Page 2 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

I’m in fact late to meet Mr. Drogo in the library, and it seems he’s in a particularly foul mood. His unkempt white hair resembles a tangled bird’s nest perched atop his head, and his square-framed glasses rest on the tip of his long, pointed nose. His intense hazel eyes flit all over me, as if attempting to read my mind.

“You’re late, Princess Lyra. Tardiness is not becoming of a princess.”

He insists we go over the geography of Nighthold and the Faery Realm even though we’ve covered it in the past. There’s another hour going over mannerisms of the Fae, and I’m thankful I have to end our lessons early to get ready for dinner.

I make it back to my room to find Lili left out a beautiful green gown. My mom will be pleased because it’ll bring out the green in my eyes. She also left out my favorite necklace, a gold chain with a teardrop-shaped bloodstone. It’s the last thing my father gave me before he died. When he gave it to me, he told me the stone would always protect me and give me strength when I needed it most. I didn’t wear it for the longest time after he passed. Looking at it used to make me sad, but now when I’m feeling down I find myself seeking out the stone. Even now as I run my fingers over it, I feel a sense of calm. Not to mention the bloodstone itself is quite beautiful. It’s a deep emerald with flakes of violet running through it that remind me of Chepi’s eyes. I clasp it around my neck and move the gown off my bed over to my chair.

I still have some time before I have to get ready, so I try to lie on my bed carefully without messing up my hair. I’m still tired and feeling drained after having such restless sleep lately. Everything about the castle has seemed off these past couple weeks, and now having this nightmare twice makes me even more weary. Unease has started to fester in my chest, and I don’t know what it means, but I want to get to the bottom of it.

Samael bursts through the door and is on top of me before I can even sit up. He has his hand around my throat.

“Listen, you little bitch, I don’t want you at dinner tonight. Come up with an excuse and get out of it.” He releases my neck then grabs my thigh and pinches it hard. “I wouldn’t want to leave a mark somewhere visible.” He grins at me with a cruel edge to his lips and winks. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand, but I have to make an appearance or my mother will kill me. Lili already knows I’m well I can’t lie to her now.”

“You make an appearance, then you say you don’t feel well and leave. I don’t need you fucking up my plans. Do you understand, Lyra?” He pinches my thigh harder, and I know it's going to leave a bruise.

“Yes,” I mutter.

“Good girl.” He lets go of my leg and pats me on the head before leaving.

Now I really want to know who is coming to dinner tonight. Why doesn’t Samael want me there? I know he’ll make me regret it if I don’t figure out a way out of dinner. If I go to my parents now and tell them I don’t feel well, they won't care and will make me attend dinner anyway. If I wait until we’re all seated and announce I don’t feel well in front of company, they’ll be forced to put on an act and let me leave without a fuss. I know this because appearances are everything to my mother, and it’d be inappropriate for her to force her sick daughter to stay at dinner and socialize with company.

Chepi swoops in through the window and flops onto his back on the bed. I give him some belly rubs. “And where have you been all day, mister?”

He just rolls around panting.

I take my time getting ready for dinner, savoring the rare opportunity to dress up. My green dress hugs my curves in all the right places, accentuating my hourglass figure. It's a little more revealing than my usual attire, but I don't mind. I add a touch of pink to my lips and cheeks, wanting to look my best so I don't have to see another look of disapproval from my mother. As I glance at my reflection in the mirror, I notice that my braid has turned frizzy on top, and strands have come loose, thanks to Samael. With a sigh, I decide to undo the braid and let my hair fall in loose waves behind me. It's a more natural look and one that I prefer.

“Stay here. I’ll bring you back dinner in a bit,” I say to Chepi and head to the great dining hall.

As I enter the great hall, I’m struck by the breathtaking beauty of the room. It’s decorated with exquisite detail tonight, just as it always is when used for entertaining. The vast space has towering vaulted ceilings and large gold mirrors that reflect the glowing light from the elaborate chandelier above. Paintings of enchanting landscapes within the Sorcerer Realm adorn the walls, transporting me to far-off lands with just a glance. The magnificent polished wood table, bedecked with black and gold dishes, sits at the center of the room, beckoning guests to dine in luxury. The ambient light from the chandelier casts the perfect glow over everything, creating an atmosphere of enchantment and wonder. The kitchen doors burst open, startling me as several servants spill out into the room with trays in their hands, and I scrunch my nose at the smell of sour milk cheese wafting off one of the trays. I take a drink of water then turn when I catch a man entering the room out of the corner of my eye.

