27. Keira #2
He blinks at me as he registers my words, clearly deep in thought.
“The plinths are designed to store raw, unformed magic, while the portal consumes it. There is still power sitting within the plinths, shown in the light that shimmers through them, but the portal is completely deactivated. It opens to the realm of the gods.”
He leads me up the stone steps toward the gaping mouth of the gateway.
The closer we get, the more unease builds in the pit of my stomach.
“And these plinths—they are needed to open the portal?” I think back to the single jade plinth we used to open dozens of portals in the sacred site in Appleshield and shudder at the idea of just how far away the home of the Tuatha Dé Danann must be.
Aldrin approaches the beautiful, otherworldly arch with caution, placing his hand upon it and pulling away sharply, as if burned. That tug in my belly becomes nauseating as I follow behind him.
He looks back at me. “Once, powering the plinths and feeding their raw magic into the portal was enough for fae to open the passage between realms, but the gods sealed the doorways behind them the last time they left us, so we couldn’t follow them to their home any longer.
Except I think they left a crack open in the doors, and there is something very wrong with their world.
Something they are protecting us from. Maybe they are at war. Maybe something worse is happening.”
I step up to the portal and very slowly reach a hand out to touch its surface. Aldrin grips my shoulders, as though he is preparing to hold me up. My fingers only graze the cold surface of the massive diamond, but the pull on my magic is immediate.
It drags thick threads of my power out of me and into the stone with greedy savagery.Sucking harder and faster with every moment that passes.
I have powered up many portals in my own realm.
I even tried to open one to the Spring Court when the planets were out of alignment.
My magic has always been a presence filling up and resonating within the stone as it activates the enchantment within.
I could always draw unused power back into myself to close the portal behind me.
In this gods’ passageway, every last drop of my magic and whatever Aldrin added himself is drawn away and disappears without a trace, like the gemstone itself consumes it. Like there is something beyond that steals it.
I draw in a shuddering breath and rip my hand away, stumbling backward. Aldrin steadies me on my feet. The diamond arch would suck me dry if I allowed it.
“Do you think these portals are responsible for the corruption?” I gasp, panting hard. “That they are drawing the very magic out of our lands?”
Aldrin frowns as he squats to inspect something.
“I think they would, if they were connected to the land. See here?” He points to a chunk missing from the portal, as well as in the ground.
“There are keys and mechanisms that have been removed from the portal itself and the path that connects them to the plinths of this chamber. This was how the gods deactivated the gateways. It also disconnects the portal from our land. It is the reason why a structure so desperate to suck up magic is still surrounded by half-charged plinths, and why magic and life grows with vibrancy outside. The portal can’t reach any of it. ”
“So, without the keys and mechanisms, no fae can unlock these portals and travel to the realm of the gods?” I ask.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Almost all of those relics were taken by the Tuatha Dé Danann on their departure, but a handful were stolen by fae before they could procure them. I have hunted down many such relics during my rule, all that have been found, and keep them locked away where no one can access them. The last thing this realm needs is for someone to open these portals and for all our magic to be sucked through them.”
“Would someone really be foolish enough to do that?” I bite my lip. The stupidity of people continuously astounds me.
“There are those from the Winter Court who believe our only salvation from the corruption lies with the gods. That they need to return to restore their magic. If they were going to save us, if they could, they would have done so before they left. The early signs of our doom were there. I think they are fighting their own battles.”
“Maybe that is why my grandfather was roaming this realm,” I venture.
“Yes.” Aldrin frowns. “But whether Nissien visited after the mass exodus of his kind, or stayed behind when they left, is unknown.”
A deep chill falls over me. I can’t get out of this temple fast enough. Aldrin must feel the same, because he moves with speed at my side.
“Is that why you brought me here?” I finally ask. “To show me the portal?”
“Yes and no. It is true that I needed to inspect it, to make sure no one has tampered with it or tried to unlock it, but this is also a beautiful place to spend a night. I traveled this realm during my exile, inspecting the many gods’ portals, because to me, they feel like a disaster waiting to happen.
Every single one of those sites is as charming as this one. ”
Aldrin wraps his big hands around my waist, stroking my curves leisurely through the thin fabric of my dress and gazing at me with heat simmering in his amber eyes. My core clenches at the look that promises a thousand wicked things, and my skin breaks out in hot and cold shivers.
Without warning, he swipes an arm under me, taking out my legs and bundling me up against his chest. I squeal with equal parts shock and delight.
“Is this not a delectable place to strip my mate bare? To lick every inch of her body and swim naked with her?” he growls low in my ear, carrying me out of the temple before I have a chance to respond.