CHAPTER TWENTY
AMETHYST HAS SUMMONED US ALL to be present at dinner tonight. Which means it’s finally time for me to bring up the danger that’s lurking under Phixmery. I’m not sure how I feel about informing everyone, but I know I need to trust those around me and that includes the Lords’ sons—my mates.
Jesper finds me in the hall as I exit my room and scoops me into his arms, his mouth finding mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world, his ocean and mint scent washing over me, calming me.
When he places me back on my feet a frown pulls at his lips.
“What’s wrong? Who hurt you? Tell me and I’ll take your bird on a hunt,” he states without me getting a word in edgewise.
“I’m just nervous for dinner.”
He brushes a strand of loose hair behind my pointed ear. “Does this have to do with why you were looking for Amethyst before?”
My head dips hesitantly. “Yeah, but also finding out whatever she was planning to tell me when I got my memories back.”
He leans down and gives my nose a quick kiss. “I’m sure everything will be fine. But I’m starving, so if you don’t move those short legs, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you there.”
My eyes narrow into slits as I glare up at him. “You wouldn’t—”
An embarrassing squeak exits my mouth, betraying me, as he does exactly what he said he would. “Jesper! Put. Me. Down!”
His thumb rubs the inside of my thigh as his hand settles under my ass. “Not a chance. I have such a great view here. Plus it was like you didn’t hear my stomach wilting away. I could have died if you’d taken any longer.”
A deep groan settles in my chest. “Fucking fates, you’re nearly as dramatic as Nero.”
His thumb makes a pass again and it takes everything in me not to make a noise or clench my thighs together.
“I am not dramatic,” Nero states as he lands on my back. “But I do agree with the crazy mate. I’m starving.”
We turn down another corridor and the smell of cooked meats, bread and seasoning wafts down the hall.
“Can you at least put me down before we enter? I’d like to walk in on my own legs, thank you very much.”
I can practically hear his smile. “Nah, I don’t think I will. We have to remind your mates what they’re missing out on.” He sighs. “Because this ass is delectable.”
Using my hands I push up on his back. “Amethyst and my friends are also going to be in that room, Jesper. Don’t make me make you put me down,” I growl which only makes him laugh.
“I’d like to see you try, Little Mouse,” he purrs back, smacking my ass.
A grin spreads on my face as I remember something. My hands snake up, aiming for his armpits and he nearly drops me as he squirms to get away from my touch. I use that moment to escape his grasp, landing on my ass, my chest heaving with laughter.
“No, Ravina. Bad. Tickling is not fair! We’ve been over this!”
I rise up on my feet, grinning in triumph as I take off down the rest of the hall to the dining area while throwing over my shoulder, “Neither is picking me up because you’re impatient and I’m smaller than you!”
As I slip inside the doors, Aemon raises a brow at me as I go to take my seat between Mel and Ember. I ignore the silent question as Jesper bursts into the room, pouting at me like I betrayed him. I know it’s just a matter of time before he tries to get me back for that.
Nero dutifully sits on his perch at the table, waiting for his food, and when I glance around I don’t see Amethyst. Just as I’m about to ask where she is, she comes through the door, exhaustion written all over her face like she’s been traveling for ages with not much rest.
“Mother,” Aemon smiles at her as she takes her seat at the head of the table.
“I’m so sorry, I’ve been away longer than I expected,” she starts, glancing at each and every one of us. “My trip was only supposed to be a short one to check on the troops at the border and make sure things are running smoothly, but things became complicated.”
“Complicated how?” Talyn asks. His voice is firm, like the leader I’ve seen in him during my year at Phixmery. There’s no trace of the young male I remember.
Amethyst glances between her son and I with something akin to hesitation. “The Lords are pushing back harder, and there’s been rumours of a stone. One that I thought was long destroyed during the last great war, or so we all believed.” She cocks her head to the side as she stares at me.
My hands become damp with moisture as I swallow hard and whisper, “The Soul Stone.”
She dips her head. “Precisely.”
Aemon clears his throat as he peers between the two of us. “The stone you told us stories about as fledglings? I thought that was just a cautionary tale. You’re telling me it’s real?”
“The shadow wraiths,” Talyn whispers.
“Fuck,” Killian grumbles, and I swear I can feel the timbre of his voice shoot through my body.
