Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

BASH

“ What? ” Stellan shook his head. “NO. No, no, no. Nope.”

“Stellan—”

“No. Why? Why him ? He’s just as devious and tricksy as the damn fae—no offense, Bash.”

That made me chuckle. “Thank you. I needed that laugh. And none taken. You’re not wrong either. Prince Riven is ancient and always scheming.”

“How old is ancient, exactly?” Ellie pursed her lips. “I never was able to get a hold on the vampires’ ages. Everyone looks twenty-two. Same with you fae, actually.”

Nickel frowned. “I know he’s older than any of us in this room . . . by a lot.”

“I’m only eighty years old. Not much older than Sandra or Jada.”

Nickel smirked. “I meant Prince Riven. Though I did assume you were older than that.”

“The vampires are much more secretive than the fae. The fae like to boast about their immortality and eternal youth, to rub it in other species’ faces.” Shylock looked to me and grimaced. “No offense, Bash.”

“None taken. Again, not wrong.” I smiled.

Jada cocked her head to the side and pursed her lips. “Marigold used to talk about encounters with him when she was in her twenties, so I feel like he’s her age? Though I was never quite clear on her age, or should I say, if the rumors about her age were true.”

“Marigold was five hundred years old.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “There are no untrue rumors about any of my sisters.”

“How old are people on Megelle Island?” Ellie braided her long black hair. “Like King and Queen Vauntero? And their eldest son—what’s his name again?”

Nickel threw her hands up. “At this point, I have no idea.”

“I’ve heard rumors of years and ages, but Tephine killed most of her civilians when the realms were first separated.” Jada scowled. “Probably a power move.”

“Everything is a power move with my mother.”

Jada leaned forward and arched a blond eyebrow. “So, what’s the truth? What year did Araqiel separate all the species into their own realms? I have never been able to get the same answer from two people.”

The others all turned to me with expectant eyes.

I blinked. “You really don’t know?”

They all shook their heads.

“When the realms were first separated a lot of people died, in all of the realms. The transition was rough, messy, and brutal. Those that survived never returned to First Realm because only Realm Royals can get through the portals – which of course you know. Those that were left on Megelle Island were either mortal and died, or were killed by illness. The world was a dangerous place. As a result the details of the timeline got a little fuzzy.” I shook my head. “The story of the separation causing the Dark Ages was simply that. A story. Incorrect rumor that spread and stuck, never corrected by those that knew. And I suspect the Vauntero family did not want the rest of the realm to know just how old they are. But all of this is information I can give you later?—”

“No. Now. Tell us now.” Ellie held her hand out to stop the others from interrupting her, myself included. She held her chin high. “Knowledge is power and while we’re fighting an enemy we can’t overpower with magic we need every tool in the damn shed. No more going in blind. I learned that mistake the last time I dealt with Prince Riven and it could have cost me more, it almost did. So while MoVaun has that portal sealed and Collins is in the same shape, please tell us the truth . . . in case it somehow helps us defeat her in the end.”

The others stared at her for a moment then nodded and looked to me.

“That’s fair.” I took a deep breath, then let it out. “The truth is my mother was born in 1225 BC. However, Clementine, Cirrus, and the Wentworth twin brothers were born in 1220 BC. All of them were born mortal Nephilim.”

Silence.

“In the year 1200 BC my mother gave birth to my sister Cleopatra, which was strictly forbidden for Nephilim at the time. She and my father were punished by Araqiel and this triggered my mother’s thirst for power . . . which is what led to her convincing the others to touch their Origin Stones in that same year.” I gestured around the room. “Thus, creating the species fae, vampire, and mage.”

“ 1200 BC ?” Savina whispered. “That long ago?”

I nodded.

Savina’s jaw dropped. “What’s the correct timeline from there?”

“Well . . . between the years 1200 and 100 BC, the fae, mages, and vampires all teamed up together to kill the Nephilim. And they did. Every last one of them.” I paused for a moment to let that sink in. “Once the Nephilim were gone, the three supernatural species turned on each other. That war lasted one hundred years. It was the bloodiest, most brutal war this realm has ever seen. After a century, Araqiel had enough and separated us all.”

Ellie gasped. “That’s why there’s a BC and AD, isn’t there? Because year zero is when First Realm got a reset.”

I nodded. “Though, I’m told they didn’t refer to it as BC and AD . . . but yes. The realms separated two-thousand-nineteen-years ago.”

Savina held one finger up. “And the three kings created Fifth Realm two centuries ago?”

“Correct. It took them that long to figure it out.” I looked to Jada. “A lot of the civilians in the other realms died in those first five hundred years. For various reasons.”

Savina let out a deep breath. “So Megelle Island was created in year zero, when the others were separated. Right? That means King and Queen Vauntero are over two thousand years old?”

Ellie’s eyes widened. “So how old is Constantine?”

“Ailwin and Zenobia Vauntero were born in 40 BC. Constantine Vauntero is the second child of the Vauntero family. He was a small child when the realms were separated. I believe he was five at the time? Their first child was their son Barron who was born in 20 BC but was killed during the war.” When they all looked at me with wide eyes, I shrugged. “They’re all old.”

