Chapter 32
T he days and weeks flew by in a flurry of events since our time in Sabana. Myles had returned to Atlantis and immediately began our lessons again, much to my relief. He all but guaranteed that Melysah wouldn’t be an issue any longer, but the problem was that it wasn’t exactly true. Her recent attempts at interfering in our lives had been of a subtle sort: sending Kane to spy on us, condescending comments in council meetings regarding my lack of knowledge, and the way she always appeared to be around. But nothing, absolutely nothing got under my skin more than how she outright flirted with Draevyn right in front of me—or tried to anyway, since that flirtation was a one-way street. I nearly knocked her teeth out when she mentioned the tryst between them that happened decades ago. While I trusted Draevyn implicitly, it still had me running hot with anger.
It didn’t help that Draevyn was gone to conduct another training. While I understood this would happen and often, given his position with the Guardians, it didn’t ease the ache I felt in my chest when he was away. It seemed to be getting worse the closer we became.
I tried to distract myself from his absence by diving into an ancient tome on the long, wooden library table before me—the faelights hovering above the table providing the perfect amount of light in the otherwise darkened second floor of the library. Lux kept busy skimming his pile of books across from me, a worried crease on his forehead as I placed another book on the pile he’d already skimmed. He blew a raspberry. “This task is fucking daunting.”
“That it is, my friend,” I said, turning to another page of elemental symbols. “Although it’s fascinating to see so many marks. Some of these are very beautiful. There are just so many. An element for just about everything.”
Lux huffed, flipping a page. “The goddess is wise. She thought of everything. I’m surprised there isn’t an element to sort through grains of sand.”
“That would be a rather boring element to have,” I said, smiling at him.
“Nah, Atabay’s calling is like a siren song. It calls to the individual.”
I glanced over at his wrist. “What elemental mark are you?”
He held up his wrist, twisting it this way and that. “A historical elemental. Analyzer and absorber of history.”
“Ah, that explains a lot.”
Lux shrugged. “Can’t be helped. I love the stuff, hence why I wanted to help you in this mission.”
“Well, then, I’m glad I have you on my side because it looks like this will be one hell of a task.” My brow furrowed. “There’s a dome astrologist elemental?”
Lux’s face lit up. “Oh yes. That’s one of my favorites. They work in tandem with the dome lighters. You see, the dome lighters are the elementals responsible for lighting the dome, dimming it to reflect the nighttime of the Above World. But what is fascinating is that the constellations change, and they do so on their own. The dome lighters are basically the vehicle for which the stars are presented to the Fae. It’s up to the dome astrologist to determine the new map of stars and record them before the changing of the stars happens again. Once recorded, that’s where the fun begins. They begin analyzing all the symbols held within the stars to see if any prophecies are held within. The astrologists are some of my favorite elementals to speak to.” His smile slowly dropped. “Well, when I’m here. And when I’m permitted to speak with them.”
My heart panged with empathy for him, and my admiration grew. Lux was a historical elemental through and through. His knowledge of Atlantis and its inner workings was proof of that. He should be averse to learning about the Water Fae, but he wasn’t. “Is Corenathia that much different than Atlantis?”
Lux glared at me with fierce intensity. “Corenathia is unlike any of the other realms. It is ruled by a Queen who rarely cares about the Fire Fae within her realm and will end anyone who dares to challenge her. And humans are nothing more than collateral.”
“So, you do have humans left in Corenathia.”
Lux’s deep brown eyes widened. “I’ve said too much.”
“I won’t say anything.”
“You’d be a fool not to.”
I broke off the intense stare-off and flipped a page. “Well, I’m a fool, I guess.”
From my periphery, I saw him rake a hand through his fire-red hair before he continued, “The people of Corenathia tell tales of how Atabey herself blessed Queen Sessi, how Atabey came to Corenathia when she was a babe to declare Sessi the Forever Queen—whatever the fuck that means.”
I noted how he didn’t call her “mother” when speaking of Queen Sessi. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I assumed it was a sensitive subject. However, I couldn’t resist moving on to other topics that piqued my curiosity. “And your brothers and sisters?”
“Just one brother and one sister. How such an evil female was able to conceive multiple children is truly beyond my understanding.” His arms went wide. “But here we are.”
My forehead creased. “I thought the Fae had trouble conceiving?”
“You’re correct. They do. The goddess only knows what kind of deal she made with Maboya to secure that kind of fertility.”
“Maboya?”
Lux’s face paled. “The Great Evil Spirit,” he said, a quiver of fear in his tone. “He is the most evil entity who preys on those who thirst for power and those who long for things they shouldn’t have. To make a deal with him is permanent. Those who are foolish enough to do so end up regretting it. I’m surprised you haven’t heard of him.”
