“A thousand years…” Les glanced over towards her home. If their positions were reversed, Iyana would be thinking about being dead and buried, her children dead, her home most likely gone. Tears lined Les’s eyes, but she blinked them back and cleared her throat. “Anyway, you asked about me and Theo before I rudely changed the subject. The answer is, I didn’t know at first. He swears up and down he knew right away, but I think he’s lying. We argued and got on each other’s nervesso much.” She smiled softly, reminiscing. “And then we were thrust together by fate and haven’t separated since.”
Iyana sighed. “That sounds amazing. I’m really falling for someone, and I can see a future with him, but Altair wants me to make this impossible decision—”
“Wait,” Les interrupted, grabbing onto Iyana’s elbow. Her grip was tight, almost to the point of bruising. “Altair? As in, the star, Altair?”
“Yes,” Iyana said, drawing out the word. Almost as if it were a question. “You know him?”
“Know him?” Les scoffed. “How did he come back?”
“He fell. The way it was explained to me, during a moment of great distress, I sent out a massive pulse of energy and it was enough for him to fall.”
Les’s grip tightened. “Any others or just him?”
“Just him.” Frowning, Iyana shook her head. “I don’t understand your concern.”
With eyebrows raised high, Les finally released Iyana’s elbow, only to run her hand through her hair. “You don’t…Iyana, sweetheart, he’s bad news. You can’t trust him.”
“He’s changed, Les. I learned all about the conflict and who was on which side. But he’s been helping me every step of the way. He—he loves me.” Iyana was desperate to make Les see things from her perspective.
“There must be something he’s planning. He’s tricky, Iyana. Believe me.”
“A thousand years stuck in the night sky can change someone. You don’t see the way he looks at me. Or how protective he can be.”
Les heaved a heavy sigh. “You’re right, I don’t. For your sake, I sincerely hope you’re right. Just…keep your guard up, yeah?” Iyana nodded, understanding Les’s concern. During her life, the stars were vicious creatures determined to make humans suffer. She didn’t see the love in Altair’s eyes when he called Iyana astalle. Or hear the fear in his voice when she was in danger. Les didn’t see the way he fought tirelessly for her, how jealous he was, how good they were together.
“Altair has shown me more kindness and loyalty than anyone I’ve met since leaving Imothia.”
“Even your Kanaliza?” Les asked.
Heat flushed Iyana’s face. “Things with Emmeric are…complicated.” Les raised a brow, inviting her to continue. “He’s in love with me, and would lay down his lifefor me, but we fight constantly. I trust him implicitly. And while I can admit—here, never to him—there is something between us, I think most of it is the bond. We’re so attuned to each other’s emotions, it’s bound to create a closeness unlike any other. But I know in my heart I love Altair. Emmeric—I could have easily loved him in a different life, but Altair is in this one, and I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.”
Les hummed, fidgeting again with the amulet around her neck. As Iyana studied it, the gem began to glow silver, faintly at first, but brightened quickly. Les looked down upon her necklace, movements stilling. “It’s never done that before.”
A tugging sensation behind Iyana’s navel momentarily took her breath away. “I think I’m being called back.” Les cocked her head to the side like she was listening to something.
“Take the amulet, Iyana. It’s your birthright. Use it carefully. And—” Les leaned forward, whispering instructions into Iyana’s ear. She absorbed the advice, tucking it away for later, and nodded her understanding. The tugging became more insistent. A glow surrounded her, growing brighter rapidly. From the cottage she saw a man emerge and heard his faint panicked shout.Alessia!
Quickly, she grabbed Les’s hands between her own, giving them a squeeze. “Thank you. For your advice. For your deeds to secure a safe future for humankind. And for helping me hone by magic. I don’t think I could have made it the past several weeks without you.”
A deep line formed between Les’s brows. “I haven’t—”
But Iyana was gone before the original Aztia finished her sentence. Iyana feared she’d never have a chance to speak with the woman again.
Iyana!
Someone was shaking her. Waking up was not something she wanted to do, the warm embrace of sleep still wrapped around her. The peace she’d realized in her dream stayed with her, keeping away any of her worries.
Iyana! Mouse!
Emmeric… With a gasp, Iyana awoke, back in the cavernous tomb yet again. Last she remembered, she was standing beside Les’s sarcophagus, and now she was lying on the floor, cradled in Emmeric’s lap. His panic-stricken face hovered over hers, hiding the black depths of the ceiling, his dark hair hanging over her face. When she peered at him, he studied her thoroughly, the worry not fading until she gave him a small, weary smile. Then he exhaled sharply and rested his brow against hers, his beautiful eyes closed.
“Thank the gods,” he said, his voice shaky. “You just collapsed and weren’t responding. I tried to heal you, but nothing happened.” It was then she noticed the dagger on the floor next to them, its blade covered in blood, Emmeric’s hand still oozing from where he had slashed his palm. Checking herself for injuries, there was only a small prick on her finger which had already begun to heal, Emmeric’s blood drying around it. The fact he’d only nicked her finger instead of cutting her hand to spare her pain was not lost on Iyana.
She reached her hand towards his face, gently brushing back his hair and pulsing her magic into him. The wound on his palm knitted together, and he opened and closed it a few times to check it had fully healed. Satisfied, he drew apart from Iyana, her hand still resting on his face. He covered her hand with his bloodied one, leaning into her touch. The bond thrummed within her chest. It took a second, but she finally placed the emotion—contentment. And it wasn’t only being sent over from Emmeric; some of it was her own.
“How long was I out?”
“Only a few minutes. But, listen Mouse, we’re going to need to have a serious talk about touching strange glowing objects,” he said. “Especially before we can think it through and make sure said object won’t kill you.”
