“Kaz.” Kallie observed her brother, unsure of what to say. This had to be the first time they were facing each other since she’d been sent to the Institute.
Kazim’s face brightened into a wide smile. He embraced Kallie, lifting her off the ground with the force of his hug. “Never thought I’d miss you so much as the day you left for the Institute. It’s a wonderful thing we're together again. Shouldn’t have ever been separated.”
Kallie gulped back tears as Kazim placed her back on the ground. “Shouldn’t have. Wouldn’t have, either, if not for Valen.”
“Believe me, he’s on my list,” Kazim growled. “I’ve got guards crawling the country looking for his arse. If he’s anywhere to be found, I’ll have them bring him back to Malovia, so I can skin him alive myself.”
Kallie leaned in to hold her brother again, like she couldn’t get enough of him. “I can’t tell you how much that means, Kaz.”
“You know I couldn’t believe it when you tried to kill me, even when the evidence was staring me in the face. I felt something was wrong. I should’ve put it together that Valen compelled you. Once the evidence came out against Valen, I ordered him to be found and brought to trial immediately. I felt terribly guilty you had to go through all that. I should’ve listened to my gut, and never allowed you to go to the Institute.” Kaz frowned.
“We’ve all made mistakes,” King Ethan said, coming between them both and laying a hand on each of their shoulders. “All we can do now is put the past behind us.”
“Indeed.” Kaz gestured to the woman beside him, speaking to the room at large. “For anyone who does not yet know, this is my queen, mate and soon-to-be wife, Sigrid.”
Sigrid was tall, taller than Kazim, with black hair and dark, hooded eyes. She spoke with a slight Malovian accent as shenodded toward the rest of us. “We finally meet again, Kalina. As for the rest of you, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Kazim’s eyes raked up and down Marcus’ form, like he was expecting more than the man before him. “Is, uh… is this it?”
“Kaz,” Kallie hissed.
“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to put it that way. Just… never seen one of our kind with a warlock before,” Kazim said. He reached out to shake Marcus’ hand. “You’re my sister’s mate, correct?”
Kazim’s parents must’ve informed him about what was going on between Marcus and Kallie. Her parents knew she was mated, but beyond that, I wasn’t sure what else she’d told them.
Marcus appeared to have no idea what was going on. “Ah… not really.”
Kazim’s eyebrows knitted together, like he didn’t understand why Marcus didn’t accept the title. He slowly let go of Marcus’ hand and drew away. “Good to meet you, besides.”
“I’m really happy to see you both,” Kallie replied, quickly diverting attention away from Marcus. “From what I’ve heard, Malovia hasn’t been seized. Shouldn’t you be there, preparing for battle?”
"Mom and Dad are staying in Ilamanthe to support the fae who have fled Malovia, but I’ll be returning to our country soon, as Sigrid and I need to maintain a stronghold in Dolinska,” Kazim replied. “We’re here to see you, and to speak with everyone about what’s to be done about this war. We need to make some decisions on what to do next.”
“Everyone take a seat,” Emperor Cassiel instructed. Chair legs scraped across the floor, and a variety of noise surrounded me as everyone went to sit at the round table. Oberi changed into a phoenix and sat on the back of my chair, tilting her head inquisitively.
Cassiel took a breath, inclining his head. “Firstly, I wish to thank King Ethan once again for providing us this island wherewe can hide. I’d also like to thank him for lending his fae to help us to build this city. Your aid is greatly appreciated in a time of war.”
King Ethan nodded. “I promised myself long ago that if there was another supernatural war between the races, I would do whatever it took to protect others, and do what is right. The fae made a mistake in the last Great Supernatural War, and my family is here to right the wrongs our race caused.”
“Secondly, I would like to thank Queen Emmaline for providing an alliance with the dark fae city of Eiragrad, which is located in Edinmyre,” Cassiel stated. “Assistance between the dark fae and ourselves has been vital to keeping the city alive, and the portal that’s been sustained in Ilamanthe that leads to Eiragrad by your magic gives us an advantage. The magical pathway between the two cities enables us to exchange resources, and have an exit strategy if Ilamanthe is compromised. I would also like to thank you once again for moving the ruins of Ithriel from Edinmyre to Earth, which enabled us to build Ilamanthe from the bones of our ancestral city.”
I nearly toppled out of my chair. Kallie’smotherwas the sorceress who’d portaled the city of Ithriel to Earth? That kind of magic would kill most fae instantly on attempt. Queen Emmaline was far more powerful than I could’ve ever conceived.
“The city was helping me, and the magic was working for me, not against me. Ithriel wanted to be inhabited again, and the spirit of the city enabled my powers,” Queen Emmaline responded. “It wasn’t a simple task, but it needed to be done, so I finished the job.”
I could hardly take my eyes off such a powerful caster. If Queen Emmaline could do that— move whole cities across space and time to new realms— she was an ally we needed on our side. More than that, she was a woman I wanted to be like.
She caught me staring at her and looked my way. I felt a shiver roll up my spine as the queen set eyes on me.
She frightened me. Her power was so immense it was terrifying. And I wasn’t an easy person to scare.
“All the same, moving a city from one realm to another is an incredible feat, one the very gods could be proud of,” Cassiel responded.
“It is what my goddess expects of me, and I’m more than happy to be of help,” Queen Emmaline replied. “It was the least the fae could do, to repay the Elves for what we did to them a hundred years ago.”
“Isn’t Edinmyre its own realm, one the fae and Elves come from?” Marcus asked. “If there’s a portal open to Edinmyre, why don’t the Elves hide in Eiragrad? Edinmyre would be safer than Earth.”
“SomeElves have moved there,” Cassiel said. “But migrating to Edinmyre is a permanent choice.”