A shiver crept up my spine. “We have something similar in the Above World.”
Lux snorted. “The Devil? Maboya makes the Devil look like a child doing tricks for attention. Believe me when I tell you. Maboya? He’s far worse.”
“You speak as if you’ve met him.”
“Not met him. Felt him—somewhere in the confines of Queen Sessi’s palace. I’m certain of it.” A beat of silence ensued, the eerie information settling within me like lead at the bottom of a bucket. Lux cleared his throat, his eyes returning to his newest tome to skim. “Anyway, all of this contributes to the notion that Queen Sessi is the prophesized Hekiti. She’s just short of calling herself a goddess these days.” He looked up from his tome. “I suppose you don’t know about the Hekiti either?” When I shook my head, he continued, “The Hekiti is the goddess’ chosen one. It is said that she will bring the realms together in peace during the next ice age.” My brow furrowed as I remembered Myles mentioning a prophecy. “So,” Lux continued, drawing my attention back to his tale, “of course, Sessi took the prophecy and made it her own, and the Fire Fae lapped it up like it was valid. The rest of us who know better stay silent because we’ll lose our heads for voicing anything against our dear Queen.”
I reared back. “She would take her own son’s life?”
“Spawn.”
I blinked at him. “Pardon?”
He flipped another page. “Spawn. The correct terminology is spawn. At least, that is what she calls us.” He lifted his brown eyes again. “And yes, she would kill us if we crossed her. I have two siblings left . She’s taken the lives of my other two siblings, may Atabay carry their souls through the Veil.”
I gaped. “That’s horrific.”
Lux let out a humorless laugh. “You’re telling me. I’m the one who’s had to live it.” He inhaled deeply. “Let’s pray to the goddess that you never have to step foot in that realm. No telling what might happen.”
“Can’t you just stay here?”
“Not unless you’re willing to marry me.” My lips rounded in an ‘o’ with that revelation. “And if my eyes have not deceived me,” he continued with a mischievous grin, “it would seem that a certain Guardian has already taken your heart. Am I right?” I couldn’t help the blush that crept up my cheeks. He smiled like the cat that caught the canary before flipping a page. “That’s what I thought.”
“That can’t be the only way to stay here. Couldn’t you seek asylum?”
“The rules of my queendom are absolute. No one may seek asylum in another realm. No one can leave without the express permission of the Queen herself. A petition for visitation could take years for approval. It just depends on how generous the Queen is feeling.”
My brow furrowed as I flipped a page. “Isn’t that something that your council would take care of?”
Lux bellowed with laughter, a shush coming from the librarian on the first floor who must have overheard him. “There is no council. Corenathia isn’t a democracy. There are no representatives from its towns. There is only her rule. Always.”
My ire began burning bright. “I really dislike your mother.”
“She’s my Queen. Not my mother,” he seethed. “Mothers are supposed to be loving and nurturing. They’re supposed to care for their children and want what’s best for them. Mothers have a heart. Queen Sessi has no heart. She is incapable of feeling anything but love for herself.”
I suddenly missed my own mother with a fierceness that I hadn’t felt since her passing. Lux was right. Mothers were supposed to be loving and nurturing; mine had been, thankfully. I swallowed the grief that had stuck in my throat. “You are welcome to stay here.” I sighed with a gentle smile. “When I become Queen, I’ll find a way.”
His cupid-bow lips lifted, returning my smile, and his face lit like it was the first time anyone had ever shown him empathy or understood his situation in Corenathia.
“Well, doesn’t this look cozy,” said a voice that instantly had my anger rising to a fever pitch. I twisted in my seat to meet the amused gaze of Melysah, who stood a few paces away, her pale blue eyes traveling between us. “And how wonderful, you all…bonding…over books. Perhaps Prince Lux will give you a good reason to pay attention to your studies,” she said, shrugging. “Or perhaps he’ll provide the perfect distraction to keep you from your studies so you’ll fail the requirements to become Queen.” She glanced down at her pearl-polished nails. “Either way, it seems like a win-win to me. I’m sure Draevyn would love to know you’re flirting with the enemy.”
I tried my best to express all the petty pity I could muster on my face. “Aw, that’s so cute. You think I keep things from my lover? We tell each other everything. You know, like a bondmate should?” I let that implication sink in and knew it had hit its mark when Melysah’s expression morphed into pure loathing.
“Draevyn would never present you at the bonding ceremony.”
“Wanna bet?”
