Chapter Two

IF I HAD THOUGHT THE first ocean view breathtaking, I hadn't seen anything yet. The view from when I'd first stepped out of the gateway into Ambrolia couldn't hold a candle to the sight of this island. It looked like something straight out of an underwater fairytale.

Instead of grassy fields and lush trees, the island was made of sand. Seashells wove their way through the streets, acting as cobblestones. Houses and buildings were spaced throughout the vast land, and each one was assembled from either vibrant coral, shells, driftwood, stone, or a combination. Seaweed and coral decorated the white, granular ground with pops of teal, orange, purple, and green. It was as if someone had taken the coral reef from the ocean and raised it above sea level to create the colorful world that was Morardia.

At the very back of the island, towering high in the evening sky, stood the palace, and my breath hitched in my throat at the sight of it. The shiny, white, iridescent material that made up the inside of seashells created the entire structure. It caught the light of the monstrous moon, and it glittered with purple, green, and blue hues at every angle.

"I—" I paused, struggling to form words with my suddenly dry mouth. "I can't believe this is real. This is our home ."

"Pretty great, huh?" Rance asked, nudging me with his elbow.

The group slowly moved from the water and ice raft to drift onto the island.

"Believe it or not," Imani started and gestured at the scene before us. "This entire island used to be under water. It was back when all Water Fae lived beneath the water. When more and more of us needed to live above water, this was raised from the ocean floor. Sand Crab Fae, who can manipulate sand, rose the majority of our Kingdom out of the depths to create this island for everyone."

"Sand Crab Fae?" I asked incredulously.

My mind sputtered in futile attempts to keep up with everything I was seeing and learning, all within the span of a mere ten minutes. There was far too much about this world that I didn't know, and like the flip of a switch, the fear of inadequacy slipped back into the edges of my mind. How could I be the Princess that Water Fae deserved if I didn't know anything about my own world?

"Hey."

Rune's gentle voice pulled me out of my darkening thoughts. He slipped his large clawed hand in mine and tugged me alongside him as we walked toward the palace, just a bit ahead of everyone else.

He squeezed my hand and asked, "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "A lot of things. It's all just—I'm just—How do I—"

"Baby, you just got here. You just found out Ambrolia existed. Hell, you're still new to the Fae thing in general. You're allowed to feel overwhelmed and have questions. In fact, I think it would be more alarming if you were unfazed by everything."

Laughing, I leaned in close to his warmth. "What about you? How are you feeling to be back in Ambrolia?"

He weighed my question for a moment, and as he did, I focused on the way the wind captured his long white hair and gently tossed it around his chiseled features. Finally, his eyes found mine, and he answered, "To be honest, it's weird. I haven't been here in twenty years, and even before that, I very rarely came. Only when Land Fae were summoned for something did I come back. You know how I've always preferred the human world. Life there was easier and felt separated from this one. I could be the young, rich guy who loved designing buildings, funding organizations, watching horror movies, and going out with friends. We can often forget what we are in the human world. We find new homes, new languages, new cultures. We become something new, and it feels normal for the most part. Here … Here, life has a whole new meaning. Here means war. Anger. Loss."

I watched as his throat worked to swallow that last word, and instantly, my lungs constricted. Being back had to be hard for him. It surely resurfaced memories of old battles he'd been a part of, as well as memories of his dad, and it was those memories that haunted him the most.

"We'll change what being here means for you," I vowed. "We'll make being here mean something wonderful and beautiful."

The melancholy cloud surrounding him lifted as he looked down at me. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "We will."

Akira appeared next to me in a flurry of black-feathered wings, and his warm smile was a familiar and calming sight. "I forgot just how beautiful the Water Fae Kingdom is. What do you think so far, Bria?"

I looked around at the colorful buildings and homes once more. "It's absolutely amazing. To be honest, I'm still in awe. I never thought something like this could be real."

He gave an understanding nod. "Just wait until you see the inside of the palace."

I raised a surprised brow at him. "You've been to the palace?"

" Hai ," he answered in Japanese. "Back before things between Land Fae and Water Fae were a complete mess. Back when—" he paused, steeling himself to finish. "Back when Jesiah and I were still together."

My heart clenched painfully for Akira. Jesiah had been Akira's lover, despite being from different Fae Kingdoms. When the feud began, they'd separated, and that was something Akira had always regretted.

He had no idea what happened to Jesiah, but I hoped to figure out what happened to him. Jesiah was Water Fae after all. If, and only if, it was good news would I tell Akira what I found. I refused to give him hope only to tear it away once more.

As we neared the palace, a few people appeared from homes on either side of the seashell-crafted street. They immediately gasped and fell to a knee with a hand over their chests, heads bowed. "Your Highness."

