He grabs my wrists, healing them while pulling me into his chest. My dress swirls around us as if it has a life of its own. It’s truly beautiful, as fluid as the night sky. I suspect that it’s spelled somehow to make it so.
“What are you doing here?” I gasp, lying my hands across his chest.
He smiles. “Let’s just say the dark masters aren’t too bad. They let us take their place tonight, well, everyone besides Lucian, obviously.”
I smile and bend down to strap on my shoes. “Wow, so they’re on our side?”
He shrugs. “I’d say they’re on the side of ending the suffering and death of all fae.”
“Makes sense. Have you met Octavius?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I met Beth. Her and Orin really get under each other’s skin.”
I laugh. “Ah, that makes sense.”
He sobers and grasps my shoulders. “Alright, let’s get down to business. The plan is this. Octavius will come to pick you up and take you to get Rowan. The light masters that are able will be at the ball already, trying to keep Lucian busy while you steal the orb. After Octavius drops you off, your first dance will be with the shadow king. It’s customary for a king and a queen to have the first dance. While you guys have the attention of the room, Octavius will slip out to let the Chimera free, drawing the attention of the masters, aka us and dark Lucien. We will chase the beast and make sure to keep dark Lucien occupied while you, light Lucien, Octavius, and Beth make your escape through the portals. Octavius gave us a shadow grenade to detonate when we follow you through, sealing the portals forever. Makes sense?”
I nod. “Yeah, I still can’t believe it’s already solstice day. I feel like I lost so much time.”
He grins. “Don’t worry, we picked up your slack. I gotta go, Octavius will be here soon to get you. Be safe for once in your life, alright?”
“No promises.”
***
A short time later, Octavius arrives in my rooms, wrapping me in his arms. We rock back and forth, bathing in each other’s energy. His has a unique signature that I still can’t quite place. It’s fresh, warm, and bright. All of the things I thought of when witnessing his magical abilities in the shadow realm.
“Gods, Tiana. Why did you tell my father about us?”
I press my face further into his chest. “He fooled me, Octavius. I thought he cared about me, I thought I could trust him.”
He chuckles darkly. “I’ve made that mistake as well. My father is out for his own regime, and no one else's. It’s a fool's notion to believe anything else.” He pulls back and smiles. “But we look great. Let’s get out of here, put on these gloves, and act like you’re in pain when we enter the ballroom.”
I do so, and remark, “Wow, you guys have really thought of everything.”
He pulls me out into the hall, looks both ways, and opens Fiora’s door across from us. “After you.”
I walk inside cautiously, trying to get my bearings. Her chambers are dark and hold an ominous energy similar to Julius. Perhaps she was one of the first ever dark fae to spawn as well. Instead of fooling around and asking, I move quickly through each room, trying to sense whether or not Rowan is near. His presence is strong here, but I can't pinpoint his direct location. I'm frustrated by the time I end up at her bedroom door. Why would she keep him where she sleeps?
To protect the asset from you, obviously.
The door creaks open slowly, and Octavius appears behind me, a supporting presence as I walk in. The only thing in the room is a large, neatly made bed, yet Rowan's spirit feels strong here. Octavius moves across the room and begins to look beneath the pillows, between the box spring and bed, and on the floor beneath it.
Once he drops to his stomach, he shouts, "Ah-ha!" And pulls a small box from under the frame.
My soul cries out at the sight, and I run forward before snatching it from him. I open the box and pull out the delicate glowing glass orb from inside. It pulses with an orange magical glow that I associate with Rowan when he had become a spirit for me to touch and see. I hug it to my chest and try to talk to him.
It's me, Rowan, I found you.
He doesn't respond, but the orb flashes once, twice, before glowing normally again. Octavius watches me with interest. He's never seen me with Rowan, and I suddenly feel self-conscious. I discard the box and shove the orb down the bodice of my dress before motioning for him to follow.
"Let's go finish this."
"Agreed," he replies.
We walk together to the elevator in silence, me trying to talk to Rowan silently, and Octavius staring at the spot in my bodice that the orb is located. Can he sense Rowan’s power? Does it scare him? Threaten him? The look on his face gives nothing away. I hope they like each other. That thought pops into my mind without warning, making me smile.
Octavius takes my arm as we step off the elevator to the ballroom floor. The grand doors are open wide, and flurries of snow fly out of the room, yet it isn't cold. We walk elegantly through the entrance, and all eyes go to him and I. I hadn't noticed before, but Octavius is wearing a slick-looking tuxedo made of white and blue fabric. Actually, everyone in the room is wearing some shade of blue and white. Perhaps it's a way to give thanks to the winter solstice.
