Chapter 3
CASTELIS
Trailing Rylian, we race through the halls. I’m not sure what that shattering sound was, but a whirlpool of anxiety has opened in my belly, and it’s swirling and heavy. I feel like it knows something I don’t.
His tawny leather jerkin cuts a sharp form against the darkness of the hallways.
The fae torches that should burn to light our way have dimmed, and a few have gone out.
I see he notices too, the way his eyes flick to the corners of the high vaulted ceilings.
Or maybe he’s looking for something else, something I don’t even know to look for.
Several doors down, he slides to a stop in front of a dark, tall door, a maple leaf design etched into its heavy, dark stone. The door stands ajar.
I cover my mouth as my breath catches. Four guards lay toppled, bleeding, not moving. Dead.
“The ward fell.” His words are barely a whisper. I don’t know if he notices the dead, but he’s not looking at them. He’s looking inside.
Wise, I suppose. Whoever did this could still be in there.
He must be thinking something similar because his sword rings out like a golden chime as it slides from its sheath. He steps forward.
I follow him, though I’m not sure why. I’m no hero, and I have no weapon, no fae magic, no power here. Especially in a hall of the crystals of ancient queens and kings. I’m nothing to them, a human shade, barely a flicker on the magical ephemeral plane.
But my feet follow, my form mirroring Rylian’s crouch as though I know something about fighting or what in the heavens I’d do if someone sprang out and attacked me.
It doesn’t matter. It quickly becomes clear.
Whoever did this is gone.
Shards of crystals lay scattered over satin pillows the deep red of blood. The room is dim. Before, the crystals lit the room with their own blue and golden glow, so the darkness tells us everything. A few shards retain a faint glimmer, but most have gone dark.
The sadness of it arches a pain through my chest. So much power, wasted. So much sacrifice, now in vain. Some said the crystals kept alive the memories of the kings’ and queens’ sacrifices, and now those memories too will fade.
I realize that I’ve grabbed Rylian’s arm, but I’m not sure when. He doesn’t stop me or shake me off. In fact, the scream of rage and anguish he lets out overtakes him, and he collapses into me, holding on to me for support as we both fall to our knees.
I should try to help. I turn my eyes back to the pillows on the pillars, even as I try to keep him stable. Maybe there’s a clue. Something we could use.
Even in the dimness, I can see a trail of liquid drops between crystals, as if some invisible hand had poured dark sapphire liquid all over them.
Beside me, Rylian is softly weeping.
“Sire,” I whisper. “Your father’s crystal… in your study… we should…”
He’s nodding, getting to his feet, pulling me with him. As we race back through the halls, I hear the alarms go up, as someone else discovers the tragedy.
We both stop and breathe a sigh of relief in the doorway of his study. The crystal is still there, quietly floating. I can hear shouts going up in all directions, footsteps rushing toward us.
“You had better go,” he whispers.
I nod, turning to run back to my quarters. “But—are you going to be okay?”
“I’ll find a way,” he says, but his tone is not convincing. “Go now. It will complicate things if they find you here.”
I catch my breath. They’ll think I had something to do with this. Don’t blame me as a human for weakening the crystals.
“Oh, and Castelis?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. For tonight.”
“You’re welcome.”