Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
ELARIYA
“Do you think she'll come?” I turned toward Arielle. She looked back at me, just as apprehensive.
“We can only pray.” She looked away and gazed ahead toward the door.
I wished she looked more confident. I needed her strength again.
Arielle and I stood with Wolfe and Bastian, within a stone alcove overlooking the underground training facility at Hyxian. We were waiting for Magdalena.
We had sent her an echo raven last night, asking to meet here. As to whether she’d show up or not was still up for debate.
It was early in the morning. Early enough that she’d be at the academy but wouldn’t have started lessons or meetings yet.
This was the first time that Arielle and I had been here with Wolfe and Bastian. They were here for protection. Alaric and Garrick were outside, out of sight and on the lookout. They were our backup if anything went wrong.
We had concealment wards around us, but the last few days had shown that we could never be too careful.
Wolfe sighed next to me. “We'll give it a few more minutes, then we'll go.”
“Go?” I glanced up at him, my stomach tightening at the thought of leaving without seeing Magdalena. “We need her.”
“We’ll try to reach her another way.” He reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He was trying, trying to remain composed and in control for my sake.
I appreciated him for it, and despite the stress of wondering if Magdalena was going to turn up, I thanked the gods I wasn’t in Zyvaris with Thayden.
This morning, I awoke in the bed I shared with my husband at our home in Galaythia. His arms were wrapped tightly around me, and I was pressed against him, skin to skin, safe.
There was no cottage with the monstrous Deathless inside. No need to sneak around Thayden’s manor in the Obscura. No more need to suppress my powers.
I could be myself again. As short-lived a victory that was, I savored it, along with that fact that I’d accomplished the mission I’d tasked myself with when I returned to the mortal realm.
I did that all on my own. As bad as the situation was, that was sort of an accomplishment. For me.
Now I just had to worry about everything else. I almost wished I didn’t know the severity of what we were up against. And what was to come.
Wolfe opened his mouth, no doubt about to offer more reassurance, when a pulse of light flickered in the air before us.
We remained still.
The glow intensified, then Magdalena stepped out of it, her teaching robes flowing behind her.
Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly buckled. “Magdalena,” I breathed.
She offered Arielle and me a gentle smile while the glow of her magic folded in on itself until it disappeared with a twinkle.
Her steps slowed as she regarded the four of us, and for a moment, she simply stared.
When her gaze drifted between Wolfe and Bastian, a sheen of sweat bloomed on the back of my neck.
"Well," she said softly. "I wasn't expecting the royal prince and his second-in-command to come and see me personally. And right before first lesson."
I’d never known her to joke. It had to be a sign of nerves.
“Apologies, my Lady,” Wolfe said with a curt bow. “Like my message said, it is a matter of great urgency.”
She nodded, and the light humor that had touched her face retreated. “I’m taking a great risk for you, Wolfe Nightblade.”
“I know. I would never put you or the academy in intentional danger. We must speak with you at once.”
I held my breath as we waited for her answer. The seconds that passed felt like hours crammed into one.
When she nodded again, the tightness in my chest loosened.
Magdalena glanced over her shoulder toward the door. Her expression tightened, and she dropped her voice to a whisper. “We cannot speak here.” Her gaze flicked back to Wolfe. “There are too many people who would benefit from knowing you're here, Your Grace.”
A chill ran through me.
“The Citadel are here?” Bastian asked.
“They’ve always been here. I know a place we can go to speak in private.”
Magdalena stepped back and swept a hand across the air.
A spark of magic unfurled like strands of silk, floating loose into the air.
The light expanded around us in a widening circle, then the world shifted, from light to dark and light again.
My stomach swooped. The academy vanished. Then warmth replaced the chill of uncertainty.
Woodsmoke and herbs drifted through the air. My vision settled and I saw that we were standing inside a cozy cottage.
A fire crackled in the hearth and shelves lined the walls, crowded with old tomes and ornaments that looked handcrafted.
Sunlight streamed through diamond-paned windows and pooled across a worn rug beneath our feet.
Magdalena moved toward a table near the fire and shrugged out of her robes.
“Sit,” she gestured to the floral-patterned sofa opposite her. “Let’s talk.”
She lowered into the armchair by the fire.
“Where are we, Magdalena?” I asked, noticing the woods and the crimson-colored leaves on the trees through the window.
“Beldjor Forrest. On the borders of the mage realms.”