"Oops," Dallas mumbled. I glanced over my shoulder to see her giving me a sheepish grin. "I forgot to tell the Fae here that you don't like the formal greeting." Dallas pushed on my back to keep me walking as she called out for the different Water Fae to return to what they were doing.

I glanced back at the strangers and said, "I thought no one was here."

"A few Water Fae have stayed here to keep Morardia and the palace secure and to manage the upkeep," Imani explained. "Those were guards and grounds keepers."

"Should we have stopped to say hello and introduce everyone?" I asked. I didn't want to look like a Princess who ignored her people.

"There will be plenty of time for introductions later," Rance said, slinging his dark, muscular arm around Dallas's shoulder. "Right now, we need to get you settled in the palace."

The walk was a long one to the palace, but instead of being winded or drained, I practically buzzed with urgency. I wanted to see inside the expansive pearlescent fortress. I wanted to know what secrets and truths awaited me within its iridescent halls. I wanted to see my home .

Imani and Rance stood on either side of the palace doors, and they watched me with eager smirks as they held the seaweed-shaped handles. Dallas stood directly in front of me, Rune, and the rest of our party.

Smiling, Dallas asked, "Are you ready, Princess?"

I squeezed Rune's clawed hand tightly and took a deep breath. "Ready."

Rance and Imani swept the doors open, and my knees buckled as we all walked inside.

The ceiling in the grand entrance had to have been at least one hundred feet tall, and dangling gloriously from the high ceiling was a chandelier made of gems in every possible shade of blue. The gems and silver material brought the image of jellyfish to life, each suspended lower than the last so that their graceful, long tentacles showered the room in reflective light. The walls were made of the same iridescent material as the exterior, yet it felt as strong and firm as marble. Straight ahead were two grand staircases that swept up the sides of the walls and met on the second floor to create a balcony overlooking the entrance. In the center of the room sat a sunken fountain with veins branching off to neighboring rooms, allowing water to flow beneath the surface of the floor and throughout the palace.

Gasps echoed off the walls, but I had zero idea who they came from. Honestly, I was sure that if I turned around, I'd find everyone gazing around with the same open-mouthed, wide-eyed stare I sported.

"It's …" I fumbled for my words. "It's …"

"Gorgeous, I know."

At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, I looked toward the hallway formed between the two staircases. Akira inhaled sharply and quickly grabbed my arm to steady himself before I could spot the stranger.

"Akira?" I whispered, reaching out to place my hand on his own, which held onto me tightly. His solid black raven eyes stared straight ahead, wide and unblinking, and his usual pale skin had gone even more ghostly. "Akira, what's wrong?"

"It's always fun when new people first see the palace entryway," the stranger's deep voice continued.

Finally, I turned my attention to the man who'd just entered the room. His tall, deep brown, and muscular body swept into the space with a confidence that even the most seasoned lawyers would envy. He stared down at a stack of books he held in his robust arms, flipping through some loose papers on top, and as he did, his long, twisted braids fell into his eyes. He finally stopped going through the papers to brush the braids back, and he looked up as he did. His eyes immediately locked with one person.

"A-Akira?" he asked breathlessly, and he nearly dropped the books he held.

Akira stood frozen next to me, but at the sound of his name leaving the man's lips, he finally spoke in the softest of voices. "Jesiah."

It was my turn to nearly fall over.

It was him , Akira's missing lover.

"So this is Jesiah," Bassel started, eyeing the Water Fae in the way a big brother might eye the boy his little sister just brought home.

"Bassel," Akira hissed, narrowing his eyes at the liger.

"Your description didn't do him justice, buddy," Ardley teased, coming over to slap Akira on the back with a clawed hand.

Akira's cheeks flared bright red, and he immediately ducked his head and shielded his body with his large, black wings.

"Don't worry, Akira," Imani said with a laugh. "Jesiah's no better. He's never shut up about you."

Jesiah shot a warning look at the bold, dark beauty before shoving all the books he held into her arms. "These are Her Highness's. I'll go over them later with her." He quickly came over to face me and said in a rush, "I'm Jesiah, your personal advisor and tutor. I apologize for the quick introduction, but I've got something important to attend to at the moment. I promise to introduce myself properly later."

Without waiting for a response, he turned to Akira, who peeked out from behind his wings. Jesiah quickly grabbed his hand and led him up one of the sets of stairs before disappearing from view.

Rune tensed next to me, watching Jesiah lead his best friend from the room. "Is it fine to leave Akira alone with him?"

"Are you kidding?" Dallas asked. She waved a dismissive hand. "Jesiah has been absolutely head over heels for Akira for over a century. The only things in danger are anyone's ears who goes near Jesiah's room right now."

