Chapter Eight

Lavender and lemon verbena floated in the air as we approached the outskirts of the city. It reminded me of the same scent that greeted me at Château Comptal. As we entered the city, the worn dirt path we’d followed faded into a narrowed onyx cobblestone road. People crowded the street, and the low rumble of noise was nothing compared to the street vendors. Merchants lined the sides of the streets, shouting off names of goods to be purchased. I was drawn in by the chaos of the merchants, the feeling exciting and familiar, reminding me slightly of the marketplace that I used to visit with my father on occasion.

The rush of people around me felt like the Capital in East Engles. Women out shopping, bright colored dresses, flowing pants, artists painting on the street corners. The moon rippled across the sky, hidden by hues of purple-blue clouds. The town was alive despite the time of day. I took in the lack of fear from everyone around me. At home, we rarely ventured outside after dusk. With the Seefers coming out to hunt and no magic, it was best to stay inside. But here the people were alive, dancing and painting in the streets, the roads lit by moonlight.

I remember the last time I truly danced under the moonlight, carefree and at peace. It had been a few weeks prior to The Fall. Father brought us to the Engles Festival, and we stayed out all night dancing, shopping, and playing carnival games. I had been looking around at the festival vendors. Father would laugh at me occasionally, telling me that any pieces I found at jewelry vendors at the festival were not worth my time. We had jokingly bantered back and forth most of the night until I finally proved him wrong when I discovered a beautiful necklace. Father admitted his defeat at that moment. I think he just pretended to dislike festival jewelry because he would secretly purchase pieces for Mum.

That day played across my mind as we proceeded past the merchants calling out to us. I turned to look for my sister. She rode behind me, a far-off look in her eyes, and I knew she, too, remembered the last time we’d been this free—a time before our lives changed and dusk didn’t instill fear. I could read the worry and concern in her eyes as we continued, and it hurt me even as I knew the same emotions were painted on my face the further we rode into town.

I looked forward again and was shocked by the view in front of me. A large Palais was right before my eyes. I immediately recognized it—who wouldn't? It was the exact Palais I was supposed to be at this week, just a few hundred years in the future. The Ny Palais. Which meant we were in Nytestarr, the Capital of Verastarr.

As we began approaching Ny Palais, I noticed that the streets were lined with people, all cheering for their prince. The streets became difficult to maneuver and soldiers began falling in alongside us, escorting us toward the Palais. Kateya glanced over at me, back at the Palais, and then returned to look at me as she slowly realized that we were actually going to be entering Ny Palais.

“Can you believe it, Cass?” Kateya nearly squealed with excitement shown across her face. “Do you think we will actually be allowed inside? Will we get to sleep in the Palais? What do you think the inside looks like?”

Laughing as my sister rambled on, I looked on with a matching level of anticipation. We had seen the outside of Ny Palais when we were younger, back when traveling between the lands was more acceptable. We had never entered the Palais or met a real king before (though apparently we had met a real prince).

My curiosity grew as we entered through the Palais gates, the charcoal stone structure towering overhead. We passed by the outlines of gardens as we approached the front entrance. Taking in my surroundings, I could see black ivy crawling through the gardens, the night lilies in bloom. A flower everyone knew of but ceased to exist in our time, as it was said to make powers stronger. Sébastien dismounted before assisting me down and walking off to discuss something with a man I presumed held a high ranking in his guard.

The soldiers who traveled with us soon dispersed as well as the servants. I turned to speak to Emalyee, only to discover her walking away with Dravyn. Sighing, I watched as the commander returned, approaching Kateya and me.

“Let’s go,” he commanded before walking toward the grand entrance. Kateya and I followed Sébastien as we walked into Ny Palais.

Entering through the Palais doors, I stopped. Gawking at the inside, I took in the tapestries hanging from the walls, the grand walkway leading to the throne, and the stone walls towering high toward an arched ceiling. The Palais was various hues of black and charcoal interspersed with the occasional crimson accent, much like the crest colors I had seen at the château. A white movement in the corner caught my eye, and I noted two wolvyn lounging, watching our every movement. Sleek, white fur clung neatly to the muscular frames of what appeared to be wolves, only twice as large. Sharp claws protruded from their paws and their eyes glowed with a swirled mist as they watched us. I wondered how many shifters chose to live in their wolvyn forms.

Busy admiring the Palais, I hadn't realized that the others had continued walking, until Sébastien turned back my way. He interrupted my train of thought as he snapped, “Did no one teach you any manners?”

