7. Kyeria

CHAPTER 7

Kyeria

K yeria had spent her entire life sensing the magic around her, feeling it in her fingertips, her bones—sometimes she even felt it wash down the roots to the ends of her hair. It tingled, pulsated, electrified her skin and surged through her body like blood. But the feeling in her now, the feeling of lying peacefully in Kellian's arms—it calmed her, quenched her completely. After a lifetime of running, she could finally be still.

She was half aware of the warmth of his arms wrapped around her, the comfort and security that enveloped her, unsure if the familiar scent of him was only a dream.

A cool breeze washed over her, and she cracked an eye open to see the curtains flanking the sides of the great windows of the tower blew gently in the morning wind. Her mind was fizzy with sleep, she squeezed her eyes shut again and buried her head into the warmth beneath her to block out the bright sun and cool breeze, earning a deep rumble of a laugh beneath her.

"Good morning," Kellian's deep voice filled the space, his face pressed into the crown of her head. His voice. His voice was heavenly, like pure crackling honey. She could stay here and drown in it.

"Morning," she muttered. His fingers brushed over her cheek, pushing the hair away.

"We fell asleep talking about the stars?" she asked, pulling away slightly to look at him. Kellian nodded with a soft smile.

"Seems we did."

"Breakfast?" She asked, pushing herself up and stretching her arms up. She caught his stare and tried to keep the blush from rising. To no avail, the heat rose to her cheeks and she ducked her head to hide it again. It was all a bit of a dream, talking so late into the night that they fell asleep and waking in his arms. Feeling so calm and at ease with him, in a way she had never felt with any other male.

"I'm afraid not," he muttered, his lips brushing her forehead with a soft kiss. "I need to leave today to survey the west before the ball." Kyeria felt her heart drop a little but she nodded.

"For how long will you be gone?" she asked, trying to keep the disappointment from her voice, she had grown used to his daily companionship. What would her days look like with him gone?

"A fortnight," he sighed. She felt the disappointment deepen. He reached out tilting her chin to him.

"I'll be back soon, love ." Her breath caught at the name. She tried to slow her rising heart, he had called her love . Goddess above, give her strength. Kyeria wanted to lean in, past this invisible barrier, and kiss him. She searched his eyes, would he want that as well?

Kyeria instead bowed her head in a nod of acknowledgement.

"Be safe."

"Always." He smiled, cupping her cheek before rising.

Kyeria also had much to do—researching with Esmie, and her vow to help Aura in the forest to track the shadow beast. Part of her wished to stay right here, in the warm cushioned seat the size of a bed, wrap herself in his arms and finally kiss him. Let her lips linger on his and melt into this tortuous pull she had towards him.

She could've stayed right there, for quite some time, and been content. Maybe more than she had ever been. Kyeria couldn't stop herself from wanting more. More time with him. More whispers of touches every morning and night.

But Kellian left as the sun came into view and morning broke fully. He walked her back to her room, leaving her with a chaste kiss on her cheek, promising to be back as soon as he could. Kyeria took a luxurious bath with the potions left by Miss Briggs, cooling and calming her tired limbs. She dressed for a day of travel and bounded out of her room in search of another white haired royal. Kyeria finally found Aura on the training grounds sparring with a soldier. A few other soldiers milled about, watching and seemingly betting on the outcome.

"Good Morning Kyeria, welcome to the show," Aura yelled out over the clang of metal hitting metal. Aura pivoted out of the way of a blow.

The man Aura sparred with had short brown hair, dark and falling around his face. His skin was two shades darker than Kellian's or Aura's—he looked not from this corner of the continent at all. Kyeria realized he looked like the people of the outerlands, where the land was mostly sand, where no trees lived and the sun beat down all day. He must be the trainer she had mentioned: Nox.

Aura spun. She kicked and her foot collided with the back of his knees, making him fall. She moved at such a speed, Kyeria could hardly keep up. Suddenly, the tip of Aura's sword was pointed directly at the man's chest. He yielded, kneeled below her, and raised his arms in defeat. The small crowd cheered, and she heard some saying they knew Aura would win and that Nox needed to fight harder.

"Hello, dear friend." Aura wiped at the sweat on her forehead.

"Are you tracking today?" Kyeria asked. Aura nodded.

"You coming?" she asked, sheathing her sword at her waist.

"If that would be okay." Kyeria nodded. Aura waved her to follow. Nox fell in step with them.

"A weapon of choice Miss?" he asked, his accent heavy on every word.

"Bow and arrow if you have it," Kyeria responded as they entered the training ground's weapon room. He brought her a leather-wrapped bow with intricate engravings on the wood, as well as a quiver of arrows.

"How long will you be out for this time?" Nox asked, looking to Aura. She shrugged.

"Towards the Lione River starting past the Pellon Village," Aura said, grabbing a few extra daggers and slipping them into pockets on her leather corset. Aura had explained to Kyeria that The Hollow was made of many small villages, all centering around the castle. Magic, of course, filled the whole of The Hollow, but was at its deepest and most potent in the center where the castle stood

"Alright, watch the rivers end, we've had reports there," Nox warned.

"If you're so worried, just come with us," Aura sighed. Much was going unsaid between the two, Kyeria could sense that much. But she stayed quiet as they packed a small rucksack for Nox to carry and headed out past the gates and into the Dragonier forest.

They walked for miles, until they had their first clues. A deep dark rot was forming. Kyeria could feel it before she saw it. The trees whispered out to her:

Danger.

Danger.

Danger.

They pressed on, ready to face that danger head-on. Kyeria and Aura learned vital information about the shadow beast that afternoon. It was phased by Aura's light magic the most. Could rip through the vines and any earth magic Kyeria could throw at the Helian Beast. She grew vines up to trap it—it simply did not budge. They escaped with few wounds. A gash on Aura's arm that Kyeria healed after they lost their trail and the beast continued farther down the river. Nox muttered curses at the venomous effects of the gash, regardless of Kyeria's healing powers. Some of the venom had sunk into Aura's skin and she was a bit green from it; Kyeria was not fond of this new revelation—that even her healing abilities could not fully heal a strike from the shadow beast. Once they neared the castle, dark grey wings beat above—Fendiah was back from a flight. Kyeria felt at a loss, this shadow beast being so much of a mystery but her want, her need, to help this place and these people. Aura had already rushed inside to find Esmeralda, wanting to relay new info for more research. Kyeria looked forward to spending the hours in the library with them later on, being steps closer to how to rid the land of this succubus.