Rance pinched the bridge of his nose. "You have such a way with words, babe. Truly."

Dallas smirked. "It's a gift."

"Who knew Jesiah's Akira was that Akira," Imani noted with awe. "Small world."

"One that keeps getting smaller for us Water Fae since we're a dying race, which is why we're here." Dallas turned to me and Rune. "You two come with me. I'll take you to your private floor and give you a tour as we go. Everyone else, follow Imani and Rance."

Our group split up with Rune and me trailing after Dallas. She noted the different floors we passed and gave us a full tour. I tried focusing on all she said, but I was far too busy in my own mind. With every new corner, I was introduced to more sea life imagery and decor that either made up the spaces or adorned them as art. What I was not seeing were personal touches. There were no photos of my parents anywhere, and trying to search for them in vain left me feeling slightly deflated.

I just wanted to know who they were and what they looked like.

Finally, after climbing endless sets of stairs and weaving through corridor after corridor, we made it to one of the highest floors of the palace.

" This ," Dallas explained, "is yours. All of it. This entire floor makes up the King and Queen's private spaces."

A long hallway stretched before us, and a lush blue carpet swept down the corridor. Matching doors lined either side of us as we made our way down the hall, and Dallas explained that each door we passed was now mine and Rune's. An office for each, a library for each, a living space for each, and so on. We came to a split in the hall, which went to our right and left, while also continuing straight. At the head of the hallway, down the center, stood massive blue doors.

"Here is your new bedroom," Dallas said, stepping aside so that I could open the giant doors.

The bedroom was like something right out of a fantasy movie. The arched ceiling supported yet another ornate chandelier, this one resembling coral. A massive four-poster bed took up residency against the back wall with French doors on either side that led out onto a balcony. A fireplace that was taller than I was sat unlit to one side of the room, and across from it were doors that undoubtedly led to closets and bathrooms.

Swallowing hard, I crept in farther. "So this is Rune's and my room?"

"Sure is." Dallas strode in, her footsteps muted as she walked across the cream-colored carpet. She bellyflopped onto the blue and silver comforter adorning the bed. "Whatcha think, Big Guy? Like it?"

Rune's head tilted back as he admired the room, and he mumbled, "The architecture is exquisite."

I bit back a laugh, because of course, that's what he'd focus on. Forget everything else. He just loved the design and make of the place.

Dallas raised a confused brow. "Okaaay," she said, "so you like it then?"

"I love it." Rune turned to me and asked, "Do you?"

I quickly nodded and went closer to the bed to run my hand over the plush duvet. "Absolutely. It's more than I could've ever dreamed of."

Even as I said the words—words I did mean—I could hear how hollow they sounded. Dallas slowly sat up, and Rune gripped my hand. He crooked a finger beneath my chin to tilt my face toward his. His eyes held mine as he whispered, "But?"

My throat dried as I fought to push past the weight that had been holding my words back. "But my parents aren't here." I cleared my throat and squeezed his hand hard. "This was their room, and because they're gone, it's mine now. There's nothing left of them here."

"That's not true," Dallas quickly argued. "They may be gone, Bria, but their memory still lives on here. They're still with you. Of that I'm sure. And look, these are even their exact sheets and bedding from when this was their room. So some of their things are still here."

Rune's face immediately creased with disgust. "I don't think that's providing the comfort you intended. I highly doubt Bria wants to sleep in the same sheets that she was conceived in, Dallas."

Her face fell with shock. "Oh, God. You're right. That's gross. I'll have different bedding brought up pronto."

Laughing, I felt the heaviness on my heart lift just a fraction. These were two of the most important people in my life, and having them make playful jabs at the other so easily, despite their history as enemies, made the space feel lighter. With more moments like this one, I could give the room new life and warmth. Rune and I could make it our own and fill it with nothing but good memories.

Dallas picked at the comforter—which I definitely couldn't wait for her to change—and she coughed. She bit at her lip, and as soon as I saw the guarded, nervous look in her eye, I knew she was about to lay something big on me.

Again.

"Spit it out, Dallas," I ordered with a sigh.

"It's already getting late, and I'm sure you're overwhelmed by everything. I figured I'd let you and Rune have the rest of the night to unwind up here. You know, get used to all the different rooms on this floor and stuff. I can have dinner sent up for you, and then we can meet in the morning to really get down to business."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Why do I feel like that's not all you're wanting to tell me?"

She nibbled on her lip again. "It's not." She took a deep breath. "Before you settle in, there's one more room on this floor that I think you should see. Alone. It's out in the hall—the farthest door down the right-side hallway."

Apprehension stormed my veins. "Why should I see it alone?"

She paused, then quietly said, "Because it's a special place meant for you."