Chapter 19
Irubbed my eyes, and the room sharpened into focus. Juniper tidied my chambers, setting a quiver down beside a bow in the corner of the room.
“Juniper?” I stretched my arms over my head. “Where did that come from?”
“A gift from his highness. He said you needed one.”
I told him I loved archery when he was in a sleepy haze in the infirmary—I didn’t even think he heard me.
The floorboards creaked with each step I took. The golden-hued longbow etched with leaves settled easily into my hands. He hadn’t just heard me; he welcomed a side of me that few understood.
“It’s beautiful.” My fingertips trailed the leaves.
“Where did you learn to hunt, my lady?” Juniper poured tea into a glass mug. The hot liquid formed droplets on the outside.
“An old friend.” I still remembered my lessons.
Cael insisted that I learn to protect myself as things grew more hostile in the kingdom.
King Ardyn never approved, but he didn’t care enough to intervene, either.
“I am not much of a hunter, but I enjoy target practice. It relaxes me. The prince is very thoughtful.”
“Yes, indeed.” She lifted a riding tunic from the dresser drawers, a perfect pale green, with a flowing split hem skirt, and matching pants. “It may be the perfect day to try it.”
I dressed quickly and draped the bow over my shoulder, along with its matching quiver before I slipped out of my chambers.
“Going hunting?” Fyn passed me in the corridor. “I wasn’t aware you were fond of the sport.”
“There is much you aren’t aware of, Fyn,” I said.
“It does seem to be your mission to always keep us all on our toes.” He chuckled.
“You mean my watchful companion wasn’t aware of my new gift?”
“Believe it or not, Lioran and I do not discuss everything with each other. I’m not sure why he thinks giving you a weapon is a good choice, but he must have a reason.”
A smirk settled on my face as I rolled my eyes.
“Join me?”
“As much as I’d love to see you beat me, as I’m sure you would, I have to attend to a shipment for Othryl.” The light in his eyes dimmed.
“You were able to secure medical supplies?”
“Some. I should be going.” Fyn nodded as he left.
I wished I could relieve the pain Othryl, and the other villages felt, but I didn’t know how. My magic restored very little. New blooms wouldn’t be enough to save anyone.
The sun greeted me the moment I set outside; its familiar hug embraced me. Lioran waited on a bench.
“You’re up early this morning,” he said as I approached. “The bow suits you.”
“Thank you. I didn’t think you heard me.”
“I heard every word.” He lifted the bow over my head and tucked it under his arm. “I had a target set up for you in the clearing.”
We set off down the stone path together. “I’ve been longing to practice again. This bow is so much more beautiful than the one I left behind in Bailoc.”
“It surprised me to hear you enjoyed the pastime.”
My smile faded, remembering the look on Cael’s face. “An old friend taught me.”
“You miss this friend?” His head tilted.
“Yes. He protected me always.” I clutched the quiver strap that lay across my chest.
His expression hardened. “This friend…was he more than a friend?”
“No,” I quickly replied. “He was a knight who taught me so I could protect myself. He saw too much in his rounds in Bailoc. Everything I knew about the blight, about the unrest, was all because he told me. No one else would.”
The ripples of the water followed us as we walked alongside the river. The memory raced through my mind. My dagger aimed at my friend. His desperation. Mine.
“What’s wrong?”
“He tried to stop me at the divide.” I wasn’t sure if I should even speak of the rest. “I pointed my dagger at him.”
Lioran stopped in front of me. “Whatever you had to do to escape—to get here. It doesn’t matter. You’re here. You’re safe.”
I tried to still my breath, but I couldn’t stop picturing Cael’s face.
“He didn’t know why I was so desperate—until I told him. I still remember how he looked at me like I was someone he couldn’t accept. He never looked at me like that before. Cael was one of the few people who never treated me like a burden.”
“He let you go.” Lioran’s voice held steady.
“Because I had a dagger.”
“A knight wouldn’t have been afraid of you with a dagger.” His lips curled upward. “I’m sure you were absolutely terrifying though.”
I laughed, but soon that smile faded too.
“I left my sister, Ashlyn. She didn’t deserve me abandoning her. I didn’t even say good-bye the day I left.”
“Does she know you’re half-fae?”
“I’m sure she does now.”
“If she loved you then, she loves you still,” he spoke with such certainty.
“How could you possibly know that?” I asked.
“Anyone who truly knows you…understands you. They have to see what I do.”
“And what’s that?” I squinted as a glimmer of sunlight caught in my eyes.
“There is a strength inside you that can’t be stifled—that couldn’t be contained in Bailoc—or in the Vale,” he whispered as he drew closer. “It’s in your very name—Ay-leer-uh.”
“I like the way you say it—like it means something.”
“It means everything,” he whispered. “It means resilience.”
I had never known my name meant anything at all. Never knew how beautiful it could sound until I stumbled into Lythira—until Lioran spoke it for the first time. He’d heard it before, but I hadn’t thought about what that meant.
“King Ardyn wouldn’t know it though…Because he didn’t name you.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“A king who hates the fae wouldn’t knowingly name his daughter a fae name.” He chuckled.
“My mother…” I clutched the gemstone with my free hand. “My father…they chose my name,” I exhaled, releasing the stone.
My name was fae. I was fae. It was a piece of my story that had been silent. Now that I knew it—I felt a little more whole.
The quiver strap slipped off easily. My boots held it in place as it landed in the dirt. A lean arrow twisted effortlessly between my fingertips. Both the bow and arrow were longer than I was used to.
“Do you practice?” I asked as I gripped the bow firmly in my hand. My fingers settled on the string as I steadied the shaft of the arrow in place.
“No, I have no love for archery, but I am curious to see how you handle it.”