Melysah’s chest pumped. “You barely even know what the Atlantian traditions are. In the eyes of the Atlantians, you’re a simpleton.”
I lifted a shoulder in a lazy shrug. “Simpleton or not, it’ll never change what I am to him.” My lips quirked. “And doesn’t that just get under your scales?”
Melysah gave one last huff before she disappeared through the stacks and out of the library if the telltale bang of the door against the stone was any indication.
“Way to stir the pot, Ash.”
“Someone needs to put her in her place,” I said as I flipped the page.
“That one does not play nice. That one…she likes to play with fire.”
My eyes snapped to his with that comment, the warning evident. We spent the rest of the afternoon in silence, trying to find anything that could lead us to an explanation of my elemental mark, but to no avail.
A knock at my door pulled me from my very captivating read—the new vampire romance I picked up at Fae Flings on the way home from university. Oh, how I loathed when people knew just the right scene to interrupt. “Come in.”
When the door swung open, and Draevyn walked through the door—a heart-melting smile on his gorgeous face—all thoughts of the book were forgotten. I all but leapt on him, his strong arms wrapping around me as he swung me around in a circle. His joyful laughter went straight to my heart.
He gently placed me on the floor. “Miss me, did you?”
I went on the tips of my webbed toes and brought my mouth to his, kissing him chastely. “Maybe a little bit.”
“Mmmm, you’ve been busy though, yes?”
“Yes, there’s a lot to tell you,” I said when an idea instantly came to me, “but since this involves the dome constellations and the sun is setting, maybe I could bring you up to speed in the gardens?”
He leaned down, his soft lips kissing the area just below my ear. “Just what kind of…speed…will you be bringing me up to?”
I tapped his shoulder playfully. “The serious speed.”
His lips peppered kisses across my jaw. “I am being serious.”
“Please?”
He pulled back, a look of mischief cresting his features. “Well, when you beg like that, how can I say no?”
After grabbing a blanket and a few odds and ends to nibble on, we strolled through the palace toward the gardens. I filled him in on everything that he’d missed, from Lux’s passion for history to the monstrous abuse he endured at the hands of his very own mother to the constellations—which was the primary reason for the trip to the gardens. I left out the part about running into Melysah because I was having a great day. Why ruin it?
“I figured since you’ve been here longer than me, you could help me understand what I’m looking at,” I said as I held up my leather tote. “I even brought a book on the most recent constellation patterns.”
Draevyn huffed a laugh. “I could practically teach a class on the constellation patterns. Mind you, I’m obviously not an astrology elemental, but the stars shine a little brighter out in Sabana than in Borike’n. As faelings, that’s all we would do is look at the stars. Could practically walk home to their pattern if need be.”
I threaded my arm through his as we meandered through the darkening gardens. “Well then, I have the perfect person to help me.”
After winding the pathways to the outer part of the gardens, we reached the charming gazebo, and the memory of our last time there flashed through my mind—my cheeks heating. I settled the blanket in the grassy area before it, leaning back on my arms as I made myself comfortable. Draevyn dropped next to me, doing the same.
“I hate feeling any empathy toward a Fire Fae, but I can’t help but pity Lux,” Draevyn said. “Queen Sessi sounds like a nightmare of a mother.”
“That’s an understatement,” I agreed.
“You always hope that even the evil ones have a good bone in their body.” He shook his head, a long strand of his dark hair falling over his shoulder. “That one seems like she’s allergic to good bones.”
My brow furrowed. “I know I’m still learning of the Fae and cultural practices, customs, and all of that, but is it…normal for a Queen to kill her offspring like that?”
Draevyn sighed, laying flat on the blanket. “Unfortunately, the Fae can be ruthless from time to time. Of course, here in Atlantis, things are a little different.” He tilted his head to glance my way. “That is on account of your lineage. Your ancestors have been some of the best in the Fae realms. The Fire Fae? They tend to lean toward their baser instincts.”
“And the Air and Earth Fae?”
“The Air Fae are the most peaceful, to be sure. They don’t enjoy conflict. If they can, they try to stay out of it. Their Queens have been known to marry for peace than for the bond.”
The pulling sensation in my chest twinged at that. It would be hard to deny that calling. “Why would anyone do that?”
“Unfortunately, Queens have been known to marry for alliances. There have only been a handful in your line. Not many.”
I thought of my conversation with Lux.
‘Can’t you just stay here?’
‘Not unless you’re willing to marry me.’
“Can Lux marry Queen Laenah?” I inquired.
“If she weren’t already in negotiations to wed his older brother, I would suppose so.”