I looked at him quizzically, confused and wondering why he was asking me that. “What?”

Muttering something, he took a deep, controlled breath. “Next time, have some respect when you walk into someone else’s home and keep up rather than standing there frozen in the doorway. Understand?”

I glared at him before shoving past him. “If you insist,” rolled off my tongue. I hurriedly walked up to Kateya while making a mental note not to shove past Sébastien again. My shoulder was throbbing from the contact, which just angered me even more.

Approaching Kateya, I asked, “Do you think we are supposed to just wait here?

Shrugging her shoulders, she simply replied, “I’m not quite sure.”

“Kat,” I snapped at her, my anger from the commander’s tone radiating from me to her. “I could've figured that one out myself. Thank you ever so much for your insight.”

Her emerald eyes darted over to mine as she muttered, “What made you so uptight?”

“Uptight? Really?” I sniped back. “I’m the uptight one?”

“Who else?” she snarked, and our stare-down began, both of us glaring in sisterly fashion, daring the other to look away first and show a sign of submission.

A sarcastic cough sounded from a meter away, causing both of us to break our glares and turn toward the sound. Dravyn relaxed as he leaned casually against a column, looking amused at our competition.

His voice sounded through the room, a slight chuckle laced in with his words. “As highly entertaining as this staring match has been, I was so fortunate as to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and have been sent to show you to your rooms. Tomorrow, you're to meet with His Royal Highness, the King of Verastarr.”

His eyes flicked over to mine. “If it were me, I would be on my best behavior. The God only knows how Sébastien has managed to keep his cool around you, but the king... You don’t become king for no reason, if you get my drift.”

I nodded in acknowledgment, slightly confused as to why we would be meeting with the king.

Pushing off the column, Dravyn mockingly bowed. “If you follow me, your humble servant will now escort you to your rooms.” A laugh slipped from my sister’s lips as a smile graced mine and we trailed behind Dravyn.

* * *

I slid down the closed door after saying goodnight to Kateya. After the past week, I was drained of energy. I stared into the room, not fully processing anything in my line of vision, as I crafted a list in my head of things that I needed to do. Find the pendant. Research into powers and magic of the realm. Actually, first, get a dagger. Then, return home with Kateya. I peeled myself off the floor slowly and crept over to the bed, barely pulling the covers over me before I let sleep claim me for the night.

Sunshine danced across my face as it pulled me from my dreamless sleep. I slowly shifted up, fully taking in my surroundings. The sheets and comforter on the bed were a light gray color with intricate detail sewn on the edges. The door to my right was made of a dark oak with an open arch above it. To my left was an alcove window, a small lounge bench underneath, the perfect place to cozy up and read if one had the time. From my window, I could spot the Sea of Avyz glimmering and reflecting the sun’s rays. The Sea of Avyz bordered all five lands in Vanaiyer, reminding me of the times I spent back home by this very body of water.

The room was decorated in a simple style, a singular tapestry hung on the wall above the bed, and a few paintings were scattered across the remaining walls. Sheer, black curtains blew with the breeze by the alcove, and there was a dressing table and a door on the wall across from my bed.

Slipping out from the silken sheets, I padded over the chilled marble tiles to the door, giving the handle a slight twist. It clicked free, revealing an open, airy washroom. A tub rested in the center, a large opening in the wall lined by a columned barrier, providing a relaxing feel. I turned the valve, allowing the water to fill up the onyx stone tub as I stripped the layers of my clothing.

Wincing at the heat, I lowered my body in, allowing the heat to carry my thoughts away as I dunked my head beneath the rippling water. The scent of lavender greeted me as my head broke the surface. I grabbed the bar of soap and began scrubbing my skin as if I could scrub off the chaos of the past week. Examining my side, I noticed that the cut had almost fully healed, an angry pink line in its place. With a sigh, I leaned my head against the cool stone, closing my eyes as the scent of lavender permeated my skin.

A soft rapping broke me from my daze. “Entrez-vous,” I called. An elderly woman with streaks of gray weaved into her hair walked in.

“Ah, good morning, miss. I have laid out fresh clothing on the bed. You are expected in the main chamber shortly; please be ready.” And with that, she turned on her heel and left.

Sighing, I pushed up and began to dress to meet the king, praying that he had a lighter spirit than that of his son.

