Chapter 29
Chapter twenty-nine
Terranox soared through the misty skies, carrying them farther from the ruin behind—yet not far enough.
There was silence between them, broken only by Marina’s muffled sobs and the steady rhythm of the dragon’s wings.
As the palace gardens came into view, Thorne and Silas were already sprinting through the gates. Terranox landed, lowering himself so Gisela and Marina could disembark.
“What happened!?” Silas dropped to his knees as Marina collapsed into him, shaking with grief.
Thorne swept Gisela into a desperate hug, his hands running instinctively over her wet hair, her soaked clothes. “Why are you wet? What happened?” His arms locked around her with a desperation she hadn’t felt from him before.
Gisela’s throat tightened painfully. “They’re gone. The ship . . . it’s destroyed.”
Silas looked up from where he held Marina, his jaw slack with disbelief.
Thorne stepped back, dragging a hand over his face as he shook his head.
Gisela moved to Marina’s side, kneeling beside her as Eira and Ondine appeared.
“Beasts from Noxis,” Eira explained. “Three more came for us.”
Gisela tensed, the image of the beast’s jagged teeth flashing behind her eyes—the violent drag downward.
The air warped with sudden pressure as Ondine described the attack on Gisela.
Thorne’s fists clenched, breath sharp, fury barely leashed. At the mention of her being knocked into the water, his control nearly snapped.
“Get Bjorn,” Gisela said.
Silas nodded, let go of Marina, and hurried from the garden.
“I’m okay,” Gisela said, reassuring Thorne. “Terranox saved my life.”
Terranox nudged Thorne’s side with a low, grounding rumble.
Thorne bowed his head gratefully and moved to kneel beside Marina. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Those men loved you.”
Marina’s sobs slowed enough for her to wipe her eyes with trembling fingers. Her stare was unfocused. It was chilling—the look of someone untethered, drifting somewhere grief had swallowed whole.
Gisela rested a hand on Thorne’s back, their eyes meeting in a brief, solemn look as his muscles tensed beneath her touch.
They stepped back, giving Marina the space she needed.
“How are we getting back to Mystralos?” Thorne asked.
“Terranox crossed the veil,” Gisela said. “If Seraphina allows it, the dragons might be able to take us home.”
“What about Adrian and Eva? Can they fit?”
“Let’s talk to Seraphina first.”
Gisela returned to Marina and took her hand. “There’s a pool here that helped me earlier. Seraphina will let you use it. Come on.” She pulled Marina to her feet, walking her toward the entrance to the palace.
A guard stood there in an all-white uniform, his blonde hair visible beneath the edge of his gleaming silver helmet. “I sent word to Seraphina,” he said sympathetically.
“Thank you,” Gisela guided Marina through the palace doors.
Thorne followed with a tight nod toward the guard.
Inside the grand foyer of the palace, cool air swept over her, carrying the faint scent of lavender and stone.
Seraphina appeared at the top of the staircase, her usual composed demeanor now replaced by alarm. She descended the stairs, her white gown sweeping behind her as she moved. “What’s happened?”
Gisela, body still trembling, recounted the events. Every detail drained more color from Seraphina’s face.
Without a word, Seraphina grasped Marina into her arms and guided her toward the pool room. “Meet me in my study,” she called over her shoulder. “One of the guards will escort you there.”
Seraphina’s study was exactly what Gisela had imagined—white and serene, with touches of pale gold. A massive porcelain desk dominated the center of the room, with plush ivory chairs in front of it. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a vast view of Mystic Isle.
Gisela and Thorne took their seats. They glanced at one another, neither finding words to say.
Moments later, Silas entered, eyebrows lifting as he took in the immaculate room. Adrian and Eva followed close behind, their faces reflecting the collective grief.
“I told them what happened,” Silas said, taking a seat next to Thorne.
Gisela wrung her hands in her lap. “Marina’s magic failed in Mystralos.”
Silas’s head lifted. “Failed?”
“It was weak. Something’s really wrong.”
Before anyone could respond, Seraphina swept into the room, composure restored.
“Marina is in the waters, resting,” she informed them.
Her gaze shifted to Silas as she offered him a reassuring nod.
“Bjorn is waiting for her there.” Her expression fell.
“I am deeply sorry for what happened to Marina’s crew.
