“What in the Six Hèls?”
I swung my head to the side. In the far distance, squinting hard enough, I spotted a tree so tall its height reached far into the clouds. At the very base there was an opening, swirling with the atèmos—intergalactic starlight—within. I gasped, bringing a hand to my mouth. Its location was obscure. I’d never seen it before while roaming through Everthorn Manor. Down here by the shoreline, I could barely make out the structure.
“Is that the...” The words died on my lips.
“Mhm.” Tassarion squeezed my waist, brushing his fingers down my exposed skin. “The Trumpet Gate.”
“Oh my stars,” I breathed.
I’d always known there could be a Realm Gate on one of these islands. After all, Sorellien had three. Never did I guess one of them would behere.
“I take it Empràr Zadkias has come for it?”
“His sixth attempt was three centuries ago.”
“Stars.”
“Mhm.”
“There’s no worry about a breach, is there?” I tried to keep the concern out of my voice.
I failed. Tassarion wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tugging me close.
“As long as I live, there won’t ever be a breach again.”
I looked up at him. And I trusted him.
I knew my Monster King would keep his word. Even if it could cost him his life.
“You keep your island safe... even when her angels have rejected you as their king?”
Tassarion gave me a sad smile.
“It’s the tax of being king.”
“Then your burden is also mine. I will do what I must for our islanders to remain safe.”
“Emélie,” Tassarion breathed, gently lowering his forehead to mine.
We sat in reverent quiet for some time, listening to the ocean waves.
Then Tassarion scooped me into his arms and ran with me towards the Ouanaviel Sea. I shrieked, laughing at the top of my lungs. Tassarion snapped open his wings, launched into the air until he passed the clouds, then pivoted, jerking back down.
As I playfully protested, the king yanked me down with him and dove into the ocean. As we tumbled into the water, I squealed, water bubbles pouring out of my mouth as I laughed beneath the surface. When I looked up, through the blurriness of the sea, I saw a thing of nightmares. Dread spilled into my blood.
Sinking beneath the surface of the sea, I watched as a flock of boneravens flew over Everthorn Manor. As they flew, they dropped a flood of ivory peonies with lavender stems down to the shores of the Ouanaviel Sea.
Chapter 29
Nahomie
“Hear me out.”
I threw a leg over Tassarion’s thigh, leaning back into the pillows of the plush velvet couch. The king raised a brow, already apprehensive about what I was going to say.
“I don’t like the sound of this,” whispered Obsidian from his perch in the lair's corner.
Bones snorted. No one breathing knew me better than my cinderwolf.
