74. Danica

Danica

74

T he bombshell we learned yesterday is still sizzling in my brain, repeating like the rumble of far-off thunder that I've gotten used to. Those words are doing the mambo in my brain, throwing down some soap opera-level severe drama. Alinar and Axilya, an item? Now that's a spicy turn of events that's got me all kinds of dizzy.

I could tell there was more to Ax than her zen vibes and strategist smarts. Every hint of majesty that slipped through her chill facade totally made sense now.

Setting up shop in Whispervale, giving court life the big ol' middle finger—she wasn't just hanging out; she was sitting on an invisible throne. Suddenly, it's like, 'Hello! Here comes the queen!' she's been hiding in plain sight.

So, what's the deal with Faderyn? Did he have the inside scoop this whole time? It's like this annoying tic I can't shake off.

He had to know, right?

How could he not see it? But then, why play keep-away with that kind of need-to-know intel? Flashbacks of our talks and those sneaky looks he shared with Axilya are all adding up, and I am feeling that sting of double-crossing, big time. Trust is like gold in this high-stakes mystical mess, and I'm starting to feel like I got played.

Rewinding to the moment, Axilya's ice queen act cracked when she found out Rhyland got snagged by Amara. It's hitting me now—her soft spot wasn't just random feels. Alinar didn't just get nabbed; she thought he bailed by choice. Talk about an emotional minefield right in her chest.

A flash of rage hits when Rhyland's antics cross my mind—his latest tease-a-thon, acting nonchalantly about his freaky new lightning tricks. Whenever he shrugged it off, my irritation with him cranked up another notch. But simmering beneath that irritation is a realization: our powers are as knotted up as our destinies—mine with its sway over light and the stuff of life, his cracking with this stormy energy. Calimero's mysterious hints about the one who commands lightning being aware of his ancestry echo in my mind. Just how deep doesRhyland's understanding of his bloodline go? It's a puzzle piece that may unravel many mysteries, but it's not the day for solving riddles.

So, game on—I'm gonna freeze him out, flip the script, and see how he likes a taste of his own meddlesome medicine. But let's be honest, who the fuck am I kidding? This is Rhyland, Mr. Irresistible himself. Whether I can hold out against his charms... well, only the tick-tock of the clock's gonna spill that secret.

And as if summoned by some twisted universal scheduler, right on cue, my monthly visitor decided to join the already chaotic party. Seriously, timing is everything—and mine has a wicked sense of humor, deciding to make its grand entrance amidst all the mayhem. Just another variable in the complex equation that is my life right now.

Thank the heavens for Alina—what an absolute gem! She swooped in like a fairy godmother and saved the day with her stash of lady essentials.

Strutting down the hall to Axilya with my game face on, it is high time to straighten out this knotty mess of secrets and fibs wrapping around us. Cue the no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is chat; fingers crossed, it will blast away our murky doubts.

The vibe in the Sun Court is mystical. The air practically sparkles with happiness and sunshine as I hustle down the halls to Ax's room, a cocktail of jitters and boldness bubbling up inside.

I knock on her door with a little extra 'oomph,' not even trying to hide the ants in my pants.

"Enter," Axilya calls out, her voice sailing through the door like she's got this hosting gig down pat.

Stepping in, the place has that Whispervale zen—quiet and cozy, like it's a little bubble away from the world's racket. Ax is perched by the window, all dramatic with the sunlight turning her into a shadow puppet of intrigue.

"Danica," she hits me with a welcome, not even bothering with a peek, as though her Axilya-senses told her I was dropping by.

"I need answers," I cut right to the chase, shutting the door behind me.

That's when she swivels, locking me down with her pale green eyes, which somehow manage to be super intense and weirdly reassuring.

"You probably have a list," she says, poised and ready to spill the tea.

I nod, and funny enough, I find my motor mouth on pause—just for a hot second, though. Then, it's like the floodgates open. I blurt out everything: my head-scratchers about Calimero dropping the truth bomb on her, the sneaking feelingFaderyn kept secrets, not to mentionAx's own story wrapped in mystery.

Axilya doesn't make a peep; she gives me the serene queen look while I unload.

After my spill-the-beans monologue, she exhaled gently, "Well, I figured you'd stumble onto the big reveal sooner or later."

"But seriously, why all the smoke and mirrors?" I demand, slicing through the still air. "Why not just spill the royal beans from the jump—you're the rightful queen around here?"

Axilyalooks away momentarily, gathering her thoughts before meeting my gaze again. "I…I gave it all up. So no, not anymore. I wanted to stir away from enemies—from making choices out of obligation rather than free will." Her voice is steady but tinged with regret. "I wanted you to carry out your cause because you believed in it, not because of my title or crown."

I shift gears, my tone edged with a hint of sass. "And what aboutFaderyn? Did he know all along?"

"Faderynknew only as much as he needed to,"Axilyareplies gently. "His loyalty was always to our cause first—to ensure your safety and success."

Gotta say, even when it's dressed up with good intentions, that sting of betrayal still tastes like shit.

"So, this entire time..." I grapple with the mixed feelings, trying not to let the cracks show.

Axilyareaches out, her hand touching mine in a rare gesture of comfort. "I am sorry—for not telling you. But you've proven yourself more than worthy, Danica. Your strength and heart have brought us closer to unity than we've been in ages. I gave up on the throne long after…"

She pauses and looks away again, another secret she's been hiding. She's offering a balm here, but it's not entirely taking the edge off the burn of those hidden truths.

