CHAPTER 13
“The mark of your gift is hand picked from the God of your Realm. Use the gift for good, never for evil.” - Book of Azure
I IMMERSE MYSELF INTO THE soothing bath, knowing I have longed for one all this time, and let my body melt into the heat soaking into my body.
My fingers glide over my skin, trembling against the bruises that ache along my arms and ribs, fresh wounds stinging from the soapy water.
These days have felt like weeks, but I begin to wonder how long I have truly been here in these Realms. I flinch as I shift my body, letting myself lean back against the metal tub.
I close my eyes as women around me scoop up metal buckets filled to the brim and pour them over my head.
The sound of water splashing to the bucket beneath my drenched hair echoes in the small room they put me in.
Water cascades down my face, trickling down my cheeks like a stream, and runs over my chapped lips.
Images flood my mind, memories of the water gently sliding down Koen’s chin, tracing a path along his neck, and my heart begins to race at the vivid recollection.
My stomach turns, twisting into knots as my chest heaves.
I gasp for air as I open my eyes wide and bolt upright, my hand instinctively clutching my chest as if to steady the rapid thumping within.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” One with golden curls, braided into a crown, crouches besides the tub.
“I need to see the Queen,” I whisper out to her.
She nods, closing her eyes for a brief moment. “I will let the guards know.”
I nod, clearing my throat. “Please. Thank you. You all can go.”
She grins, standing up before cleaning the room with the others and beginning to leave. As they exit, a guard halts them. “Does she have a mark on her body?”
“No,” the woman says. “Just five birthmarks under her eye.”
The marks. I had forgotten about what the elder warned me about with the markings. The true Queen would bear the markings of the five Realms. But growing up, these birthmarks were always and only, birthmarks. Nothing more.
They are only birthmarks, I repeat to myself. Only birthmarks.
The guard nods and leaves with the women.
The quiet is what I have needed. I need to process what the Queen said to me. I need to know the truth… should I go to the oracles myself? Should I even trust the Queen?
As I lean back, letting my neck rest against the cool metal, the wooden door flings open and slams against the stone wall. I jolt upright, holding my breasts with my arms as my soaked hair slaps against my back.
I slump once more when I notice Koen has walked in, his hand leaning against the doorframe with an arrogant smirk along his lips as his eyes try to trace my body. But I sink in, letting the bubbles block the view.
“Wow. Missed me already, huh?” I grunt, letting my hands rest over my chest. Just in case the bubbles decide to slowly fade away.
His lips tug between his teeth as he casually walks in, kicking the door with his foot for it to shut. Not again. I deeply exhale, letting myself sink a tad bit more to where my chin meets the water.
“I thought I got rid of you,” I mutter annoyingly.
“Oh… you trying to get rid of me?” he teases as he pulls a wooden chair close to the bathtub and crosses his arms over the back of the chair, resting his chin against it. His playful eyes dart from my eyes down to the bubbles.
“My body isn't meant for your eyes,” I scoff, raising an eyebrow. “And it never will be, so you can get rid of any ideas you have right now.”
He bites his bottom lip, his scar becoming more noticeable. “I’m a gentleman, you forget that.”
I scuff, letting out a loud exhale as my eyes widen in disbelief. “You? A gentleman? What Koen have I been with this whole trip?”
“I gave you a gift back at the Ice Nation?” His lip tugs into a playful grin, his brow lifting as he waits for my response.
“You also hit me over the head with a broken branch, kidnapped me, and threw me in a damn dungeon with dragon shifters that could kill me.” My eyes narrow. “Such a gentleman.”
He lets out a gasp as if my words have daggered at his heart, placing a hand right over his chest. “Alright. I’ll make it up to you.”
I slide up just a little and raise my brows. “Now you have my attention.”
“Tell me, who are you searching for? Why did you panic when the Queen mentioned the woman with ice hair?”