It’s an absolute tragedy. How are we able to assist? ”
“Well, to be plain, we have no way home,” Gisela said. “Conditions in Mystralos have escalated fast.”
Seraphina nodded.
“Could the dragons take us back to Aquamere?” Thorne asked.
Seraphina sighed. “I’m not sure that is feasible.”
“Terranox crossed the veil,” Thorne added.
“Yes,” Seraphina admitted, a rare look of uncertainty crossing her face. “But they have an egg to protect. Instinct may prevent them from leaving the isle.”
Gisela exchanged a glance with Thorne as he rubbed his jaw. “Is there any other way?” she asked.
Seraphina rubbed her temples.
A firm knock at the door averted her attention. “Come in.”
The door swung open and Darian, the Frostweaver they’d met the day before, strolled in.
Gisela’s expression froze, her body tensing instinctively.
Seraphina waved her hand, granting him permission to speak.
Darian dropped into a chair. “Word travels fast here,” he said. “Sound like you kids have no way back to Mystralos? Can’t imagine why you’d want to go back.”
“Kids?” Silas echoed.
“You’re a kid to me. I’m much older than I look,” Darian replied with a wink.
“Our land is dying. Our people are in danger,” Gisela snapped. “We won’t abandon them.”
Seraphina interlaced her fingers. “Darian, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be tending to the palace’s matters in your own study?”
“I suspect you already know, Sovereign.” He crossed his leg. “They’ll have a way home. Gisela and the twins. Not the Flamekeeper.” His gaze settled on Thorne. “He may find the paths . . . unwelcoming.”
Adrian and Eva exchanged a look.
“What are you talking about?” Thorne interjected. “She goes where I go.”
“That would be unwise,” Darian said, face neutral. “The trees won’t answer to corruption. Or to those whose blood isn’t bound.”
Corruption. The word twisted her stomach.
Darian stood, shooting a quick glance toward Gisela. “I’ll dismiss myself, Sovereign.” He left the study, shutting the door softly behind him.
“Are you going to explain that?” Thorne demanded, snapping his gaze to Seraphina.
“It’s not completely safe now.”
“What isn’t?” Thorne retorted, his anger flaring once more.
Gisela put her hand on his forearm and glared at him. “Relax,” she hissed under her breath, but her pulse quickened all the same. His emotions were pouring through the bond, unsettling her—frustration, aggravation . . . and something else.
A pressure built behind her eyes, and without meaning to, she pushed back. The connection between them thinned, the strength of his emotions in her mind muting as if someone had closed a door.
Thorne stared at her, tension faltering, eyes narrowing.
Seraphina shifted in her chair and cleared her throat. “Using the Guardian Trees to travel between realms . . . your villages.”
A hush fell over the room.
Silas sat back in his chair, crossing his arms.
“No,” Gisela said. “I’ve always been drawn to Frosthaven’s Guardian Tree. I’ve never felt that I could see other realms through it.”
“Were you awakened?” Seraphina asked.
Gisela said nothing.
Thorne leaned forward, dark flames crawling along his knuckles. “With all due respect, Seraphina, that’s not enough. We need more answers.”
“The Guardian Trees,” Seraphina said. “They bind the realms of the Six together. Descendants of the First Mystics can travel between them. The trees’ roots are bound to that bloodline. But the paths are unstable now. Step through the wrong one, and you may not end up where you intend to be.”
Silas frowned. “That’s it? A bloodline decides who gets stranded and who doesn’t?”
Seraphina inclined her head. “It is not fairness that governs the trees, only the magic that shaped them. The paths were meant for those whose ancestors first heard the Six speak their names.”
Thorne’s voice rose. “How does that explain Gisela being able to do that when she doesn’t have Mystic lineage at all? And Adrian and Eva?”
Adrian cut in. “We’ve never—”
Seraphina lifted her hand to quiet them. “I will leave it up to Adrian and Eva to explain their heritage on their own time. As for Gisela . . .” She hesitated. “Darian suspects—”
“And who is Darian!?” Thorne interrupted. “Some courtier? We met him yesterday. He doesn’t know Gisela. He doesn’t know anything about us.”
Gisela’s thoughts spiraled as she recalled the chill that ran through her when she first met Darian. His cryptic words unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
Seraphina rose from her seat. She turned toward the window, watching as the fading sunlight gave way to the shadows of night. “Follow me.”
“To where?” Thorne demanded.
“To the heart of the isle.”