Chapter 47 Consolation and Codex
CONSOLATION AND CODEX
My chest tightens as the gates of Mysthaven loom ahead. After the warmth and freedom of Portelina, I’m not ready to return to the structure of training and schedules.
The glider slows as the gates swing open, allowing us access down the extended driveway.
Lief is waiting for us, his jaw taut as his eyes sweep over the guys before settling on me. He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. I can see his concern melt away in the cool air. “I hope you’re hungry. Gwen’s been in the kitchen all morning.”
I grin, following him up the porch steps and into the cavernous house that feels even bigger than it had before leaving.
Sweet and savory scents welcome us into the kitchen, easily ten times the size of Portelina’s.
Gwen and two others, who I sometimes see helping her, are bustling around, trays of tarts slathered in icings, pies, cookies, heaps of grains, crusty breads, bowls of ripened fruit and vegetables line the island.
Pots of soup and fire-roasted flatbreads—like the ones we made last week when the guys were called to a meeting, and I told her about pizza and other foods I missed from Earth—fill the opposite counter.
Gwen stops when she sees us, her breath held as she approaches me. Worry dances in her gaze as she runs a hand down my arm. “I knew they wouldn’t feed you enough.”
Kai scoffs. “She was asleep for two and a half days.”
Gwen’s brow furrows as her grip tightens on my forearm like she’s checking my pulse.
“You made enough to feed an army.” I motion toward the food with my free hand, hoping to lighten the moment.
“I made enough to feed my family,” she corrects.
We gather around the long island. Lief, Gwen, and a few others join us in what has to be the most relaxed meal I’ve had here at Mysthaven aside from when Scarlet and I eat by the pool or our gremlin nights when Gwen joins us.
“I’m glad you’re all back,” Edmond says, strolling into the dining room with a book pinched under an elbow as I sip another spoonful of the velvety soup swirled with a spiced cream that I’m already addicted to. He looks at me. “Safely.”
Griffin’s hand on my lower back constricts as I nod my acknowledgment.
“Did you find anything?” Holden asks.
Edmond shakes his head as he places the book on the counter and turns to the buffet of food, filling a plate before sitting across from me, next to Kai. “The rest of you didn’t see what pulled her into the water?”
“The ground around her collapsed.” The note of rage in Holden’s voice is one I’m used to him directing toward me. “Where she was standing went from solid to hundreds of feet underwater in a second.”
“And the ground didn’t respond to your element?” Edmond asks.
Holden stabs an herb-tart, another new favorite dish of mine. “I was able to hold it for fractions of a second, then it became completely resistant. It was like trying to manipulate nullite.”
“I’ve only seen Elemental nullification here on Bryxton once before, and it was two hundred years ago,” Edmond says. “I’ve been looking for the correct entry to recall who was included.”
“Karraelas and Kandi are nearly here,” Lochlan says, glancing at Daire before setting his fork down and reaching for his crystal link.
The sound of her name is a rusted razor cutting into more than just my skin.
Holden nods. “Kai and Griffin should head to Thornhurst. Go over the new security measures and make sure all the cameras are set up.”
“You should rest,” Daire suggests, placing his hand over mine.
“I’m tired of resting. I haven’t moved in three days.”
“You can help Edmond and me go through records,” Holden says.
I meet his dark eyes, surprised by the offer.
Daire and Griffin exchange a silent look.
“They’re nearly here,” Lochlan says, pushing his chair back. “We need to change, and you guys need to leave before they realize you were here.”
Daire turns, running his fingers along my jaw before he leans in and kisses me, surprising me with the public proclamation. “Keep your crystal link with you. If you need anything, message me. I can be here in a second.” He stands.
Griffin pulls my chair to face him. “Stay with Holden.” He takes my hand, running his thumb across the ridge of my knuckles. He seals his mouth over mine in a kiss that only lasts a second before he pulls away.
Lochlan blinks, as though he’s forgotten what he was doing. He turns sharply, looking at Holden. “Ward the entire wing.” Then, he tucks his crystal link into his pocket and he and Daire leave.
“Maybe we’re ready for that tea,” Gwen says.
Griffin pats her shoulder, and he and Kai follow Lochlan and Daire out of the kitchen.