The shadow king descends from his throne, and eyes follow him to our location near the doors. Octavius bows to him before offering my hand. He takes it graciously, nodding his head in thanks. A slow, beautiful song begins from the band, and the king sweeps me onto the dance floor. Octavius melts away into the shadows, onto his next task of the night. The masters linger around the room, watching us. Orin winks when I make eye contact.
Julius spins me in a tight circle, and I lose sight of my friends. More people flood the floor after the first song to join us. The king doesn't let me go or switch partners, so we continue to waltz around the room. My skirts swirl in time with the music, and every man and woman around is staring right at us.
Julius smiles. "You'll have to get used to the feeling if you truly accept your fate of becoming a queen."
I laugh nervously while looking around. "It may take some time."
"I'm one to talk, I only leave my castle on solstice days. An old man like me has little desire for social gatherings."
"Ah, I see. Well, I hope you come to visit me once I become queen."
He chuckles. "Oh, I'm honored by the invitation, but something tells me that Rowan," he pauses and looks knowingly at my bodice, "would not be as welcoming to me."
"I'll make him play nice."
That really makes him laugh, and the action reminds me of Rowan. How strange it is that they're so similar in their mannerisms, yet so different. Rowan appears younger and more carefree, while Julius wears his years like an old cloak. He bleeds power and wise energy with every breath he takes. It's truly remarkable.
"If you don't mind me asking, what's the age difference between you and Rowan?"
"Nothing, we are twins of sorts. Born at the dawn of time from Mother Earth herself."
That nips my theory in the bud. I had thought that Julius is older, more experienced, and wiser. If not, how are they so different? The shadow king must have a very interesting story to tell. I'm not sure this is the right environment to ask about it, but I can hold back my curiosity. If he's known Rowan since the beginning of their existence, then he must know a great deal about him.
I open my mouth to ask when the room shakes beneath our feet. A guttural and wild roar bleeds in through the walls, so loud that most people around me cover their ears. Phase two of the plan has commenced. My curiosity will have to wait. Dark Lucien runs up to the shadow king, and we separate in order for Julius to fully face him.
"It's the Chimera, my king. She has gotten loose somehow," he says while glaring at me as if he knows it's my fault.
"Go, retrieve her unharmed, and replace her back where she belongs."
"Of course, my king. Right away."
My light masters follow dark Lucien out of the room, and Be
th peeks her head in from around the doorway. I turn to move toward her in order to begin our escape, but Julius takes my hand in his.
"Do not dismiss him so easily, he is misguided, but has his people's fate on his mind first and foremost," he says before letting me go. "Go, flee. Become the woman you are meant to be. I will see you soon."
"Thank you for helping me."
He smiles. "Do not start trusting me."
I turn and run toward Beth, hiking my skirts up around my waist. The fae around me barely notice my departure. Beth grips my arm as we hurry down the hall to the stairwell. The door bursts open as we run forward, straight into my Lucien's chest. His scent envelopes me, and a sudden sob escapes me. Feeling his soul, his spirit energy, overwhelms me. I've missed him so much, maybe a little too much. He wraps his arms around me for a moment, kissing my head before stepping away to pull me down the stairs.
"Let's go, we don't have much time."
He's right. There will be plenty of time for reminiscent reunions later when we're all far from here and safe. We take the stairs down two at a time to the basement in case anyone is patrolling the lobby. The Chimera is gone, so it's easy to run through the tunnel that leads out into the woods on the outskirts of campus. Octavius meets up there, and motions for us to follow him.
I look sideways at Lucien, but he doesn't seem surprised by Octavius's presence. Will he be able to sense their likeness once we’re all out of danger? That will be interesting to see. I hope their meeting is well received by both parties because I don't plan on kicking anyone out of my life. We circle around the edge of the school and run forward toward the club's back entrance.
Rumbling and snarls come from around the corner before the beast comes into view. Instead of the docile animal I met in the basement, it has turned into a raging confused monster. Its tail whips back and forth as it rears on its hind legs, blowing fire. Orin spots us before calling for the men to mobilize around the beast, pushing it back in the opposite direction.
Once they’re out of sight again, Octavius moves forward around the corner to the entrance. We all go through the front room, moving silently. Octavius ushers us behind the curtain toward the stairwell. Lucien takes the lead, barreling his way down. We all follow with Octavius coming last. Lucien opens a door at the end of the hall, and we step inside. The room doesn't have sand or trees, only metal and gray magic. It's almost dull in color as if it has little magic left. The portal here showcases the clearing where Rowan and I had often trained together. That's why they were able to steal me away so easily.
