The Shadows
Page 40
The polished wood was smooth and familiar beneath Cassia’s bare feet as she walked beside her friend. Neither spoke, and even Kael was quiet in her mind. It was as if they both knew Cassia couldn’t find words to say anything at all at the moment.
Cassia’s skin tingled as a sense of the surreal made her feel as if she were outside her body, watching as she passed high arched windows with vines and flowers twisting through them.
They entered a great room with several Elvin women prepared to guide Cassia through her ascension. She had the strong urge to turn and run as her chest and belly squirmed.
Instead, she continued, her head raised high. She was the daughter of the most powerful being in the Elvin world, and she would present herself as such.
The Elvin females drifted to stand on either side of Cassia, their blue robes swirling around their bare feet. Kael refused to budge from Cassia’s side.
The deafening silence made Cassia want to shout to break it. She reached deep for her calming center and held onto all the peace within that she had spent centuries cultivating.
But the wild strength of her growing magic was becoming harder to contain, and she had to fight to make it behave.
When four women lined up—two to either side of Cassia—they took a step back so that Cassia and Kael would lead them. Kellyn bowed to Cassia before slipping away and leaving her alone at the head of her attendants.
Despite herself, Cassia trembled as she walked slowly from the great room, through the archway, and into the gentle sunlight.
She stopped at the top of the many stairs leading from the palace to a courtyard. Stretched out in front of her was what seemed like a vast number of Elvin faces, but there were probably fifty at most.
The orchid and grass-scented breeze tugged at the material of her gown, pushing it aside at the slit and baring her leg to her thigh.
A slow murmur rolled through the crowd when she appeared and she swallowed hard.
Cassia kept her chin raised, but Daire caught her eye as he stood at the base of the steps. He was glorious, handsome beyond belief, in a robe as green as his eyes, his white-blond hair gleaming in the sunlight.
“Kael, you must go now,’’ she said in her thoughts as she glanced down at the wolf.
Kael gave the slightest of nods, then silently padded down the steps and moved to the side of the crowd.
Complete silence filled the courtyard beneath the tree palace. Cassia’s heart tripped as if it had tumbled down the expanse of stairs before her. She felt the Great Guardian’s presence and caught her pure wildflower scent the moment her mother appeared.
Cassia tried to still her trembling as she turned to her right and faced her mother. She was so beautiful it almost hurt to look upon her. Her hair, even blonder than Daire’s, tumbled to her feet, and her white gown flowed like liquid down her body.
She had known countless millennia, yet her appearance was youthful, flawless. But her blue eyes—her eyes showed wisdom that Cassia couldn’t begin to fathom—wisdom born of time immemorial.
The Guardian’s presence was awesome, even to Cassia. She knelt and lowered her head, as did every other Elvin man and woman who surrounded them.
“Rise, my daughter.” The Guardian’s voice rang clear and true. “Today is for you.”
When Cassia straightened and looked into her mother’s eyes, the Guardian smiled, sending joy to Cassia’s very core.
“All, rise,” the Great Guardian said, and Cassia was aware of everyone obeying without hesitation.
The Guardian was known by no other name, except “Mother” to her biological children. Cassia often wondered if the Guardian had ever had another name.
When the Guardian reached for Cassia’s shoulders, Cassia started to shake so hard she was afraid her knees would give out. But when her mother’s hands rested on her upper arms, calm and peace flooded Cassia’s being.
Cassia stopped trembling and her belly no longer clenched. The magic that had been pinging wildly inside her slowed and she contained it with ease.
“It is time for you to receive your birthright.” The Guardian’s voice softened and she spoke so low that only Cassia could hear. “You will feel great pain, pain beyond anything you have known.”
Cassia’s eyes widened and a knot formed in her belly. She hadn’t known about the pain part. The ceremony was so Anu-blessed buried in mystery. And it was probably different for her than it had been for her brothers.
Double standards, my—
The Guardian studied Cassia. “Once you have received your powers, your transition will not be complete until you have lain with a male of pure Elvin blood.”
Jake’s face, his muscular body, and everything honorable about him flashed behind Cassia’s eyes and she had to shove the thoughts aside.
As if she had seen the images in Cassia’s mind, the Guardian narrowed her gaze. “An Elvin male of pure blood. Until you have mated, your powers will be strong, but the transition will not be complete.”
“Yes, Mother,” Cassia whispered.
“There is something important you must know, Cassiandra.” The Guardian’s eyes penetrated Cassia to her very magical core. “You have no choice but to complete the transition. The magic growing inside you shall become vast and uncontrollable—and you will not survive without a male to guide you through the transition.”
Cassia nearly stopped breathing and heat rushed through her in a violent wave. She would die?
The Guardian gripped Cassia’s upper arms tighter. “The fates of Otherworlds depend on your ascension, on you taking my place. You will train over the next six centuries before you will rule for millennia after millennia as I have. Until it is time for you to bear a daughter to take your place.”
Cassia couldn’t find the words to respond as her world spun enough to make her dizzy enough to tip right off the stairs.
Her mother’s eyes darkened so much the blue almost appeared black. “Prepare yourself for what will come now in your ascension ceremony,” the Guardian said. “You must not cry out, struggle, or lose consciousness. You must not show your pain in any way. If you do, you will not ascend. You will never have another opportunity.”
Oh, goddess. Cassia hadn’t known about any of this. Why couldn’t she have at least been prepared beforehand? To be left in such darkness about things so important was beyond not right.
But, then, the Guardian had not been known for giving anyone all of the information they required. Her and her damned mysteries.
“Do you understand what you must do at this moment, Cassiandra?” the Guardian said in a harsher tone.
“Yes, My Lady,” Cassia managed to squeeze out of her throat as her heart pounded hard enough to hurt.
