“Nothing. It’s just—I would stay up here forever if I could too.” Calix laughed slightly, shaking his head, as if he was shaking the thought away. “I’ll make sure this isn’t your last time in the skies, Asteria. I promise.”
The earnestness as he voiced his promise, and those intense purple eyes, caused a large smile to spread across my face. The thought of flying again was enough to buoy my spirits. Calix’s mouth parted slightly as he stared at my mouth, his fingers tightening their grip around me. The hand that was curved around my thigh burned through my dress and into my skin.
The tension between us rose, and I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks—shocking me. I wasn’t normally one to blush, especially not over something so innocent. But his stare didn’tfeelinnocent, it felt more like he stripped me down until I was left bare and wanting before him. I tried to pry my own eyes away from his plush, parted lips. I couldn’t afford to let myself be distracted by this beautiful Fae man—I’d certainly learned my lesson about that,hadn’t I?
“Thank you.” I said softly. Hoping to break the strange tension between us. It succeeded in shattering the moment, Calix shaking his head in bafflement as he shifted his focus to landing. We came to a stop right outside the palace, landing softly on a sparkling stone walkway.
Guards were positioned outside the large doors, but I couldn’t even be bothered to pay them any attention—not when I was so close to so much star opal. The palace walls sparkled in the light in the sun, pinks, purples, blues, and greens. I’d never seen anything like it in all my life. Calix led me up to the tall,wide black double doors. They were curved, and down the seam where they would open was the phases of the moon, with the full moon in the very center. They were etched in a beautiful, gleaming silver, as were the other etchings that decorated the edges of the doors, surrounding them entirely. Their meaning was lost on me, crafted in a language I didn’t recognize at all.
As the doors opened, I didn’t have time to focus on that mystery. Calix led me forward, guards joining us on either side. I blinked in surprise, but I supposed it made sense they would follow their king. It was a necessary reminder that Calix wasn’t some boy who rescued me or playfully flirted with me, he was a Fae king. He had important responsibilities and people to take care of. He didn’t have time for someone like me.
Chapter 24
Calixgestured for me to follow, but I was too stunned to move. The palace was…it was remarkable. I’d never seen a more beautiful building. The entry was rounded, with shining walls, and floors of matte black, layered with a gray damask rug. A giant chandelier hung over the space with moons and stars dangling from it. Calix’s laugh managed to drag my attention away from where I was gaping at the entry to the palace.
“If you’re this impressed now, wait until you see the rest of the palace.” Calix chuckled, and I couldn’t help my blush of embarrassment, cursing myself for how easily I blushed in his presence. I probably seemed like a simpleton to him, but then again, what did he expect? I was a human slave. I cut myself off, my whole body jolting in shock.
It truly hit me then, and I locked up, not knowing how to react, or how to move forward from here. Lost—in a way I had never anticipated. I looked to Calix, imploring him with wide eyes.
“I’m…I’mfree?” I asked softly, hesitating. “I could really—walk away? And you wouldn’t do anything?” My voice stuttered, but I couldn’t help it. I felt sort of faint, like I needed to sit down.
“You are.” Calix responded fiercely, grabbing my shoulders as the warmth of his hands seeped into my skin, grounding me. “You are free, Asteria. You’re not a slave anymore. Youneverwill be again.” I drew in a wet, gasping breath. “And while we would appreciate your help, it’s completely up to you to stay or go. You can leave at any time. I often put humans up in apartments or houses of their own; we provide them funding until they find work and can support themselves in their new lives—in freedom. Where they can choose—whereyoucan choose, whatever it is you want to do.”
The sincerity in his eyes brought tears to mine, but I refused to let them fall as he continued. “If you would like to stay and help us, you can stay here at the palace. You’ll be paid for your work, as all my people are. We already have a suite ready for you, and your friends will be close by. At least until they decide what they want to do themselves.” Calix looked me over with a critical eye. He seemed to realize I was close to losing it, and intuited I wouldn’t want that to happen in public.
He smiled at me, and it was enough of a distraction to keep my tears at bay—the beauty of it greater than I ever knew a smile could be. “Why don’t you go rest for a bit?” Calix’s browfurrowed as he looked at me worriedly. “I’ve assigned you a lady in waiting, and she will gladly assist you. Once you’ve rested, I’ll introduce you to everyone, including the human leader of the Resistance.”