“Let’s go,” Holden says, pushing away from the table as Lief hands him the plate of moonberry tarts and Gwen shoves a mug of tea into my hands.
Holden leads Edmond and me down to Edmond’s office, pausing to trace a dozen runes before continuing into his connecting office.
“What exactly are we looking for?” I ask.
“Anything that will make sense of what happened at the lake,” Holden says. “Our lack of elements, the creatures…” He shakes his head. “The maze in general.”
I trace my fingers along the shelves, the grainy texture of the wood a soft whisper against my skin.
Holden and Edmond sift through books on either side of me. My hand hovers over titles, until one catches my attention: Echoes of the Lost.
I pull it free, the weight heavy in my hands. Its cover is a muted gold, cracked with age, the lettering faint. I peel back the cover, revealing pages that are slightly frayed.
The book must be hundreds of years old.
Throughout Bryxton, scattered reports have surfaced of Elemental-infused locations that can either siphon or magnify one’s natural limits.
These anomalies are rare, occurring only in places where Elemental magic has either decayed or been forcibly extracted.
Forbidden magic may play a role in these instances.
“What’s forbidden magic?” I ask.
Holden shakes his head without looking up from the large tome in his arms. “Forbidden magic leaves a different kind of mark.”
His response is too vague and far too broad.
I glance at the book again, and then at the shelves, overwhelmed by the endless array of books.
I have no idea what I’m looking for or how to search for it.
I’m about to point this out when realization crashes down on me.
Holden assigns me a new book every week, specific about the subject he wants me to learn.
He didn’t invite me here to help look for answers; if he had, he would have pointed me in a direction. Instead, he’s merely babysitting.
I almost leave, but I don’t know if he wins in that scenario or I do.
Will he think I’ve given up, or realize I know he’s just wasting my time?
With Holden, I assume it will be the former—so instead of giving him the satisfaction, I peruse the shelves, reading random titles, many of which mean little to me, before stopping on a blank spine.
I pull it out, reading the scribed title across the front: The Elemental Codex.
I take it to the couch and open its thick cover.
The pages are so thin that the ink bleeds through the sheets, making it difficult to read.
I delicately turn through it, searching over drawings, half-sketches, and words before realizing the book explains the elements in more detail than anyone has before.
I start at the beginning, re-reading sections that don’t make sense, squinting when words get too small or are smeared.
The body is technical writing about how certain Elementals are found in higher concentrations in certain areas, and how this is attributed to climate, geography, and historical reasons.
In the margins, Sylaria: Fire Elementals is scribbled, followed by squished text:
Abilities: Fire Elementals wield heat and destruction, capable of producing famine, altering temperatures, and even igniting the air itself.
They are emotion-driven, known for their raw energy and intensity.
Some can control body heat, while a rare few can absorb or extinguish flames with a touch.
I once witnessed a Fire Elemental burn an enemy with a mere breath—terrifying in its precision.
Their flames range in color and severity.
Blue is the deadliest of flames I’ve witnessed.
Weaknesses and Threats: Fire requires fuel and focus. Without control, it consumes indiscriminately, turning the wielder into their most significant threat. I’ve witnessed entire villages burned due to anger, lust, or rage. They are very passionate individuals.
Sex: Fire Elementals are notoriously intense lovers. Sexuality is celebrated, and they’re incredibly proud of their partners. Nights are filled with the sounds of their passion.
Customs and Culture: Fire Elementals believe in trial by challenge. Respect is earned, not given. They are natural warriors, protectors, and leaders. A duel between Fire Elementals is sacred—with only the strongest surviving. Loyalty is absolute. Betrayal is met with swift, merciless retribution.
Additional Facts: Fire Elementals are trained from childhood to regulate their moods, knowing that their greatest strength lies in controlling chaos. A bonded Fire Elemental is known to be nearly unstoppable.
My heart hammers, seeing a shocking amount of similarities between Daire and this comparison, down to the way he’d walked me through my first orgasm.
Air:
Abilities: Air Elementals are the fastest of all Elementals, capable of bending air, altering pressure, and moving unseen.
Some can disappear in a small gust, and others can whisper on the wind, communicating over vast distances.
Air Elementals can kill with a single breath, sending sharpened wisps straight through one’s chest.