my siblings. This was bigger than me. Bigger than them.
Truth was, a time was coming when I’d have to choose a side in this simmering war, and with the outcome apparently resting on my shoulders—or trapped within me—my ignorance horrified me.
My senses prickled like sleet pelting skin, snapping my awareness back to my immediate surroundings. Endymion and I both stopped, my hand flying up in search of steel it wouldn’t find.
A heartbeat later, Artton appeared.
“There you ar—” He cut himself off as he took us in, his crisp white shirt at odds with our current state. “What in the seven hells happened?” he said, eyes darting between us.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Endymion said, the soft tone he’d used with me traded for a low, biting reproach.
“Sorry, Your Royal Majesty,” Artton said with a lazy mock bow, arms to the sides. “Did your chariot not arrive on time?”
I snorted despite myself, hand flying up to cover my mouth. The autumn commander shot me a glare, which had me lowering my hand but biting back a smile.
With what looked like great effort, Endymion took in a slow breath as if counting to ten to find his patience before calmly reaching a hand to Artton, indicating he was done talking and just wanted to valen back—even if that meant swallowing words, for now.
Caius’ second made to oblige, then abruptly pulled back. “You know what?” he said, shifting behind me so that I was between them. “I think maybe you can make your own way back.”
A deadly promise filled Endymion’s eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”
The summer fae folded his well-defined, tawny arms and dug into a silent standoff. I shifted to look between them, trying to work out if I should be amused or worried.
“I—” Endymion began.
“What, order me?” Artton drawled. “Sorry, but I don’t answer to Autumn’s Second.” Endymion’s jaw worked, and I could damn near feel fury pulse off of him in steady, hot waves.
Caius’ commander held a hand out to me, spurring Endymion to take a half-step forward, eyes narrowed in warning.
Not wanting to get in the middle of whatever this was, I kept my hands to my side.
“Remember this before you recklessly spend so much time in the human realm,” Artton said, then laid a hand on my shoulder before I could object. “If you’re not back by dusk, I’ll send a first-year recruit to fetch you.”
A heartbeat later we appeared before the tunneled archway to my residence.
I whirled on Artton. “Was that necessary?”
He raised an infuriatingly cocky brow.
“Seriously, he’s wounded. And saved my life.” How I’d gone from telling him to leave me alone to defending him, I had no idea.
Artton’s teak eyes looked down his slightly crooked nose at me, all mischief gone. “Neither of you would have been in that position if he hadn’t allowed himself to become tapped, and he knows it.”
“But I’m the one that shattered the wards, not him.” I gestured around us.
“One day, Nyleeria, you’ll understand the consequences of our magic, and when you do, you can let me know if you still think I was too harsh.”
I blinked up at him surprised and not quite sure how to respond.
“May I?” he said, indicating the makeshift bandage over my wound as he began to reach for it.
“I’ll do it,” I said before he could touch me again, wincing as I peeled it away.
He sucked in a breath, nose crinkling as he leaned in closer.
“Is it…bad?” I asked, feeling the weight of his silent scrutiny.
Sighing, he stood to his full height again. “It’s nothing a healer can’t mend. But you’re both lucky—this could have ended very differently. Get yourself cleaned up. I’ll send for a healer and let Kai know you’re back.”
Before I could respond, he turned and walked down the hall. I waited until the echo of his footsteps faded before entering the magical archway of my residence, noting how, in that moment, its beauty didn’t seem to belong.
Hours later I stirred, lifting my head in search of the sun beyond the wall of glass framing my bedchamber, noting it was only just past high noon. I sighed loudly, flopping back into the mountain of pillows that cradled me.
Stars, this had already been a long day.
Lying there, I marveled at how fast this realm’s magic had erased the devastating fallout from my dream, and I couldn’t help but wish my mind would offer me the same courtesy.
My chest tightened as thoughts of the morning’s attack poured in.
Pulling the neckline of my shirt to the side, I inspected the wound—like the room, there was no evidence it’d ever happened.
A part of me was grateful, but another part believed I’d deserved to have that memory mapped on my body as a reminder of what happens when my powers fail me.
As if sensing the thought, the spark stirred, the sensation so faint I would’ve missed it had I not been idle.
I snapped my fingers and a tiny ember of light came to life.
“Now you work,” I muttered, watching it dance over my palm.
I let out a long, deep breath. “Why allow me to attack Endymion, only to abandon me when I actually need you? Hum?”
It continued to float, utterly unbothered by my words.
“Enough of this,” I said and closed my hand, snuffing the light out. “I need answers.”
As I entered the hallway to the resident’s wing, my stomach grumbled. After more wrong turns than I’d care to admit, I eventually found the kitchen through the dining hall. The double door swung open on silent hinges with barely a press of my palm.
The second I stepped through, I froze, surprised to find it teaming with life. As if just as taken, one by one the servants turned their attention toward me and immediately stopped, eyes going wide before lowering themselves in deference.
A portly female approached with a broad smile as she dusted off the front of her apron, tucking an unruly curl of hair behind her ear that popped right back out.
