Chapter 49
I slouched in my throne, letting my head hit the woven branches behind me.
“You did well.” Caroline hugged Eden while they started talking about the stone balancing ceremony.
I was glad it had finally ended.
Between the confrontation at the river, the Elder’s passing, worrying about mine and Ransom’s injuries, and the blurry days since then, my body ached for solitude and simplicity.
In a way, it was a blessing that tradition had the King of Arcadia balancing the stones for each death. I could channel my grief that way, by focusing on each of the stones.
Arcadia had been righted, and I didn’t think Nyx’s death alone caused the change. Something else had tilted back into place, like balancing two round stones at an angle. That balancing point where they no longer tipped had been found and stabilized.
Has it always been a life for a life?
Or something related to the Spirit that righted the wrongs?
“Si?” Nash snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Arcadia to Silas.”
“What?” I blinked.
“You have a response from Lukosan.” He nodded towards Rusna, the micc, who shuffled behind Nash. “He won’t give it to me. Says he’ll only give it to you.”
“Onni, Rusna.” I sat up, my smile turning to a wince when I put pressure on my injured arm.
He pulled his new hat off his stone-colored hair and bowed. “Rauha, je kunan. Ar ussen.”
I took the letter from his small, calloused hands. “Bene.”
He straightened, donned his hat, and disappeared out of the double doors of Guardian’s Glade.
“What does it say?” Eden asked, stepping over to lean against the armrest of my throne.
Such audacity from a human.
My human.
My Eden.
In all my days as a king, I had never expected this. In all my years, I could never have prepared for losing my mother, losing my father, losing my brother for a while, becoming king, and on top of it all, marrying a human.
When I glanced up at Eden, she ran her thumb down my cheek. “Are you going to open it?”
I broke the wide-leafed seal depicting sassafras leaves. The letter had been dated only two days previous. They responded immediately.
“Rauha, King Silas,” I read aloud. “We are heartbroken over our messenger’s fate. In a week’s time, we will send two of our Guardians to reclaim his body and his stones. Thank you for honoring him.”
I swallowed, tasting the iron and blood in the air of my memories. “We are sorry for your war with Nyx. We will send aid if you ask. But we first respect Arcadia’s boundaries. Since we also respect you as an Alpha in your own right, we invite you and your mate to join us in Lukosan whenever you desire.”
I met Eden’s eyes. Her eyebrows bent low over her eyelids.
“What is it?” I questioned.
“It’s a pity they didn’t send aid with Rusna. Maybe they could’ve managed Nyx for us.” She swallowed. “Maybe we wouldn’t have lost Elder Macon.”
I pulled her closer to sit on the armrest, my arm wrapped around her waist. “What’s done is done.”
She sighed, resting against me while I continued.
“If you desire, your family may visit with you. Say hello to Caroline and Nash for us. We hope you will accept our invitation, and congratulations again on finding your mate. Much love, A.”
“A?” Eden asked.
“Andra.” Nash waggled his eyebrows.
“Who is Andra?” Eden bent over the letter.
I passed it to her. “The Alpha of the Lukosan tribe.”
Memories of childhood flooded back as I recalled the days long past when we met with the nomadic tribe. Andra and Archer were our playmates, born the same summer as my siblings and me.
“They’ve grown up a lot.” Nash folded his arms over his chest. “They asked about you both a lot while I stayed with them.”
“I forgot that you said you were there.” I pushed to my feet, favoring my injured arm. “How are they?”
Nash shrugged, frowning. “Don’t know. I haven’t seen them in a year, remember?”
I shook my head. “As soon as Ransom is better, I need him to explain the Sight thing they did on Leander. I’m hoping it can help explain what happened to you while you were…” My voice trailed off.
Nash sighed. “Or at least unlock some of those memories. I have no idea what I did during that time.”
“So are we going to go?” Eden stood, folding the letter. “To Lukosan?”
I exhaled. I’d never traveled long distances with a human. It was bound to be different and more difficult. But a part of me yearned to leave Arcadia for a while, to escape the painful memories. And I wanted to see Archer and Andra, catch up with them, and see how they were running their kingdom.
I turned to Caroline. “Would it be too soon to visit in a few weeks? Is that irresponsible of me?”
She pursed her lips, eyebrows wrinkled. “I don’t think so, considering the death of their messenger and your betrothal. Markus and I can keep the kingdom under control while you’re absent. But I wouldn’t stay too long. You do have a wedding to plan.”
She smiled, giving Eden a knowing look.
“I am absolutely going with you.” Nash patted my shoulder.
I nodded then tugged Eden into a hug. “You wanted to see all the magic in the world, right?”
She pulled away enough to meet my eyes. “I do.”
“Let’s go find it.”