Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
NISSA
Two days later, I’m walking back to my room from the kitchens, where I’ve been trying to casually ask questions—I hope it seemed casual.
It is one of the rare days I have off from Isolde’s lessons and I had planned to use the time to find some answers. In a castle filled with fae who love to spread everyone else’s stories, I’m shocked at how little is known about Nova’s death. Or at least, how little is being shared with me.
In the past, no one would have thought twice about spilling all the castle secrets to me.
But going from the forgotten sister to the new Princess is exhausting.
The Fae fawn over me and the staff act like I’m a Vaylor now, too scared to talk to me.
My spirit feels like the broken trees in Terrania, leaving a dull ache settling in my chest.
The time is ticking down. What will I do if I don’t figure out what happened before the Coronation?
The hallway opens up and I’m surrounded by voices as I make my way across the Grand Entryway.
With my head down, I sigh when I hear my name rise above the steady murmur of the room.
Letting my hair fall around my face, my feet quicken to make it across the large space.
I’m too defeated to put on a fake smile right now.
“Nissa,” a voice breaks through over the others and my magic responds, urging me to slow down. I search the room but I already know who I’m looking for. My magic only reacts this way to one fae, to one male.
Cillian is striding towards me, Niko following close behind. Each step closer sends a thrill through me. I’m still not used to his bright eyes being back on me. A high that I had come to love and then missed every year after it was pulled from me.
Niko still wears his Guardian attire but Cillian is dressed more casually. His seafoam green shirt grips his biceps and the tapered dark navy pants that are tucked into a pair of worn grey leather boots. A smile threatens the corners of my mouth, as I watch them approach.
“You look…” I trail off letting my eyes wander up and down his toned body.
I’ve had a hard time getting him out of my head over the last few days.
Feeling the heat of his body so close to mine in the hall outside of his office, his thumb on my lip.
.. My cheeks warm as it all rushes back again.
The memories have left an imprint on my magic.
Memories that may have transitioned into fantasies that have taken root in my dreams over the last few nights.
He clears his throat and my cheeks tint pink as he observes me with a heated stare as I blatantly admire his body. My eyes jump to Niko, who is watching us with guarded curiosity.
“Not spending the day with my Mother?” Cillian asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“No, I have the day off. Thankfully,” I respond, the latter under my breath, causing the smirk he wore to transform to a full on entertained smile.
“You should join us then,” a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. He looks over his shoulder to Niko whose eyebrows have raised in response.
“Is there an issue with her coming along?” He asks the Lord Commander.
“Current protocol in place states the Princess should remain in the castle at all times unless…” Niko’s eyes jump between the two of us, unsure.
“Join you where?” I interject looking between the two of them, a crease between my brows. The thought of being outside of these walls is very appealing.
“We are visiting the elemental lands,” Cillian says, still facing Niko. “As the future Queen it would be beneficial for her to see the damages,” there is an edge to Cillian’s voice. Niko seems unconvinced, his jaw clenching but he doesn’t question the prince. Giving a slight nod.
Cillian’s eyes return to me, a light to them that is nothing short of nourishing.
My withering energy blooms back to life, a bud of interest growing.
The only time I have seen the damage first hand was in Terrania after the Memorial.
It would get me out of this castle for a little while.
And maybe Niko would slip up and tell me more than he shared when I moved in.
And it couldn’t hurt to see the portal again. Maybe do a little planning.
“I would love to see them,” I state a little too enthusiastically.
While Niko goes to file the record of my departure, I change into something less formal.
The dress I slip into is hemmed to mid calf with a slit to make it easier to move around.
The shortened length showing off my brown leather boots.
I feel more natural in this than I have in the two weeks since I’ve been here.
Heels and dainty flats aren’t functional on the Homestead.
We meet back in Cillian’s study to leave, “Where to first? Shall we save the lingering scent of smoke for the journey home?” Niko asks.
Before I can respond, I feel Cillian step up behind me.
