19. Kellian

CHAPTER 19

Kellian

K ellian looked around his tower. The observatory was covered in painted constellations where stone stood out, but the walls were mostly made of glass windows. At this exact moment, all of the windows were open. He had taken flight after the attack, needed to clear his mind in a way that only flying could solve. When he landed on the roof of his tower he shifted back, climbing down the protruding steps he had attached to one of the stone pillars holding the glass ceiling open. The large ceiling was made of glass that could be opened so he could take flight from his tower and come back to his own space. It was his small solace in the world. His place of peace. No politics, or royal duties or looming issues, just the open sky and the stars and his own slice of Haven.

It had been hours since he had dropped Kyeria down by the caves to see Ameline and he had returned, when the wooden door to his tower creaked open. A familiar blur of red curls as Kyeria ran in. Her smile bright, the light emanating from her like light gleaming off of water.

"Hello, love," Kellian greeted as she walked into his open arms. He held her close, pushing into her neck and inhaling. He loved the scent of her, of his soulbound. It was like the morning after rain in the forest, fresh and light and brimming with possibilities.

"It has been quite the day," Kyeria mumbled against him. He grunted in response, the vibration of it jolting her and making her giggle.

"You smell." She shook out of his grasp. She was met with another grunt.

"All talked out for the day?" she asked playfully. The crease between his brows softened, his eyes followed suit. But he knew that she understood him. She understood him more than anyone ever had. How he would retreat after conflict, do what was needed but then prefer to be alone. However, alone now did not seem to be what he craved, he only wanted to be with her.

"Come on." She tugged his arm and pulled him towards the door. They walked down the tower steps, through the small labyrinth of halls to their own wing of the castle. Their wooden doors still stood tall facing the other. The only rooms on this floor.

"Yours or mine?" she asked, squeezing his hand and bringing him back to reality as his mind had wandered and they had walked silently.

"Mine." He could feel the growl come up from his chest. The innate need to have her with him, touching him.

"You certainly have quite the grand tub," she mused aloud, her words tinged with playful challenge. She hadn't shielded her thoughts from him as he had taught her, so he felt her excitement and daring pulse down their bond. He responded with a low grunt, a sound that might have been mistaken for a farm animal's lament, though his energy was all but drained. Her mesmerizing green eyes bore into him with an intensity that made him yearn to kneel before her, to offer her a devotion as profound as her wildest dreams.

Kyeria guided them inside, her demeanor as assured as if she were in her own space. His room, though similar to hers, held its own distinct touches: a grand bed against the far wall, a spacious hearth flanked by a solitary leather chair, and a table cluttered with books. A large desk, its surface buried under a chaotic scatter of papers, overlooked the windows, while the tall, windowed doors led out to his mother's lush gardens. The washroom, however, was a marvel of opulence, twice the size of hers, with a magnificent copper tub taking center stage. As she moved about with ease, Kellian watched, his irritation barely masked by the flicker of admiration he felt for her bold confidence.

Clothes lay scattered like fallen petals along her path, and when he finally reached the door frame, only her long tunic remained—an ephemeral veil against the exposed allure of her bare legs. Each glimpse of her unadorned skin teased him, weaving a tapestry of longing and restraint.

She waved him forward as if to say get in. And he cracked a smile at her, stripping his clothes off and lowering into the tub. She herself stayed outside the tub, leaned over and palmed the water into his skin. His tight muscles relaxed under the mixture of her touch and the hot water. She lathered soap in her hands and washed away the dirt before moving to his hair and he swore to all the gods and goddess that this, here, was Haven. This was the afterlife where all good and kindness lie and souls are given rest. The ultimate paradise and gift of one's life.

By the time she had finished, he reached over to her, tugging her shirt over her shoulders and dragging her in. They stayed like that until Kellian did the same for her as she had done for him. He lathered the soap and cleaned her tired muscles. She couldn't help the moan escape from her lips as he pressed into her neck and washed her hair. Only a chuckle from him made her shake under his movements.

They emerged from the bath when the water had grown cold. Kellian wrapped Kyeria in a towel, his movements deliberate as he dried her with tender care, ensuring every inch of her was warm before turning to tend to himself. He slipped into a tunic and ventured out to find her warm clothes, returning with a luxurious silk robe. Leaning against the doorframe, he took in the sight of her, absorbing the reality of her presence in his meticulously ordered life.

The chill in the air was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the intensity of his emotions. He was utterly captivated by her—by the way she filled his space, his world. The realization struck him with a force that seemed to pierce through his very core.

He loved her.

The thought surged through him, raw and undeniable, as if it had been waiting in the shadows of his heart, now bursting forth in its full intensity.

He loved her.

Silken robe draped on her shoulders, she pulled at the long strings, wrapping them around her wait when her hand stopped abruptly.

Her breath caught and he could feel her shock through the bond. Green eyes met his, they were dark green now, only sparkling bright in the corners. The large window let in the streaming moonlight. And in that light he could see tears welling in her eyes. He pushed himself off the doorframe and strode to her in three long steps, his hand immediately going to her, sweeping over her cheek.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

She breathed. In and out. In and out.