That got my attention. The human leader? He’d said he shared the responsibility with humans, but still, I hadn’t expected…
“Ah, Delia!” Calix turned to the woman who entered, who gave him a cheerful smile as she approached. “Asteria, this is Delia, your new lady in waiting. Delia, this is Asteria.”
She turned to me, her wavy golden brown hair swinging over her shoulder, as her eyes met mine. Eyes that almost uncannily matched her hair, with light brown irises. She radiated an inherent kindness. Her pointed ears and obvious beauty though...
“Wait—she’s Fae?” I questioned, my face screwing up in confusion. “Why would you assign a Fae to be a lady in waiting for a human? For that matter, why do I have a lady in waiting, isn’t that just for the nobility?” I didn’t understand it, this whole kingdom seemed to operate on completely different rules than the rest of Celesterra.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Delia giggled. “I’m honored to assist wherever I’m needed, and I love getting to help our new human residents!” Her smile was so sincere it left me speechless. She seemed to recognize how lost I was, and she softened, walking over to take my hand. “Don’t worry about a thing. Let’s get you to your rooms, shall we?”
“Your Highness, if you’ll excuse us?” Delia turned to her king, hand squeezing mine. Calix eyed me, looking torn for some reason, before he shook his head and smiled at Delia.
“Please.” Calix nodded. “Just let me know once Asteria is ready and I’ll convene the others.” He turned to me, and he gentled as he stepped closer to speak quietly. “If there is anything you need,or even something youwant, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll make sure you learn how to enjoy your newfound freedom.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” I choked out. He winced at the words for some reason, but that gentle smile didn’t wane, and I felt the same intensity from when we landed begin to rise once more. We both seemed to pull ourselves out of it as Delia took my arm and began to lead me away. I turned my head to look back and found his eyes following me intently. Even as others tried to speak to him, his entire being was focused on me.
Having such intense attention from not only the most powerful Fae alive, but also the most attractive by far, was a heady experience. I tried to shake it from my mind as Delia began chattering away, pointing out different areas and impressive art as we passed by. I felt like a sponge as she led me through, everything was so magical, so beautiful, so Otherworldly, and I wanted to soak up every bit of it.
But I was still unsteady, and my thoughts swirled around my head in an ever-increasing cyclone. Free. I wasfree. Calix, the King of Night Kingdom, had freed me. He was going to help me live and support myself. He would let me fight for others still enslaved. So many options and choices were suddenly laid before me, and it was entirely too overwhelming.
“This is the suite King Calix has assigned to you.” Delia chimed as she finally came to a stop. “I hope you like it.” She bounced on her toes as she led me into the room. I couldn’t help my bewildered smile as I watched her, she was just so genuinely sweet—so opposite to the Fae I had known before.
As I walked into my new suite, however, my body locked up in shock. I was expecting something basic. If Calix gave humans he rescued rooms here, then I assumed they must be small dormitories. Like the room Eris had in the slave quarters in Dusk—but no, this wasnothinglike that. The room was circular, which was the first thing I was delighted to find, certainlylocated in one of the round towers. The palace had several such towers that reached toward the sky in addition to the sharper angled architecture.
The walls were done in a sapphire color that looked like the night sky, and the ceilings were domed. With sapphire as the base color that continued up to center point, and silvery white columns of some sort that started halfway up the walls and reached up to the center of the dome. It was a beautiful contrast. Highlighted by the silver starburst shaped light, made of crystals that had little bobs of light inside, that fell from the midpoint.
The living space had pointed arched windows that went from floor to ceiling, completely taking up one rounded wall that looked out over the water. I couldn’t wait to see the view at night, positive it would be a gorgeous sight. Beside the windows was a door that led out to a large balcony that was furnished with lounge chairs and a table. Flowers lining the balcony railing in a litany of colors: pinks, purples, blues, and greens—all the colors of the aurora, I idly noticed.
Inside, a velvet ivory sofa, with sapphire and silver throw pillows, curved around the space in a half-moon shape. There was a silver desk that appeared to be hand carved with celestial imagery and it made me want to inspect every bit of it. Velvet chairs in sapphire and ivory accented the space and had small silver tables beside them. The space was lavish and luxurious…and nothing at all like what I expected.
“Through here is your bedroom.” Delia announced as she led me through the doorway. I felt like I had barely gotten my breath back when it was taken once more. The ceiling was clearly done with magic, to make the bright, twinkling stars spin overhead. It was absolutely astounding.