My head's damn near spinning with a whirlpool of thoughts ready to take me under, but one fact stands out through the chaos—I've got a laundry list to hash out with Axilya.

Gripping that nugget of clarity, I plop in the chair facing her. This isn't your garden-variety chitchat—nope, we're about to dive into a talk that'll probably map out our next moves in wild, unpredictable ways.

The quiet in the room is heavy, like a blanket of snow untouched by footprints, waiting for something big to happen. Axilyya's eyes are on me, solid and deep—I might as well be staring into the abyss. I hiccup a breath, trying to herd my swirling thoughts into something coherent.

"Amara," I spit out; the word is straight-up venom. "She's been the fog machine, the spider spinning her fib-fest that's muddled up the whole picture."

Axilya's eyes darken, a tempest brewing in their depths. "What do you mean?"

I edge forward, dropping my voice seriously. "It was the Soul Stone, Ax—her gateway to Moretemis and illegitimate power compelling Alinar and everyone else to her side."

"Alinar didn't bail on you for some shiny throne or epic tales. Amara was pulling strings because she was green-eyed over the legit, unshakeable thing you two have going—a thing she can't get her grubby mitts on."

Axilya sucks in a quick breath, her eyes widening just a tad. "You know about me and... Alinar?" It's like I've just dropped a plot twist she didn't see coming.

"He just confessed everything to me," I say, not missing a beat.

Axilya perks up, all regal-like, but I can see the twinge of hurt slicing through her typically unshakeable, fae-fancy facade. "How do you know this… for sure? We—our kind can't be compelled." she quizzes, a wisp of vulnerability peeking through.

I can almost visibly see the gears grinding away as she recalls Rhyland's words about the compulsion. She's putting two and two together, and you best believe she's not about to settle for an answer of bullshit.

"Because," I lay it down with all the gusto I've got, "That stone is more powerful than what you or your ancestors could ignore, and Amara used that. Alinar's been in your corner, duking it out with that witch and holding his heart for you. But Amara, she's put a lid on him—tight. He's head-over-heels for you, Ax. He found a potion to guard his mind from her compulsion—faking it. He's stuck it out and is now waiting for you to catch wind of the truth and make your move—even now."

That hope in Axilya's eyes? It flares up quickly before she snaps her ice-queen mask back into place.

"You imply that he has harbored affection for me all these years—retains his love? And all the while, I believed he had forsaken me," the quiver in her voice reveals an aspect previously concealed—a vulnerability in her facade. "And what of Amara?"

"Because that's what Amara wanted you to think. The real stuff—like what you've got—doesn't go poof from time away or a few miles in between." I feel that pang in my chest 'cause Rhyland, and I live the same epic love story. "Amara is awaiting judgment," I confess.

I lock eyes with her as she starts to let her guard down, walls toppling over to show the real deal—her heart, craving something lost but not forgotten. There's something about watching a queen come undone—like the most powerful storm showing its eye.

"He's been in contact with King Oberon," I toss in, watching her closely. "They're set to discuss handing the crown back to where it belongs—to you, Your Highness."

She draws in a sharp breath—I might as well have said the magic words. It's like I've unlocked the chest where she's kept all her wishes stashed.

"Why?" The word tumbles out of her, wrapped in a whole tangle of dazed and hungry emotions. "I gave it up."

"Because you're born to wear the crown of Luminara," I shoot back, cutting through the fluff. "And because let's face it,Luminarais itching for its one and only queen."

You could almost hear the destiny gears grinding, setting things into motion with a hum in the air that screamed 'epic moment.'

We're looped back into the silence—a thick blanket of nothingness lingering in the air as we each take turns on this wild ride of feelings.

"You know, just between us, Calimero is basically holding his breath for you to waltz back and take up that crown. They're ready for an encore, and who can stand in the way of your triumphant return, Ax?" My tone is equal parts jest and challenge, a feisty spur to action.

A glimmer appears in Axilya's eyes, a tide of unshed tears at the invocation of Calimero's name. "He belonged to me, once upon a time—before this chaos," she states, her lips curving into a poignant smile.

"Oh, brilliant. Sneak up on me with a twist, why don't you?" I say, my voice dripping with mock astonishment and a playful roll of my eyes. Kinda figured that little surprise.

"Alright, 'Your Highness,' lay it on us—what's the next move in your regal playbook?"

"I will go to Alinar," Axilyya declares, her face all lit up with that royal 'never-say-die' vibe. "The hour's come for me to step up and wear that crown again of Luminara like I was born to."

"As for me," I pipe up, feeling that adrenaline pump, "I'm hightailing it back to the mortal scene. Gonna lure Azrael out into the open so you can get the house in order around here."

"And Ax…Amara—you call the shots on that one. Your decision, your rules." My words are laced with the unsaid—give 'em hell. But it's Axilya's call to make, not mine. This is her arena, her face-off—her payback.

Axilyya gets to her feet, and the room seems to straighten up as she rises. She's got that look, all majesty and power, like she's ready to step up and rule it all.

"Hand in hand," she nods, confirming the game plan, "Luminara will be whole again. Our magic restored." Ax smiles at me, the genuine, no-strings-attached smile I never figured I'd see from her. "Thank you, Danica—Savior," she says, and just like that, she's wrapping me up in a hug that could squeeze the fight out of a bear.