“It increases the value to not say otherwise, doesn’t it?” Calix smiled impishly, and I couldn’t stop the embarrassing giggle that fell from my lips. Calix watched me for a moment, his smile fading into something warm, before he chuckled and stepped closer. I watched in awe as giant wings unfurled once more from his back. My eyes widened as I finally got my first real look at them. They were absolutely magnificent.
Wonder and envy battled for control as I inspected them. Wishing that I could sprout my own wings more than anything, yet consumed by the beauty of the pair before me.
Unlike Cyrus and the royals of Dusk with their feathered wings, Calix had tougher, scaled wings, with thin membranes and veins that stood out on their undersides. The majority of his wings were black, but purple ran down the edges and along theveins and talons. The wings of a dragon but scaled down to fit his Fae form. They were beautiful—amazing—and if this wasn’t even their full scale, then I could only imagine what he was like when shifted into his dragon form.
Calix silently watched me marvel at his wings. The pair shifting slightly as his shoulders straightened, and I realized he was just as proud of them as he was of his kingdom. He was pleased to see the awe on my face at the sight of them, preening slightly before he caught himself and smiled bashfully. A strange sight for a king.
“We’ll fly over the city so you can get a dragon-eye view on the way to the palace.” Calix informed me as he stepped into my personal space. His scent overwhelmed me. It was indescribable, like night personified, a moonlit-darkness, and hint of fire—perfectly reflecting his magic.
Magic that I could feel pulsing in the land on which we now stood upon. I had never been around magic much back in Sunrise, and in Dusk they barely used their magic except for offensive purposes—or Cyrus’s temper tantrums. But being here in Night, with Calix, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was just…different. It feltright—like the magic that was imbued in the land of the Night Kingdom was welcoming me home.
The magic surrounded us, and I breathed it in, relishing the feel of night magic across my skin. This was exactly what I had dreamt of all my life, when I used to look up at the stars and wish to be surrounded by the magic of night. Though, I had never imagined being surrounded by kings and princes, or entrenched in politics and battles, the way I seemed to be now. That was an addition I never saw coming.
Calix swept me up into his arms, his jaw clenching as his eyes hardened—so different from the playful flirty Fae who purred in my ear. Calix was a mystery, for sure, and one that I desperatelywanted to unravel. Who was the real Calix? The playful, flirty Fae? Or the serious, warrior king?
My desire to figure him out had nothing to do with the fact that he was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. No, definitely not. And I would repeat that over and over to myself if necessary, until I believed it wholeheartedly.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and clung to him as Calix took off into the air, his wings flapping as he flew us towards the shining beacon that was his palace.
“Look down.” Calix murmured in my ear, shifting me slightly so I could see better, but keeping his hold tight around me so I wouldn’t slip.
I followed his instruction, looking down at the glittering city sprawled below. It was made up of three huge, and somewhat circular, sections. They blended into one another at the edges, but the circular shape of each section followed the natural flow of the land.
“This is the Starshine District.” Calix informed me, hovering for a moment in place so I could take the area in. “Most of the residential housing in the capital is here in this district. There is minimal housing in the other districts, mostly for those who prefer to live close to their jobs.”
There were large apartment towers, containing housing for many in one building, that took up the West side of the district. The middle was filled with smaller houses and buildings in all sorts of colors. Families walked the streets, children running around and playing in yards, or what seemed to be areas set aside for them to play. With constructions I’d never seen before. There were small mini replicas of castles, something long and narrow the children slid down, strange loops the children sat in and swung upwards, and sets of bars they moved across hand to hand. They were dotted around the district, and seemed to be quite popular judging by how busy they were.
Following the river, snaking along the district on the East side, there was an area with large mansions and manors. They sat on expansive, green estates dotted with all kinds of trees, flowers, and bushes. They were beautiful and were worked into the surrounding land like they had always been there. The architecture of all the buildings contained curves and swoops of a like I’d never seen before. Making everything look elegant and Otherworldly—magical.
I noticed the change as Calix flew us above the next circular district. The colors here were even more vibrant, with bright colors in every spot I looked. The scents in the air were more varied as well. With the smell of savory meats, the sweet scent of pastries, and the fragrant floral arrangements, all reaching my nose. Music floated up, along with the chatter of those in the area who were shopping or sitting down to eat with friends. Laughter and smiles seemed to be in abundance, and a few people even noticed their king flying overhead and sent bright smiles and waves, or respectful bows of their heads, Calix’s way.
