6. Cassie

6

CASSIE

Sunlight crept through the blinds, casting stripes across my living room floor. Getting tickets to fly last night for Aiden had been a complete bust due to lack of ID, since Rey wasn't able to provide it quite that fast. I simply hadn't thought of it before I offered.

I needed to explain it to him.

A knock at the door jolted me upright while tying my sneakers. I peered through the peephole to see Aiden on the other side, waving in the direction of the glass.

I swung the door open. He looked past me, scanning the interior of my apartment as if searching for hidden answers.

"Cassie." He shifted his weight, a touch of uncertainty in his stance.

"Morning, Aiden. What's wrong?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe with arms folded.

"Your... what did you call it? Airplane? I spoke with the trickster king. You confine yourself in a metal tube and breathe stale air for hours on end to travel?" He rubbed the back of his neck, looking horrified. "It sounds terrible."

I couldn't suppress a chuckle. He was trying and failing to be tactful. "Welcome to human travel. Luckily, you don't have to worry about it this time."

"Go on," he beckoned me to continue.

"Items that we don't have for you are required. You'll need to get there on your own. What do you need to navigate?" I asked.

"A picture will do."

I sighed in internal relief. That I had. I walked to my laptop and pulled up a picture of the island, then a global map as well.

He stared at it and then nodded. "Yes, I can ride there."

Apparently, elf horses could fly long distances. I'd find out how fast soon.

"Where's your sister?" I said, changing the subject. The mention of her seemed to shift something in his demeanor; a wry expression crossed his face.

"Ah, she's... running an errand for me." Aiden avoided eye contact, focusing instead on a nearby potted plant.

"Really, now?" I pursed my lips. "And why do I get the feeling you're not telling me everything?"

He met my gaze then, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Because you're perceptive. I may have sent her off deliberately to enjoy the company of a band in the western ocean. I wanted some time alone with you, without the biggest gossip in three realms listening in."

"Is that right?" I leaned closer, intrigued by his candid admission. Alarms rang in my head, suggesting strongly I lean back

"Indeed," he replied, his gaze holding mine with an intensity that suggested more than just a desire for privacy.

"Okay," I said, riding from the couch. "I have to go and board the human way of flying."

"You could ride with me," he said tentatively.

I laughed, but it didn't quite mask the flutter in my chest. " Aiden, you do realize humans can't just zip through the air flying, right? We need planes... and oxygen."

"Ah," he replied, the word drawn out as if he were considering an irritating obstacle. "Yes, that would pose a challenge. I believe I can find a way around it, given thought. May I attend you as you proceed to the airport?"

"Sure. Just don't do any flying anywhere near the planes." The weight of reality settled back on me. Elves and their powerful magic—there was no future in getting caught up in that.

At the airport, Aiden's intent eyes swept over the bustling terminal.

"You can't go further than here," I said at the first checkpoint. He nodded and strode away, back toward the entrance.

I frowned, watching his retreating back. Shaking my head, I joined the security line, digging for my ID while my thoughts wandered to all the potential trouble he could get into. It was a horrifying list.

The airplane seat felt stiff against my back as I settled in, but my attention was outside the window. The plane taxied and lifted off. When it leveled out, there he was—Aiden pacing alongside near my window, his ethereal horse matching our speed effortlessly. It was surreal, seeing them unaffected by the whipping wind, almost like a scene pulled from a dream.

People gasped and stared.

I couldn't help but smile. He seemed so focused, so intent on staying nearby. His features, sharp and elegant, held a kind of wild beauty that called to the heart. Despite myself, I imagined what it might be like to explore something more with him, something deeper.

My sister had found happiness; could I dare try again and hope for the same?

"Down, Cassie," I murmured. "One step at a time."

A movie, a nap and a few extra hours later, Aiden swerved away as the pilot announced we were descending.