“Oh.” My shoulders slumped. “And Queen Ayi?”
“Very much a lesbian and very happily mated. It is said they have one of the greatest love stories of all time.” His brow furrowed. “Why are you so concerned about who he marries?”
“Because it appears that’s the only way he can get out. Until I think of something else, that is.”
He reached behind my back, twirling a strand of hair. “You wouldn’t marry him, would you?”
My mouth fell open. “That’s insanity.”
Draevyn shrugged. “I had to ask.”
“That’s a hard no, Drae. I’d hope you’d know that.”
The smile that emerged on his face was one of happy relief. “Thank the goddess.”
I came down to lie on the blanket. “So, where do you want to start?” I asked him.
“Hhmm, most of the stars from the last constellation change remained the same with a few distinct exceptions. The changes were exciting.”
I nuzzled closer to his side, laying my head on his shoulder. “How so?”
“Well, for starters, when the changeover occurred, there were four new clusters of stars. The change occurred about a hundred years ago. It took a long time for the astrology & historical elementals to piece everything together.” He pointed to my leather tote. “Why don’t you get your book out?”
I did, returning to his side, sitting cross-legged and thumbing the book open to the map displaying the most recent change. “Okay, ready.”
Draevyn perched himself on an elbow and summoned a dim faelight, guiding it to the area of the map with an oddly curved shape constellation. “This is what they call the Cobo.”
I squinted. “It’s a shell.”
“That it is. The Cobo is a very sacred artifact, one that Atlantians have never discovered. Our earliest texts only mention its creation. None of them identify its existence.” His finger moved to the cluster of stars next to the Cobo. “Interestingly enough, this is another artifact that ancient texts mention, but has never been discovered. It’s called the Jujo, and they say it is a snake made of iron.”
My forehead creased as I glanced at the dome, studying the Jujo constellation in the sky. “But we can’t touch iron. How can a sacred Fae artifact be made of material none of us can touch?”
“That’s the question many historical elementals have asked. It’s theorized that the goddess herself made the Jujo.” He pointed out the next cluster, this one in the shape of a bird. “This one is my absolute favorite of them all. That is the Guaraguao. It’s a red-tailed hawk. This one took the longest for historians to figure out. The answer was found in a text dating back more than three millennia. The historians who studied the ancient book wore head-to-toe garments to avoid damaging it. They hate it when texts get ruined. When they discovered the meaning…goddess, the celebrations went on for a week straight.
“Anyhow, it is said that a red feather from the first red-tailed hawk held enormous power and lay in one of the realms undiscovered until the one called to summon it can find it.”
My brow furrowed as I studied the cluster on the dome. “Who will be called to summon it?”
“Patience. I’ll get to that part in a moment.” His finger moved to the final constellation. “And this is the Anacaona, otherwise known as the golden flower. The location of this artifact has been theorized to exist in Earthos. The Anacaona is a sacred symbol in their realm. Beyond the Earth Fae acknowledging the theory, no one dares to ask about it.
“But the most fascinating thing that connects all of the symbols? Our prophecies tell us that each of these sacred objects can only be retrieved by the Hekiti, the goddesses chosen one.”
I perked up. “Lux mentioned that his mother thinks she’s the Hekiti.”
Draevyn snorted. “She wishes. The Hekiti is the most sacred. The prophecy tells us that she will bring peace to the realms. Queen Sessi is the furthest thing from peace. She’s chaos personified.”
With the clusters identified, I placed the book aside, laid back, and stared up at the stars. “Tell me more about the Hekiti.”
“Hekiti means the One. It is reserved for the goddess’ chosen. It’s been theorized that the Hekiti is the goddess’ daughter reincarnated. Others say the Hekiti will have a piece of the goddess’s soul within her. They’re all theories. However, the prophecy holds the most important clues to identify the Hekiti. It is said she will possess all the elements.”
I turned my head toward him. “All the elements?”
“Yes, she will have water, fire, air, and earth. No Fae has ever had two elements, let alone all of them. It’s unheard of.”
“Oh yeah, I remember Myles mentioned that now,” I told him as I pondered over that little tidbit of information while returning my gaze to the stars. “That kind of power in the wrong hands would be terrible.”
“Right, which is why it could never be Queen Sessi. How can someone so evil want to save the Fae and humanity?”
Scooting into his side, we lay there in blissful silence—the soothing sounds of the Shingu River drifting by the only sound. It did nothing to calm my thoughts. Something about the constellations bothered me, but I couldn’t place my thumb on it. The feeling stayed with me long into the night, even as I drifted off to sleep under the stars in Draevyn’s arms.