“You are, aren’t you?” I asked in wonder, my hand reaching out to touch his face.
But before I could, I was ripped out of the dream. I let out a grunt of aggravation, but thankfully, Calix wrote it off as my usual morning grumpiness. I wanted answers. I needed to know why I always dreamed of the sun and moon dragons.
And we were going to just the place to find out.
We made our way back to Tairngire quickly after dragging ourselves out of bed. There was little time to waste, after all. I’d given my mother the power of regent in my absence, and I hoped she proved herself worthy of it.
I hated thinking that. Of my mother especially.
But I knew she struggled with the humans and the concept of ending slavery. I just hoped Arien would be able to help push her in the right direction.
She certainly hadmydirections, and instructions to follow them perfectly. I didn’t like walking away immediately after being crowned, but this mission was too important to delay.
My powers were under control now. Or as much as I could expect at this point, anyway. I wasn’t blasting starlight any more randomly than Calix did his darkness, so I considered that a win.
Hopefully, we wouldn’t be gone long, and Arien had actually surprised me by being very supportive of my plans when we discussed them. Apparently, Soren had saved his life during the battle. Between that and then seeing what the other humans brought to the fight, he’d been reevaluating his thoughts on them.
Ugh, Soren.
I had no idea what to do about him. I’d spent the night smoothly avoiding him, and keeping Calix next to me as much as possible. Which was mostly for my own benefit and not so much about Soren, but still.
The man was like a dog with a bone.
We’d never been so intense about one another, and I had no idea what had changed. Unless I just hadn’t seen the signs before? He did admit he loved me when we parted on Placement Day, but I’d thought that an emotionally charged moment getting the best of him, if I was truly honest with myself.
I didn’t consider myself very lovable, especially not then. I couldn’t comprehend it.
But it seemed he’d actually meant it.
And now I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t feel the same, obviously, but I’d tried letting him down as gently as I could.
And then, not so gently as I’d slapped him to the ground for his shitty accusations.
But I didn’twantto hurt him. I just wanted him to get a clue.
I was obviously with Calix, and that hopefully wouldn’t change. I feared outside forces meddling, but I had no doubt about our commitment to one another.
Having my mind in such turmoil probably wasn’t an auspicious start to this journey, but it was what it was.
Calix and I both wore our armor, knowing we would likely face challenges along the way. As we lay in bed last night after the coronation, I’d asked Calix about what we might face on our way to the city of the gods.
“Much and not at all is known of the Otherworld, my réalta,” he’d said in response, and rumbled a laugh against my neck when I complained of his non-answer. “I speak truly. Myths and legends abound, but little fact is known at all. Only those of us who rule with the kings of the gods' blood in our veins even know of the portals. Which you’ll likely need to somehow torture out of Aelius before his death. But the fact remains, we are in the dark. Thankfully, we have a light to guide us.”
He looked at my little trails of starlight that followed my fingers as I traced them down the scales tattooed on his chest, before lifting my fingers to his lips to kiss them. “I suppose we will see which myths and legends prove true on our travels.”
Not knowing what we’d face in the Otherworld left me feeling incredibly nervous. We met with everyone before we left, hugging those we loved as if it might be the last time. I refused to let it, but it would be incredibly silly to ignore the fact that the possibility existed. Calix had begun to tell me a few of the myths about the Otherworld last night when we’d gotten…distracted, to say the least.
But I found I couldn’t regret spending that time together. We had solittleof it right now.
Hand in hand, Calix led me through the palace. We moved down past the level containing the Hedone Room, which I had thought was the deepest level. But as it turns out, several more levels existed beneath it. Storage for artifacts and riches existed that I never could have imagined.
“You just… keep all of this?Here?” I asked incredulously as he led me through a giant, cavernous room carved into the star opal that was filled with treasures of all kinds. Jewels and gold, ancient scrolls and antique furniture, priceless art, and carefully preserved dresses and suits from kings and queens long past. All just…everywhere.
“Where else should we keep it?” Calix asked, raising a brow with a slight chuckle.
“Somewhere safer?” I suggested, throwing the hand not tangled with his in the air, indicating all the stuff around us. “All of it is just sitting out!”
Calix’s adoring smile made me glare back at him. I was serious, dammit!
