7

SEVEN

Ember

After several miles of hiking through the mist, we arrive at the moss covered rock formation that hides the cave entrance.

“That trek never gets easier.” Amara bends over, bracing her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

I grunt in agreement, still not ready to form words of my own yet.

I plant my ass on the ground in front of the towering boulders and rest my head against the moss covered surface, breathing in and out in a slow pattern. Lazily, I rip my dagger from my belt. I steady it above my hand and slice a line across my palm. Watching as the blood begins to pool, I let it drip onto the grass by my hip before pushing to my feet.

With tired limbs, I turned to face the boulders and placed my bloodied hand against the boulder to open our protective spells that prevent travel into the caves. A few moments later, the boulders begin shifting to the sides to reveal a hole that drops into a cave system within the towering peaks looming above.

Amara stands up straight and we approach the edge of the hole. She reaches for my hand. I feel a warmth spread up my forearm as her healing magic works to take away the pain of my sliced palm.

“Together?” I say to Amara.

“Until the end.” She nods.

She uses her air magic to lift us slowly above the opening, then lowers us gently within the dark tunnels. We plant our feet securely on the ground. We scurry ahead while the boulders begin to move back into formation, showering the tunnel with dirt and stones from above.

We snap our fae orbs back to life and allow them to dance around us, providing pink and purple light to shower the dark slate walls of the cave system. The floor of the tunnel is lined with soft glowing gems, similar to the night sky. Offering small, pulsating light that shines every color of the rainbow.

We begin heading to the main hall of the Ascension Caves to greet the guild members and direct preparations for tonight’s mission. Walking alongside Amara, my worries come circling back. “What do you think everyone will say about my mate bond? Are they going to release me? Will they think I’ve become a spy?”

Amara hissed. “Cut the crap, Em. You built this guild from the ground up with one accomplishment in mind, to reinstate the peace that is owed to Faerelle, the lands of the fae. You’ve already made so many advancements with the attacks happening that now we know they’re only happening in the capital city. You’re working in foster homes regularly to give back to our communities. You’re planting new trees like it’s a religion, trying to restore our forests to their beautiful flourishment. No one for a second will believe you have malicious intent because you’re mated to that bastard’s son.”

Well that shut me up faster than I was expecting.

“Ember Amethyst, no one will judge you for being mated to that hot ass pile of faerie dust. We still know nothing about him, maybe he’s nothing like his father?”

I rolled my eyes at her and still don’t dain to comment on her calling me out on my bullshit. She’s right, and we both know it. That doesn’t mean I have to tell her I agree with her.

I’m a stubborn bitch.

A warm light begins to glow ahead as we near the opening into the Ascension Main Hall. This tunnel is where most major announcements, dining, and socialization take place. I think it’s because the ceilings are the highest here and it’s blissfully less claustrophobic. Thankfully, the builder faeries in our guild will begin renovations of the base this week.

Brucie waves us down from the dining table where he and a few others are drinking coffee.

Yes, faeries drink coffee since we enjoy everything the Earth has to offer.

We started heading towards the left side of the main hall where all the stone dining tables were adorned with fresh moss, and crawling with little flowers that bloomed in every shade. The stools were also stone and covered by the same soft moss. A single fae orb dances above each table, casting shadows on the slate walls around us.

We approached the group and Brucie handed us each a warm, delicious cup of rose tea. I don’t do the whole caffeine addiction thing. I struggle sleeping as it is.

“How’s it going boss? Mind explaining those bright ass fucking rings around your eyes?”

The whole group in unison ooh and aah’d together. I rolled my eyes so hard I don’t think I can see straight again for the rest of the day.

“Everyone take a seat, this one’s gonna make you weak in the knees.” Brooks chuckles and takes a seat next to Brucie.

Brucie gave me a concerned look. He’s one of the guild captains that helps oversee magic training and combat missions. The male sitting on his right is Traeger, one of our fire faeries. He’s extremely talented with a bow and arrow as well. The fae directly across from Traeger is his mate, Paisley. She is a very talented map reader, and handles her weight with air magic and a throwing ax.

I just noticed Amara shaking with impatience next to me.

“EMBER IS MATED TO THE PRINCE GUYS!” she bursts expectantly, rushing to cover her mouth in regret.

Everyone gasped. I think Brucie actually choked on his coffee because he’s coughing up a lung right now.

“Amara, what the fuck?!” Traeger exclaims.

The look of disgust on everyone’s faces tells me I’m royally screwed.

“I’m so sorry, Em. But this is so crazy, I’ve been dying to talk to everyone about it since it happened! You know I can’t hold secrets in.” She looked at me sheepishly before cowering next to Paisley on the stone bench. She innocently sips on her coffee as if she didn’t just drop a bomb on us all.

I sighed heavily and faced the astonished group of assassins before me. I might as well face this head on because it’s not going away anytime soon.

“Please tell me this isn’t true?” Brucie whispered with soft eyes.