My eyes glance over to the towel hung in the corner by the arched window, the light creating soft shadows that dance across the stone wall. “Hand me the towel, and turn around.”
He lifts his hand up to his forehead, giving me a sarcastic salute before standing. “Yes, my lady.”
“Stop it.” I splash water out on him as he tiptoes backwards, avoiding being soaked with soapy water.
“You're right.” His eyes widen as he walks around the wet puddle on the cobblestone floor. “I meant, my little Spark.” He winks as he grabs the towel, holding it out for me to grab it with a grin that brightens his eyes.
He thinks he is so irresistible. I find him maddening.
“I despise that name.” I snatch the towel from his grasp with a fluid motion, standing up to wrap it securely around my damp body. “And you know that.”
Water cascades down my legs and neck, catching the light from the setting sun outside as they trickle along my skin. I watch his gaze follow the path of each droplet, entranced as they slip off my body.
“Now turn around,” I command, gesturing with a firm wave of my hand.
He crosses his arms, his sleeves sliding up, and I notice the markings along his arm as he turns around, staring at the blank wall ahead of him.
I slip out, tiptoeing as water falls from my body, and swiftly begin to put on the suit.
It's spotless now since the women cleaned off the mud from the leather.
“How did you not burn?” he mutters out. “I’ve never seen that happen.”
“I’m not sure, I only felt heat radiating through my boots but nothing else.” I sigh. “Enough about me, you promised you’d make this up to me, and I have a question before I tell you anything more.”
“I’m all ears.”
As I yank my pants up, I look over my shoulder, making sure he isn’t peeking. “What are the markings?”
“You noticed them?” He starts to turn his body.
“I’m not dressed!”
He lifts up his arms, turning his body back. “Okay. Okay.” He deeply chuckles. “So aggressive.”
“Tell me what the markings are, and I’ll tell you who I am searching for.” I clasp my suit diagonally, buttoning them up with ease before turning around to face him. I grab his chair with my foot, letting it drag along the floor as it scratches against the stone, and begin to braid my damp hair.
He turns, his eyes tracing my body before I sit to lace my boots.
“Go on,” I urge him.
His emerald eyes gleam with a mischievous spark, rolling slightly as a frustrating grin spreads across his face.
Slowly, he begins to roll up his sleeve, revealing burnt markings etched into his skin, patterns that seemed to have been singed by fire itself.
The intricate designs are similar to those of the Queen.
Lines that stretch far and circles that make a unique pattern, as if they are a story.
My back arches upright as I glare at the markings that wrap around his arm.
I stand and walk towards him, the water beneath my boots splashing with each step.
My hands hover over his arm, but no heat radiates from him. One symbol seems as if it's only days old.
“What…” My voice trembles as I try to understand why they would burn their skin. “What is this?”
“Scorched by fire. Each mark tells a story of the future in the language of the flames by the oracles.” His eyes glance from mine then back to his arm.
“Magic always comes with a price. And in order to see what is to come, the fire marks us so those who see the symbols, know we went to the Darklands. Which is forbidden.”
“But the Queen—” I go to speak.
“The Queen rules all the Realms, she is capable of moving in and out of the Realms within seconds with the Light Stone. She can walk the forbidden lands, others cannot.” His jaw clenches.
“Then why go? Why risk it?” I step forward, gazing into his eyes that soften.
“Reasons I cannot share.” His eyes flicker from my lips to my eyes. “But, the oracle never showed me you. It showed me everything up to this moment and past this moment, but I never saw you. Why?”
“Because I am not from your world, Koen.” I touch his arm hesitantly before holding it with a tender touch as I stare at the markings. A rush of sadness rushes over me. “Believe me. I swear to you, I am telling the truth. That is the only reason why the oracles couldn’t see me.”
His head shakes, the waves falling over his emerald eyes. “The oracles see all.”
“Maybe not everything.” My hands let go of his arm. “The Queen might have seen my sister and I need to find her. But—”
And then it hits me. If the oracles couldn’t see me… how would they be able to see my sister?
