Chapter 27
Aurora
Brightness slices through the dim lodge, and I turn to see Soren standing in the doorway. “It’s time to go.”
Camryn and I rise from the table. She loops her arm through mine as we make our way outside, where the entire village has gathered. The travelers are split fairly evenly as to who will venture with Soren, Caelum, and me to the southern part of the realm, and who will remain in Ni’haan.
The travelers choosing to stay are mostly juveniles and a handful of people I’d guess to be in their seventies, but who really knows with our slowed aging process.
Mei is also joining us, along with Maeve, which makes me apprehensive, but the girl is persistent.
Arc and Camryn will ride with us through the Northern Shadows to ensure safe passage through the land. From there, our party will continue to Whispering Glen, where we will stop for the night before continuing south.
I know Arc can shadow step him and Camryn back to the palace, so I’m grateful he’s guiding us back through his realm.
I wrap my arms around Camryn one final time before she mounts her horse. My throat tightens, and I swallow to keep my emotions from getting the better of me. “Be safe,” I whisper.
“You, too,” she replies.
I hold up the communication mirror I took from Soren. “I expect a call every day.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, mom.” She flashes me a grin. I commit it to memory. This won’t be the last time I see my best friend.
A commotion behind me causes our heads to whirl. Arc stomps toward Caelum, Mei being pulled in a tight grip behind him. Soren takes one look at the scene and unsheathes his sword from his back, trudging toward the cursed lord.
Caelum sees the fear on Mei’s face and closes the distance between him and Arc. “What the hell are you doing?!”
Arc’s lips twist into a snarl. “Uncovering your secret!”
Caelum’s eyes widen and he looks at Mei. “Let her go. She has nothing to do with this.”
“It appears she has everything to do with this!” Arc positions Mei so that she stands between him and Caelum.
My heart pounds in my chest as I move beside Soren, and he thrusts out his arm to keep me behind him. Camryn swings her leg over her horse and hops to the ground. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Arc doesn’t take his eyes off Caelum. “It seems my most trusted sentry betrayed me.”
Caelum shakes his head. “I did what I thought was right. Now let her go. This is between us.”
Arc’s shoulders heave.
“Hey asshole, let go of her right now, or god help me, I’m going to make your life a living hell.” Camryn steps to Arc’s side, her brown eyes narrowed on her target.
This time, his icy eyes shift to her and then down to his fingers wrapped around Mei’s wrist. He releases her and I rush to grab Mei, pulling her behind Soren and me.
Camryn steps in front of Arc, glaring at him. “If you think you’re a big tough guy for putting hands on a woman, you are sorely mistaken.”
His nostrils flare as he stares down my fiery friend. He takes a deep breath and turns his head toward Mei, trembling by my side. “Apologies.”
Arc’s eyes fall to Camryn before they flash behind her to Caelum. “Tell me. Now. She wasn’t a child when she came here, was she?”
Camryn’s eyes widen as she steps to the side.
Caelum straightens, pushing out his broad chest. He tips his chin. “No.”
“Why would you keep her from me?” Arc asks.
My stomach sours as he speaks of Mei as if she belongs to him.
Caelum’s jaw clenches and his eyes shift to Camryn before focusing back on the cursed lord.
“I've never gotten over what happened to Alice. How Isolde was driven mad with jealousy. I’ve hated delivering women to you, never knowing what their fate would be. If they would rot themselves away or get killed just like she did.” Caelum spits his words, and they burn in my stomach.
“The day I found Mei, I had an unshakable feeling. When I arrived at the portal, I saw the look of terror on her face.” Caelum turns to look at Mei.
His amber eyes harden as they return to Arc.
“I couldn’t take her to the palace. To you.
She didn’t deserve that. So I brought her here.
Told her to do her best to stay hidden when you came around. To say she arrived as a child.”
I steal a glance at Mei, who bites her lip as she watches the exchange between Caelum and Arc.
Arc takes a deep inhale. “When?”
Caelum swallows. “It’s been over a hundred years since she arrived.”
“Who knew?” Arc asks through gritted teeth.
Caelum shifts on his feet. “Eldrian. He was furious when I brought her to Ni’haan.
He threatened to tell you because he didn’t want to be killed protecting my ‘mistake,’ as he called it.
That’s why I took over watch of Ni’haan.