It was so very different from how people reacted to Cyrus and King Astraeus.
And everywhere I looked, people were using magic. From the restaurant server using magic to bring food to a table, to the shopkeeper lighting a lantern. Using magic seemed to be a normal occurrence here.
“This is the Moonglow District. It’s where our restaurants, bars, shops, and theaters are located. A lot of our public events are held here. You see that big dome in the middle?” Calix asked quietly, but I could sense the underlying excitement in his words. He clearly enjoyed having the chance to show off his city and I couldn’t blame him. If this city was mine, I’d be bragging about it too!
“Yes, what is it?” I nodded, my eyes zeroing in on the dome in question. I could tell he was pleased I asked, he was so eagerto tell me that I couldn’t bear not to play along. Plus, I was desperate to know everything about this kingdom. It was like my dreams had come to life, complete with the shining palace. I wanted nothing more than to explore everything it had to offer. Well…maybe I’d rather continue flying—I could spend forever in the skies, and it wouldn’t be long enough. It was a toss-up, really.
“That’s the Moon Dome, it’s the largest theater in Celesterra.” Calix breathed in my ear, causing a pleasant, shivery sensation. “We host all sorts of performances there, and we occasionally use it for public events as well. Before I shut our borders to outsiders, people used to flock from all over the kingdoms to come here. I hope one day that may be possible again.” We flew directly over it, giving me a closer look. I marveled as I realized the dome on top was made to mimic the moon, craters and all.
“At night, magic within the dome activates and it lights up, glowing like the moon itself.” Calix continued, and I gasped at the very idea, incredibly excited to see it.
I’d never expected to see such wonders. Even at Dusk, Cyrus largely kept me to the palace and away from the city. On my few trips into Evenfall, I didn’t see anything remotely like this. Whereas Night seemed built to impress, to showcase the wonder magic offered. While Dusk was bland in comparison. The people didn’t stop and wonder at the sights or at the magic they literally had at their fingertips—and likewise, their city wasn’t designed to impress in that way either.
“This is the Shadowgleam District.” Calix’s soft tone reached my ears over the wind as he flew us over the final district. I found myself thrilled to hear what other magical sights I’d find here. “This is obviously where the palace is located, as well as our other official buildings, like Nebula Hall and Cosmic Dust Stables, which is the largest stable in Night.” He pointed out each as we flew above, and I was taken aback by the size of the sprawling stables to the East of the palace.
“And over in that forest?” He moved us to face the West, where a small bridge led to an expansive forest. “Deep inside resides our altar to the gods, where we go to pray or honor them on holidays.” Calix smirked, and I could feel it against my cheek as he spoke closely, to ensure I could hear him. My pulse pounded, and I worried he could hear my blood rushing in reply to his mischievous tone.
“It also contains something I really want to show you in person. Words just don’t do it justice.” He flew us back toward the palace, pointing out the surrounding buildings. “There is some housing for public officials scattered around Shadowgleam District, along with a few bars and restaurants, but nothing like in the other districts.”
I looked around at the buildings he pointed out, even as curiosity about what he wanted to show me took hold. I was immediately distracted, however, as my eyes fell on the cliffs behind the palace, stretching out over the water far below. It looked like one would fall right into the sky if they stepped off the cliff. I could only imagine how it would look at night. Probably like jumping into a sea of stars and swirling auroras rather than water. It must be a perfect spot for dragons to take off and fly from…and was probably why his ancestors built the palace here.
As we neared the palace, Calix slowed and began to dip lower and lower. I ached at the thought, holding tightly to him in silent protest. Being in the sky felt right, more so than I could ever explain. Calix looked at me, a question in his eyes, and I sighed as I looked out once more at the slowly disappearing view of the Tairngire. I reached up my hand, like I could run my fingers along the clouds and capture a bit of the sky to take with me before we hit the ground.
“I’ve always been jealous of those of you who could fly. I would live up here if it were possible.” I admitted, filled with aninexplicable sadness, along with an aching sort of amazement. Calix’s expression slowly shifted from curiosity to surprise, if not shock.
“What?” I asked, my eyebrows scrunched together as I tilted my head to the side.
