25. ~Alena~

25

~Alena~

Applause sounded through the black desert—what I called the space I’d been working in just beyond the forest.

I smiled out at the palace guards, six of them watching me and my every move. Two were on my left, two on my right, then two behind me, all spread out in formation. It was the positioning they always took when I was out here, whenever Saryan had to attend to matters of the Realm. He never left me unattended. Even when I retired to the room he’d made for me, there were two stationed outside. It was part if I needed anything and part keeping an eye on me as a precautionary measure.

When I’d checked in with the guys, Orpheus had told me that usually they’d actually be inside the room too watching somebody considered a threat, but that his father had once again compromised and had clearly also come to see me as more of a guest to be making these sorts of allowances.

Basically, the almighty King of the Dark Fae had taken a liking to me.

So had the guards.

Instead of just standing back and observing as I’d gotten to work with my special ability , they’d taken to cheering me on. The same ones had been on me for the last few days, so I’d gotten to know them and we’d become friendly, chatting it up and joking around every now and then too.

It had gone from awkward to having them watching everything I did, to something that was pleasant—having company around me, people to talk to and help lighten the mood, considering the real dire and tense nature of the situation itself.

I stared at the three poles in the distance, all of them now without silver flames.

Two days ago, I’d started perfecting my dark magic extinguishing ability, overcoming the obstacle of leaving some of the flame alive. I’d tapped into a little darkness and managed to destroy the flames altogether. Two of them, at least.

The third, one that Saryan had added more of his silver fire to, making it the largest and most potent display of magic I’d dealt with, I’d managed to finally extinguish just now. Entirely.

This time I hadn’t been on edge or shaky about doing it.

I’d managed to stabilize myself easily when I’d tapped into the dark part of my power, the normally unstable part that led to dangerous thoughts and urges.

After everything I’d been subjected to by that monster, being infected with black magic and having to control it, it had actually served to prime and prepare me for something like this.

It hadn’t been a struggle at all once I’d overcome my fear of inciting that part of me.

And the results had been amazing.

I could now destroy dark magic using a stream, using an infection sphere as I’d now termed it after using it that first day with Saryan training me. And this third one, I’d used a concentrated and tightly targeted shockwave of power to destroy the magical flames.

“Thank you. Thank you,” I called out to the guards, turning and making a dramatic bow that had them clapping again, chuckling, and hooting too.

The satisfaction and elation of my accomplishment took me over, and then I was doing a couple of twirls too, my pastel-green lace dress whipping around me. I caught sight of a couple of the guards eyeing me, and realized that I was revealing a bit too much as the hem flipped up while I was twirling. Oops.

Darla, one of the older guards with beautiful flowing white hair down her back, slapped her hand over the eyes of Kierian, a younger and recent addition to the palace guards. Elias, however, was whistling out at me, standing there with his arms folded across the chest of his silver tunic—part of the palace guard uniform—his shoulder-length stark white hair tucked behind his pointy ears.

“Avert your eyes, or lose them,” a familiar voice boomed fiercely.

Elias shrank back and hung his head submissively as Saryan strode out of the forest and into the immediate area, glaring at his guards in turn. “Take your leave. I have a personal matter to discuss with Alena.”

They rushed off immediately, heading back to the palace.

“That was my fault, I wasn’t paying attention to my—”

“Even if you were completely bare, their eyes should not be on you.”

“Don’t punish them, they’ve been great companions to me since I’ve been here.”

“Companions… yes, they have become very fond of you. Word has spread, in fact. The Realm is rife with talk of you, of there finally being a Dark Fae Princess walking the palace.”

“A… what?”

“You are my son’s love and your time spent here has cemented the notion for them that you have been welcomed into the family by me.”

“I’m here training and awaiting the creation of the failsafe.”

“Ah, but my people are aware that I don’t treat any threat kindly, yet here I have you staying in fine accommodations, I’ve spent time with you outside of our training activities, and the tour of the Realm that we took together the other day has only inflated rumors in that respect.”

“They know I’m a Nephilim, right?”

He smiled. “Tradition has already been altered concerning my upcoming wedding to Edgar. There’s no reason why it can’t extend to you as well. Besides, you hold great power. That will certainly smooth things over even for the staunch traditionalists in the kingdom.”

