Luminary (Faylinn Book 3), page 2
“They could be strategizing.”
“What is there to strategize? Organize army. Attack.”
“It’s not that simple, Calliope. There’s something I need to tell you.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. How could things get any worse? What was I saying? Of course things could get worse.
“The reason Rymidon’s attack worked so seamlessly was because banished fae from Faylinn—who Adair so kindly rescued—were turned against us. Not everyone of them, but a good portion.”
“How many, Declan?”
“More than half.”
My breath hitched. “What? How? How did he brainwash that many?”
Declan shrugged helplessly. “Maybe it was either pledge loyalty to Adair or live in fear of Favner. They didn’t know he was gone. It’s possible they thought they were coming back to take over what was rightfully theirs from Favner. I can’t be sure. But now, somehow, they’re under his Supremacy.”
I swallowed. “So, what does that mean? How many are we fighting against now?”
“From what I’ve gathered since they invaded, I wouldn’t doubt if Rymidon’s army was just as large as all the kingdoms combined. It’s going to take more than force alone to overcome them. It’s going to take numbers. We’re going to need all of the other kingdoms to join forces. It’s possible Elena is communicating with the others. She’s sharp. I have faith that she’ll come through one way or another.”
I leaned back against the wall and slid down, resting my head on the windowsill. Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I don’t want to do this without him,” I murmured mostly to myself.
“Kai loves you, Calliope,” Allura whispered. You own my heart, Calliope. You always will. “Don’t give up on him.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t.
He gave up on me.
…
The next morning my covers were torn off me. I gasped awake, curling my arms around my body and my revealing nightgown. I stared into the eyes of the faery standing over me.
The luminosity of his eyes was like waking up to glaring sunlight. “You’re getting out of this bed today.”
“Oh really?” I glared up at Sakari’s intimidating figure.
“Really.” He grit his prominent jaw, clearly willing to fight me on this.
“And if I say no?”
“I’m not above getting you out of this bed myself. These arms are plenty capable of carrying you wherever I want to take you. I’d actually take pleasure in it.” He lifted a slow grin.
I met his innuendo with folded arms and a scowl.
His shoulders sagged as he sighed. “I’ve given you a day to mourn, to try and come to terms with things. It’s time you get some fresh air. My father agreed to let you leave your chambers.”
I didn’t budge. Just because Adair said I could leave my room didn’t mean I wanted to go anywhere with Sakari. Based solely on principle, I didn’t want to leave because Adair said I could.
Sakari sighed, frustrated. “You’re really going to punish me for my father’s actions.”
I pushed up onto my elbows. “No, I’m going to punish you for your lack of action. I mean really, Sakari? You stood there. Stood there. While your father took everything away from me.” I sat up straighter, my eyes narrowing. “You think just because you didn’t say the words that I’ll let you off the hook? You’re sorely mistaken. You’re not who I thought you were.”
His face fell. “I’m sorry, Calliope. Truly. But he’s my father… and my king. Even if I wanted to I couldn’t.” Then Sakari blinked. A mask of indifference concealed his face. “This is the way it has to be. You’ll see. Once all the kingdoms are back in Faylinn they’ll listen to him and agree it’s time we unite again. I know it. I believe in him.”
“You’re putting your faith in the wrong person,” I said vehemently. “I promise you that.”
Sakari sighed and shook his head. “We’re not going to see eye-to-eye on this. Yet. For now, please get out of bed, so we can go have breakfast and get some fresh air.” My principles were cracking with the fresh air incentive. “We have four days until we bond,” he continued, “and I fully intend to have you smiling by that day.” He stretched out his hands to haul me out of bed.
Choking out a laugh, I muttered, “Good luck with that, Charming.”
His hands paused as they reached for me. “Charming?” One eyebrow lifted. “You think I’m charming?”
Ugh. “Never mind. Fine. I’m getting up, but only because I might suffocate if I stay in this room for another day.” I batted his hands away. “Move. Let me shower.”