The wheels of the plane stopped. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I grabbed my carry-on bag from the overhead compartment, feeling the latent energy of the flight humming in my bones. As I shuffled down the aisle alongside weary travelers, I couldn't help but look for Aiden.

Had he circumvented security, or would he be in the waiting area? Where would he hide his horse?

"Intent" was the word that came to mind when I thought about Aiden. He hadn't pushed or prodded since I'd opened up about my past with Franklin. Instead, he had hovered—quite literally at times—in ways that made me feel like he was there because he wanted to be, not because he expected anything in return. The realization brought a warmth that contrasted sharply with my feelings of misery about relationships.

I stepped through the aircraft doorway and into the chilly embrace of English weather. Scanning the tarmac as I descended the stairs, I spotted Aiden, his horse, and security personnel rushing over.

I rushed to Aiden's side to avert disaster. Shay had foreseen something happening, and she'd had calls made. I just needed to invoke the right names to get the security to back away. Even still, it was a tense half hour before I could turn my attention back to him.

A storm was blowing in, the wind getting worse as I negotiated.

"You ready?" I asked, the question whipped away from my lips by the wind.

The helicopter, a spindly thing with blades that looked too flimsy against the storm's fury, swayed at its mooring. I took one look at it and felt my stomach churn. Aiden took my hand, his expression calm despite the tempest.

"Want to ride the wind on a different mount?" he asked, a playful edge to his voice.

"Have you come up with a way I'm not gasping for air or freezing the whole way?" I shot back, half-joking but entirely serious about not wanting to fly in this weather.

"Trust me," he said, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "I've put thought into it."

"Okay." I nodded, feeling a mix of trepidation and trust. "Let's do it."

One risk. I'd take it.

I texted the transportation coordinator to let him know I'd found an alternative as the text arrived letting me know the flight was postponed due to weather.

Aiden whistled—a clear, sharp sound that cut through the howling wind. For a moment, nothing happened, and I wondered if the horse would even hear us over the storm. But then, in a shimmer of light that seemed impossible given the darkening skies, his horse appeared, its form solidifying out of thin air.

"Meet Cu," Aiden said as he approached the spectral creature. Up close, it was majestic, more lovely than any horse I'd ever seen, with a coat and mane that seemed woven from moonlight.

"Hi, Cu," I murmured, reaching out a tentative hand. The horse nuzzled into my palm, and something akin to laughter echoed in my mind.

"Ready?" Aiden asked, turning to offer me his hand.

"Let's hope so," I replied, taking a deep breath before placing my hand in his.

I was going to assume that his magic horse was not subject to all the reasons riding double without safety gear was a terrible idea. Since I'd seen it flying.

With Aiden's assistance, I swung my leg over Cu's back, settling behind Aiden. The horse's body was fever warm under me, an anchor amidst the gusts that whipped around us. As Aiden adjusted to make sure I was secure, I wrapped my arms around his waist and grabbed his belt, the reality of what we were about to do sinking in.

I had gone insane. Normal Cassie had left the building, risky Cassie was riding an elf horse.

"Keep your grip tight," Aiden instructed, and without another word, Calen leapt into the storm with us on his back.

The wind rushed past us, but it didn't lash at me as I feared. It was a caress, a gentle push against my face that brought with it the scent of rain and adventure. Below, London sprawled like a toy city, its iconic landmarks miniature beneath us. The Thames wound through it all like a silver ribbon.

"Is this real?" I asked, the sound of my words barely audible above the sound of the rushing air.

"As real as anything," Aiden replied. His back was a solid wall against my chest, his muscles firm and reassuring.

I tightened my grip around him, noting the surprising warmth radiating from his body. It matched Cu's, both were like miniature furnaces. Probably helped with being unfazed by the altitude or the chill.

"Where does Cu come from?" I ventured, curiosity getting the better of me as we soared over the patchwork fields beyond the city.

"Elven horses are our friends and cousins. They choose their forms based on the bond they share with us," he explained. "Their life is different from creatures of flesh and blood."

