I gasp, hastily wiping my eyes, and rise to see my mother and father placing a radiant emerald jewel on the altar, completely unaware of me. The priestess’s emotionless gaze is directed solely at me, though. The solid gold circlet on her brow glimmers in the flickering candlelight. Her dark eyes seem to delve deep into my soul, and the weight of her gaze sends a cold shiver down my spine. Does she know the visions summoned by her song? Was it the gods? Does she know the truth? Is she even human?
I wipe my eyes once more, summoning my composure as I approach the altar. My skirts swish around me as I place a golden necklace with a rare diamond into the offering bowl.
“Mayyourtruth be revealed, and the gift of offspring come swiftly,” the priestess intones, her voice unnervingly clear as if speaking intomy mind. I blink, and she vanishes through a door, leaving me reeling in her wake.
“Are you okay?” my mother asks, startling me as she wraps an arm around me in a comforting embrace. The guards step forward to make their own offerings as I nod, sinking further into her, attempting to shake off the weight of the last few minutes and quiet all the questions now swirling in my mind.
For the next several hours, our entourage explores the marketplace, adorned with delicate ribbons and illuminated buildings. Many of the shopkeepers and citizens wait patiently, offering heartfelt conversations and gratitude. Only one citizen makes a snide remark about the ostentatious celebration disrupting his sales. As the sun begins to set, we are ushered into a pod, returning to the glowing palace islands still shrouded in buttery, golden sunlight and puffy white clouds.
When the shimmering, glass-and-stone palace comes into view, I feel the weight from all that transpired in the temple melt away. There will be time to grapple with the experience later, but for now, I want nothing more than to focus on our trip to Kliax tomorrow.
“Oh my gods, that was fun!” I giggle, throwing my arms, still dusted with salt and sand, around Kellan and pulling him in for a hug. He grins, wrapping his arm around my waist before we turn to find my parents walking out from the water where we just finished part one of our dive. Tomorrow, we’ll take a boat out and dive around a small cluster of islands.
My mother’s long, rich brown hair is braided and soaked, but she looks radiant. This vacation has brought out a light in her that I haven’t seen for a while. The way my father gazes at her, his face breaking into an endearing grin, makes my heart swell with emotion and longing. I can’t help but wish for a love as deep as theirs.
Behind them, the crystalline water is so clear you cansee straight to the white sandy bottom. Swimming alongside the rays was an unforgettable experience I’ll not soon forget. Their glass-like bodies glided through the water, brushing softly against our skin with a surprising chill that contrasted with the warmth of the water. Their oversized eyes gave them an aura of cute and cuddly, while the gentle pulsing of their bioluminescence cast a soft light around us.
“Hey kiddos, let’s head back to our rooms and change,” my father calls out, breaking my reverie. “Once we freshen up, we can grab some lunch before we head out on the boat.” After lunch, we plan to explore the coast. We all agree as the four of us walk the sandy shore back to the resort.
As we approach the entrance to the resort, I take it all in. It’s a luxurious haven reserved for royals and dignitaries, its pristine beaches surrounded by guards, and I can’t help but feel a sense of enchantment. This place feels like a dream, and with my family, it almost feels perfect.
The long, winding pier, which houses over-the-water bungalows the size of small homes, comes into view. The bungalows are spaced out, allowing for privacy on the decks and the outdoor soaking tubs. The guards bow at our appearance before letting us through the azure iron gates displaying the Okenen crest in shimmering silver.
The boards clack beneath our feet as we recount our dive and the amazing sea life we encountered. Seeing my mother beam with joy has made the whole trip worthwhile. As we near the first row of rooms, Kellan waves to us before breaking off to the right to take the section of the boardwalk that leads to his designated bungalow.
My parents are staying in the largest of the rooms at the end of the pier, so I leave them, taking the winding path on the left. The resort houses twenty-one bungalows, three per kingdom, but not all seven kingdoms have ever stayed here at once. In fact, no more than two of the royal households ever travel to the same location unless it is for the yearly summit or a mandatory meeting.
Once upon a time, the Astral Council was made up of the seven kingdoms. Before they were kings, they were representatives of their districts and council members of the empire. Back then, it wascommon for the seven households to travel together, and they often stayed on Einvald, one of Sgya’s three moons, though now it’s nothing more than myths and whispers. It was there that the Imperial family lived and ruled.
After the demise of the last Imperial family, powerful magic surrounded the moon, sealing it off from everyone. The moon now sits alongside the planet of the gods, a ghost of what it once was. The ancient halls are now most likely buried in a thick layer of dust. Sad, really. I’ve seen the sketches of the beautiful palace.
As a young girl, I would find myself lost in daydreams, imagining what it would be like to roam the halls and ancient corridors of the Unending Palace, or Ael’drien, as it’s called. I used to imagine grand halls adorned with intricate and beautiful tapestries, rooms gilded with finery and draped in lush linens, and gardens that stretched as far as the eye could see. What wonders might still linger in the throne room or tucked away in the vaults? A longing still lingers within me to see them for myself.
I find my room at the end of the pier and push open the large wooden door. My open-air bungalow consists of two bedrooms, one at each end, with a living space at the center, a small kitchen, and a soaking tub that overlooks the water. The back wall is entirely open to the elements and the glittering cerulean water.
Off the main living space, an outdoor seating area features a few steps leading down to a platform hovering over the water, adorned with low, comfortable seating, an umbrella, and lanterns that glow endlessly.
I shower off the salt water, the scent reminding me of Anders. It makes me wonder if he swims in the ocean every day when he’s home, or if the scent is just who he is—if it’s in his blood.
I’m toweling off my hair and dressed in a cobalt linen maxi skirt and a matching cropped tank that shows a sliver of my stomach when there’s a knock on the door. Kellan must have finished getting ready early.
He came over last night, and we spent the evening playing games and laughing until we were both in tears. I never thought that schoolwould be the place where we felt the most distance between us. Last night, I remembered why I had developed my feelings for him in the first place.
His easygoing personality and goofy smiles do something funny to my insides, turning them to goo and leaving me acting like a child. I swear, I made an ass out of myself last night, stumbling over my words and awkwardly smiling. Kellan had just wrapped me in his arms at the end of the night before kissing the top of my head goodnight.
As I pull open the door saying, “Hey, ready to—” I pause, blinking once, twice, and then looking around like maybe I’ve lost my damn mind. I open my mouth to respond, but close it again when nothing comes to mind.
The deep rumble of his chuckle sends butterflies fluttering in my chest, confirming he is, in fact, at my door. I open and close my mouth again, forgetting how to form a sentence.
“Hi,” he says with a slight smirk from where he’s leaning against the frame, hands tucked into his pockets. “Can I come in?”
Without responding, I hold the door open and step aside. The scent of roaring seas, warm sandalwood, and fresh citrus floats toward me on a breeze, and I feel my whole traitorous body relax. I close the door and fall against it, realizing just how much I’ve missed him.
twenty-two
. . .
“How?”I ask ever so smoothly. Anders lifts a brow, tilting his lips slightly. Glad he finds me amusing.
