Tieran was watching us closely, and I shifted toward him slightly, nodding, “Show us.”
He smiled brightly, turning to unlock the door. “Follow me.”
We followed one after another down a tight spiral staircase, leading deep underground if the musty smell was anything to go by. The route eventually brought us to an old dirt tunnel, and we began to make our way down it. Torches lit up the walls as we neared, the magic activating with our presence.
I reached for Calix’s hand, entwining our fingers and holding on tightly. The lack of windows or any natural light reminded me too much of the claustrophobic slave corridors in Dusk’s palace. I hated being enclosed, and something about being this far underground was even more unnerving.
“I apologize for the trek, but my ancestors wanted to ensure no one would ever find this place,” Tieran explained, pausing briefly in a heavy silence. “It was too important to the fate of our world.”
Shivers ran down my spine, and I looked nervously at Calix and Eryx. Knowing they were both here with me was a comfort. I had no idea what Tieran was on about, but a feeling in my gut told me I knew exactly what it was.
Arawn’s words to me as I lay dying in Dusk rang in my ears, “When the sun sets, and starlight gathers, you must walk among the dead. Earn your way through to Tír na nÓg, and learn the fate that awaits.”
Whensun sets, that couldn’t be a coincidence.
Fuck, why did the gods always have to deliver messages via riddle?
Chapter Thirty-one
Asteria
At the endof the long tunnel, we came to another door, this one with a strange device in the center of it. Tieran grabbed the dagger at his waist, making Calix and Eryx both reach for their swords.
Tieran raised his hands in surrender, “I only mean to cut myself, boys. The queen will be perfectly safe.”
“Queen?” Eryx asked, brows arching in surprise.
Tieran turned to me with a smile. “The Star Queen.”
I swallowed hard as the pressure on my chest increased. Calix retook my hand, and I squeezed it hard as I steadied my breathing.
Tieran cut his hand, leaving a deep gash behind, before he pressed his bloody palm against the door. The blood seeped into the mechanism, flowing through it until it turned dark red. I jumped as the blood caught fire, watching with wide eyes. I leaned into Calix as the fire spread across the deep grooves of the door, until the telltale sound of something unlocking could be heard, a loud click echoing through the tunnel.
The door creaked open by itself, and that didn’t help me to feel any less creeped out.
We followed Tieran into a room that had clearly been carved out of the dirt tunnel. Torches lit up as we walked in, bathing it in light, and bringing focus to the middle of the room. There stood a podium, with a glass case surrounding what looked to be a very old parchment.
“This is why I’ve asked you here.” Tieran waved me over. I couldn’t bring myself to let go of Calix’s hand, so I dragged him over with me. Not that he minded.
Our shared unease beat steadily between our shared souls.
I looked down at the parchment, and found it was written in the ancient Fae language,offuckingcourse.I sighed. “I can’t read it.”
“Allow me.” Calix kissed the top of my head. “This is an account of?—”
His head snapped to Tieran, his eyes wide. “No.”
“Yes.” Tieran nodded, his eyes knowing, a slight smile on his face.
“What?!” I snapped, looking between them both.
Calix cleared his throat, as wonder spread through the bond. “This is an account of the six Fae kings of old. The ones who united Celesterra.”
“How?” I gasped. “That was millennia ago, right? How could something that old have survived this long?”
“Because my ancestors knew this information would be forgotten,” Tieran answered, his brows rising. “They knew the day would come when whoever ruled Sunset would need to be prepared.”
“It speaks of the agreement forged between them, but it also speaks of the Oracle being present to seal the pact among them with the gods' blessing.” Calix read, leaning over the glass box.