The Great Guardian didn’t smile. Her body began radiating a golden glow. Soft at first. The light soon grew so bright Cassia could barely keep from wincing or closing her eyes. In moments she could no longer see the Guardian.
Cassia tried to relax by focusing on her calm center. She had almost succeeded when pain blasted her body and she was encompassed by pure white light.
She barely held back a scream. The pain was so intense it felt like her flesh was being shredded from her bones.
In her mind her skin and flesh peeled away, charring until only her skeleton remained.
Dear Anu, help me!
Surely it was the goddess who answered her prayers to help her find the inner strength to keep her face a mask of what she hoped looked like perfect calm.
Still, she wanted to cry, to let tears flood her cheeks. She wanted to writhe on the wood floor and beg the Guardian to stop.
In the back of her mind, she knew Kael felt her anguish and wanted to come to her, to lend her some magical comfort, but instinctively knew that he could not.
Cassia focused on her own face, her cheeks, her eyes, her lips. As pain dug through her, tearing her inside out, she blocked as much of it as she could by continuing to concentrate on keeping her face a mask.
Then
, along with the pain, a burst of power rocketed through her. Power that fought against the agony.
Power surging. Awakening.
Like a Phoenix reborn from ashes. The magic within her grew from what now seemed inconsequential compared to the all-consuming power that rose so high inside her she knew she would rise as a Phoenix does.
The pain left, swiftly and suddenly.
In its place the magic, the power, healed her, made her whole again. Every nerve ending tingled and her hair prickled on her scalp.
Right now it was as if she could fly if she tried. She felt high, ready to soar through the cloudless sky.
Cassia’s mask remained and the Guardian let her hands drop away from Cassia’s upper arms.
The Guardian’s smile was brilliant.
Cassia managed to move her stiff lips enough to return her mother’s smile, but she didn’t feel it in her heart.
“Great power is now yours.” Again the Guardian’s eyes darkened. “As long as you do as I have instructed and lie with an Elvin male of pure blood within fifteen days’ time.”
Fifteen days, fifteen days, fifteen days, chanted Cassia’s mind.
The Great Guardian turned and faced the crowd that Cassia had all but forgotten. Cassia maintained her mask, knowing that was what her mother wanted.
“Cassiandra has completed the first phase of her transition.” The Guardian’s voice rang like bells breaking the silence. “Within fifteen days’ time, following one more great and dangerous trial, she will ascend to the position of Guardian within the House of Guardians.”
Applause broke out, loud enough for Cassia to wish for human earmuffs. When the noise died down, she looked up at her mother, who gestured down the stairs. Cassia followed the motion of the Guardian’s hand and her gaze met Daire’s
Heat flushed her entire body. Heat of embarrassment, of fear, of doubt, and even the heat of arousal.
“Go. Now.” The Guardian’s voice was firm, as if she knew a strong resistance to going to Daire squeezed Cassia’s body.
She cast a final look to her mother, then faced forward and took one shaky step after another toward Daire.
Her destiny?
It wasn’t right.
Something isn’t right.
Still, she let Daire take her hand when she reached him. His grip was large, warm, and comforting. Her eyes met his—eyes that seemed to hold more than desire, but love, too.
Yes, she cared for Daire, as a mentor, a friend. But could she be his lover? His mate?
The crowd parted as Daire led her out of the courtyard, down a path, and through the trees.
Behind her Kael’s disapproval reached out to her, but thankfully he did not follow.
Along the path orchids bloomed in the trees in brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. The very rare blue orchid was not to be seen. The colors blurred the farther they walked from the throng and the more nervous Cassia became.
Daire squeezed her hand and she looked up at him. “Are you fearful, my sweet?”
His term of endearment set her back a moment before she said, “I-I don’t know.” Was it fear she felt?
As a future female Guardian awaiting her ascension, she had never been allowed to enter an unmated male’s house. Despite her centuries of existence, she only had a vague idea where he lived in the large City of the Light Elves and had never been to his home.
Eventually they reached a fine residence. An Elvin servant opened the door, bowed, and closed it behind them once they walked inside.
Everything within Cassia twisted and squirmed. For the second time that afternoon, she wanted to turn and run. Run far away. It didn’t matter where, just away from—from everything happening today.
Daire led her through a beautiful home filled with fine Elvin paintings, sculptures, furniture, vines, and flowers. They stepped onto one of the incredibly beautiful floor rugs that felt so soft to her feet that she wanted to lie down and snuggle on it—by herself.
But she continued allowing Daire to guide her through his home until they reached a door that swung silently open. It closed just as quietly when they were inside the room.
Cassia’s heart pounded and everything twisted tighter inside her as Daire brought her around to face him at the foot of a large bed. Cool air stirred in the room, stroking the skin that was not covered by her dress. The material fluttered, just like the flutter in her belly.
“You are so beautiful, Cassiandra.” Daire reached up and fingered a lock of hair on her forehead. His voice was firm, deep, unwavering. “I have waited for this moment for what seems an eternity.”
No words would come to Cassia as Daire let his hand slip away from her face. He stepped back and unfastened the belt to his robe at the same time.
He eased the robe from his shoulders and let it slide to the floor, exposing every naked inch of him.
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About Cheyenne
Cheyenne McCray is an award winning, New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author of upward of 100 novels and novel
las. Chey grew up on a ranch in the southeastern corner of Arizona, and enjoys building worlds her readers can get lost in. She lives in a small AZ town with her hubby and a growing menagerie that includes two dogs (Checkers and Nikki), three ducks (the neighborhood celebrities), and five chickens named by the kids (Taco, Detective Spunky, Bubblegum, Zazu, and Dumpling). Find out what Chey is up to these days—cruise her website, follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and even drop her a line or two.
To catch up with Cheyenne
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chey@cheyennemccray.com
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