As I turn to face him, I find myself momentarily stunned by his presence. Standing before me is a towering figure, broad-shouldered and undeniably attractive. His light, sun-kissed skin seems to glow in the ambient light, and his hair, as black as a raven’s wing, is tousled in an effortlessly sexy way. His beard is a perfectly groomed stubble that complements his facial features well. But what draws me in are his beautiful, serene light-gray eyes, which seem to hold the secrets of the universe. He smirks at me, a knowing look in his eyes, and as he steps closer I can’t help but be enveloped in his intoxicating scent. It’s musky and earthy, like the first rain of the season, with a hint of sweetness that makes me want to breathe him in deeper.

He clears his throat. “Good evening. My name is Nyx.”

I give him a nervous smile. “Forgive me . . . hello, Nyx. My name is Lyra.”

“May I offer you a skull sweet?” says a servant holding a gold tray full of glasses filled with iridescent black liquid. Nyx takes a glass from the woman but keeps his eyes on me. The servant doesn’t even bother offering me a glass since I’m forbidden from drinking alcohol. Nyx examines the contents of the glass carefully.

“What is a skull sweet exactly?”

I hold back a laugh as he sniffs the glass. “It’s supposed to taste like wine. It’s made from black grapes spelled to provide youth.”

He looks like he is about to say something, but then more servants stream into the room in advance of my parents’ arrival.

My mother looks beautiful as always. Her honey-blonde hair is piled high atop her head, wavy pieces hanging down to frame her slender face. She wears a splendid deep-purple gown with a gold crown. Her green eyes find me immediately, looking me up and down to make sure I look the part of her beautiful, poised princess. Silas is dressed to match her in a purple jacket with gold embroidering. Silas finds Nyx and ushers him away from me as they fall into conversation just out of my ears reach. Silas is average height for a man, but he looks short next to Nyx. He has a round belly and a full but clipped dark-gray beard that matches his curly mop of short gray hair. I wander over to my seat, surveying the room. There are a handful of people here I’ve never seen before.

My mother claps her hands, sending a gush of wind through the room, and all the candles burst to life. It’s a sign for everyone to break away from conversation and find a seat at the table.

Samael finds his way next to me, and only years of hiding my emotions keeps me from visibly cringing. He gives me a good kick under the table, and I bite down on my lip to try to keep myself from flinching. His legs may be long and skinny, but they still pack a punch. I suck in a breath then take a drink of water, hoping no one noticed.

When I look up at Nyx, he’s studying me from across the table, and I wonder if he saw me flinch. There’s something dreamy and mysterious about this man. I know Samael will make me pay for it later, but I decide I’m going to stay at dinner a little while longer. I zone out while my mother gives some speech about the dinner courses planned for this evening. My eyes are inexplicably drawn to Nyx, as if there’s a magnetic pull in my chest that makes me unable to look away. Our first course is brought out, and I frown at my bowl of conjure goulash. It’s made from wattle brains, mixed vegetables, and red wine. I can’t bring myself to eat it because I love the herd of wattle that graze the grounds. I move my spoon around in the bowl pretending to eat while eavesdropping.

Nyx is seated at the other side of the table next to Silas at the end. I strain to hear their conversation, only catching bits and pieces because of everyone else’s talking. As I listen to Nyx, I can’t help but notice how often he mentions Zomea, causing both of their faces to turn grim. Zomea is where we go in the afterlife, and I can’t help but wonder why they are discussing it. The feeling in my chest intensifies, urging me to ask what’s going on, but something holds me back. I want to stay longer and keep listening, but Samael kicks me again, and I almost drop my water goblet. I stand immediately.

“I’m sorry, but I must excuse myself. I’m not feeling well this evening.”