“You are wondering how they could have seen her? And not you?” His eyes soften. “There is a possibility… I can help.”
I lift my chin, searching his eyes for any hidden agenda that might be hiding but I see none. Only, sincerity.
“How?”
“You and Florian were going to go to the archive in the Ice Nation, weren’t you?” He takes a step forward.
He is too close.
I can feel the heat from his breath.
“Seems like you know everything now, don’t you?” I cock my head to the side, letting my braid fall over my chest.
He exhales sharply. “Do you realize they could have had you killed for that? The elder is one of the rare few who knows about the archives. However…” He pauses deliberately before leaning in, his words dropping to a deep whisper that brushes against my ear.
“The answers you seek, especially regarding your sister, are almost certainly hidden within that frozen cave.”
I pull away, our eyes meeting with an intense gaze. “Then take me.”
“What’s in it for me?” His dimple deepens into his cheek, creating a shadow that highlights his mischievous grin.
“Oh, I thought you were making up for being indecent to me?” I lean forward, almost brushing against his chest as I glare up at him with spiteful eyes.
He shakes his head. “No fun.”
“Take me tonight,” I growl, pointing my finger into his chest. “For being an ass to me since the moment you met me. This will make me forgive you.”
“That’s all I have wanted.” His voice drops to a whisper, his breath tickling against my lips. “For you to forgive me.”
He smirks, revealing his teeth that beautifully, yet annoyingly, pop against his tanned skin. With a casual, almost dismissive, step, he circles around me, his shoulder grazing mine with a forceful nudge that sends me stumbling backward.
I grunt, biting my bottom lip with aggravation before turning towards him. He stands by the door, his hand on the doorknob.
“You cannot tell Florian.” He glares over his shoulder. “You will tell no one. The Queen will throw you into the games if she finds out, or she will have your head. Do you understand?”
“Why can’t I tell Florian?” I step forward.
“If he is caught with treason, they will kill him.” His throat bulges as he swallows, almost in pain with the thought of losing his brother.
“We have a few hours before the bridge melts into the water.
It's cooling off as we speak, and we will have time if you meet me once the sun sets by the bridge.”
I tuck a loose strand that slips from my messy braid behind my ear. “I don’t want to bring any more pain to Florian.”
Koen’s lip gently tugs into a soft grin and he clasps his hands behind his back to lean over towards me.
A mischievous glint sparkles in his emerald eyes as he whispers, “you should wear your hair back more, I like seeing all of your face.” He winks and I scuff, rolling my eyes upward to the ceiling.
“My hair never stays in a damn braid.” My eyes meet his, catching his lips that still form a tight grin I could slap off. “Sorry to break it to you, but this hair of mine is rarely tamed.”
“Who said I like it tamed?” His brow lifts.
My lips pucker as I glare into his eyes that fall to my lips and my fingers snap, catching his attention.
“Let's focus on what we both need,” I snap, my brows pulling in as I take a step closer towards him. “Thanks for your help. Now go, so I can prepare myself for our little trip.”
“We are both searching for something.” His voice drops to a low whisper.
“I thought you said you’d never touch me again?
And now your hands will be wrapped around me once more as we ride through the Realms together.
” He licks his bottom lip before shining a cocky smile, knowing what he just said will get under my damn skin.
“Do not think anything of this!” I stride towards him, my finger pointing. “And no flexing your abs under my hands this time.”
I roll my eyes, shaking my shoulders with irritation.
“Oh you didn’t like that?” He goes to open the door. “Then why did your arms tighten around me whenever I did it?”
“I swear to the Go—” I go to scream with all my might, but he opens the door, scrambling through the small crack before shutting it swiftly behind him. I kick the wooden door with my boot and let out a rippling shriek.
“Last ride with him and never again.” I part my lips, exhaling deeply, and head for the window as I watch the last bit of light dance across the clouds. “I’m coming, Tilly.”