We’ve always had a thing. We’ve never acted on it but he treats me with respect, protects me on missions, and does the occasional flirting thing that makes my heart flutter. We’ve never collided because love is only a weakness. I think he resents me for that belief.

I’m a little nauseous thinking about my heart fluttering for anyone besides my mate now. I remind myself It’s just these stupid moons scrambling my thoughts and emotions. I don’t even know the guy.

Yeah, definitely the moons.

Honestly, Brucie knows I’m not looking to settle down anytime soon. He knows my ambitions are with The Ascension and my business, so I’m grateful for his friendship.

I let out a resigned a sigh, “It’s true.”

They all gasped in unison again.

“Oh, fuck off. I’m rejecting the bond, obviously. You guys think I have time for this? You think I want to be mated to a Bryton of all faeries? No way. You guys know me better than that.”

Amara began sputtering disagreements and curses for my stubbornness, but I signaled Paisley to follow me. We left everyone to gossip and blabber about my mate bond and headed to the library so we could map out tonight’s path.

“Ember, you know I respect your decisions but those are the brightest mate rings  I’ve ever seen. Are you sure you know what you’re doing by rejecting this bond? You’ll be discarded forever, never allowed to mate with another.” Paisley walked beside me with her shoulders straight and her gaze ahead. They all believe for the most part that bonds are one of the greatest blessings.

They also all think I’m crazy for despising love. Don’t get me wrong, a girl loves to have fun but I have never and will never given my heart to someone.

I followed her gaze and after a beat of silence, confessed with an ounce of sadness, “Yeah, I know what I’m doing.”

The recurring thought that leaving this mating bond could tear my soul in two returned. I hate these moons for making me so emotional. Better yet, I despise them right now for mating me to a Bryton and causing me such a massive headache.

We left the main hall and took the west tunnels to head to our war room and library. We walk in silence while I confess my rejection of the prince. Thankfully, Paisley always knows when to keep quiet and when to speak up. We passed several guild members on the way, accepting their nods of respect and returning them with our own. Each fae here has a job, a purpose, a reason to be here. The Ascension is also a safe haven for those that have lost something.

Together, we approach the celestial ornate doors, painted in silver and gold but heavy as slate. The library is one of the first rooms the builder team renovated upon move in. Paisley uses a gust of wind to open the doors to our private library. This room is dedicated for the leaders to conduct discreet meetings and plan missions prior to making it public to the guild. Books, scrolls, and tomes line the wall directly adjacent from the doors. There was a large round stone table that had a map of Estrallume and its surrounding villages laid out for display.

There is a large fireplace on the right wall, covered in starlike stones that went all the way to the ceiling. Paisley and I approached the map table and began discussing possible routes for tonight’s mission. We spend at least an hour going over every possible entrance and exit from Estrallume. If we are caught, it’s important to know where exactly you are inside the constellation quarters and be able to find the nearest tear in the city’s wards.

Capture is not an option. The king has truth elixirs and can pry information out of any member of our guild. We have families and other members to protect. I don’t trust the king to be very forgiving of an organization trying to overthrow his rule.

✶

Brooks and the others came strolling through the library doors and joined Paisley and I at last. Brooks has gathered all the ammunition supplies we need for the night and throws it on the couches by the fireplace.

“Well, that should last us a few more missions.” Brooks says proudly while crossing his arms to look at the rest of us.

“Thank you, B. I really appreciate you getting these for the team today,” I say while heading to take a seat on the sofa opposite him. Everyone followed to gather around the fireplace. “I know we’ve made similar missions like this lately, but tonight is extremely important. If we don’t find any vital information about the source of these murders and kidnappings, then the peace we’re chasing for this kingdom is at an even greater distance.”

“What’s the plan?” Traeger said while playing with the flames of the fire as if they were a cat purring under his touch. The flames turned orange to match his fae colors.

“We’re going to be stationed at five of the twelve quarters in the inner city. We’ll be monitoring the streets from roofs, sticking to the shadows. Our main goal is to find, track and capture the assailant that’s been sneaking through our city’s streets. Watch for any and all disruptions.”

“And if we’re caught?” Amara questioned.

“If you’re caught, use the viella elixirs we’ve provided to wait for rescue and avoid interrogation.” I nodded in the direction of the purple shimmering glass bottles lined along the coffee table in between the sofas. Viella is a strong sleep potion that will knock even the strongest fae out for days.

Everyone’s eyes move in unison and linger on the bottles like they’re a snake waiting to wrap around their throats. A cough broke the silence.

“Well now that that’s out of the way, I’ve lined your suits with silk spider strings. They are extremely durable and lightweight. You can grab your uniforms and meet us at the main hall before departure. There, Ember will assign you a district for surveillance,”  Amara stands to my right with arms crossed and addresses the group.

✶

We leave the library and head off to our prospective bathing caves. There are female and male bathing pools.

The male and female bathing chambers are deeper in the mountain, where two hotsprings await us for freshening before changing into our uniforms. It’s a tradition we do before every mission to ensure we’re relaxed and focused.