“Can someone elaborate a bit more? What shadow wraiths?” I ask, placing my fork down. Food can wait. Next to me, Nero doesn’t share the same qualms and digs into his meal like it’s his last.
Amethyst places her hands in her lap and leans back in her chair. “What do you remember about the tales?”
“Just that it was used to bring devastation to the realm. That it was deadly to Gallalaus fae.”
I almost tell her about finding what I believed to be the Soul Stone underneath Phixmery but I wait, wanting to see where she’s taking this conversation.
She dips her head. “That is a part of it, yes. They say it was gifted to the Gallalaus fae from the fates during a time of great peril many, many millennia ago. That this stone could do as much good as it could evil, but at a cost that your family line has kept secret. Only Gallalaus fae could harness it, as they were the only ones who could pay the cost the Soul Stone required. The stone temporarily drains the power of your fae type, leaving them as vulnerable as nulls—magickless. For a period of time before your internal stores regenerated, or so we’re told.
Once the stone was fed, you’d be able to summon shadow wraiths, creatures that cannot die.
It was meant to help save our world, but in the wrong hands it can be just as destructive. ”
Aemon reaches out to his mother with concern pulling at his pale brows. “Why do you bring this tale up?”
“It’s because of the shadow creatures wreaking havoc in Spirrix, isn’t it?” Talyn asks, his knuckles white with how clenched his fists are.
Amethyst takes a swig of the wine from her crystal goblet. “There’s rumours that the Lords have found it. That they’re using it to try to create more of a reason for the other fae types to hate Vathians. Because these beings are made of shadow it doesn’t seem to be too far-fetched.”
“But how would they be able to use it if we have the only Gallalaus fae left?” Jesper asks, gesturing to me.
Amethyst shrugs delicately. “They must have found one they haven’t killed yet. Maybe for this purpose specifically."
I blink slowly as her words attempt to register in my mind, but another one of my kind?
It makes me elated that I’m not alone, but at the same time terrified for the fae trapped under the thumb of the lords.
“So that’s why you were gone so long? You were trying to find proof of these rumours? ” I ask.
“The shadow creatures haven’t been seen since before the Phixmery incident,” Talyn adds, still refusing to make eye contact with me.
She smiles ruefully. “Yes, Ravina, but I couldn’t.
So I went to visit the village that was last attacked by these shadowed creatures and it was like the land was marked by evil.
Even the wind didn’t seem to want to enter.
The bodies have been cleared out, but it was unnatural, how the village felt.
I’m almost positive they have the Soul Stone.
Although, from the stories, it was hidden away long ago. Maybe—”
“I know where it is,” I state, causing the room to become instantly quiet like all the air has been sucked out, only for a moment, then each and every one of them is speaking over each other.
“What do you mean you know where it is?” Amethyst asks softly, leaning forward.
Taking a steadying breath, I explain how I found the door deep under Phixmery when I was searching for a room for Nero and I to train in.
I describe the single black stone sitting alone in a room atop a pedestal that felt like it was sucking the life out of me before I managed to shut the door again.
“So, that’s what happened to you?” Jesper asks, looking to Kill. “We were there watching you and we tried to get the door open again after you left but it wouldn’t budge.” He turns to Amethyst. “Do you really think they would keep such a powerful artifact underneath Phixmery?”
“Phixmery never used to be an academy,” Aemon states. “In fact, it used to be a summer home for the Pendroko royals. After a while it was transformed into a learning institute for strong magick users, or that’s what the history texts say.”
“And then after the death of the royal family twenty-one years ago, they decided to make it into a military academy. With no royals to tell them no, it’s exactly what they did,” Amethyst seethes. “And my mate was no better.”
My eyes snap to Aemon’s and I watch as he shuts down, pulling within himself. I’ve noticed the absence of Lord Zorn but I didn’t want to ask. “What happened to your mate?” I ask hesitantly.
“He’s sick. Bedridden,” Amethyst states swiftly as she straightens the utensils in front of her.
Aemon scoffs. “Why lie to her, mother? Just be honest. We’re all family here.
” He crosses his arms over his broad chest and stares at his mother.