"How?" Cu's shimmering form moved with such grace and power. Also, he flew. A good hint he wasn't a non-magical creature.

"Magic and spirit give them power. Cu can be faster than any plane if he wishes." There was pride in his voice, a deep affection that told me of his connection to the creature carrying us.

"Elves are powerful. But you don't look... intimidating. Not like some of Bran's or Martellus' people." I kept my grip on his belt as his stomach muscles contracted on laughter.

"Ah, our current appearance. Once, we struck terror into the hearts of men, but expectations shape reality. The modern world sees elves as beautiful, so here we are." He chuckled again. "It has its moments now, though."

"Beautiful doesn't mean harmless, though," I mused, thinking of the strength I could feel under my hands.

"Indeed," he said, a hint of something darker in his tone. "Beauty can be deceiving."

Cu banked sharply, the motion effortless, and for a moment, we were suspended over an endless sea of green, the world holding its breath with us. And for that infinite second, I forgot everything but the wonder of flight.

Aiden shifted slightly, and the motion drew my attention away from the sprawling landscape below us. "Cassie, why have you never trained in your powers?" he asked over the rush of air.

"Because I don't really know what they are and haven't had much of a chance to practice since I found out I have them," I responded, a little defensively.

"Would you want me to inquire about potential teachers? Perhaps there's an elf who remembers a human with similar abilities and how they used them." His hand rested on my arm for a moment, the touch soothing.

I was taken aback by his offer, but something about it felt right, like pieces of a puzzle clicking together. "Yes, I believe I would like that."

"Good," he nodded with satisfaction. Then he glanced back at me with a curious tilt of his head. "Do you prefer cats or dogs?"

"Both," I said, smiling despite the strangeness of the question. "I like both."

"Ah," he murmured, and Cu's ears twitched backward, as though he was listening in on our conversation.

The flight continued in comfortable silence, crossing a choppy sea, the rain somehow not getting us wet, until we descended towards a windswept island, where a small group awaited us under a small shelter near a landing pad for helicopters.

As we landed, a tall thin older man with a dignified posture stepped forward, his face breaking into a warm smile.

"Welcome, Miss Cassie. I'm Butler," he introduced himself.

I couldn't help but shake my head, amused. "Your name is Butler?"

He laughed, a rich sound that echoed against the stone of the nearby buildings. "Indeed, Miss. It's a common reaction, but I assure you, it's a name I bear with honor."

"Thank you, Butler," I said, relieved to be on solid ground and even more relieved to see that the presence of elves didn't faze the staff here.

"Cassie." Aiden dropped the saddlebags containing my luggage on the tarmac.

His expression changed as a faint, melodic ringtone sounded from his pocket. He pulled out a small mirror. "Excuse me one moment," he sighed, stepping aside and snapping a taut, "Yes?"

I watched him move away, his conversation muffled by the wind as I turned to Butler, feeling oddly grounded amidst this new world of magic.

Who knew elves had a phone equivalent?

"I'm going to stretch my legs then head for the castle in a couple minutes. Take the saddlebags, my luggage is inside them, and meet me there, please."

"Take care near the cliffs," Butler cautioned pointedly.

"Will do," I promised. My butt and stomach and thighs ached, and I wanted to stretch them a little. Fellmere Island unfolded before me like a scene from a movie—quaint but quietly majestic. A heliport sat starkly to one side, its metallic sheen at odds with the land around it.

A small village huddled in the distance, a smattering of roofs peeking through greenery, while the castle loomed behind me—a silhouette cut from stone against the backdrop of roiling clouds.

A spit of rain hit me. My footsteps crunched on the gravel path leading away from the landing area, the sense of quiet growing as I moved. The path soon gave way to open land, leading me to a small circle of standing stones. They were rough-hewn guardians of memory, encircling nothing but air.