The mage realms. How I would love to go Ravenwood. Now wasn’t the time to pine after something so small. It was insignificant in the grand scheme of things. At least I was on the border.
“My husband and I shared this cottage with our twin sons when they were children.” Magdalena explained with a fond smile. “Now we use it as a retreat. Or for meetings like these. The wards prevent anyone from tracking us here.”
“Thank you for agreeing to see us,” Arielle said.
“Well, I didn’t think I could let my two favorite students down.” An uneasy look flashed in her eyes and settled there. “I was unable to respond to your previous messages. Everything from my end was being traced. An adjudicator from the Citadel was assigned to me, watching my every move.”
“We understand.” I nodded.
Wolfe glanced at me, then back at her before he started talking. “I didn’t kill my uncle, Magdalena.”
“I know.”
Her confidence surprised me. “You know?”
She looked at me again. “I know.”
“How?” Wolfe asked with narrowed, hopeful eyes, sitting forward.
“My dear boy, it is no secret that your uncle has always been after the throne. When your father was murdered, I straightaway suspected your uncle had something to do with it. I’m sure you suspected him, too.”
“I did,” Wolfe answered with conviction.
“You had no proof, so you kept him alive.”
“That is correct.”
“You wouldn’t kill him in secret. That’s not you, no matter your curse. You’d want to expose him.”
I was surprised at how well she knew Wolfe.
He nodded slowly and she smiled.
“What happened? And you don’t look a Deathwalker to me.” She looked him over.
"I can control it now. I was framed, Magdalena.”
“I suspected as much.” She let out a long, sad sigh. “I am not sure how I can help you. I do not possess the power to break your curse.”
“I know. We have come for another reason.”
“What would that be?” She glanced briefly at me.
“For that, we have to tell you the whole truth,” Wolfe confessed nervously.
Magdalena raised her brows. “That suggests you’ve told me lies.”
“Not entirely. But whatever I did was to protect.”
“Okay.” She swallowed and lifted her chin. “So, tell me the truth.”
“That starts with me,” I filled in. Wolfe and I went over this earlier. I wanted to be the one to come clean about who I was and the urgency in controlling my powers. She should hear it from me.
“Okay. Tell me.” She focused on me.
“My name wasn’t Elariya Clearwayer. It was Elariya Grayson. My father is Jonathan Grayson."
She sat forward. “The ambassador from the mortal lands?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I kept that from you, but we had to.”
I followed that by telling her everything else about myself—my curse, my father, and the quest for the ring. Wolfe took over after that, filling her in on the rest.
Magdalena gazed back at us after, her pale eyes glassy and her already-pale skin alabaster.
“The Deathless,” she muttered in a whisper-soft voice, as though she were afraid to speak their name.
“Yes. The Deathless,” Wolfe confirmed.
“The answer can only be war.” She blew out a harsh breath.
“There is no other way. Elariya and I need to get the ring back.” Wolfe straightened. “You’ve helped her tremendously to harness her powers, but we’re running out of time.”
“I agree.” She looked at me again. “You’re beyond your years. There is no doubt. And I have not seen power like yours in a long time. You’re not far from being ready to retrieve and bond with your dragon, but there is still much I have to teach you.”
“The Seer said you may have another way to help me learn faster. Something you may possess.” I bit the inside of my lip, hoping she might spill whatever secret the Seer hinted at.
At first, she looked confused, then my words seemed to grip her, as if it fell into place in her mind. It was as though she’d suddenly remembered something and was now debating with it.
“Blessed Mother,” she rasped, her gaze falling to the polished floorboards. She sighed and brought her hands together, squeezing them nervously before looking back at us.
“What is it, Magdalena?” Wolfe observed the change in her demeanor with curious eyes. We all did.
“The Seer is… correct.” She loosened the grip on her hands. “I just never thought this day would come. But I guess some secrets can’t stay buried.”
Now I was really intrigued to find out what she kept under the lock and key of her mind.
“Whatever help you have, we truly need it.” Wolfe leaned in again. “Any chance we have at fighting back lies with you.”
“Yes. I understand that now.” She looked completely uncomfortable, but she composed herself. “I will help, but I cannot guarantee anything. The decision isn’t mine entirely.”
“What do you mean?” Arielle asked.
“The Seer’s idea is rather ingenious. It’s to do with my father. He’s… a master of time magic. He will have something you can use to find the dragon.”
