Kaya stood strong in front of him, that wild look in her eyes forcing him to glance away. Not because she was terrifying, but because she was so devastatingly captivating that it scared the hell out of him. And that fear had never been there before. He was no stranger to throwing himself into any semblance of reckless abandon, but this was different. This was not just a feeling or impulse that he could act upon when presented to him. She was different. She was… she washis mate. And Ailikaya Dothrae Aesa deserved so much more than who he was.
“If I am so wrong about everything I assume, then tell me something. Anything. For starters—what in Cadaith’s name are you looking for in thisplace?” Her voice was stern, her arms folded over her chest in defense. As if she couldn’t handle another insult hurled in her direction.
And maybe it was true. None of this was her fault. His frustration with her was vastly misplaced.
Ilias dragged his hands down his face, feeling defeat seep into every muscle as he looked about the ruins around them. His eyes landed on the throne that seemingly loomed over the graveyard of souls that had been lost in its seizure. The moon’s silver light on the white stone floors cast a haunting glow. Branches arched over the hole that was once a vaulted ceiling, painting shadows across the ruins—like spindly fingers searching for souls to take purchase of and steal away into the night. Vines crawled up the worthless pillars like snakes, strangling whatever life was left on these grounds and turning it into a shrouded memory.
Just a page in a book.
Ilias was not easily disturbed. But to be standing in this place, preparing to tell this female of a truth that was hidden from her for her entire life, he felt like there were hundreds of eyes watching him. He felt as if every life that was taken during the fall of Rydanthe, the fall of the Joran bloodline, was watching and waiting for him to tell their story. To bring their lives justice.
“I am sure you are familiar with the Driikona Clans.” He started. When Kaya nodded, Ilias drew in a deep breath, motioning her towards the chair that still sat unscathed in the middle of the room. Kaya took her seat, crossing one leg over the other and waited—watching him as he lowered himself to the floor at her feet. “When I was a boy, my father told me a story of the Mother Goddess Cadaith. For many years, I believed these stories just to be fairy tales to tell your children as you were sending them to bed, but after I foundthisamongst my mother’s belongings, I started to do more research on the topic.”
Ilias dug through his pockets and upon grasping the object from within, he pulled it out and displayed it before her on a flattened hand.
A locket.
The stone in the center was much like the one in the ring she wore on her finger—the ring her mother had given her. The metal encircling the multi-colored stone was of the same design as her ring. Ilias moved it towards her, allowing her to open her hand before placing it onto her palm.
The moment the metal touched her skin, the stones ignited. The blues, purples, and reds within the gems began to emit a strange aura, a light bright enough that the entire throne room was illuminated just enough to cast a purple hue about their surroundings. Kaya swallowed deeply, her heart hammering at the strange humming sensation that came from the metal.
“It is said that Cadaith gave birth to three daughters and with each birth, Cadaith not only kissed their brow and blessed them with a special power she believed would aid in protection of this place, but it is also said that she carved a piece of her heart out for each of them. And upon their Becoming, she bestowed those pieces of her heart to them in the form of relics. For her eldest daughter Liora, a charming maiden who was as deadly as she was beautiful, she gifted a ring. In turn, Liora was forced to give up her name. She changed her name to Lowen and was allowed to use the ring’s power. Though, the power is unknown. For her second daughter Eanah, a maiden who was just as terrifying as she was beautiful, she gifted a locket. In return, she had to fulfill a favor for Cadaith, a favor of guarding the mountain in which she would eventually take her rest. When Eanah used the locket’s powers, it was said that she could disappear and reappear whenever she wished—making it easy for her to hide as she protected the mountain.
“Her third daughter, the youngest and fiercest of her daughters, was gifted a sword with a crimson blade that could kill any opponent with the cost of a sacrifice. And not just any sacrifice, but a sacrifice of someone she loved. Aela, the youngest daughter, fell in love with a warrior seeking refuge from the war in Caddagh. The warrior was the only thing that Aela loved more than anything in the world. But even so, in her jealousy that her sisters were able to fulfill their commands to obtain their relics’ powers, Aela made her sacrifice—killed her lover with the crimson blade in order to protect Driikona and her own clan.” Ilias swallowed, looking up to see that Kaya was still hanging on to every word he spoke, her hand closed tightly around the glowing locket and eyes with anticipation. “She obtained the sword’s power, but in her anger and her heartbreak, she used the power of her flame—burning Cadaith so badly that her once beautiful appearance was suddenly grotesque and terrifying. She only presents her true form to those who seek her guidance.”