He took a step back with a triumphant grin and let me get up. I hated that he won. This time. “I’ll wait outside the door for you,” Sakari said.
Once I showered, I walked into my bedroom to get dressed. It was strange not to see Evette and Adelaide bustling around as they picked out my outfit and tidied up my room. They’d been a part of my morning ritual since my first day here. What had Adair done to them? I hoped they were unharmed. If he even laid a hand on of them, I don’t care what kind of power he had, I would strangle him myself.
After pulling on a tweed romper and cream vest, I slipped on a pair of delicate flats that formed perfectly to my feet with a leaf for the sole. In a way, it was nice not having Adelaide and Evette hover. I could dress as casually as I wanted to without their disapproving eyes. This sort of outfit was so normal to me now; I didn’t even crave the feel of jeans, a t-shirt, and flip-flops anymore.
My crown was the last thing I put on. The glass vines nestled into my curls. I hadn’t worn it since I went back to see my parents. Strangely enough, seeing it on top of my head after a few days without it made me feel more like myself again.
When I exited my room, Sakari stood in all black next to Rollin and some other Rymidon Keeper I hadn’t met yet. As I peered down the hallway, it was lined with Keeper after Keeper all standing at attention. I counted at least thirty.
“Paranoid, much?” I said under my breath.
Sakari followed my gaze. With a chuckle he said, “No harm in being prepared. We have to keep you safe.”
“As far as I know the threat isn’t outside the castle,” I retorted, with a sidelong glance at him.
Sakari sighed, but didn’t comment. He lifted his elbow for me to take and offered a small smile, which I ignored, and walked down the corridor on my own. He cleared his throat and came up beside me shortly after.
“We will be having breakfast with my father and Skye this morning.”
“I wouldn’t have expected anything less,” I muttered.
Every five feet or so, there were another two Keepers, one on either side of the corridor. Was that all Rymidon was made of? Every faery we passed in the castle was someone I didn’t recognize. They remained stock-still, heads raised and eyes set forward. There was no playfulness in their features or laughter in their eyes.
Were they made of stone? What was Adair raising in Rymidon? Statues?
Once we reached the dining hall, Adair and Skye were already seated and waiting. When I walked in, Adair stood. Skye followed, but did so begrudgingly. As he stood he revealed Lia who was sitting on the opposite side of him. She got to her feet, but kept her head down, eyes focused on the table.
I froze. I’d expected Adair and Skye, but Lia had been buried in the back of my mind. She was one more thing I couldn’t handle. Her presence further broke my already cracked heart. It was going to be difficult for me to control my anger with her sitting across from me, for however long this breakfast lasted.
“Good morning, Calliope. I expect you slept well,” Adair greeted.
Sakari’s hand gently touched my lower back, encouraging me forward. I stepped out of his reach. Sitting down to eat with them was the last thing I wanted to do, but my stomach disagreed with a growl.
Sakari seated us across from Skye and Lia, with Adair at the head of the table.
“Morning, Adair,” was all I could muster. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to do anything but sit civilly with these traitors.
A couple more faeries, who were not Shea or Tania, came in and served our breakfast. Was there not one faery in this castle from Faylinn?
“I see you haven’t wasted any time getting rid of all the Faylinnians. Are there any left outside the castle walls?”
Adair chuckled lightly as if he thought I was making a joke. “Why, of course, Calliope. While I might not seem like the most noble of faeries to you, I do not plan on a complete genocide.”
I nearly choked on my lettie. There was nothing noble about Adair. For him to even associate himself with such a characteristic was enraging.
“Though that doesn’t sound like a horrible idea,” Skye murmured. “The only thing this kingdom cares about is revelries and frolicking around. It’s utter chaos. Did any work ever get done?”