“Your father?” I gave her a thin stare.
“Yes.”
“He’s a time mage?” If he was, I’d be surprised she never mentioned him before.
“No.” She glanced cautiously at Arielle. “My father is a vampire. He’s the head of House Thagar in Dravkava.”
Everyone looked stunned. But Arielle… she was something else.
Every time I heard the word vampire, I thought of her family being massacred.
I also remembered what she told me about vampires and how obsessed they were with learning time magic.
When she told me that, I never even considered approaching them for help or contemplating what they might be able to do.
Even I knew the hostility vampires felt toward everyone who wasn’t them.
“Your father… is a vampire?” Arielle could barely get the word out.
“I’m sorry, my dear. Yes. He is.”
“So, you’re half vampire?” Wolfe stared at her, confused.
“I am.”
“But I didn’t pick that up in you. I sense only your mage magic.”
“Because that is what I choose to show. Understandably, it is a secret I’ve had to keep close to my heart. Nobody knows about him, at least not people of this world. The Seer is different. She helped hide me.”
“Your secret is safe with us,” Wolfe assured her, glancing at Bastian, who gave a small nod of confirmation. Arielle and I did, too.
“I appreciate that. If word were to get out, I’m not sure what would happen.
It certainly wouldn’t be a good look for the vampire court.
Viktor Thagar, one of the most powerful vampires in Dravkava and his archmage daughter.
” She sighed and appeared composed, but I saw fear brewing in her eyes.
“My parents met under unusual circumstances and fell in love. Vampires loathe the Fae, but they hate mages more. In certain factions it is forbidden to be with someone outside the court. When my father found out my mother was pregnant with me, he hid us. They would have had us killed. My father loved us, but… he chose to protect us and stay away. I have lived my life learning to suppress my vampire powers. No one can detect them. And I guess I’m not old enough for people to start questioning my long life yet. ”
As I looked at her now, I recalled thinking there was more to her. I'd sensed it somehow. It was her presence. It seemed vastly different from mages like Grandmother and Arielle. I’d assumed the difference lay with her being an archmage. It wasn’t.
“I’m intrigued,” Wolfe said, still looking surprised. “I’ve never met a being quite like you.”
A soft smile played on her lips. “You get good at certain things when you have to protect yourself and those you love.”
“I guess you do,” Arielle stated, biting down on her bottom lip. Bastian reached for her hand, and she squeezed it.
“I know how you feel about the vampires.” Magdalena nodded. “You are right to be cautious. I would never sway your mind. I have my suspicions, too, about what happened to your family. But that cannot matter now. This is a chance you must take, my sweet girl.”
“I know.” Arielle dipped her head, but the unease remained in the dip of her shoulders.
“You must go to Dravkava. Tell my father I sent you.” She looked at each of us then stopped on me. “If he decides to help, he will align your magic, so that you’ll have exactly what you need to create the dragon bond.”
“Do you think he might not help?”
“I cannot say. Give him this.” She flicked her wrist over and opened her palm. In the center lay a bronze coin with an insignia embossed on it—a lion with a spear in its mouth. “You’ll have more chance of him agreeing if you show him this.”
“What is it?” Bastian asked.
“My Blood Sigil. It is the claim to my birthright and my place within House Thagar, should I ever wish it. My father gave it to me the last time I saw him. It was my mother’s funeral. I was eighteen at the time.”
My eyes widened. She was two hundred years old. It had been close to two centuries since she'd last seen him.
Magdalena handed the coin to Wolfe. He held it to the light and inspected it.
“Show it only to my father, so he’ll know you came with my blessing.”
“I will,” Wolfe promised.
“Do not portal to Dravkava,” Magdalena warned. “And do not use magic unless you have to. Fly by dragon and cloak yourselves. The vampires do not take too kindly to outsiders, let alone Fae royals.”
Wolfe nodded his understanding. “We truly appreciate this, Magdalena.”
“Just stop them, young Nightblade. The Deathless.” She pressed her hands together again. “If they walk free, the entire realm will be at risk. Life will not be as we know it. All that our forefathers fought to protect will be for nothing.”
Wolfe placed a hand to his heart and with a reverent dip of his head said, “I will fight with everything inside me. This I promise you.”
Magdalena touched a hand to her heart and bowed, too.
We had leverage again. And we were one step closer to getting the ring.