Twenty Six #3
“Is the princess all right?”
“Does she need help?”
“Should we follow her?”
The guards asked my father.
“No. Give her some space,” he replied.
I could feel dozens of eyes on my back when I stopped walking.
My boots sinking into the snow, I lifted my eyes to the gray sky, from where more snowflakes floated down, adding to the blanket of white on the ground.
I couldn’t deny that there was beauty in the winter, but it was nothing compared to the beauty of emerald pastures, golden crop fields, sunshine, and warmth that had always filled Emeraldia.
That beauty was what I focused on as I lowered my gaze and closed my eyes.
I conjured images of my kingdom in my mind.
The places I had seen before for myself, like the capital and Zalie, and the places that I had only heard about or read about in books.
Cast the net of your magic far and wide.
But most importantly, I thought about Emeraldians because the kingdom was not the land, but its people.
Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly as I reached inside my well.
I didn’t have to travel far, for it was brimming with the ancient magic.
The water was clear, glistening, and warm.
A smile tugged at my lips as I ran my hands through Silberium, enjoying the velvety softness of it on my fingers.
I wanted to swim in it, to be enveloped in its healing waters. So I jumped in.
Peace and serenity wrapped around me, but I didn’t want to keep the blissful sensation all to myself.
The ancient magic was a gift, and it was meant to be shared, for all of my realm to rejoice together.
Still swimming in the sea of tranquility, I let myself soak it all in.
I became a vessel until Silberium was flowing through my veins, saturating my every pore.
Another deep breath, and then I released it.
I pushed it out of me, and it easily followed my will.
Like a powerful wave, it splashed outward, carrying through the air deeper into my kingdom.
It wasn’t a wave of destruction, but of salvation as Silberium settled into the cracks in the ground and molded to sick plants and trees.
Like a salve, it healed and restored, breathing new life into the tired land.
The land that had given us so much. It was my honor and duty to nurture it back to health.
A gasp escaped me when the last drop of Silberium left my body.
I felt empty and exhausted but fulfilled.
The gravity pulled on my limbs, dragging me down.
The earth called out to me, ready to welcome me in its embrace when I inevitably collapsed.
My eyelids grew heavy as my knees gave out.
Two strong arms wrapped around my waist to hold me up.
“I’ve got you,” Adrian said next to my ear.
My head fell onto his right shoulder as I relaxed into his hold. “You do have. For as long as we both shall live.”
His chest heaved on a heavy sigh. “I feel conflicted. I know that’s not what you wanted, but I’m grateful that it’s you.
” I should also feel grateful because I had found a way to save my kingdom, but all I felt was bitter regret about how everything had unfolded.
“Your patterns…they’re gone.” When I lifted my hands to inspect them, my skin no longer shimmered with golden designs.
“Except for the star.” His left hand engulfed mine, and he ran his thumb over the star near the V between my thumb and pointer finger.
His touch elicited a shiver, and I pulled my hand away and asked, “Did you find Tarn?”
“I did. He’s demobilizing our forces as we speak. He didn’t take the news well, but he isn’t foolish enough to go against my wishes since I’m now the most powerful being in the Fae realm.”
“Are you still the most powerful? Even after I siphoned the ancient magic from you?”
“I am. You siphoning some of Silberium from me took the edge off, but it didn’t diminish my magical strength.” He didn’t sound proud of the fact, and when I glanced at his face, I didn’t find the same power-hungry gleam I had seen in Sorin’s eyes.
“Lady May told me that Estelle and Oberon were lovers. It’s them I have been seeing in my dreams, not us.”
“I see. The Golden Queen and the Silver-eyed King. I wonder why our history doesn’t mention that.”
“Our history doesn’t mention many things. There is only one person who knows what truly happened.”
Feeling steady on my feet, I stepped away from Adrian, and we both turned and looked at Lady May.
“Do you think we are them from another life?” I faced him again.
He met my gaze. “Even if we are, we can forge our own path…together.” He tried to reach for me, but I folded my arms over my chest, avoiding his touch. Frowning, he balled his hand into a fist and dropped it. “I must return to Aubrielle, but I’ll be back to discuss the wedding.”
“No!” I interjected. “Send Thea instead.”
His frown deepened. “Emelin—”
“Please. I need some time away from you. I’ll see you at the wedding.”