There’s no war, no impending battle for my throne.
Just us two and the serenity of this moment.
Someone politely clears their throat, the sound plunging us back into the present. Lachlan wraps his hand around mine, and we walk side by side towards the castle.
Our friends stand just outside the door, having not gone too far without us. That small gesture of loyalty has some of the tension leaving my shoulders. I’ve surrounded myself with an entire group of friends. A group who became my advisors, too, and I seek out their wisdom with each new challenge we face together.
In the face of so much chaos, it’s kind of funny that my journey led me to something I had wanted all my life:friends.
Darkness gives way.
Losing its battle to the light as the sun slips out from behind the moon’s shadow.
The land is now an ashen gray as we enter the back doors of the castle. The silence that greets us is unsettling, in contrast to the usual liveliness of these halls.
A shiver walks its way down my spine. The castle is entirely hushed, and people are lined up at the windows, mouths firmly shut in mute horror as they observe the eclipse slowly fading away. There’s been a flurry of activity in this place since the moment we arrived, but right now, time has stopped. Our boots thudding across the floor are louder than any beating drum.
A looming sense of dread hangs over my head like the proverbial sword about to fall, and I breathe through the rising sense of panic.
I can do this.
I can face Odessa and Julius and convince them to see the reality of this situation.Or I will defeat them. Hopefully, the eclipse will help them see reason and that their intentions are not as insidious as we had begun to suspect.
Agatha makes a right at the top of the second-floor landing and enters the library. Silver light spills in from the lancet windows, and we make our way to the back of the room, pausing in front of a painting I’ve admired before—of a Valkyrie.
A golden crown of feathers rests upon her brow, her copper hair flowing out around her, as she sits astride a soaring white stallion. Her muscular arm is outstretched as she clutches a golden spear in one hand and an ax, identical to mine, in the other. The hilt made of flying ravens is held firmly by her chest. The first time I saw it, her wings reminded me of theWinged Victorystatue in the Louvre.
Agatha gazes at the painting, her eyes sparkling. “This is the Goddess Victoria, the mother of Valkyries.”
She strokes the golden frame of the painting, and a click sounds before the painting springs forward on a hidden hinge. The warriors beside Agatha fan out on either side of the hiddenpathway, guarding our backs as we duck under the sparkling amethyst archway and inside.
“What is this place?” I whisper, following close on her heels.
The air in the hallway isn’t damp or musty like one would expect from a hidden tunnel, but light and floral. The air shimmers as breaks of light pierce across the dark path, and fresh air wafts through the open grates on either side.
“We had to hide your family jewels somewhere, dinna we?” She chuckles at my startled expression.
Family jewels?My family?
Torches spring to life as we pass, lighting our way as our footfalls reverberate on the stone floor and walls around us.
“How is this possible?” I ask, as another torch springs to life. “I thought magic was waning in our realm? I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
I definitely would’ve recalled magically lit torches instead of the memories of seeing servants carry torches to light the candles around the castle. “This place has always had a certain way about it.” She grins. “I’ve noticed it becoming awakening more since the Midsommar festival, but I figured it had something to do with you finally being home.”
I marvel at each torch we pass, and Lachlan chuckles at my obvious amusement. I glance back to see Tane also looking bewildered, while Mathilda rolls her eyes at his childlike wonder.
Agatha stops at the end of the hall where it opens up into a circular room, and I almost slam into her, still gawking at the large iron chandelier with at least a hundred candles flaring to life above us.
Candlelight is reflected in tiny rainbows from the cases all around us. Lining the stone chamber are at least twenty glass cases, all bursting with thousands of jewels. My gasp is echoed between the women while the men let out low whistles.
“This,” Agatha whirls in place, “is all yours.”
My jaw drops.
Lachlan chuckles and presses a kiss to my temple before murmuring, “Whoops, another surprise.”
I close my eyes briefly, savoring the feel of his lips against my skin before I’m brought back to the present.
