I scowled at him, but he just smiled wider, “What? You’re not going to fall off.” Calix attempted to muffle his laugh. “You’d have to somehow get both your legs over mine and fall all the way to the ground before I could catch you. You’d slide much slower than I can move, I promise you.” I scoffed, scowling at him before I turned my face forward, not even dignifying that with a response.
“Oh, you have your hands full with that one, Calix. Good luck!” the red haired male howled with laughter, before he snapped his reins and took off ahead of us. Calix growled after him. The vibration of it against me, paired with our bodies bouncing and shifting against one another as the horse galloped, left me wanting to growl myself from the shiver it caused.
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” I demanded, unsure of how offended I should be.
“Ignore him.” Calix said, snapping the reins and sending the horse galloping faster. We rode for what seemed like hours, but finally, Calix began pulling on the reins, the horse slowing in turn. I looked around and saw the other two slowing as well, until all the horses were walking at a much more sedate pace. Calix steered the horse around several bends, until we came to a dip in the landscape. As we came upon it, I blinked in shock to find an army suddenly before me.
“We’ll camp here for the night. Tomorrow, we will be arriving at Night.” Calix rumbled in my ear.
“Tomorrow?” I gasped, a stab of excitement spearing through me as I truly registered where I was going for the first time since Cyrus’s attack. “I’ll get to actually see Night Kingdom?”
Calix laughed softly, “You actually seem excited about it. Most are terrified to enter my kingdom after all they’ve heard about me.” I tilted my head back a bit to catch his eye.
“Well, I can’t say I’m not a bit afraid, I’m not stupid.” I admitted. “But if you went through all that trouble of saving me, and haven’t killed me yet, I think I’m alright for the time being at the very least. And I—”.
I trailed off, unsure of finishing that sentence. What would he think of my love for night? Of the stars, moon, and darkness? Soren had always found it strange, having hated the dark. I was sure he was happy to be placed in Day. I did love the sun as well, of course. Its warm rays brought me peace, and sometimes when I let my mind empty, standing under the sun at the height of the day, I felt a sense of home and belonging I could never find anywhere else.
I just loved the night equally to the day. If the sun was home and belonging, the night was wonder and excitement. Sunrise, sunset, dawn, and dusk, none of them could compare to the wonder of day and night. My mother loved sunrise more than any other time of day, the magic in the land of Sunrise seemed to be calming to her. While humans couldn’t do magic, we could feel the natural magic of the land in some minor ways.
“What?” Calix asked, prompting me to continue as he broke through my thoughts. I sighed loudly, deciding if anyone could understand, it was probably him.
“I’ve always been drawn to the night. To the stars and the moon. Before I was aware of your attacks, I wanted to see Night Kingdom more than any other kingdom. To feel night magic caress my skin, surrounding me at its peak. To see the wonder that I assumed would exist there. Though, based on what I’ve seen of Dusk, I’m beginning to suspect none of the kingdoms match the wonder the stories often speak of.”
I quieted as I realized I had rambled at him far more than required. I could feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment, but he just tightened his arms around my waist.
“Interesting.” He hummed softly. He was quiet for a moment, apparently considering something deeply. “I hope it lives up to your expectations. It is nothing like Dusk, trust me. They have lost their way, and the magic reacts to that. My kingdom has not, and our magic is still wild and free.”
“What do you mean?” My eyebrows scrunched as I considered his words. I knew Dusk Kingdom was certainly corrupt, but what did that have to do with their magic?
“When the balance is not maintained, the land itself starts to fall to chaos—and everything else follows.” Calix explained, his entire demeanor tense. His explanation didn’t make as much sense as he seemed to think it did, but I refrained from asking more questions for now, as we were descending into the sprawling camp.
We came to a stop by a row of horses tied up to stakes in the ground. A young teen boy ran up and bowed to Calix.
“My King, we’re relieved to have you back among us. Please, allow me the honor of taking your horse.” The boy pleaded. A gleam of hero worship in his eyes that I found surprising. I’d never seen anyone look at King Astraeus or Cyrus like that. No one had seemed to have any true sense of love for their rulers. But this boy seemed to have stars in his eyes as he watched his king dismount. Calix’s whole body brushed against mine as he did, and I couldn’t contain the shiver in response.
Once Calix dismounted, he turned to me, his eyes dark with heat. He closed them before I could truly appreciate it, the way they darkened to the deep purple of a night sky, flickering stars in the distance, the ripple of a dancing aurora. Calix shook his head, his silvery white hair tossing about his head slightly before he opened his eyes, and the heat was replaced with a bland lookthat didn’t line up with the way he’d just looked at me. He held his hand out to help me dismount, and I allowed him to assist me.
A hawk cawed above us, and I watched in awe as it turned back into a man. The brunette quickly landed on his feet after shifting mid-air. The worried look on his face as he opened his mouth caught both of our attention, but he was focused entirely on Calix.
“Eryx? What’s wrong?” Calix asked, and the hawk shifter—Eryx apparently—ran a hand through his hair.
“Titan needs to see you. He got Siria and Aibek, but it’s—” Eryx trailed off, his hand squeezing the back of his neck as he debated what to say next. Calix seemed to vibrate with energy as he waited for a response.
“What?” Calix demanded after Eryx waited too long to speak. “Are they—”
“They’re alive.” Eryx interrupted, reassuring him. “Come on. Titan’s with them, he’ll fill you in.” The two walked off, but I was relieved to learn they had indeed rescued his cousin and her husband. I hoped they were alright, but it didn’t sound particularly good.
“This way.” Harpina surprised me, taking my arm in hers and leading me away, down to the rows of tents set up.
“Where are we going?” I asked. I looked back towards where Calix was walking away and chastised myself as I found myself worrying about him. It was none of my business.Hewas none of my business. A few strange meetings meant nothing, and I had learned the error of trusting royal Fae even a smidge. He may have rescued me, but I was sure he only did so to use me in some way.
“To see your friends. Priscilla and Emmie, yes?” Harpina smiled at me, and I was struck but the—thejoy, on her face. She was actually happy to have gotten us out, to be leading me tomy friends. I’d never known the Fae to be happy for humans for any reason. She continued to chatter as we walked towards one of the black tents. It was set up across the field, hidden within a dip of the land. Knocking on the post outside quickly with three sharp raps, she moved the tent flap aside and I gasped as I saw Priscilla, Emmie, and Eris inside.
“Asteria!” Priscilla cried, throwing herself at me with a huge smile on her face. She crashed into me, and I fell back a step from the force of it as I laughed, squeezing her back as her arms held me tight.
“You did it! You actually did it!” Priscilla crowed, laughing and crying with joy. I laughed with her as I wiped away the tears tracking down her cheeks.
“It certainly seems that way.” I mused, pulling back. I caught sight of Harpina watching with a broad smile, and it surprised me—the emotion she was willing to show to humans—that she felt it at all.