I couldn’t believe we were having this discussion at all.

Especially when I hadn’t even had it with my men yet.

Yes, I was certain that Orpheus, Xavier, and Talon were it for me, and we had agreed that we would be together, live together, after graduating Electi Academy. Before it had been shut down with the war, anyway.

But we hadn’t made plans beyond that. Not where the four of us were concerned, at least.

I got that Saryan had certain responsibilities as King, and it seemed also that this was his roundabout way of welcoming me into the family.

“At my wedding, I’d like to announce your union with my son. And the other two, of course. I understand and respect that you’re a package deal.”

“Union?”

“Not marriage, per se, but a commitment that will indicate to the populace that the rumors are true and you wish to be bound to my son someday. You could exchange what the human realm refers to as promise rings , as I introduce you officially as the future Dark Fae Princess.”

“Wow, that’s… really welcoming of you. I just… it’s something I’d need to talk to my men about first.”

“Of course. Merely planting the seed.”

More like a whole forest, but sure.

“Once we’re done here and there’s a second to breathe together again, the four of us can get into all that.”

“You’re having a hard time being separated from them.”

“Yeah, I am. But it’s been necessary. You were right about me needing to focus on nothing but this. It’s definitely paid off.”

“It certainly has.” He gestured at the poles in the distance. “You’ve learned and accomplished a great deal in a short period of time. Even I’m impressed and that isn’t easily achieved, just ask my son.” He reached into the pocket of his blazer. “As for being done here, I believe we’re at our end.” I watched curiously as he pulled something out, then held it on his palm.

I found myself looking at a thick silver chain holding a metal amulet with intertwined black vines and thorns in a circular shape, the circumference silver and gold, engraved with Fae markings.

“Two days ago when you unleashed the full extent of your special ability , I was able to capture its essence. That, along with your magic, mine, and our blood is infused in this amulet. This one is bound to me, so only I will be able to operate it. The lab is also forging one for Orpheus as the leader of Obsidian and Elliot as the leader of Exemplar. That way we can cover all bases.” He secured it around his neck, then told me, “I’ll demonstrate how it works. I’m going to stream my magic at you and I want you to erect a shield to protect yourself, then use your ability to begin extinguishing my stream.”

He backed away from me and I did the same, until we were standing about twenty feet apart.

I erected a golden shield with my left hand, holding it at the ready.

A moment later, he thrust a stream of his silver power at it.

I jolted as it hit, his power fearsome and a lot to take.

Shifting my weight, I steadied myself, then unleashed my ability with my free hand, streaming my magic with the sparks at him.

I watched as it started to extinguish his stream, cutting into it.

He brushed his free hand over the amulet, a brief flicker of his silver magic visible before the whole amulet began to glow.

In seconds, the sparks in my stream faded, leaving just my pure gold angel magic firing at him.

I pulled my power back as did he, then I dropped my shield too. “Wow, it worked. You did it, you actually made a failsafe.”

“Indeed. Should it ever be needed, we now have the means to protect dark magic wielders against your ability. I’m hoping, however, that we’ll never have to employ it.”

“But it will put the supernatural world at ease once news of such a thing gets out.”

“I’ll ensure word will spread quickly.”

“Thank you,” I said, walking back to him. “For everything.”

He smiled out at me. “It’s been my pleasure.”

“Come here,” I said, before wrapping my arms around him.

He stilled for a moment, caught off guard, not used to the sentiment, I figured.

But then I felt him hug me back.

The air shifted around us, making us both jolt and pull back, and we spun to see the wild flapping of wings over the palace, heading right for us.

As they drew closer, I managed to make out Edgar Marlowe flying at breakneck speed.

He touched down jarringly, folded his wings away, then rushed the last few feet toward me and Saryan.

“My love?” Saryan questioned. “I wasn’t expecting you for a while.” His contentment at having his fiancé right here with him quickly gave way to a whole lot of worry as he looked Marlowe over, seeing the distress all over him. Not to mention, the wild way he’d just flown in out of the blue. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s Orpheus,” Marlowe told him, making both of us tense. A chill ran down my spine as he turned to me, “We need your help.”