Shylock narrowed his eyes. “You said Riven was ancient. Not old.”

“Prince Riven was born in 141 BC. He is currently two-thousand-one-hundred-sixty-years old.” I shrugged. “Ancient, in my opinion. Marigold lusted for him when she was young, and I do believe he . . . toyed with her a bit, just for shits and giggles.”

Ellie snort-laughed. “Sounds like Prince Riven.”

Nickel waved her hands in front of her face. “Wait a second, Prince Riven was alive during the supernatural rebellion against the original Nephilim?”

I grimaced. “Rumors suggest he killed quite a few of them himself.”

Stellan shook his head and threw his hands up. “And he’s the one your father wants us to seek out? Why?”

“I have no idea. But I do know Riven stole one of my father’s mistresses back in the day. Just for fun.”

“See? This makes me think it’s some kind of misunderstanding.” Stellan pinched the bridge of his nose. “We don’t know that it means we have to speak to him.”

I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands together. “Sandra dropped blood on my mother back in Vegas. Blood. Now my father drops a clue that only Ellie would know leads to Prince Riven. Not the vampires. Not Fourth Realm. He specifically said Violette. ”

Shylock snapped his fingers in my direction. “Exactly my thoughts. Your father knew Ellie had been there, he knew she’d been helping you, and he knew she’d had an . . . enticing encounter with Prince Riven when she went there.”

“ Enticing. Encounter, ” Stellan growled at his best friend.

Shylock rolled his eyes. “We all heard the story about that.”

“My mother didn’t.” When Stellan whirled on me, I shrugged. “My father and I happened to be within earshot of that little . . . argument of yours. Father told me not to tell my mother. He wanted to see if he could use it to his advantage somehow.”

“So he said ask Violette because he knew your mother wouldn’t know what that meant if she overheard.” Ellie gripped Stellan’s sleeve. “King Bregan gave us a clue.”

“Why? Are you trying to tell me he was on our side like Bash?”

“No, definitely not,” I said before anyone else attempted to suggest the same. “He was a monster, but his needs were not the same as my mother’s. My parents never loved each other. My mother married him for power. She never gave a shit who he slept with until he had the audacity to help create Fifth Realm. He has wanted his revenge since she locked him out of his little playground. So, in his last breath, he gave us the clue not to help us win but to help us kill her.”

“Bloody hell,” Weston grumbled.

Savina nodded. “We have no other lead to follow. We might as well seek Prince Riven.”

Stellan let out a string of curses.

Ellie squeezed his hand but turned to me. “He is rather tricksy with words. You may need to do all the talking.”

“I assure you Prince Riven is more devious than I could ever dream to be. But that is fine. This is my realm and my problem to solve.” I stretched my legs out in front of me. “We just have to figure out how to find him. That I am clueless on.”

Ellie grimaced. “We got a ring from Araqiel that allowed us to enter Fourth Realm. We won’t be given another, that I’m sure of.”

“There is one Nephilim from Fourth Realm here, stationed here to guard their Stone Keeper in the same way Nickel and Sandra were.” Shylock scratched his jaw. “Though I don’t know where he lives. Again, vampires are very secretive.”

“They’re extra sneaky about their Stone Keeper.” Weston turned to Nickel and Jada. “I’ve never met him, have you?”

Jada pulled one of her feathers out. “I have. I’ll do it.”

Just like before, Jada scribbled on her inner forearm with the stem of her feather. As she wrote, the letters vanished. We all stared at her arm, waiting for a response. Seconds ticked on forever before light flashed on her skin.

Jada nodded. “He says to meet him on the roof of the Castillo de San Marcos.”

I glanced around the group as they all seemed relieved with that answer. “Where is that?”

“St. Augustine, Florida,” Sandra said as she walked back into the room. Her eyes were red and puffy. “He doesn’t leave his Stone Keeper’s side often, so you better hurry.”

We all jumped to our feet.

I turned to Sandra. “You’ll stay with her?”

“I won’t leave her side.”

I clenched my teeth as a wave of emotion rushed through me. “It should be me staying with her?—”

“No.” She pressed her hand to my cheek. “She would want you out there trying to win. I’m her Mother. I will take care of her.”

I nodded. “Let us know if?—”

“I won’t hesitate.” She backed away. “Go. Nickel and I have things here. Get the answers we need. MoVaun meant what she said, the moment there’s a change in Collins’ state, that portal opens.”

I shuddered and then took one last look at my soulmate before I forced myself to walk out the doors once again. We were all quiet as we raced down the stairs to the bank of portals. I stopped in front of the First Realm portal and turned to face the group. “Savina, we may need you.”

“And you know where to find me.” Savina backed toward the Second Realm portal. “One of you pop your head through and send a signal. I’ll come without hesitation. GO. Good luck.”

She leapt backwards and vanished.

I stepped aside for the twins. “Let us know if Megelle Island needs anything.”