“Father was working for the Lords, so dear old mother here made him unnaturally sick and placed him in a deep sleep. She’s keeping him alive so I won’t need to ascend to Lordship yet, while she controls Vathia with my help.
It’s smart, but I still think we should have killed him while we had the chance. I can handle the responsibility.”
“He is sick,” she stresses. “That male is not my mate, something is wrong with him and I won’t kill him if there’s still a way I can cure him.”
My gaze bounces between the two before glancing at the rest of the table. I was not expecting that, but also, how could Lord Zorn have turned against us? Against his family? Poor Aemon, I can’t even imagine having to sit by watching while your mother tears herself apart to find a cure for betrayal.
Killian thankfully changes the subject, getting us back on track. “We should send scouts to go collect the stone, if it’s still there.”
Amethyst and her son break their staring contest to consider Kill’s proposal.
“It couldn’t be just anyone,” Aemon states, his voice gravelly with emotion.
“I wouldn’t trust anyone outside our group with an object like the Soul Stone.
It’s too dangerous. Not to mention if they were caught,” he shakes his head.
“Why don’t you send us back? Let us see if we can get into the room,” Lennox suggests.
My friends have been oddly quiet during this conversation, not that I blame them. If they are using this stone to cause destruction to Damorleia, well, it’s a lot to take in.
Roz jumps up. “Yeah, I could totally hide us, plus the dragons won’t keep us away because I have Thornwing. Not to mention that we already know what door you’re talking about. We passed it almost every day heading to Ravina’s cavern to help her train.”
I turn to my friends who seem determined to help. “You do realize you’ll be walking back into the heart of enemy territory. Maybe I should come with you—”
“No!” Their voices ring out, making me wince and Nero poof up.
“You, over everyone else, need to stay protected. You’re the next ruler of Damorleia,” Ember reminds me. “Let us do this,” she pleads to me and Amethyst.
I glance at Lady Zorn, letting her see the worry I have for Ember, the fae who has helped me trust in others again, before I turn back to them. “You’re too important to me. I can’t lose you. Any of you.” Ignoring the ruler part.
Mel leans into me whispering, “Plus think of all the one-on-one time you’ll get with all those gorgeous mates you have if we aren’t here. You know we will be okay. Let us do this for you. For Damorleia.”
I groan, but concede. “Fine. But I want updates.”
“I can send a trustworthy pixie with them; that way you can receive fast updates if anything goes sideways,” Aemon states with a nod.
A breath of relief expels itself from my body. “I can deal with that. But you four need to stay safe.”
Talyn wipes his mouth with the napkin before placing it down and standing. “I’ll go with them.”
My heart sinks. Does he really hate me so much that he needs to leave right after he got back?
“No,” Amethyst states. “All of your faces are widely known. Let these four handle it.”
His gaze narrows slightly as he wordlessly spins and leaves the room, taking his frustration with him which somehow hurts even more.
What does it matter that he’s my so-called ‘mate’?
It’s obvious he doesn’t want me. The male I knew as a fledgling is completely gone.
But what could I expect after twenty-one years of who knows what happening to them?
I have Aemon, Jesper and Kill… I think. That’s more than enough bonds to deal with—plus I have enough to worry about without adding that male’s problems to the list. The realm is a lot more fucked up than any of us even realized.
And somehow they want me to save it and then rule it?
“Thank you for dinner, Amethyst. I think I’m going to turn in for the night so I can be up to see these four off.” I nod in the direction of my friends.
“We will come with you,” Mel says, jumping to her feet.
“Of course,” Amethyst states. “Maybe we can have tea tomorrow and we can talk about your mother and memories?” she asks softly.
Right. We were also supposed to talk about that tonight. “Of course.”
Mel loops her arm through mine and whisks us out of the room before the males can even rise out of their chairs. “We are hanging out tonight if we’re going on a grand adventure without you.”
I lean into her. “I wish I could go, but you’re right. I need to stay here and train. Just promise me you four won’t do anything reckless. I’m especially talking to you, Roz.” I throw over my shoulder to the male walking behind us.
“Cross my heart,” he says. “Plus, you can help us plan how to get in and out.”
“They’ll be fine, Rav. They’ll be back before you know it.” Nero states from my shoulder. “Now let’s make sure they have a solid game plan before they depart into enemy territory. You think they’d bring me back an eye or two?”