* * *

My shirt slid against my skin as I walked in silence down the hall, my sister by my side, following the two guards in front of us. I could not help but attempt to determine the underlying reason why the king of all people would want to meet with us. I knew Sébastien doubted my story, and that he believed I meant no good, which made my concern rise with every step. My breathing was shaking as we approached the door. Why would the king believe me when his son didn’t remotely trust me? Was I walking my sister toward impending death?

My jumbled thoughts continued to assault me as we walked down the corridor toward the main chamber, the door looming the closer we got. I stared at the doors, silently begging myself not to go through with this. I knew Sébastien found us inconvenient, even if he played the role of kind host. But didn't he know? How could he not be aware that he was contributing to our punishment, that the moment we met the king we would most certainly be sent to the donjon for how insane our story sounded? Or that we could be punished for the use of magic that was not ours to use.

The guard in front of me raised his hand, pounding on the door before I heard a commanding voice through the walls: “Entrez-vous.” And the doors were pushed open.

I swallowed nervously as we slowly made our way through the door. Glancing around as we entered the chamber, I noticed that, unlike the majority of the Palais I had seen so far, this room was under-decorated. The walls were simple, stone blocks, shelves of dusty books on one side, with a large chair and a couch in the center. My gaze locked on the three wolvyn in a dark corner of the chamber, recognizing the ice-blue eyes and black-gray fur of the largest wolvyn before scanning the rest of the room. I noted an older man by the large chair, his back to me in deep conversation. As Kateya and I walked into the room, a slight chill filled the air, and the silence flooded the space.

The three wolvyn shifted back, fully clothed, my jaw dropping slightly as I recognized the other two men, one being Dravyn, whose eyes caught mine and a silent grin spread across his face at my shock. Sébastien walked over past me as he approached his father, who had turned to assess us.

“This is Cassandra Dumont and her sister Kateya. They showed up just outside Nordak-controlled lands a week ago and have cost me five men already.” His voice dripped ice as he introduced us.

My heart dropped at the tone, already knowing the direction of this conversation. Forcing my lips to turn up, I replied, “Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”

The king assessed us as a predator stalks his prey, and the air dropped another ten degrees. His eyes were a stormy blue-gray that spoke of danger with the same icy chill as his son’s. I noted then how similar the two appeared, both built for battle, hardened by life.

Taking a seat, he began to speak. “Welcome to my land. I have heard much about you. But first, how was the journey here? Was everything alright? No troubles, I hope?”

I regarded the man speaking, wondering what he actually knew of our journey over. If he knew of the attack or the arguments that took place. Whether he was looking for a serious response or was just using common courtesy and feigning interest. I simply replied, “The journey was fine, thank you.”

He inclined his head with a slight nod, leading me to believe I had answered correctly before his attention turned to the others in the room. After speaking to the three other men for a few moments, he flicked his hand as a dismissal to them and directed them to show Kateya around the Palais grounds.

Sitting there, I began to wonder why he had dismissed Kateya, yet hadn't dismissed me. I watched as his gaze went from me to the commander, who I noticed was still in the room. His voice cut through the air, commanding throughout the room as he dismissed Sébastien as well. My head snapped toward Sébastien, reveling in the shock radiating off him. I noticed the way Sébastien’s jaw tightened in anger at being dismissed and his ice-blue eyes narrowed to slits, yet he held his tongue and stormed out of the room.

Freezing in my spot, I realized that it was now just me and the king. A bit of panic began to sink in as it hit me that he, this man in front of me, controlled this entire land, and suddenly, I began to wonder if I hadn’t just traded one predator for an even worse one. He could punish me right now for the use of magic, the lost lives of Sébastien’s men, withholding aspects of how we got here, and nobody would raise a finger against him.

As though he could sense my fear, he chuckled lightly before beginning, “It’s a pleasure, Cassandra. Allow me to officially introduce myself. I am Adrastan Capetian, King of Verastarr and Alpha of the Wolvyn.” I smiled politely at the introduction even as my insides shriveled up in fear. He continued. “My son, Sébastien, has informed me of the story you have shared with him. It would seem that you, my dear, have a great deal of explaining to do?”

At this, I nodded weakly, not knowing what else to say. “Am I correct in understanding that you believe it was magic which brought you to my land?”

I looked at him before replying. “Yes, as I told Sébastien, there must have been magic in my—”

The king held his hand up, stopping me. “Was this magic your magic, or was someone sending you here?” His stern voice demanded an answer.