And I did so gladly.” Caelum turns again to face Mei.
“Because she wasn’t a mistake. I don’t regret what I did.
Saving her. And I would do it again. I wish I could have done it for all of them. ” He turns back to face Arc.
Arc glances around the crowd of villagers who are stunned into silence. “Are there others you’ve hidden from me?”
Caelum shakes his head. “No. I knew I couldn’t hide more here without you noticing. But I wanted to. I wanted to save them all because where are they now?”
Caelum’s jaw clenches as he glares at Arc. Something flashes in Arc’s eyes, but he holds his gaze before his brow furrows. “What really happened to Eldrian and Brynna a few months ago?”
The winged male takes a deep breath. “We were surprised by a sentinel. Brynna told me to grab the woman and go. But Eldrian spouted off about how I can’t be trusted.
How I’d stow her away. Brynna was floored.
She was going to tell you. I didn’t care if you’d kill me for it.
But I couldn’t let you hurt Mei. So I killed them. ”
The crowd gasps and Arc’s nostrils flare. I grip Mei’s hand as Soren pushes us back farther from the scene.
Caelum shakes his head. “I’ve never felt such power.
Such ... anger at the thought of anyone harming her.
I grabbed them as if they were nothing and held them to the flickering remnant of the portal.
The energy coursed through me, and I watched them turn to dust. The sentinel fled with the traveler. ”
Caelum’s eyes hold on Arc, preparing for whatever comes next. The entire gathering is still and silent. Arc takes half a step forward before his gaze flashes to Mei. “And what are you to her?”
Caelum glances at her. “Nothing. Not like that. She’s a friend.”
I look at Mei, who smiles weakly.
Arc’s eyes watch his sentry. “I see.” He inhales deeply. “I should kill you for betraying me. Betraying the oath you swore to uphold.”
Caelum stiffens, pushing back his shoulders.
Arc continues. “But seeing as how travelers are irrelevant to me now, there would be no point in reducing our numbers. I am disappointed with your betrayal. But I understand why you did it.” Arc’s voice quiets and Caelum tries to smooth his look of surprise.
Caelum nods stiffly. “Thank you.”
With no more words to exchange, Arc turns on his heels and strides toward his horse. I release Mei’s hand and she turns to Caelum as he moves to her side. He wraps his arms around her, shielding her body almost completely. “I’m sorry,” she whispers into his chest.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for. It’s over now.” His eyes flicker over Mei’s head, and I turn away to see Camryn stomping toward Arc.
“You just love making a spectacle of yourself, don’t you? Throwing around your ‘power’ to intimidate people. And for what? To keep them in line?” Camryn crosses her arms over her chest and looks up at Arc.
He looks down at her. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What I know is that when we get back to the palace, things are going to change. I’m not someone you can rule over. Got it?”
Arc holds her gaze while she waits for him to answer. “Of course.”
As Camryn swings her leg over her horse and settles into the saddle, I walk up to her, wariness burning in my chest. “Camryn...” My eyes slide to Arc, who watches me intently.
Camryn follows my gaze and then rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry, Rory. I’m going to be fine. He won’t pull that shit on me.”
I swallow and look up at her. “Just come with us, please.”
She exhales deeply. “I know you’re worried. I understand. But I know what I’m doing.”
I glance over at Arc and his vacant expression. How am I supposed to let her go with him, alone? I try to smile at her, but I wince instead.
“Rory, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Camryn turns her horse to step behind Arc.
“I’m going with you.” A voice booms from behind us, and we turn to see Caelum’s horse striding toward the cursed lord and my friend.
Arc straightens in his saddle, but he doesn’t say a word. He gives his sentry a stiff nod.
Camryn looks surprised, but a sense of ease washes over her face.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Caelum as he passes by me.
He looks down at me and smiles softly. “I’ll watch over her.”
I exhale, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders, knowing she won’t be alone with Arc.
Soren rides atop Ash, who he pulls to my side. I run my hand along the horse’s shoulder before I look up at Soren.
“My Flame,” he says, extending his hand.
I grip his palm, and he tugs me up to settle in front of him. He pulls me snuggly to his chest, and his broad shoulders block out the chill in the air. Warmth envelops me, mixed with the scent of pine and sage, and everything that is good.
Soren tugs the reins, and one by one, our party of half-blood fae descendants follows the cursed lord to our fate.