"You—" she began, and then paused, her eyes getting larger. His eyes were frantically searching hers. What had happened in her mind in the last few seconds? What was causing her pain? But he silenced his thoughts and listened to the bond, in the way she had taught him, to still his mind and take in his surroundings. There was no pain or fear or anger there. All causes of crying he knew could be traced back to those emotions. But they were devoid of existence. Here in this space, she was emitting joy. Pure unadulterated joy. But tears were in her eyes.

"You love me," she said clearly after clearing her throat. Kellian felt his body relax. Felt the muscles release, the tension erased. And a smile erupted.

"Why are you crying, my love?" he asked again.

"You—" She paused and let her hand rest on his chest and the other on his own cheek. Her expression so soft, her skin so golden under his touch. "Love me," she finished.

"Of course I do," he replied with a sigh. His breath escaping him and his forehead resting on hers.

"You are my everything," he whispered into her lips. Kissing her once. Deeply and slowly, only a hint of need at the end of it. "Kyeria. You are my guiding light, why I want to do more and be more. For you, for my kingdom. You bound into my world, and I don't ever wish to be parted from you." He smiled looking at her, his hands holding her face. He reached out gently, tipping her head back and kissing her neck.

"You are everything," he whispered into her skin. Goosebumps erupted where he kissed. And he loved the physical reaction he had over her body.

"Kel." She stopped his wandering hands and pulled him back, his eyes to meet hers. Golden and green. "I love you," she whispered back then leaned in, catching his lips in hers.

He lost himself to her, as he knew he would every night, if she'd have him. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried her to the bed. His movements were deliberate and tender, each kiss a whisper of devotion. The satin robe was soon discarded, and his tunic was torn from his body by her eager hands. She was a wild, untamed force of nature, and he was utterly captivated by her.

A day later, Kellian sat in Esmeralda's potions room with Kyeria, Aura, and Esmeralda. The sun was high in the sky and Esmie was huddled over her potions, explaining how close she was to getting it just right but the recipe in her Gran's book had been slightly smudged and she couldn't quite read one of the measurements.

"I think this is right," she mumbled, sprinkling in a handful of something dark mixed with crimson red leaves.

"How do we know exactly…" Aura trailed off, biting at her fingers and looking quickly between the potion and Kellian.

"I'm sure it's fine!" Kyeria cut in, walking over to Esmeralda with a smile. Aura was perched on the arm of a chair Kellian was sitting in. He could feel the anxiety rolling off of her, her shoulders were tense, and she only bit her nails like that when she was a child.

He leaned in next to her. "Worry less sister, you're going to make yourself sick," he whispered. She spun on him and a glaring, piercing stare told him he should have just stayed silent. She pushed off the chair and walked over to the other two women. She crossed her arms and waited, as Esmeralda began re-reading the recipe and directions in the old and torn notebook from the elder winter witch who had long since passed.

"Maybe we should test it?" Kyeria offered.

Aura looked to her with uneasy eyes. "Explain again how this works?" Aura asked.

"The potion will be poured on the Merstone, and then Kyeria can give it to you freely, accepting to transfer the power to you temporarily with this spell here," she pointed towards her book, "and then you push your light through it in your hand I would assume, and amplify it." Esmeralda motioned with her own hands, using a crystal on her desk.

"And no creepy Mer magic will curse me forever if I touch that thing?" Aura's voice was thick with hesitation.

"No, this spell will give you access to it temporarily, it's a loophole essentially. Since Merstones can only be gifted freely from a Mer to one being and it is theirs until they die, only passed on to their own offspring. Anyone who tries to take it or steal it or wear it otherwise faces the," Esmeralda threw her hands in the air-quotations, "creepy Mer magic."

Kyeria bit her lip to hold back a laugh. None of them had realized how superstitious Aura was about the Mer until the existence of the Merstone in the castle. She looked like a ghost, skin extra pale even thinking about touching the gods damned stone. Kellian pushed himself up with a grumble.

"Come on Aura, you will be fine," he assured her.

"Can't you just amplify his dragon or whatever," Aura's brow creased even further.

"Fire, even dragon fire, doesn't do much to this beast, you know this, we have tried," Kellian argued. "It's you, Aura, your light, your magic that can settle this for good and keep the kingdom safe."

Aura let her crossed arms fall and go slack at her sides, her brow relaxing and a serious look befalling her features, she only let out one word, "Oh," and then turned on her heel and walked out the door. The three that were left, Kellian included, all gaped at the door, shocked she just turned and left without a word.

"Um-I-" Esmeralda stuttered, the potion in her hand and the stone in Kyeria's outstretched one.

Then the familiar sound of boots stomped back down the stone floor.

"Are you coming or what?" Aura shouted down the hall.

"Oh!" Esmeralda exclaimed and grabbed her things. "No time like the present!"

Kyeria shot Kellian a look before saying down the bond, " Are you sure you are okay with this?"

"Yes," he replied in a clipped tone.

