20. Cyara

When she appeared again, it took one look for Cyara to know.

There was no joy in her face, not as there had been when she mastered that first level of her power. Then, she had jumped around the clearing in the jungle laughing; disappearing, reappearing, tapping Lyrena's shoulder, only to appear behind Arran and kiss his cheek.

Now, there was only cool determination in the lines of her round face, strength of will in the icy blue shards of her eyes. She had made this descent deeper into her magic alone, without Arran, and it had cost her something. A part of her soul.

But she did not share that with them. Did not speak of the cost or explain what it had meant to her. How she had done it. She crossed her arms over her chest, a protective gesture that was not even intentional but was telling all the same. She had added another layer over the shirt she usually wore, the flowing black fabric that revealed her midriff even in the cold. There was no hint of the metal brassiere that held the shirt in place while showcasing her physical assets. All of it was hidden beneath the thick wool of a deep green tunic.

Arran's.

Cyara's heart ached for her friend. But now was not the time to comment upon it, not when Veyka moved with purpose. Especially not in front of an audience.

So, Cyara kept her face carefully neutral when the queen spoke.

"I will take you one at a time through the void to Annwyn." She turned to Cyara, eyes slightly glazed. As if she was in her body, but her mind was not fully present as she issued her command. "Plan it."

Cyara.

Percival.

Lyrena.

Diana.

Veyka did not question the order or the reasoning that Cyara and Lyrena had worked out. She double-checked Percival for hidden weapons before taking his still-bound hands. Cyara doubted he would try anything stupid while she carried him through the void. It would mean risking losing himself in that terrible in between, or worse, leaving his sister unprotected.

But Cyara did not share this reasoning with the queen. She did not say any more than was necessary as she steeled herself to go first.

It felt exactly like going through the rift at Eldermist. They jumped through the void, the rift that Veyka created for them, and landed with their feet on the snowy ground of Annwyn. Cyara fell to her knees, boots crunching in the snow.

Veyka hauled her back up, raked her gaze over her, and disappeared again.

Cyara used every second to compose herself. She dusted the clinging snow from her gray leggings. Conjured a bit of fire around her fingers to warm them. Her wrists would ache later, but she would take the relief now.

She blinked, and Veyka reappeared with Percival.

The queen did not bother with words for him either. She snarled in his face, teeth gnashing. She lacked the sharpened canines of the terrestrial fae, but the message was clear enough—she would rip his throat out regardless if he made a move against Cyara.

But it was uneventful.

Percival turned his back and glared at the mountains. Cyara divided her attention between him and the spot where Veyka had disappeared. She kept fire dancing at her fingertips, in case she needed to subdue Percival.

Lyrena arrived. Then a quivering Diana.

The latter fell to her knees, then her elbows, and vomited all over the pristine white snow. Only Percival bothered to help her. Lyrena monitored them both.

But Cyara watched her queen. Her friend.

Veyka did not pause to wait for any of them. She started walking down the mountain, toward the emerald green hills that awaited them. Cyara knew without looking at her map where the queen was going.

She watched for any sign of weakness or exhaustion. But there was none. Veyka stomped through the thin layer of snow in the foothills without a hitch, her shoulders perfectly squared.

It could be nothing but a huge expenditure of power, to move between the realms like that. Cyara had felt the void pulling her apart. She wanted to lay down. To at least sit and sip water for a while before continuing on. And Veyka had done it again and again, using her power to not just jump herself between the human realm and Annwyn, but four others as well.

Veyka was strong and honed. But the cost… there had to be a cost.

All magic had a cost.

A slither of unease slid down Cyara's spine

If Veyka had not paid it yet… What would the consequences be when she did?