Jeri sat there and looked at her breakfast, trying to muster up the energy to eat it.
“Someone had a late night.” Crystal carried her plate in and sat across from her.
Jeri nodded. “I was in Alterealm.”
“Again?” Sparx came through the other door and went into the kitchen. “A real realm traveler now, aren’t you?”
“Leave her alone.” Ava sat down. She only had a cup, no breakfast. “They’re showing good sense and getting help to fix the crap mess they’ve made.”
“They didn’t make it.” Jeri picked up her cup and inhaled the scent of the hot coffee. “This was all done long before anyone that’s living now—” She paused and then decided that despite some of the ages of the others, it was still true. “Trendan and I found the seer that’s been helping Arwan and that side.”
“Really?” Karma stopped at the door and looked at her. “I wished I’d been there to see that.” She pulled out a chair and sat down.
“She wasn’t in good shape. She was begging to go home.” Jeri took a sip and then closed her eyes. There would be much coffee today.
“She turned herself in?” Sym set her plate down and then looked around for her cup. Turning around, she went back into the kitchen.
Jeri set the cup down and picked up a piece of toast. “I don’t know the long-term effects of using her ability, but she wasn’t well.”
“Is she going to die?” Tera came in, set her plate down, and then sent any insects away from the table.
Jeri was thankful for that rule. No bugs at mealtime. A shudder went through her. “She was still alive when I left.” She yawned. “Daxx took pity on me and said it would take time to get used to no sleep and brought me back.”
“I heard the chimes go off but just rolled over and went back to sleep.” Espy walked in and then stopped across from Jeri and grinned at her. “I saw something.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “A future something.”
Everyone stopped and looked at her. Usually, Espy saw the past. Anything in the future they always took note of.
“What did you see?” Em walked in, still in her robe and fuzzy slippers. Her curls looked like they’d grown overnight.
“I saw—” Espy looked back at Jeri. “You. In a long purple robe with a fancy pin.”
“Purple with her hair?” Flora came out of the kitchen and set her plate and juice on the table. “Isn’t there a rule about that combination?”
Jeri looked at Espy. “A purple robe? I don’t know the significance of that.”
“I do.” Capri came into the room from her office and stood at the end of the table. “Solrelm royals wear purple robes.” She gave Jeri an amused look and then walked into the kitchen.
“Solrelm? That’s where Trendan is from.” Fade walked into the room, and everyone stopped moving and watched her. She was completely visible. “Don’t stare. It’s taking a lot of focus to stay this way this long.”
“It is so amazing to see you.” Fauna came out of the kitchen and rushed over to her. She took her hands and looked her up and down. “You are hot.” She nodded and then released her hands and went back to get her food.
“I’m going to get food and try to eat here with you.” She winced. “If I can’t hold it, don’t freak out when my fork is moving on its own.”
Jeri smiled at her. “We won’t.”
“I thought, maybe if I can hold this longer each time, I could go hang out with Sedric soon.” She blushed and rushed into the kitchen.
“Sedric.” Ava glanced at Jeri. “The ward of Alterealm and Solrelm. I heard he’s a biter.” She grinned.
“Don’t,” Capri warned as she came back in with a mug in her hand. She sat down.
Ava shrugged and leaned back in the chair. She looked at Jeri. “So, Prince Trendan.”
Jeri glanced at her and then looked at her plate.
I’m just teasing. Ava’s voice said inside her mind.
Jeri tilted her head to the side and then moved just her eyes to look at her. It’s complicated.
“You ladies know I’m privy to the private conversations, right?”
They both looked at Capri and then nodded. “What’s complicated?” She raised one eyebrow and held Jeri’s gaze.
Jeri set her fork down and picked up her cup. “In Solrelm, the first child of the king and queen that share their soul becomes the heir to the throne.” She looked around to see everyone was paying attention to her and not their plates. “Bastian and Nova have had to wait because of the issues in the realm.”
“Well yeah, it was sickos from Solrelm that tried to take Nova.” Ava nodded.
“Right.” She cleared her throat and looked in her cup. “My soul and Trendan’s…”
“Holy smoke.” Fade sat down and leaned across the table. “You’re his other.” She vanished from sight right after she said it. “Crap. You distracted my focus.”
“You’re going to be Queen of Solrelm?” Karma’s expression was of complete shock.
“I—no.” Jeri blinked several times, trying to figure out how to change the subject. She blew out a breath. “They’re gathering up all the fathers that had their minds spelled and then plan to announce it to the entire realm that they’ve been lied to this long…”
“Whoa.” Karma and Sparx exchanged a look. “That might start a rebellion.”