“It just happened. I’m a mortal. I don’t have any magic in me, and there was no one using magic on us. I told Sébastien, it was from the pendant on my necklace.”

Those storm blue-gray eyes watched me with intent as he responded, “I have already heard the story from Sébastien. What I need to know is how. How was the magic activated? You claimed that you had this necklace for a long time. Is this the only time the necklace has done this? What did you say or do before it unleashed its power?”

I swallowed hard, my fingers pulling at a frayed string on my pants. My mind went back in time, back to the night of the attack. A time I had told no one of when my necklace had indeed released magic.

“And Cassandra.” Adrastan’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “I recommend not leaving anything out, as I have my ways of finding out the truth. Ways far less pleasant, which I will use if needed,” he said, as his lip curled up.

Taking a breath, I calmed the shaking of my hands before I began. “The pendant. I often fidget with it and hold it against my neck. As I said goodbye to my sister that day, I remember holding it and wishing that I could just go back. I just wanted to go back, before the attacks, before The Fall, back to when our life was so much simpler. I remember thinking of this time when we were little that we had lived in Verastarr for a few years and how happy, how whole our family felt then. I was thinking back to those times.” He tracked my every word and movement as I spoke.

“But to answer your question,” I paused, making sure I could really do this. “No. That was not the first time that the pendant released magic. When I was younger. A pack of Seefers attacked our home. As a Seefer landed on me, its claws scratching down my side, I remember wishing over and over that they would leave, that all I wanted was for them to disappear. I couldn’t let them get past me to my sister. No sooner had I wished than I felt a sharp heat on my chest and then an eerie chill slam through the house and the Seefers left. My family… we are the only ones I know that survived such an attack, but I never once told anyone about the chilled feeling I felt. As the years went on, I thought less and less about that day.”

Adrastan stared at me in thought for a moment. “The necklace. Do you have it with you?”

I swallowed. “No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Where is the necklace, then?”

“If I knew, you’d think the answer would have been yes—” I slapped my hand over my mouth. Fuck. You can’t talk to the literal king like that, Cass. Do you have a death wish? “Sorry, I don’t know where it is. It was ripped off the chain when it began burning me. When we woke up in a field shortly before we crossed paths with Sébastien, I couldn’t find it. I’ve been trying ever since.”

“Describe the necklace to me,” he demanded.

“It was a red, rectangular pendant, maybe an inch and a half long. The pendant itself was a ruby-red color with swirls of gold and a few more intricate designs that looked as if they were trapped in it.”

Adrastan stood up then, walking to the back wall lined with books. He searched for a few moments, pulling out a few books, putting them aside on the worn desk, before settling on a particularly ancient book. The seams threatened to fall apart, the pages yellowed with age. “Come,” he commanded as he turned the pages while scanning each one. Settling on a page, he set the book down, his finger pointing down at the depicted sketch. “Is that the necklace?” he questioned.

Looking down at the book with surprise, I barely nodded my head. “I don’t understand. Why? Why is there a sketch of my necklace in a book?”

Adrastan slumped slightly in his desk chair. “You’re sure? There’s no doubt in your mind?”

“Yes, sir. I’m positive. That sketch is of my pendant, down to the very swirls inside.”

Adrastan muttered under his breath before releasing a heavy sigh. “I thought we had more time.”

“More time? More time for what?” My voice raised an octave. “Why do you have a sketch of my pendant? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Come, let’s sit. I’m afraid I have much to fill you in on.” Adrastan’s voice was heavy as we moved to the couch. As I settled against the velvet material of the couch, he began. “At the beginning of my grandfather’s reign, over 100 years ago, the Nordak lands began to get power hungry. They weren’t satisfied with only having one power, they wanted them all.”

“As you know, each land has its own power, but the King of Nordak at the time, wanted more. The four other lands, East Engles, Verastarr, Reggeon, and Avyon, joined together, searching for a way to stop the Nordak from creating an imbalance of power throughout the realm. The four rulers, now known as the Cordial, assembled in secret in the East Engles with their strongest power assessors. They presented three artifacts. Each of the rulers then gave some of their power and magic and forced it inside the artifacts. The power assessors then bound and banished the artifacts to the furthest corners of the realm.”

He paused as I processed the history he had shared with me. “Once the four rulers returned home, one of the power assessors was captured by the Nordak. As it occurred, the King of the Nordak discovered the secret meeting and his fury was unstoppable.”