My breath hitches as he slowly runs his hand down the front of my arm, intertwining his fingers between mine, his palm covering the top of my hand.
Instinctually I close my fingers around his, lacing us together.
Stepping flush against my back, he lifts our hands, placing our stacked hands to my stomach, his arm wrapping protectively across me.
The air stills in my chest. “What do you want?” His voice rumbles next to my ear sending bumps across my skin.
“What?” I whisper out, breathy, lifting my chin to look up at him over my shoulder. His blue eyes shine down at me. A smile pulling at his lips as he tugs me tighter to him.
“Where would you like to start, Lila?” He says, a heat filling his eyes that never existed before. We were just younglings learning what love was but this-
My magic becomes hard to contain, the rest of the world falling away.
This is the second time we have found ourselves in this position and my magic seems to be building when I’m around him.
A storm of its own raging to be let out.
Heat fills my stomach where our hands meet, a tightness coiling deep in me.
I’ve had years to practice hiding my powers. I never wanted to show Nova up.
Or have the Vaylor’s attention on me. But it is becoming harder and harder around Cillian.
It must be the heightened emotions, wreaking havoc on my elemental system. Grief because of Nova, anger at Gaia, frustration at all the dead ends, annoyance with Isolde and her lessons. And Cillian’s hands on me…
“Cillian-” Niko’s voice snaps both of us out of the haze we were lost in. We followed his line of sight to the desk. The fish in his desk are frantic, trapped in the churning waters that now fill their glass enclosure.
My attention returns to him, watching the confusion wash over his face. Is he doing that? How long has his magic been manifesting? I’m guessing not long based on the shocked energy buzzing through the room.
Dazed and distracted Cillian says, “Let’s save it to the end.”
We both just stare at him for a moment, still in shock. “The sooner we can wash the smell of smoke out upon our return, the less likely it is to cling to the clothes." He says looking back at us with clearer eyes.
Niko nods hesitantly. “See you in Ignaria.” he says, taking his cue from Cillian, ignoring what just happened. .
“Wait, I thought you said-” but before I can finish asking my question we all disappear from the room.
Heat blooms across my face the moment we materialize but a cool steady rain drips from the clouds.
I expected the area to be unbreathable but instead only one area in the distance has smoke billowing straight up into the grey skies.
While the air is sweltering there is little fire to note surrounding us. The veins of molten lava that used to pulse through the land are nothing more than obsidian scars now.
I drop to my haunches and reach out to run my fingers over the black glass but am jerked back to my feet before I can make contact.
“Lava still runs deep below. The rain is cooling the top too quickly to remain molten but the heat is real. As an earth fae, I would avoid touching it.” Niko chides as Cillian releases me.
If possible, my cheeks warm even further as I look back at the shining rock- steam rising with each droplet that hits it. Of course it is hot. I scold myself.
We follow one of the fissures towards the crater at the center of the fire land, ash coating the soles of our boots with each step.
When the ground opens up in front of us, I gap at the boiling fire below. Even with the water keeping the intensity subdued, it is nearly unbearably hot. I never came here before the storms so I can only imagine how consuming the heat would be at full flame.
It is a sober moment for me. Opening my eyes to what is happening in our world.
We don’t speak as we stare out over the pit. The energy that lives here- that should fill this space- doesn’t feed any of us. But it should be fueling a fourth of Castara’s Fae.
I have been using my magic to secretly help the crops on our Homestead and my own herbal garden as well. But that is insignificant. It isn’t enough to make an impact beyond my little plot of land.
And who is going to help the Fire Fae? Will Caspien? I don’t see him here touring the lands, meeting with the High Priestess to fix the storms. Can Cillian figure this out on his own?
I look over at the Prince by my side, soot streaks down his sharp cheekbones from the steady drizzle. Sweat causing his shirt to cling to him.
As I study the male, I can sense the weight of Castara on his shoulders. A weight that wasn’t forced there by a Goddess but a self inflicted wound from his own desire. His love for the Fae of this world. A weight that he is carrying on his own.