"I know how protective you are over her, and I just–"

"I would take her place in a second, but I have tried over and over again with Dragonfire and it does nothing to this beast. It is from the fireland of Hel, it is immune to it, but light, light it seems to be terrified of, so if we can hit it, hard, then maybe we can finally get rid of this beast for good. We can stop the borders from shrinking and then work to get them back to where they should stand. It is my life's burden to protect this land and guard these dragon grounds. And while I wish it could be me, Aura is strong, she is an heir just as I. If she is the one to be able to defeat this leech once and for all then I will be by her side, and protect her with my life. But that is all I can do." Kyeria's gaze was soft as it always was for him; she took in the information and nodded. Then held out her hand for him, and they walked together out of the castle, to the open fields where Aura and Esmeralda waited.

"Who wants to be target practice?" Aura asked as a dagger flipped through her fingers lazily.

"What are you all doing?" Nox asked, walking out to them. They all turned, and Aura couldn't help but smirk.

"Just in time," she sang.

"No," Kellian and Kyeria said at the same time.

"You will use that." He pointed at a target left behind from the archers in the field. It was about two dragon lengths away and a large circular piece of wood.

"Fine," Aura grumbled and let out a large sigh then turned to face Kyeria.

"Give me the evil stone." Her hand was held out in false annoyance, and Kellian knew she was using her bravado to mask her fear but he smirked all the same at his sister. What a little monster she had become. His favorite one. Filled with the fire of their father and the wit and cunning smartness of their mother. Sure, Aura was kind and graceful and could handle royal life well, exceptionally well at that. But she was meant to be here, on the ground, fighting, training and forging herself into a weapon that no one could use against her. Pride filled him. While he had his dragon from, she had this. She might not see it yet, but her burning light was a force to be reckoned with.

Kellian's eyes flashed to Kyeria. She was sure footed and focused. She let out a steady breath and began chanting the old language, reading off from the book Esmeralda had handed her, while the Merstone glowed, bright and eerie. He could hear the stone, a piercing melody coming from it. He recognized it of course, it was the tune of a Mersong. The ones that can enchant people to their deaths, to follow a Mer where they go, to the blackest parts of the sea.

"To upon you I do part the gift for only a moment," Kyeria spoke in the old language. Her accent rusty and clipped, unused to forming such words and sounds. Kyeria looked to Aura and then held out her hand, palm facing the sky. Kellian looked up and saw Ameline circling high above. She must be speaking with Kyeria, he realized, as her eyes looked glazed and tilted up to the sky as well. When Kellian looked back to his sister, the Merstone was in her hand. She flinched at it as if it was burning her, but held tight, took in a steadying breath and wrapped only her fingers around it, pushing her palm out to face the target across the field, with both hands. Light erupted from her, while a soft light surrounded her, the stone focused it, creating beams of concentrated light that flashed out, hitting the target and completely disintegrating it.

"Holy shit," she cursed, pulling her hands down. Her hand that held the stone was shaking slightly, and Kellian felt a tug of worry in his chest. He didn't like that it was hurting her. That shouldn't be happening after the ritual. Aura looked at the stone, it glowed clear now instead of green, as if her magic was pushing through it, filling the stone itself. A chill ran through her and she tossed the stone towards Kyeria, who caught it with a start.

"Well, I guess it works." Kyeria laughed, in awe of the power.

" Her hand is shaking ." He could feel his eyebrows creased and the anger settling. He did not like a plan that hurt Aura.

"Adrenaline?" Kyeria asked

" I don't like it ." His tone even down the bond was gruff. Kyeria nodded all the same, sensing his shift. She moved to Esmeralda and whispered a few things. Nox was at Aura's side; they were arguing about something quietly then Nox grabbed Aura's hand and pulled it to him, twisting it palm up. Kellian took three long strides and was by her side ready to throw Nox down. But when he looked at Aura's hand, it was burned, red and splotchy in the exact size and shape of the Merstone.

"Think I'm cursed?" Aura asked, teasing in her tone but shoulders tense and eyes serious.

"Nah," Nox countered and dropped her hand, but he sent a glance to Kellian who nodded ever so slightly. Nox wanted to talk, and Kellian had some damned questions about why Nox felt comfortable enough to grab Aura's hand and forcefully look at it.

"Let me see." Kyeria nudged Aura. She held out her hand reluctantly and Kyeria closed her eyes and let her fingers drag over Aura's palm. Slowly as her own fingers passed the burn the redness dimmed and the damage was healed.

"It's only a surface burn," Kyeria confirmed, turning Aura's hand back and forth slowly in her own, eyes honed in on it. "I think you made the actual stone heat up and burnt yourself," Kyeria concluded. Esmeralda was then also hovering over them.

"That is interesting," Esmeralda murmured.

"It worked," Kellian said, voice low and nodding at the burnt ash wooden target that was still smoking.

"Looks like we have ourselves a weapon." Aura smirked. Her mask fell into place sharply. The small uneasiness that Kellian recognized on her brow had smoothed. Her tone lifted to her normal care free cantor but he knew the mask well. He often wore it himself as they were raised to be. Calm, collected, and immune to pain.

Aura caught him staring and gave the smallest tilt of her head as if to say let it go. So he did. He would not be the one to tell his stubborn sister what to do unless necessary. They needed a weapon to defeat the beast, and now they had it.