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“Edward! We’re making a scene. I think?—”
“What’s so important that it cannot wait until morning?” A distinctly feminine voice called out before the door opened a crack. “Éadbard? My Divine, is it really you?” she said with a condescending smile.
The door opened a fraction more, revealing a beautiful nymph cast in the glow of candlelight from within. Her features were stately and distinguished. High cheekbones and a finely chiseled nose gave her an heir of superiority. Dark curls cascaded over a blanket that was pulled tight around her shoulders, a hint of gray woven through the strands.
“Cut the pretense, Amara. I know you’re not delighted to see me.”
“What are you doing here?” she hissed as she stuck her neck out and scanned the hallway, her eyes fixating on me.
“I need to see him. I have a favor to collect,” he said, drawing her intrusive stare from me.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You’ve been sneaking him into your private quarters for centuries now. Some things never change.”
She stared at him, her mouth set in a sharp line of contemplation before she waved us into her room, scanning the hallways once more before closing the door behind us.
“You are in exile and distinctly male. It would be improper for you to be seen entering the private quarters of a priestess at night,” she scolded.
“Don’t act like you’re a stickler for the rules. I’m sure your cunning mind could come up with an excuse if we get caught.”
“You can come out, Kían,” she called to the seemingly empty room.
A half-dressed male stumbled from behind a curtain, pulling his pants into place. The middle-aged fae straightened himself and promptly rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
“Kían! Friend, time has been good to you, I see,” Edward said warmly.
“Wish I could say the same for you,” Kían sneered, giving Edward a not-so-warm welcome. “What are you doing here? How are you even here?”
“I’m delighted to see you as well,” Edward said, evading his question with overtly sarcastic formality.
“You show up uninvited and unannounced at the crack of dawn, and you expect us to welcome an exiled fae into our home with open arms? With a strange mortal on your arm, no less. Who the hell is she, anyway?”
“This is Katherine. Soon to be my mate.” The pair looked at me, their eyes widening as they took me in. I’m sure a similar expression was plastered on my face, but it wasn’t the time or place to argue with him.
“A human woman?” Kían asked.
“Not just any human. She’s one of the few in the thirteenth realm that’s been blessed with the early seeds of magic.”
“Hmm, poor girl,” he said, his appraisal of me turning to pitiful disgust. Amara, however, had a flash of curiosity cross her gaze before she covered it with a mask of indifference.
“Edward,” I whispered, pulling at his sleeve to get his attention. “What are we doing here? I think we should go.”
“Nonsense. You wanted answers, right? And now I’m in the market to collect on that favor I am owed.”
“I’m not throwing you out on your ass in respect for the friendship we once had,” Kían started. “But you know the laws of the realms. You’re in exile. If I help you and they find out?—”
“Are you enjoying this fine life here in Neverland?” Edward interrupted. “What was the name of that position I secured for you?” Edward stroked his beard, an amused look on his face. A look I was all too familiar with. He was playing with his prey. “Oh yes, Magister! I’m sure that being a scholar of such high order offers you many luxuries and great status among the people here. It would be a shame for me to undo all that I have done for you.”
“Éadbard, it’s not that simple?—”
“It is that simple. Katherine,” Edward said, reaching a hand to me. “Give me the stone.” I felt all the eyes in the room fall on me. I knew that if I didn’t produce the ruby, Edward would easily rip it from my body once he’d punished me for disobeying him. This was a mistake, and it was all my fault. I fished it from my pocket and set a world of power in his outstretched palm. “It’s all so simple because I have the Heart of the Divine.” The presence of the ruby was all it took to silence the room.
Early morning rays filtered into the Temple Mount’s immense library, illuminating a pile of dusty books. I blinked back the fatigue that made my head ache. I’d been awake for far too long, and the strain of it all was wearing me thin.
“It might help if you tell us what exactly you’re looking for,” Amara grumbled as she closed yet another ancient tome.
“Amara, you disappoint me. I thought, of all people, you would’ve had me all figured out. All these books are nothing more than historical accounts.”