Kaya opened her clenched fists, biting at her cheek as she looked down at the relics—still glowing, still vibrating against her skin. The hair on the back of her neck prickled, her skin forming a cold sweat as she remembered the female who spoke to her in the Borderlands. She remembered those horrible scars and the prophecy that both terrified and soothed her weary soul. “And?” She asked. “We have the ring and the locket—so I assume you are looking for the crimson blade now, correct?”
Ilias nodded slowly, lifting his eyes to the moon that was now directly over them. “Aren’t you going to askwhy?”
“Normally, yes. But I fear your answer might keep me awake all night and I am so, incredibly tired.” She muttered. He chuckled, eyes flickering in her direction and widening slightly as he watched her slip the locket around her neck. She smiled at him, brow peaked. “You can tell me if you want. You’ve been working on unraveling this mystery for years and I haven’t heard you talk this much in over a month, it’d be rude of me to deny you your spotlight.”
He laughed because it was true. He’d never been a male of many words, but he had been significantly less inclined to talk most recently. Too lost in his thoughts to even know what to say to her. Or anyone, for that matter.
“When the Relics are reunited, you will have restored Cadaith’s heart.” He whispered. “It was Cadaith’s desire to keep the Relics together, so that she was able to leave her throne in the ether and protect her daughters when needed. Without the Relics, Galore—Driikona—will cease to exist. Destroyed by greed.”
“And you decided to pursue this on a whim of morbid curiosity?” Ilias smiled, his canines glinting against the lavender light. But as charming and striking as his smile was, Kaya was serious. She couldn’t understand why he would be so desperate—why he would devote so much time and effort to something that was nearly impossible.
But, this time, when he looked at her, there was no smile. His eyes had dropped at the corners, sadness radiating from him and the usual soft caressof his aura was now prickly. Like the stem of a rose. “At first, it was a boyish adventure. Following clues and piecing together a puzzle. And then, when your mother gave you that ring, I—“ he stopped himself, collecting his thoughts and formulating words. “I figured that the stories must have been true. So, as another way to protect you from a fate you do not deserve, I set out in this quest to…help you.” He grimaced.
The final words came out with a tone of such distaste that Kaya closed her eyes, the impact of them burning at her eyes and further hollowing out her voided Core. “Perhaps you should have asked me before you decided to commit yourself to something so troublesome. I could have saved you the burden.”
“What?” His brow furrowed, jaw squaring as he swallowed against clenched teeth.
“I simply mean that none of this has proven to be necessary and it is certainly nothelpfulconsidering that the Credulans still want me. Regardless of our marriage, it has not changed anything. They want me here in Credula and The Creed has seemingly determined that I am to be here. The sword beinglostis further proving that.” She wanted to run—wanted to toss the ring and the locket aside and vanish into the night. Away from him and as far as away from what she was feeling as possible.
“You’re being rude, Kaya. I’m trying to—”
An incredulous laugh filled the midnight air. Kaya tossed her hair over her shoulder, leaning forward so that he could see that hateful look in her eyes more clearly. “When will you stop using me as an excuse for your impulsive tendencies, Ilias? No one, certainly not me, asked you to do any of this. I never asked for you to marry me. I never asked for you to be my mate.” She shook her head, biting her lip before she continued. “I assume, when you have found the one your heart truly desires, you will blame me for that too.”
“Did you think that I was going to let him take you? That I was just going to let him make a breeding mare of you when you have always,alwaysbeen worth so much more? Kaya,” Ilias rose to his knees in front of her, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. “Kaya I would have rather died than to have watched you become his wife. You are aBlessingand you cannot be sanctionedto a life where you are not treated as such. You are the only hope any of us in Holiadon have for a future.”
It wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She didn’t care if it made her seem young and naive or if she seemed immature. Was it really all that bad to wish that someone loved her for who she was rather than what she represented? Was it too much to ask that she could have a happy ending for herself? She wanted love. She wanted acceptance. And she had foolishly hoped that Ilias would be the one to give it to her.
But perhaps, this was all there was.
“Well,” She scoffed, “If Blessings disguise themselves as curses, then I suppose I am one.” Kaya’s teeth sank into her trembling lip, her heart thundering as she ran her finger over the ring. “Is that all I am to you, Ilias? A beacon of hope for your kingdom?”
“Mykingdom? Holiadon is your home, Kaya, don’t be childish. And you are most definitely not acurse. There is justso muchthat you don’t understand—”
