“Right,” she said, trying to hide her amusement and failing miserably. “Open mind. I can do that.”
He glared at her for a few moments before speaking again. “He told me the fae realm has a name, but usurpers to the throne cursed him long ago, forcing him to forget. All I know is that it’s the realm of the Elvyn and Faeryn.”
Emylia nibbled a thumbnail, then gave a nod. She’d managed to rein in her mirth. “All right. I can work with that.”
“You can?”
“It might take me days or weeks, but I can continue to channel. I’ll seek the realm of the Elvyn and Faeryn and see if I can glean a name. Now that I know it’s real…” She met his gaze with a wide smile. “This is actually exciting!”
He blinked at her a few times. Then, ever so slowly, a warm smile melted over his face. “So you’ll come back? You’ll come back and we’ll try again?”
Her expression turned timid. “If you want me to.”
“Yes,” he said, voice soft, breathless. He reached a tentative hand and brushed his fingers against her wrist. “Thank you.”
Emylia bit her lip, eyes locked on his. “Of course.”
The image froze, and Teryn cast a glance at the real Emylia. Her expression was still brimming with mournful longing. “I don’t see what this has to do with Cora,” he said.
“You will,” she whispered. “And you will hate me for it.” She seemed so small, so defeated, as she turned to face him. “But don’t worry. I hate myself for it too.”
42
The fog flooded the room once again, forming image after image in rapid succession, as if representing the passing of many days. Teryn saw Emylia and Desmond reading in the library, followed by another scene of them sharing a smile from across a long table. Then they were elbowing each other playfully as they walked side by side down the cobblestone street near the inn. Finally, they exchanged a kiss over the desk in Desmond’s bedroom.
Teryn didn’t know why Emylia was showing him this. These seemed like private moments, not ones meant for great revelations. But as he glanced at the woman beside him, he saw the sad smile curling her lips, the hand she held over her heart. Perhaps she wasn’t replaying these intimate memories for Teryn but for herself. Whoever Desmond was—whether he was Morkai himself, or the sorcerer’s son—it was clear Emylia had fallen in love with him.
The memory shifted again. Emylia flung open Desmond’s bedroom door and found him at his desk inspecting a book. He jumped and slammed the tome shut. Emylia frowned as Desmond shoved the book beneath a stack of papers.
“What are you reading?” she asked.
“Nothing but more boring texts,” Desmond said with a wry grin. He ran his hand through his black tresses, revealing a hint of a slightly angled ear. Teryn’s breath caught. Had Morkai had ears like that? Teryn couldn’t recall. It hadn’t been something he’d ever paid attention to. “You, on the other hand, are a far more interesting sight.”
Emylia beamed and rushed to Desmond’s side, taking his face in her hands. He wrapped his arms around her waist as they met in a passionate kiss. When their lips finally parted, Emylia kept her forehead pressed to his. “I found it,” she whispered.
Desmond pulled back. “Found what?”
“I saw it, Des. It’s called El’Ara.”
His silver-blue eyes went wide. “The name of the fae realm? My father’s true home?”
Emylia bounced on the balls of her feet, hardly able to contain her excitement. “Yes.”
He bolted upright to stand. “So you can find it now? Find out how to get there?”
“That’s why I’m here, aren’t I?”
Desmond winked. “I assumed it was because you loved me.”
She perched on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I do, but business first.”
Desmond moved from behind the desk and let Emylia take her place in his chair. Like before, she removed her crystal from around her neck and brought it between her palms. This time, instead of perching at the edge of the bed, Desmond kneeled beside the desk.
Emylia settled into her meditative state. After a few deep breaths, she spoke. “Show me how to enter El’Ara.”
Her eyelids fluttered, eyes darting side to side beneath them. For several long moments, she said nothing. Then, “I’m seeing something.”
Desmond leaned closer to the desk. “What do you see?”