If my arms could reach, I would’ve stretched them across the table to strangle Skye. “Faylinn actually works extremely hard to keep a perfect balance. If all they ever did was party and frolic, you wouldn’t be eating this breakfast right now. If I’m not mistaken, this fruit and bread is here because of what Faylinn’s Sowers grew and harvested before you invaded our kingdom. If you aren’t grateful, then there’s the door.” I found myself standing, hovering over the table, and pointing at the open double doors. “Please, take the invitation. I’m gladly extending it.”
Skye appeared somewhat taken back, but met me glare for glare. He didn’t scare me. Though his blue eyes were cold, the heat from my anger kept him in his place. I clutched the edge of the table to keep myself from lunging across it.
“Skye,” Adair cautioned.
Skye shifted his stare. If he clenched his jaw any tighter, it would break. “I was speaking fact, Father. I see nothing wrong with—” Adair merely shook his head once, silencing him. Skye didn’t look at me again, and we sat back down.
“Eventually this will all work out, Calliope,” Adair said, cutting his fruit into tiny pieces. “You’ll see. This is all for the best. Faeries will be reunited. Powers within colonies will strengthen. As kingdoms find their way back, we will be one again, as it was always intended. We will be more powerful than ever.”
“And how will kingdoms find their way back? You’re going to destroy the tree.”
“Don’t concern yourself with the technicalities, Calliope.” He smiled condescendingly. “It will work out flawlessly.”
“There was a reason for the Divide, Adair,” I countered. “The other kingdoms don’t want to come back. They don’t want to do it your way. They want to do it their way and they are completely happy and content living as they are. It’s why they aren’t here. The system we have now works. While I agree that there are flaws, this isn’t the answer. This idea you have about all the kingdoms reuniting and living happily ever after is going to destroy the soul of—”
“That is enough!” Adair interrupted, standing abruptly. His burgundy eyes flared and I shrunk back into my seat. Sakari set his hand on my leg, and I peered over at him. Though I thought he’d be looking at me with a warning glare, his eyes held concern and pleading.
Adair cleared his throat, and I dared to look back at him once more. He relaxed his shoulders as he controlled his breathing through his nose. With a composed tone he said, “We have a bonding ceremony to plan. Do you have any preferences on the details of the celebration?”
I swallowed back my fear and squared my shoulders. “I honestly couldn’t care less.” Though he frightened me, I refused to let him believe he could control me. I refused to give him what he wanted or the satisfaction.
“You have nothing to offer? Not even a preference on your dress or flowers?” I shook my head once with my jaw set and turned my attention back to the food on my plate. “Unterrial will be so disappointed. She loves planning grand parties. However, maybe she will love having the freedom to do whatever she chooses. I will let her know she can run with whatever she sees fit. I will make a few suggestions, too, of course.”
Of course.
“She likes peonies,” Lia chimed flatly.
I finally let my gaze meet hers out of sheer astonishment. If I had any doubt of whether she was a faery before, her soft red-orange wings peeking over her shoulders cleared that right up. If faeries were seasons, she would be fall.
Lia stared back. Though I was partially expecting it, her vibrant hazel eyes of indifference sank my heart into the pit of my stomach. It was worse than coldness. If they had at least shown some sort of emotion I’d know she still cared. But there was nothing there. Our years of friendship meant nothing to her. Though she was my best friend, I could give up the ghost right here and she probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash.
“Thank you, Magnolia,” Adair said curtly, almost irritated that she spoke up. “I will inform Unterrial unless you have something else you would like to add, Calliope.”
Lia—or I suppose I should say Magnolia—blinked, breaking our connection and refocused on her food.
“No,” I said calmly and veered my gaze back to Adair. “Tell her to run wild.”
Adair chuckled dryly. “Oh, I wouldn’t give her that much ground. I would like you to have some input. Maybe you’ll change your mind. But, I will have a chat with Unterrial to make sure it will be a bonding fit for a True Royal.”
How could he honestly think I cared?
“Are you finished?” Sakari asked me softly, leaning into me.