“Well, do not judge me too harshly. It’s been a while since I’ve practiced.”
He chuckled as I focused on the target.
My fingers released the bowstring. The arrow lodged itself into the outer rim of the target. I wasn’t sure if I would make it at all. His eyes narrowed as the sunlight washed over his face, embracing every angle of his face that I loved. His silver eyes dazzled even when he was squinting.
“I should have given you a bow much sooner,” he whispered.
I set the bow down beside me. “And why is that?”
“You’re glowing. You’re doing something you love, and it brings you to life.”
“I thought all fae glowed.” I giggled.
“Not like you do.”
I felt myself melting in his gaze. Craving him closer to me, but here in the open it couldn’t be risked. Anyone could see if I so much as held his hand.
“Lioran…” I whispered.
He angled himself toward me as he whispered back, “Yes?”
“I wish we were alone together.” The words felt dangerous as they left my lips. I had never said that to anyone, but with him it was different. I needed him closer. He brought me to life.
He inhaled deeply. His words releasing with an exhale. “When you are ready for it, we will be.” My eyes met his for only a heartbeat. A slow but steady grin spread across his face. “For now, it’s safer for us to remain here.”
“You don’t think I’m ready?”
“I want you to be sure of it.” He thrust the bow back into my hands, but lingered at my side. “Focus on the target, Aelira.”
The arrow settled on the bow as he exhaled sharply.
“I would be happy to, but you’re standing too close to me.”
His eyebrow rose as he stepped back.
“I didn’t say I wanted you to move.”
“I can’t take you hinting at anything else. Just focus on the target.”
“Oh I am.” My shoulders relaxed as I held the stance, the string gnawing at my cheek as I released the arrow. The tip plunged into the center of the target.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Well thank you.” I leaned the bow leaned against the tree, sitting in the grass beneath it.
“Planning to grow some flowers?” He sat beside me.
“We haven’t tried our magic together since we healed the tree.”
“Would you like to?”
“Eager to make something bloom?” I chuckled. “It’s all I really know how to do.”
“That is not what Cora tells me. I hear you also make willow tree branches grow.”
“Yes, most impressive.”
“I’m just teasing you, you can do so much more.”
“I want to call the little bird like you did. Will you show me?”
“Of all the things, I can do…that is what you wish me to show you? You know we could practice calling for magical creatures like the sylkren instead.”
“No…I think I’ll let you handle that one.”
His melodic laughter boomed. “I’m sure the little bird would be delighted to see you again.”
We slid behind the massive tree beside us. His fingers cradled mine, until my palm settled into his. For a moment, no one could see.
“Relax and imagine the little yellow bird.” He braced my hand, and didn’t move from my side.
Nothing happened.
He closed his eyes, his magic sifted over my hand like a gentle trace of his fingertips.
I scoffed. “Don’t call it for me.”
“This is why Cora trains you.” His eyes softened.
“I thought it was because you didn’t want to watch me destroy your territory again.” I laughed.
He shook his head. “No. Cora remembers what it feels like to not be in control of her magic. I don’t.”
I closed my eyes and imagined the bird that greeted us in the infirmary, felt its little feet prodding at my palm. I opened my eyes, and two little black eyes were staring back at me. Smooth, glimmering, golden-streaked feathers nestled into my palm.
“There are times you’re connecting with your magic, and you don’t even know it.
” His melodic voice washed over me, grounding me.
His hand hovered over my heart. “You carry such strength…not just in your magic, but in who you are. It’s yours to claim.
It was there even when I met you, but you weren’t ready to see it. ”
“And you did?”
“The moment I did, my heart was no longer my own.”
“When did you know?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter when.”
The little bird lifted its wings and took flight from my hand. “It matters to me. When did you first start to feel that way?”
“When I held my blade to your chest. My heart clenched so tightly…and when they were dragging you…and you screamed. A part of me shattered.”
They attacked him, because he was looking for me—fighting for me.
“You…didn’t tell me.”
“We were a little busy and then I was bleeding out.” His laughter fell short. “I won’t even ask you when you knew. You hated that you sensed me at the willow tree.”
“I didn’t hate it,” I grew quieter. “Just didn’t understand it. It terrified me.”
“I terrified you?”
“Maybe at first.” I folded my hands in front of me. “I had never felt like this before, and sensing someone… well that’s something else entirely. You were so persistent, and I couldn’t explain it to you.”
“I wanted to hear you felt like I did.”
I gasped. “And I told you it was nothing…said I wanted Fyn to walk me back.”
“Not going to lie, that one hurt a little. I was so sure you only cared about him.”
“It was only ever you. I’m sorry,” I said.
“Don’t be. It led us to this.” He paused for a moment as he leaned back into the tree. “There’s something I want to ask you about. There is a ritual coming up in a few days. I’d like for you to take part in it with me.”
“What kind of ritual?”
“The Verdant Alignment. The night in which the stars align to bless the Earth with their powers. I use my grounding magic to perform a ritual that helps spread the celestial powers to the land.”
“To ease the blight?” I asked.
“It strengthens the land, but can’t ease the blight. I would love for you to partake in it with me. You are ready.”
A chill crawled through me—flashes of the destroyed roses etched into my memory. “Maybe it’s best if you just do it.”
“If both of us partake in the ritual, it may enhance the celestial energy and help the land further.” His stance eased. “I will show you exactly what to do.”
“I’d like to help if I can.” I looked back at the castle, the rose garden just out of view. “Will there be a cost?”
“The celestial energy gives more than it takes. I wouldn’t put you in harm’s way.”
“If you’re with me, I will do it.” I spoke the words, for him—for the land, but I didn’t know if I could do it. There were times my magic didn’t respond at all.