Weston tapped my shoulder and nodded. “They’re a resilient group, and if the Vaunteros are as old as you say, then I think the Island is in good hands.” He gave a thumbs-up, then dove into the portal.

“We just want to keep an eye on the triplets.” Shylock stopped beside me. “Your mother isn’t the only Nephilim who broke a strict rule by having a child.”

“Do you really think Araqiel and Zuriel don’t know about them?”

He pursed his lips. “I don’t assume they’re ignorant of anything. But there must be a reason they’ve turned a blind eye to it. Sandra is vital to your task, so if I must stand guard in her place for her sons, then I will.”

“Thank you, Shylock.”

He nodded and then leapt into the portal and out of sight.

I turned to face Ellie, Stellan, and Jada. “Ready?”

When they nodded, I jumped. The familiar gust of cold air wrapped around me as the light flashed. But when it vanished, I was met with heat. Sticky, thick heat that seemed to make the air wet. Warm, salty breeze swept over me. The sky was jet black and clear, with only stars twinkling in the sky and a golden crescent moon. I stood on the roof of a building made of stone. In front of me, the ocean danced under the moonlight. Behind me, the city of St. Augustine sparkled with golden lights. The night was quiet.

“Wow,” Ellie breathed. “This is beautiful.”

Stellan sighed. “I love the ocean air.”

“Lucky son of a bitch,” Jada grumbled. We all turned to face her. She just shrugged one shoulder. “He gets to live here. I got to freeze my ass off with a tyrant.”

I smiled. “The chance in birth is not fair for everyone, is it?”

She winked at me.

“I don’t like how out in the open we are.” Lightning streaked across the sky. Thick gray clouds rolled over our heads from out of nowhere. A soft fog lifted off the ground. Ellie nodded. “That’s better.”

Stellan grinned at her, pride pouring from his eyes. “So, who is this Nephilim? What’s his name?”

“My name is Gaston Gaultier.”

We all gasped and spun around—and found a guy standing there who definitely had not just been there. I cringed. I hated vampires and their stealth. I hated being surprised like that. This vampire-Nephilim looked more vampire than Nephilim. He didn’t even have his golden wings out. He stood there surrounded by Ellie’s fog, looking entirely unfazed by the sudden weather change. He had short silver hair that looked disheveled, as if he’d been dragged out of bed. Despite the pale shade of his hair, the scruff on his jaw was black. He stood a couple inches shorter than me, but he was definitely over six feet. The black long-sleeved shirt he wore showed off muscular definition in his arms and shoulders. He was the picture of calm with his hands shoved into the side pockets of his black jeans.

He arched one dark eyebrow. His eyes sparkled the same golden shade as the moon. “Jada, you didn’t warn me you’d be coming with friends.”

“I didn’t think I needed to.”

“You don’t . . . under normal circumstances.” He smiled and I noticed his teeth were sparkling white. “But arriving with both Prince Bastien and Prince Stellan? Together?”

“Your father keeping secrets from you again?” Jada chuckled.

Gaston sighed. “I’ve been a little busy since the mage Stone Keeper arrived. Is this her?”

“I am her, yes.” Ellie stepped forward and held her hand out. “Eloise Sutton.”

He shook her hand, then dropped it quickly with a smirk. “Ah, so you two are a couple. That rumor is true, I see. Prince Stellan, nice to officially meet you.”

Stellan shook his hand and gave him a hard nod. “Likewise.”

Then Gaston turned his golden topaz eyes on me. “Prince Bastien, I have to say, I did not see this one coming.”

I arched my eyebrow. “Disappointed?”

“Pleasantly surprised, emphasis on surprised .” He shook my hand. “Your mother has been extra spicy lately, so I assume you come to me for a specific reason? I can’t imagine this is a social call, given the state of your situation.”

“How much do you know about our situation ?”

He shrugged. “Not as much as I’d like to know. My Stone Keeper has not yet . . . ascended, so to speak. And her ignorance of everything is imperative—Zuriel’s words, not mine. So, what’s up? Why do you need me?”

I glanced to Jada who nodded for me to continue. “We need to have a word with Prince Riven.”

Gaston’s eyes widened. “You . . . want to talk to Prince Riven?”

“Yes. As soon as possible.”

He shook his head and scratched the scruff on his jaw. “You must really be desperate.”

“We are. As the Fourth Realm Nephilim, we hoped you could direct us.”

“You cannot go into Fourth Realm, just so that’s stated openly.” He tapped on his left forearm. “And before you ask, for his safety, I can’t call to my Nephilim partner inside.”

“Understood. But I have seen Prince Riven in First Realm with my own eyes.”

“He visits First often. However, he is unpredictable. There’s only one place you have any chance of catching him . . . but I’m afraid you’ll have to be patient because he may not be there right away.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a slim dark wallet. He dug around for a moment before pulling out two cards. “You’ll need these.”

I held my hand out. They looked like credit cards but thicker One was jet black. The other was a metallic chrome. Both had identical snake print etched onto the card. “What are these?”

Gaston grinned. “Your ticket in.”