“Yes.” My appetite vanished.
He stood and helped pull out my chair. Once I was standing, he offered me his hand, but I rejected it. I had no desire to touch him. The thought alone made me cringe.
I sped for the doorway. I needed to get out of the room, to be free of seeing Adair’s face, to be free of hearing his voice. This kind of hatred toward a person had never flowed through my veins the way it did for him. Murder wasn’t off the table.
“Don’t be gone for long, Sakari,” I heard Adair say as we walked out. “We have a few items of business to discuss that cannot wait.”
“Yes, Father,” Sakari replied nearly in my ear, closer than I expected him to be.
Chapter Three
SAKARI
Calliope flinched when I spoke. I pulled my hand back after nearly placing it on her back and slowed my stride to give her space. She pushed ahead of me, but I didn’t stop her. The wards would if I didn’t catch up to her. She couldn’t leave without me. Not that she was aware of that.
The hallways of the castle in Faylinn were brighter than I was used to, but I’d become accustomed to it over the last couple days. While Rymidon’s halls burned with sporadic torches of fire, our hallways taller and wider, these were lit with an abundance of firefly lanterns. This place felt more like a home than a fortress. It was a nice change.
My father seemed to feel the same way given how quickly he settled in. I’d never seen him this at ease in Rymidon. He knew this castle as if he’d been living here for years. Being the best friend of Prince Finnian, I suppose that made sense. He must have spent quite a bit of time here while growing up.
Calliope was nearly at the front entrance. I probably didn’t want her to know that she couldn’t leave the grounds without me. I didn’t have the energy to fight another battle with her. She burst through the front doors as if she couldn’t get out fast enough. I quickened my stride and placed my hand on the small of her back as we passed through the wards. With just my touch we’d get through without her noticing.
Right after we passed through the gate she glared at my hand. I removed it without acknowledging her to keep from raising any suspicion.
I squinted and raised my hand to block the sunlight. It was brighter than I expected. I’d spent every waking moment since my father locked her away in her room battling with him to let her out. He wasn’t having any of it. He didn’t trust her, which I understood. She might be powerful in more ways than we could even comprehend, but she was to be my wife. I couldn’t let him keep her in there forever. It wasn’t right. How were we supposed to start our life if he confined her? I had four days to show her she could love me—as I loved her.
Two days had passed since I last set foot outside, but it was apparent my suffering was nothing compared to Calliope’s. Her features noticeably relaxed when the breeze blew past us. With the sunlight beaming down on her, she inhaled a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her chest rose and fell, a body deprived of the freshness of the forest. It amazed me how different we were. How much more she needed the trees with her half-human blood, as if the human inside of her smothered her fae. She blinked repeatedly, clearing away tears that must have surfaced—tears she didn’t want me to see.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, peering up at the clear sky.
“For what?”
“Getting me outside.” She thanked me, and yet, she attempted to disguise her gratitude. I wasn’t forgiven.
“I knew you must be getting uncomfortable, that the pulsing might come, but I also knew you would never admit it.”
She lifted one eyebrow, cracking a small smile, and chuckled faintly—clearly surprised I remembered her pulsing need to be closer to the trees. It was the first smile she’d given me since our last night together, overlooking the Harvest Borough. That night I thought our fate was sealed. Had she honestly not felt it? I felt it in my bones. Everything fell into place then. My fingers tingled at the remembrance of her hand in mine, her soft skin brushing against my skin. It made me feel like a fool.
In an instant Calliope’s smile dissolved like soap washed away by water. Smiling at me would mean making nice with the enemy. She made her stance fervently clear.
I didn’t want to be her enemy. Desperately, I wanted her to see we could be something great together. She could make me a better faery. When I was with her, even if our time was brief, I felt her goodness soaking into me, filling the cracks my father created. Somehow I needed to make her my ally. Whatever the price, I would pay it.
“At least I could never be mistaken for a pushover,” she retorted.
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