Page 32 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

When I’m done freshening up, Nyx appears back in my room. “Ready to go?”

“Yes,” I answer, hopping off the bed.

“Would you like to fly or channel to the hot springs?”

“What does it mean to channel?”

“Well, it’s like teleporting. It doesn’t hurt or anything. I’ll hold on to you and imagine where I want us to go, then we’ll appear there in a few seconds.” He says this like it's no big deal. I’ve heard the Fae are very powerful, but being able to travel places instantly seems crazy.

“Can you channel anywhere?” I have so many questions now.

“I can channel anywhere within my Realm so long as it's a place I’ve been before.”

“Can all Fae channel?”

“Yes, we can, but how far we can channel greatly depends on how powerful we are. So naturally I can channel us far.” He winks at me, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

“You sure are full of yourself,” I say before taking the hand he extends to me. He gives me a charming half smile.

“You may feel warm for a second, but it's just my magic surrounding you. Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I say, hesitantly stepping close to him. He tightly embraces me, embracing me in darkness. His powerful magic pulsates, emanating a warm and familiar scent. The wind howls in my ear, intensifying his musky sweetness. I feel as though I’m being swept away in a vortex, tossed and turned until I’m suddenly lifted into the gentle warmth of the balmy air. Nyx steadies me, offering support as I open my eyes, the darkness fades away, and I feast upon the breathtaking view. We find ourselves in the lush jungle by the edge of a tranquil pool of water.

“Wow.” I spin around, taking in the location. The water is pearlescent glowing-blue with clouds of steam rising off it. The hot spring is tucked back under a cliff shaded from the sun. It’s not very warm out yet, so I can’t wait to get in the hot water.

I haven’t had much time to process what happened last night, and my thoughts are in a jumbled mess. Does Nyx harbor romantic feelings toward me, or is he merely looking out for me as he said? I can't stop thinking about how I feel when I'm with him, the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach, the quickening of my pulse. Being around him makes me feel both nervous and excited at the same time. But I have to be cautious because I don't know if I can trust him yet. I don't have anyone else to turn to, and there's nothing else for me to lose. When he held me in his arms, I felt safe and comfortable, an intimacy I've never experienced before. It's all so confusing, yet something about him makes me want to reveal everything to him. I want to trust him, and more than that I want him. It's a crazy thought, considering that all I know about him is that he's the Fae king of Nighthold.

“Go ahead and get in the water. I’ll turn around while you get situated,” Nyx says while turning away from me to face the trees.

I take off all my clothes and settle into the water. It’s warm and feels delicious, soothing my body in all the right places.

“I’m settled. You may turn around,” I call to him.

Nyx turns to me and starts to undress, without asking me to turn around. I feel flustered and unsure where to look. But I can't help stealing glances at him, and I'm struck by his sheer physical beauty. He's all broad shoulders, thick muscles, and a tall, commanding presence that makes me weak in the knees. My gaze wanders down his chiseled abs, and I can't help but notice the impressive size of his length. I bite my lip, my mind racing with desire and a hunger I've never felt before.

“Didn’t anyone teach you it's not polite to stare?” he says while wading into the water.

I cough, surprised. “I wasn’t staring.” My face is on fire.

“Sure, you weren’t, Princess. It's okay. You don’t have to lie.” His mouth quirks up on one side.

The water is just cloudy enough to hide my naked body beneath it, and I’m thankful because his eyes haven’t left me since he entered the water. He moves close so we’re both sitting on a ledge just deep enough to keep my body concealed.

“I want to talk about everything you told me last night.” The tone of his voice snaps my attention back to him.

“What do you want to know?”

“Does Samael know what happened at the ceremony?”

“I’m not sure. I think he knows something by the way he was talking. He knew about the old Sorceress, and he knew things that happened while I was with the Lycans, but I don’t know how. Maybe he had spies or did a spell. I can’t be sure.”

“Why was he torturing you that night after your parents’ funeral?” His eyes never leave my face.

I look away. Suddenly, I feel self-conscious. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? He just came in and started torturing you and had a snake bite you?”

I know he wants a more detailed answer from me, but this isn’t a conversation I want to have. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Onyx. Samael is evil. He has never needed a reason for any of the malicious things he does. He’s been abusing me for as long as I can remember. Is that what you want to hear?” My voice comes out high-pitched. His jaw clenches.