“All of the Alterealm royals are going to be there.” Jeri hoped this had changed the subject enough.
“Are you going to be there?” Em asked and then sat back and smiled at her like she’d done it on purpose to bring the subject full circle.
“I don’t know. I do know I have to go over there today to discuss what I saw on Glen’s soul with—” She shrugged. “—people that know more about souls.”
“What did you see?” Sparx asked.
“Whose Glen?” Fade still wasn’t visible.
“Glen is one of the men that had their memories altered with magic,” Capri explained. She looked at Jeri. “What did you see?”
“Dark spots. Not like the dark souls, but I’ve never seen something like this before.”
“Is he okay?” Fauna pointed to her head. “His mind?”
“He seems to be. It was a touching reunion for him, and he met his daughter for the first time.”
Capri blew out a deep breath. “I had my reservations that they were going to do it, but they are.” She smiled. “You let the royals know that if any of us can help in finding the women or transporting them around the city, we are available.”
Jeri nodded.
“I don’t want you going to Solrelm without one of us with you.” Capri looked at Espy, who shook her head.
“I’m a one-realm kind of girl,” Espy said quickly. She pointed at her. “Remind me in a sec to share something.” She got up and went into the kitchen.
“I’ll go.” Karma nodded. “I have some Solrelm in me, so it might be cool to go there.”
Capri studied her for a moment. “Okay, but behave.”
Karma smirked. “Always.”
Espy came back into the room. “I saw that circle of stones you were talking about. I can’t tell how far back in the past it was, but there were many there, and the human’s way of dressing leads me to believe it was a very long time ago.” She sat down. “They were arguing and in each other’s face.” She shrugged. “Maybe you can tell someone, and they can look into their history books or whatever. I can probably describe some of them if that will help.”
Capri watched her silently for a few moments. “I’ll speak with Crissy about that. I believe she’s been reading all journals and records pertaining to it.”
Ava leaned on the table. “I need to see if I’ve got this right.” She looked around. “All the realms, an eon ago, broke up, fired Alterealm, and since then, each realm has had bad guys trying to take over the world.” She looked around at each of the women for a few seconds.
“That’s quite close to the truth.” Capri smiled and then sobered again.
“So, why can’t they just trace things back and see who decided to fire Alterealm and breaking up was a good idea?” She shrugged.
“They’re trying to.” Capri sat straighter. “I was asked to be part of the six realms council.”
“What’s that?” Crystal pulled out a stone from her pocket and handed it to Capri.
Capri took the stone and held it in her palm while she continued to speak. “Three are selected from each realm and one guard. None of the royals from any realm are on the council.”
“Makes sense, so they can’t play the I’m a king card.” Fauna mimicked a deep voice.
“Yes.” Capri nodded. “Bohdi has volunteered to be the second from this realm, so we just need one more and a guard. I’m leaving the third selection up to Bohdi, as well as the guard.”
“Well, you don’t need any of us to hold your hand.” Sparx chuckled. “Your power trumps ours ten times over.”
Capri grinned at her. “Others with powers and abilities can’t use them inside the circle.”
“Really?” Karma leaned on the table. “What about you?”
“I always have mine.” Capri shrugged. She turned to Espy. “I’m going to talk to Crissy about what you saw. You may want to talk to Liri; she has been working on a timeline, and you may have information that will help her.”
Espy nodded. “Sure.”
Karma tapped her hand on the table. “Let me know when we’re going to Solrelm.” She stood up. “I’m going to go see if Ava got that clunk fixed on my bike.”
Jeri smiled. “I’ll message Daxx and get a time.”
“Look at you, socializing with the royals.” Em grinned.
“I think you should consider it carefully, Jeri,” Capri said quietly.
Jeri frowned. “Going to Solrelm?”
Capri gave her head a slight shake. “No. The possibility of becoming the next Queen of the realm.” She clasped her hands on the table and looked around at each woman there. “There needs to be a reason all of us are the way we are.” She looked back at Jeri. “You see souls, especially old ones—maybe fate intended that Solrelm needs a queen that can help clean up this mess and prevent any new ones.” She stood up, leaned on the table for a moment, and then smiled and walked away.
Jeri watched her go back into her office. She hadn’t even come close to thinking along the line of ‘there was a reason’ she was this way.
“Valid point,” Flora whispered.
Karma looked over at Ava. “I can’t wait to see what fate needed you for.”
Ava gave her a blank look. “You and me both.”