“Lady Nyleeria,” she said, offering me a deep curtsey. “To what do we owe this honor?” Her voice was husky but fluttery in a way. I tamped down my fascination and inclined my head to her, offering her a kindly smile in return.
“Apologies,” I said, “I hadn’t realized anyone would be here. I’ll go.”
“It’s no bother,” she said, stopping my retreat. “What can we get for you?” She splayed a hand to the side, indicating the kitchen at large.
I wasn’t sure what unnerved me most—her voice, the use of Lady, or the dozen or so sets of eyes now eagerly awaiting my answer. Swallowing, I said, “Whatever is most convenient.”
Her mouth tipped down in a slight frown as if I’d offended her in some way before she replaced it with her jovial smile, singling for me to follow her.
“We’ll put something together.” As if her words were a secret code, the kitchen became a flurry of activity again.
“You can wait here if it pleases you,” she said and pulled out a wooden stool for me before flitting away.
Sitting, I watched them work, awed at how gracefully they moved between one another like they were dancing—only the kitchen was their partner and the food their music.
“Here you are, Lady Nyleeria,” the female said, startling me back to the present as she placed a package on the table between us.
“Thank you… I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name.”
A deep flush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks before she curtsied low again and said, “Maqueea, Lady. My name is Maqueea.” She glanced at me and then away, as if nervous. “It was our pleasure, truly.”
I looked behind her to find all hands idle, eyes on me.
“The pleasure was mine,” I said, addressing the room at large before I lost my nerve.
They just stared at me as if they hadn’t heard me right.
Feeling uncomfortable, I plaster a bright smile on my face and made to leave. A few steps before the door I turned back.
“Maqueea?”
“Yes, Lady?” She stood tall, eager curiosity awaiting my next words.
“Do you know where the library is?”
Her blooming smile answered before she spoke. “Of course! We house the largest collection of any court. Would you like to visit?”
My chest fluttered with a mixture of excitement and nerves. It was one thing being told by Endymion there was a library; it was another thing entirely having a complete stranger seemingly brim with courtly pride over it.
“Yes, I would. Would you be so kind as to point in the right direction?”
“Rackna,” she called over her shoulder.
A moment later a young fae rounded the corner, his eyes wide with excitement. He skidded to a stop before Maqueea. “Yes, ma’am?”
She leaned down, hands on knees. “Rackna, I have a very important task for you.” The boy seemed to perk up at this, his eyes bouncing between us with unbridled excitement. “I need you to show Lady Nyleeria to the library. Do you think you can help me with that?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stood at attention then dragged his hands down the front of his shirt which had little effect against the wrinkles. “It pleasure, ma’am,” he said, words stilted.
“Good. Make sure to come right back. Loruth will have a sweet treat waiting for you.”
Rackna swung around to find who I assumed was Loruth. The large, stoutly male nodded to the boy in confirmation. As if this was his cue, he walked right by me with purpose. “This way, Lady. Rackna lead.”
I offered Maqueea an appreciative smile and did as asked, following him through the doors.
Chin tilted up slightly, Rackna walked with a prideful purpose as he turned us down one corridor to another with confidence, and I couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the sheer magnitude of Caius’ palace—or the number of courtiers that paused and lowered their heads in deference.
It was near impossible not to compare it to the lifeless hallways of Thaddeus’ palace, and it wasn’t until that exact moment that I’d even questioned how desolate it’d been. I wondered if it’d been for my protection or isolation. Either way, it felt like it was by design.
Eventually we stopped at a set of open doors, and I breathed in deeply, relishing in the beautiful familiarity of parchment and worn spines that reached into the hall as if beckoning me in.
“Thank you so much, Rackna,” I offered, lowering my chin in acknowledgment.
“Great honor,” he said, beaming. “It great honor, Lady Ny… Ny…” he tried, stammering over the word.
“It’s okay.” I winked. “All my friends call me Ny.”
Brimming with excitement, he said, “Honor. Yes. Lady Ny. Great honor.”
I couldn’t help but believe that for him, it truly was an honor. Without warning, he turned on his heel and began walking away before that understanding held weight.
“Rackna?”
Stopping mid-stride, he turned to face me. As our eyes met, his face dropped. “Oh,” he said and scrambled to offer me a bow.
“No, please. There’s no need for that,” I said, feeling guilty that calling after him had been received as a reprimand. “I just had a question for you.”
He perked up, eyes bright once more. “For Rackna?”
“Yes. I was wondering if you could tell me why this was a great honor for you?”
He jolted in surprise, as if he couldn’t believe my words. Tilting his head in confusion, he said, “You Lady Ny, no?”
“Yes, I’m Nyleeria,” I confirmed, unable to place the honorific before it.
“You Lady Ny-l-er-a.” His tone was matter-of-fact despite tripping over my name.
“You great Spark. Momma told Rackna old stories when I was a bairn. You save all. For me, great honor. Rackna tell Momma of today. Of Lady. Of kindness. Yes.” He said the last word with a nod as if confirming it to himself, then without another word, he turned and left me to return to the kitchens and claim his sweet bounty.
I stared after where he’d disappeared at the end of the corridor for long moments, the heft of his words settling on my shoulders.