Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Cotton
Night fell during the ride to the Wind Kingdom, but the ceraber never stopped. She kept going, and we were fine with that. I had no way of knowing how much further we had before we arrived, but I could only hope it wouldn’t be too long.
I was pretty sure Onyx had fallen asleep against my back along the way at some point. My mind wouldn’t allow me that luxury, but it begged the question, what had he been through that he could sleep in this position?
As the sun began to rise, the ceraber slowed her pace. Onyx shifted, his hands slipping from around my waist and massaging my shoulders. “Been a while since I woke up to you.”
Heat rose up my neck and face again, remembering back to the days when we’d fall asleep for an afternoon nap after getting lost in each other. Back then, one of us would wake up in a panic, fearing being late or missing a training session.
We still journeyed through the forest, but I sat up with Onyx following suit when I noticed the trees began to shift and move out of our path, creating a clear shot ahead as the ceraber calmly walked.
The edge of the forest came into view, and the scent of brine and seawater hit my senses.
I’d only ever been to the beach once before in my life.
When I was a child, probably around the age of six, my parents took a small vacation to the beach in South Carolina.
I’d loved it, until I’d gotten stung by a jellyfish.
After that, I never trusted the beach again.
Too many unknowns lurking in the sea. I couldn’t even imagine what would be hiding beneath these magical waters.
A pebbled beach emerged, and the closer we got to it, the stronger the winds grew. Gusts of wind battered my face, forcing my hair to lie flat against my skull. My eyes began to water, so I angled my head against my shoulder to avoid the onslaught.
“Are we lost?” Onyx shouted into the wind.
I shrugged, feeling like there should’ve been something here. Surely this couldn’t be the end of our journey.
The ceraber carried us further into the airy barrage until the beach dropped off into a raging sea. She stopped, lowering herself onto her belly. I turned around to look at Onyx, stupidly expecting him to know what was to happen from here.
He didn’t.
The bear gave a low growl, her back rumbling between my thighs, and we both jumped before swinging our legs over and sliding off the Celestial creature.
My legs were shaky, I presumed from hours of squeezing onto her with my knees for dear life, but I ignored the ache, looking around in search of any clue.
I was beginning to think we’d made a mistake when a strong gust of wind slammed into me, knocking me back to bump into Onyx. He grabbed hold of my shoulders to steady me, taking his time to slide his hands slowly down my arms. I shivered.
The gust of wind transformed into a current of air, cycling around the three of us. I squinted when a flame grew within the current, expanding more and more until we became encircled in a ring of wind-fire.
Onyx and I tensed, unsure if we were being threatened or not. The ceraber appeared unbothered, remaining on her belly and closing her eyes.
A face appeared within the flames, something I’d never seen before, accompanied by a deep male voice. “Who are you and why have you traveled to the Wind Kingdom?”
Onyx took the opportunity to speak. “We’re here for the Princ—I mean, Queen Gray Monroe.”
The fire increased its circulating speed. “The queen…” he said. “Unfortunately, you just missed her. She was taken in an unprecedented ambush just last night. As well as her Guardian.”
“Fuck.” Onyx ran his fingers through his hair, his darker complexion paling a few shades. “Who? Who took her?”
I shared a knowing look with Onyx, hoping that we were both wrong.
“Chrome Freyr. He’s lost to the Tempests’ Syphon Bond.
He managed to infiltrate our home after having brought them here himself to stay safe from him.
It appeared he’d had a moment of clarity, which I believe was due to Her Majesty’s Guardian.
We are a very secretive and well-guarded group.
No one has ever breached our protections until last night when he stormed our home with an army of Infernals,” the voice explained.
“Forgive me for not welcoming you into my—”
“Wait,” Onyx said, cutting him off. “Forgive my rudeness, but we just came from the Mystics. Cotton and I are from Terraguard as Kinetics. I am…” He swallowed, then sighed.
“More like, I was Chrome’s second-in-command before he turned Infernal.
We all grew up together. I’m close with Gray and Slate as well.