I circled the stones, my fingertips grazing their weathered surfaces. Salt-laden air filled my lungs, and the crash of waves nearby played a rhythmic counterpoint to my heartbeat. Here, where grass bowed under the weight of sea spray's kiss, a crust of salt clung to the blades like frost.

"Feels like standing in a different world," I murmured, the ocean stretching into eternity in front of me. For a moment, a flight of unlimited imagination, I imagined what it would be like to let go—to be as untamed and unrestrained as the wind tangling through my hair and the waves crashing into the cliffs nearby.

Free as an elf.

Next to me the air shimmered, a ripple across my vision like heat on pavement. I blinked, but the distortion grew, coalescing into a form—slender, raggedy-edged, with long black hair that seemed somehow both tangled and perfect at the same time.

"Hello, Cassie," the person said, their voice sweet, perfect, and inhuman as a wind chime.

"Who are you?" I took a step back.

"Dream." The pseudo teenager before me smiled, a knowing curve to her lips. Her skin was dead white, with no color to it but a slash of red on her lips, and her eyes, the same color as the sea with no whites or pupils, were fixed on me.

Unnerving didn't begin to describe her.

Dream. I'd heard of this entity. Martellus spoke about Dream's awakening when we returned from that dimension.

Bran, solemn as ever, shook his head. "A terrifying change, but worth the risk." His distant gaze reminded me and Roma just how old he was, with many memories he didn't speak of.

"Would you leave this place, Cassie? Abandon the mortal realm to learn of your magic?" Dream's question meant she'd heard my thoughts.

"Why are you asking me?" I asked, curiosity warring with caution.

"Shay dreams of you, worries for you," Dream replied, those eyes shifting to reflect the racing gray clouds in the sky. "I have seen and heard my son's mate's concerns. I wish to assist you."

"Assist?" I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling the weight of Shay's hidden fears. My friend had so many.

I paused, the strangeness of discussing such an offer with the embodiment of a concept not lost on me. "I can take care of myself, Dream. But... maybe learning wouldn't be so bad. Your realm is beautiful, I've only seen a tiny scrap of it."

"Correct." Dream nodded once, her smile widening. Her teeth were sharp and as white as her skin. "My invitation stands, whenever you're ready to accept it."

My attention snapped away from Dream as Aiden's familiar form materialized from a mist that hadn't been there a second ago. He stepped forward, his movements betraying a politeness that seemed to layer steel hard tension.

Worry radiated off him like heat from sun-warmed stone.

"Respect, Dream," he said, bowing his head ever so slightly in a gesture that spoke more of concern than deference.

"Congratulations, Aiden," Dream acknowledged with an impish grin, her attention shifting between us. "Your majesty. I see you're invested in Cassie's decision."

Sweet and pure, her voice was scary beyond reason.

Aiden's jaw tightened, and it was clear to me that Dream's focus on me had struck a chord in him, one that didn't resonate with harmony. The waves behind us chose that moment to crash against the cliff, sending a spray of salty droplets that clung to our skin.

"Indeed, Dream," Aiden replied. "Your interest is noted. As is your ability to manifest on Earth again."

She laughed, like silver bells in the underworld.

The scene was too surreal not to find humor in it. Dream caught my expression and her hand swept through the air. She gathered a handful of saltwater out of thin air, as if plucking a ripe fruit from an invisible tree.

"Next time we meet," Dream said, flicking the gathered water at Aiden, "I'll come in a form grander than this." Her chiming words were light, teasing, yet they carried a weight that made Aiden stiffen. "Perhaps a figure taller, stronger, and more dashing than even the elf king here."

"Is that so?" I asked, shaking my head at the absurdity. Aiden, for all his composed exterior, couldn't quite hide a flicker of annoyance as he shook his head, flicking off the droplets trickling down his face.

"Until then," Dream finished with a flourish, leaving the lingering promise of a return hanging in the air as she faded from view.

Aiden exhaled slowly. "Shall we seek the castle?"