“He tortured and destroyed the trapped power assessor until he learned of the three artifacts. The power he unleashed then was like none other. A power strong enough to anger the God, to cause all those with magic in their souls to quake in fear. It was then that Seefers first appeared to seek out the power hidden amongst the artifacts. The King of the Nordak would stop at nothing to gain infinite power.”

“A great power was cast across the land by the four rulers, a power that instantly killed the Cordial as they expelled their magic. Four deaths in exchange for a hope of a better future. In their place was a prophecy. A means of protection. The artifacts would not be found until they made their way into the hands of ones that were deserving. A power assessor was assigned to each artifact, who would travel the paths of time to ensure it made it to the right hands before accepting their fate and vanishing from the realm. The hands of those who would join to destroy the tainted magic of the Nordak.”

I almost laughed because I knew one thing for sure. I was not qualified to destroy any dark magic. “I don’t understand why my necklace would have been one of the artifacts… or why it would have been given to me,” I pressed. My memory flitted back to that night, recalling the strange way the elderly woman had appeared before me, then how she had disappeared from my sight. I had assumed it was elemental magic, cloaking her in the night. Yet, what if it had been a power assessor, as the king described? One who vanished altogether once the artifact made it to my possession. Fuck me. Why? Why did I have to be such a naïve young child and accept the damn pendant?

“That necklace belonged to the first wolvyn alpha in our land and was passed down through generations. My grandfather sketched the artifact here in this journal so that future generations wouldn’t forget it, even though it had been lost to us for the cause.”

I sat in silence. Thoughts screaming in my mind, but not being able to escape. “What was the prophecy?”

Adrastan hesitated before replying, “The prophecy was written long ago. However, it has never been held in full by any one land, in an attempt to keep it from fulfillment.” He then shared:

“The power of four melded in three,

Scattered on winds of time,

Forced by darken powers to hide.

Bonded through secrets and lies,

A shattered acceptance,

Destined to start the beginning of times.”

I stared at the king then, confusion plastered across my face. “I’m just going to say it. I don’t really see how that would have anything to do with me. This doesn’t entirely seem like my issue. I’ve got enough power battles going on in my time, no need to add more. Thanks, though,” I finished as I stood up and began walking toward the door.

A low growl was all the warning I got before I found myself pressed against the floor, a snarling wolvyn towering over me. Sharp claws pricked into my shoulders, bringing pinpricks of blood to the surface as they held me down. A dark growl shook through him, coursing over me in warning.

In an instant, the king shifted back, standing in front of me, as I lay frozen in place on the floor. “Don’t test me, Cassandra. Don’t mistake empathy for your circumstances with kindness.”

My eyes blinked in shock as I slowly rose to my feet, my legs shaking as I sat back down. “I don’t even have the necklace anymore, though.”

Adrastan paced across the marbled floor in front of me, his black leather boots rhythmically thudding with each step. “If the pendant alone falls into the wrong hands, it will be useless. It was warded to only work when both the artifact and its owner are together. Which means that you will be the target if anyone discovers you are the owner of the first uncovered artifact.”

“Will the pendant take my sister and me home?”

He sighed, sitting down across from me. “I couldn’t tell you without seeing the pendant and the magic within. It’s possible that it can send you both back, but we need to locate the pendant first.”

Sucking in a shaky breath, I looked at him. “Why me? I have no ties to any magic or power. I didn’t ask for this.”

A chuckle escaped as he responded, “No one asks to play with fire—it just happens. Do you think I asked to be king? No. I watched a vicious magic take my father’s life from him and was given this role at a young age. Do you think those before me asked to give up their lives to protect Vanaiyer? No, people don’t ask for it; that doesn’t change the fact that they could be born for this though. The God allows us each to have a hand in the path of our own destiny. It’s merely up to you what you choose to do with yours.”

Closing my eyes, I tried to stop the pain as my mind hurt from the information, the shocking overload of news I had learned. Glancing back toward Adrastan, I questioned, “I could use some time to process this, if that’s alright?”

He watched me for a moment before answering me. “Yes, I need to send out patrols to begin searching for the pendant.” He paused briefly. “Cassandra, you need to understand—whatever time period you may be from, times are different here. Battles and attacks in all the kingdoms have grown stronger as of late, and the Nordak presence has increased. My sons have been raised to command, toughened by battle and protective of their packs. I may be the king, but I won’t interfere with Sébastien’s decisions if you don’t respect and follow his lead.”

I looked at him and nodded, understanding what he was trying to tell me, before heading out the door.