We need to get to her, and we have been led to believe that you guys might have the Seraphite Stone, which is needed to—”
No one had led us to believe that. I assumed Onyx was bluffing as a way to get us inside.
“I know what it’s used for. We hold the Seraphite Stone here with us to protect it.
We are the keepers and warriors of knowledge and balance.
” The Druid grew impatient, the fire picking up speed.
“We are in the middle of recovering from the assault that took many Druid lives. Lives that have existed for far longer than your comprehension. Now is not the time. We are grieving for all that we’ve lost.”
Onyx dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “I understand you…”
“I do not think you do.” The flames soared higher, rotating faster and faster around us.
Sweat clung to my clothes and dripped from my brow. I figured I’d give it a try.
I stepped closer to the Druid, not fearing the flames as I spoke into his mind.
“I apologize for intruding in your mind and on your home during such a difficult time.” I found it oddly simple to communicate telepathically with him.
I didn’t need to search for a link as I did with others.
Being in his mind, I realized that his physical self was currently standing here with us, his magic concealing him in the flames.
“You speak via the power of telepathy? What are you?” The man sounded pensive.
“I’ve been raised to believe I was Kinetic my entire life. It wasn’t until recently, due to being in Arcadia, that I was informed by two different sources that I might have Druidic ancestry.” I shifted my stance, sliding my hands into my back pockets.
“Who are your parents?”
“Sage and Daisy Sjodin.”
An intake of breath came from the flames, sounding almost like popping kindling. “That’s impossible.”
“I assure you that it’s not, because I’m here. How do you know my parents?”
“I don’t. I know your ancestors.” The fire began to slowly settle, calming to the point that it was only a flicker.
And when the flame disappeared, a tall man with pointed ears and eyes holding centuries of existence stared back at me.
“Come along.” He spun around and headed toward the cliff’s edge.
Onyx nudged my shoulder, leaning in close enough to be heard through the wind and not by the Druid. “What did you say to him?”
“The truth.” I shrugged and followed the man to where I overlooked a volatile sea that battered the side of the cliff.
“We don’t have a specific entrance into our kingdom. So you’ll have to grasp hold of my arms.” He held out his thick and muscled arms to each side, and we both did as he said, clasping on to his forearms.
The Druid reached out with both forefingers and middle fingers and drew sigils in the air, white lines tracing each stroke. With no warning, we disappeared into the wind, getting pulled through a vacuous tunnel until our feet landed on a hard surface.
The air was significantly different here than outside. It wasn’t stale, but rather ancient. However, the stench of death and blood polluted what I imagined had previously been a peaceful space.
Floating flames, similar to those in the Mystics’ territory, illuminated rows and rows of books climbing up the walls and out of sight, as well as a scene of utter chaos.
Druids rushed around us as they worked to clean up the disaster zone.
Crimson stains and deep gray pools of an unknown substance thickened on the stone floors.
Papers were littered everywhere, and even random body parts.
Discarded swords, daggers, and other unusual weapons I’d never seen before peeked beneath the debris of books, overturned tables, and chairs.
“Usually it’s quieter in here, but as I said, these aren’t normal circumstances,” the man said, glancing around, solemnity exuding from him and the kingdom in waves.
After a few moments, he returned his attention to us.
“I’m High Mage Brecken, leader of the Druids.
Now, if you’ll please follow me, I feel we have much to discuss, starting with your heritage. ”
Brecken led Onyx and me up a long, winding, narrow stairwell.
The steps were uneven and tricky, and I worried Onyx would be the one to trip and plummet to his death during our ascent.
Turned out, I would be the one who’d nearly break an ankle as my foot rolled in a large divot on a step.
Onyx, following behind me, reached out to stop me from taking us both out.
The stairwell seemed like it would never end.
But after roughly fifteen minutes, we reached a landing, and Brecken guided us down a corridor.
Like everywhere else I’d been in Arcadia thus far, everything was made of stone.
Probably because it was built inside a cliff, I presumed, but the immaculate details and precision in the carvings along the walls were something of a marvel.