Lucien takes my hand. "Let's go home."
I smile at him despite the strange feeling in my chest. I'm afraid to tell him that the light fae academy doesn't feel much like home any longer. It feels about as strange as the dark fae academy does. Since there's nowhere else for us to go, I step forward anyway.
Epilogue
The four of us stumble into the clearing, almost falling to the ground in a heap of bodies. Beth begins to laugh out loud, and I can’t help but chuckle as well. We made it. We made it out without being caught! Although, we never would have been able to without Julius’s help. If he had tried to stop us, I don’t think our escape could have happened. The power coming from him... It’s unfathomable. Is that what Rowan felt like when he was truly alive and not just a shadow? Octavius pulls me to my feet, making the thought slip away.
“We did it!” he shouts while twirling me around.
I laugh harder and grip his hands in earnest. We spin for several more seconds before stopping to collapse into one another, breathless with laughter. Lucien steps into view, looking ready to rip me from Octavius’s arms. I’ve never seen him jealous of anyone other than Rowan. How curious.
I pull back. “Lucien, this is Octavius. We had become good friends during my stay at the dark fae academy.”
Lucien blushes at my blatant show of friendship and nothing more for Octavius. He steps forward and clasps hands with him, and they give each other a stern once over. I roll my eyes at Beth, and she covers her snicker with her hands. Suddenly, the four other masters come tumbling through thin air out of the portal.
Orin shouts, “Get back!” Before tackling me.
We fly across the clearing, and he turns so we land on his back, skidding into the dirt. A massive explosion rocks the air, and yet, there’s no evidence of it. There’s no smoke, no fire. It must have been the portal on the other side. There’s only a ripple through the air like space has been damaged. Everyone stands up to look at the damage, but Lucien waves his hand, and the rip in the time-space continuum seals.
He smiles at me. “There, now you’ll be safe.”
I push off of Orin’s chest and give him a withering look. “That was a little excessive, don’t you think?”
He laughs and pulls me back into his chest. “So that’s how our reunion is going to go, princess?”
“I missed you, Orin,” I say and hug him hard.
“Alright, alright. Don’t get sappy on me.”
Adrian helps me up, and I pat his chest in thanks. The others move around us, getting reacquainted with me, and meeting my new allies. Damon smiles and kisses my palm before allowing me to step up to Rai. He pulls me into a warm, sun-filled embrace and rocks me back and forth.
Octavius, who’s standing next to me, mumbles, “You sure do have a lot of men.”
I laugh, pushing away from Rai. “Oh, stop. Don’t act like you’re jealous.”
My potential mates step up behind me, most likely attempting to look menacing. Octavius holds up his hands in surrender, and Orin steps up to him, putting him in a headlock as if they’ve known each other for centuries. Lucien still hasn’t noticed that it’s his son from another life, or if he has, he’s keeping it to himself. Even if he did, what would he say? What would he do? Nervous energy flutters through my chest as I step away from the others and pull the orb from my dress.
It pulses in my fingers and has a warm sort of energy to it. The feeling of it is so drastically Rowan that I have to smile to myself. I have to break it, I’m not sure how I know that, but it feels right. What else would we do? There’s no magic spell or power that can pull his soul out of this magical artifact. At least I don’t think so. I glance back at the males that helped me to escape, only to see them practically wrestling on the ground. Boys will be boys no matter their age.
“Here it goes,” I mutter before flinging the orb at my feet.
It shatters against the forest floor, clouding my vision with orange and gold smoke. Through the sheen of magic, a figure appears and begins to walk toward me. I feel no different, in fact, my chest feels even more empty of Rowan’s essence than before. I thought this was supposed to restore me? To put him back inside my soul? A strange sense of sadness fills my chest at the thought of never having the feeling of our intertwined souls within me ever again. The figure waves his hands, and the magic clears almost instantly.
“Rowan?” I say, shocked.
He tilts his head to one side, smiling at me. But this time he’s whole. Not just a shadow, not an apparition of magic and light. I run forward and slam my hands into his chest, forcing him to stumble back, clasping my hands within his own. Tears stream down my face as I look up at him. Confusion swirls in my chest. How is he real? How is he here?
Rowan leans down, and I stop breathing when our foreheads touch. A strong sense of his power washes over me. It’s almost painful how much magic he holds within him. He’s just as powerful as the shadow king. Julius’s twin. His equal. My soul rejoices at what this means. He’s real. He’s real.
“I knew you’d find me,” he murmurs.
He’s real.
THE END
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