We travel deeper into the cave’s tunnel system to arrive at a fork in the mountain. Turning left, we leave the men to get dressed. We enter the springs and take in the scents of eucalyptus and mint, lavender and jasmine which flood the steaming cave.

The warm space is surrounded by fae orbs which hum and hover hues of purple, blue and pink. The slate walls and floors are surrounded by groupings of greenery such as moss, aloe, and chamomile. The magic of our glimmer keeps the plants flourishing without sunlight.

To the left of the large hot spring bath is our dressing area. Everyone quickly gets undressed and slips out into the bathing cave. I’m not nervous about nudity around the girls, they’re more like sisters to me anyways.

With the twinkle of her fingers, Amara lights the candles lining the edges of the pool aflame.

I gather elixirs and salts from the edges of the room, mixing them in the water with a current created by swirling fingers.

Next I step my toes in, welcoming the shock of hot water and a sudden unfamiliar dizziness that accompanies my senses. Before I can brace myself, something familiar to an electric current pulses through my body. Starting from my toes and tingling to my head, I see Amara race to grab me before my vision turns white and the cave pool fades away.

“Ember!” someone screamed.

First, I see pops of green, pink, and the most blinding white as I feel my feet hit soft green grass. My body aches with electricity. I feel like screaming just to release some of the tension in my limbs. I have so much energy coursing through my body, but I also feel weightless at the same time. It’s a very strange sensation, one I’m not attuned to.

Rolling out my shoulders, as if I had slept on the ground for hours, I raise my eyes to look at a garden of willow trees and flourishing flowers. I suck in a breath at the beauty laid before me. I think I’ve dreamt of this place before? Or have I been here?

A breeze kisses my abdomen. It’s truly stunning.

But how did I get here? Where is here, exactly?

That’s the exact moment I realize I’m still butt ass naked.

“Oh my stars…” I whisper to myself, looking down at my fully exposed body.

I spin around at the sound of grunting and swords clashing, only to come face first with my worst nightmare. There’s a ring of gorgeous men fighting before me and I’m standing here naked, like some moon offering for them to indulge in. I suppose some would call this a wet dream, but its definitely a nightmare for me.

Rushing to cover myself from prying eyes, I notice my limbs are glowing and seem almost transparent. Peering down at my body, it’s like I’m neither here, wherever here is, nor in the cave pools back at The Ascension.

My body feels weightless. As if I’m floating on a cloud. I feel warm and cozy, wrapped in the moon’s soft lights like a silk cover.

Oh shit. I’m memory diving.

Speaking of memory, I have no idea where I am and that seems like the first objective.

That familiar electric current zaps through my body once again, and I’m starting to realize it means my mate is close by. My eyes snap to him almost instantly after piecing that together.

Across the gardens, in the center of a large stone training ring, is Prince Willow. Practicing swords, he is striking his opponent with swift, perfect strikes.

He’s moving with utter confidence and grace while he trains sword combat against one of the royal guild members.

Clank. Clank. Crack.

Just like those swords, my heart is cracking watching his muscles work. He seems to never grow tired. He’s a brute, that’s for sure.  His hair is a mix between black and a deep night blue. His tousled, short, curly hair is glimmering in the sunlight, while sweat is dripping down those extremely lickable abs. I’m utterly mesmerized by him. Completely entranced in his muscles and force.

Ugh. Curse the moons, I knew it was about to get more real with the eclipse being so near. Since when do the moons summon a bond days before the next eclipse? Give me a break.

Next thing I know, they’re bickering about something and then willow shoves the guard off the fighting ring. He lands on his back with a thump and a grunt, and then the prince casts him alight in a circle of neon blue flames.

Flames.

I sucked in a breath. He’s a fire faerie, and those might be the most beautiful bright blue flames I’ve ever seen. A combination of azure, cobalt and neon blues blaze around the guard, entrapping him but not burning him.

The Prince storms off to the palace doors and leaves his shirt and the ongoing combat behind. Speaking of behinds, his is so fine. His muscles are toned and pulsating from the exertion. His ass is perfectly round and tight. Sweat seems to be pouring down his back and all I want to do is lick him up.

I suck in a breath as he hesitates before walking inside the palace, slowly turning and burning his gaze in my direction. Can he sense me somehow? Before I can drink more of his brutish figure in, he fades out of view.

Through flashes of white and gold, I wake up back in the waters where I lost my balance in the first place. And I not so graciously continued to fall, as my body came back to the present.

Splash.

“Ember!” Amara squealed, rushing to me in the pool.

Coughing, gasping and choking on my own pride, I look up at Amara. “I just walked through his memories.” I don’t know whether to feel scared, miserable, or lustful at this moment and it’s making me feel even crazier. I feel so out of control of my body, my soul, but I also feel a constant pull to be near The Prince.

“Oh honey, it was bound to start soon. You denied the initial acquancy rituals. The moons are going to push this bond with the eclipse being so near.”

Fuck. Me.