Aiden's steps were silent as he and I walked up the path leading to the castle. The air closer to the building was thick with the smell of rain on ancient stone.

More rain spit on us.

"A word of caution about Dream," Aiden said, glancing sideways at me with those vivid eyes of his. "They are not of our world, and their kindness... even well intended, might not end up being as they hope."

"How so?" My curiosity was piqued, but I kept my eyes fixed ahead. Shay's castle was an imposing sight, a merciless pile of stone against the darkening skies.

"Let's just say Dream's realm operates under different rules. What seems benign can be a snare." Aiden's words held a seriousness that made me pause.

"Thanks for the heads-up." I meant it, though the idea of anything being more dangerous than my own recent experiences felt hard to believe.

We continued in silence until the castle itself loomed directly over us. Its massive gray stones rose high, ivy creeping like veins across its surface. Crenelated battlements cut into the sky, interrupting my view of the scudding clouds. Old merged with new in places—glass windows reflected the stormy clouds, a testament to Shay's effort to drag the place into the present without sacrificing its soul.

"Wow," I breathed out, feeling dwarfed.

Aiden surveyed it with a hint of disdain. "A bit underwhelming, isn't it?"

"More like intimidating." The heavy wooden doors we approached looked like they could withstand a siege.

"Intimidation could be a form of protection, I guess," he remarked, pushing one of the doors open with ease that belied its size. "After you."

I stepped into the grand entrance, the weight of centuries closing around me.

"Good, let me show you to your rooms so you can freshen up before you eat," said Butler.

"I'll be back in the morning," Aiden said. "Be well, Cassie."

I followed Butler into the castle. His steps echoed in the vast hall as he led me up a narrow spiral staircase. The stone walls were cold, almost chilling to the touch, but the flicker of LED-lit torches in iron sconces bathed everything in a warm glow. It was like stepping into another time, yet I could hear the faint hum of modern heating beneath the echoes.

"Your room is just up here, Miss Quinn," Butler said encouragingly.

"Thank you," I replied. Each step was worn down from centuries of use, and I wondered how many feet had climbed them before mine.

We reached the top, and he gestured toward a heavy wooden door with a wrought-iron handle. "Let me know if there's anything needed for your comfort. The evening meal will be ready in an hour."

The door creaked open to reveal a spacious bedchamber. A canopy bed with dark wooden carved posts dominated the center, draped in rich blue and green fabrics. Across from it, a stone fireplace large enough to walk into promised warmth, though its fire was electric, dancing behind glass.

A guitar rested in a display case, with several books on a stand next to it.

"Wow," slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

"Is it to your liking?" Butler asked, a hint of pride in his tone.

"Very much so," I admitted. It was like something out of a fairy tale, if fairy tales came with discreet power outlets and a WIFI router on an antique writing desk.

"Your bathroom is through there." He pointed to another door.

"Thanks. I need that right now," I said, thinking about the turmoil of the day.

"Of course. If you require anything else, please don't hesitate to call." With a nod, he left, closing the door softly behind him.

I approached the bathroom. The door opened to a sleek, modern space that contrasted sharply with the bedroom. Chrome fixtures gleamed against marble tiles, and a glass shower stall stood ready with fluffy towels stacked nearby.

After peeling off my travel-weary clothes, I stepped into the shower. Hot water cascaded over me, soothing too tight muscles and aches from riding a horse. I'd heard it hurt, and that was correct. The steaming spray felt wonderful, and I closed my eyes, letting the warmth envelop me.

"Okay, Cassie," I murmured to myself. "You can handle this. You've handled worse."

Water flowing over me, jets soothing tired muscles, my shoulders relaxed as I breathed in the scented air.

Wrapping the towel tightly around me, I stepped out of the bathroom, steam trailing in my wake. The luxurious bed whispered an invitation to sleep, even though I should go to eat.

Just as I began to comb through my damp hair, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. Roma's name flashed on the screen.

"Hey," I answered, bracing myself for whatever might come next.

"Cassie, do you think you can handle being around alchemists right now?" Roma's voice was firm yet tinged with concern.

"Uhm, why?" I asked, puzzled, my hand pausing mid-stroke. I'd stiffened. Franklin had been a member of the alchemist's organization, and they had siphoned Roma's magic from her.

"There's talk about using the wedding as neutral territory for the Council and the alchemists to meet. But I know your history with them," she said carefully.

Emotions flickered through me, dark and bitter, but I pushed them aside. "I can deal with it. What do you need from me?"

"Great. I'll send you the contacts for the invitations. You settled? Doing okay?"

"Always am," I replied, though we both knew that wasn't entirely true.

I laid the phone back down on the nightstand.

A knock at the door startled me, and I hastily grabbed a robe, cinching it around me as I walked over to open it.

Aiden stood there, an unreadable expression on his face.

How on earth had he found my room?

He held out something that caught the light, sending sparkles dancing across the walls.

"Thought you might like this," he said, revealing a necklace of finely worked silver and gold with glittering blue-white stones so large they bordered on absurd. It was beautiful in a gaudy, fantastical way.

"Wow, Aiden, it's... something." I couldn't help but smile. "These can't be real."

He only grinned in response, and I wondered briefly if perhaps, in his world, they could be. But no, that was silly. I took the necklace, the cool weight of it surprising against my skin.

"Thank you," I said, still somewhat bemused by the extravagance of the gesture. "It's certainly a statement piece."

"Only the best for you," Aiden replied, a twinkle in his eyes that suggested he was in on some joke I hadn't quite caught onto yet.

"May I?" Aiden asked, gesturing toward the corner of the room where the old guitar rested on a stand.

"Sure," I nodded, still holding the necklace. Its faux gems caught the fading light as I settled onto the edge of the bed robe tucked around me.

It covered as much as any clothing I wore, more than some.

Curiosity piqued, I watched him claim the instrument, his fingers gliding over it with assurance before he took a seat across from me.

Aiden strummed a chord, his hands sure and deft.

"I composed this for you," he said, his voice soft and intimate. The blue depths of his eyes held mine, intense and unguarded.

As the first notes rolled over me, a melody unfurled like a silken ribbon of emotion. Each note found a hidden place within me, echoing through the chambers of my heart. Opening the door, I'd locked and barred as my marriage crumbled. His tune, complex and haunting, was mostly in minor keys. Its unexpected turns tugged at something deep inside me.

It pulled me on a journey through the shifting realms of joy and sorrow, hope and longing.

"Wow," I breathed as the last echo faded. "That was... I've never heard anything like it."

I leaned forward, drawn by the lingering notes of the melody and the desire on Aiden's face. My hand reached out, brushing against his where it rested on the guitar. The warmth from his skin beckoned me closer.

If the music echoed how he saw me…he thought I was beautiful, desirable. I closed the distance between us.

Our lips met, and a shiver ran through me. His lips parted under mine, and his gentle invasion of my mouth ignited a surge of something wild and untamed in me. The kiss remained gentle, a contrast to the storm of feelings that raged within, and for a moment, I allowed myself to melt into the sensation.

But as quickly as the spark had ignited, reality crashed into me. I pulled back, my breath catching in my throat.

"I shouldn't have—" I stammered, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.

Aiden put a finger on my lips in a caress, a smile playing on his lips. "You don't need to apologize. Unless you want to do so by kissing me again."

My heart raced, conflicting emotions spinning through me. Relief was dominant when he didn't move any closer, respecting the space I'd instinctively put between us. I wanted him too much, too soon, and I was grateful he didn't push me.

"Maybe later," I murmured, glancing away from his face. A large part of me that wanted more kisses, but scars from the past burned me, reminding me to tread carefully.

He stroked my cheek, then settled the guitar and walked to the door, leaving me alone with my confusion.