She replaces the scroll and slides off the table. “I have not seen much of her life, as she will continue to be clouded until she learns. One thing I must say,” she looks directly at me, “when you finally break past her walls, it will be glorious.”
I let out a mirthless laugh. “It is strange. On the one hand, I want to forgive her. To trust her completely, but on the other hand, she tried to poison me.”
Liana pulls out a bottle and places it on the table between us. “Have you talked to her about it?”
I roll my eyes. “I’ve been busy.”
When I don’t take the bottle, she picks it up and takes a swig. “You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
When she hands it back to me, I accept it gratefully. “Yes, yes. Now leave me be.”
Liana pushes off the table and walks out of the room. I take a deep breath and ease back. It is better to be surrounded by scrolls than a woman who would try to kill me.
Checking to ensure I am alone, I reach for a romantics scroll and continue reading. The words are starting to blur together, I have taken on too many topics at once—from mating across the centuries, to elves, and trying to decipher what the mists in our cavern could be.
After rolling up one of the romantics tightly, I plop it into the metal container and return it to the wall of texts. When Lo’Niht wrote that a mate was the greatest gift, clearly he had never tried a strong shot of mead.
When I return to my seat, I pick up my mug of mead instead of another scroll and let my senses swim away.
Chapter24
Moonstone
ESTELA
Another nightmare scalds my sleep. Taunting me with memories of the Second Prince touching me, trying to pin me down once again, this time with the intent to ravage.
I wake up with a start, gasping for air and shaking with fear. Sometimes I vomit, others I just stare at the walls of my suite while I sink back into the depths of the tub, thinking of all the people who avoid me.
Arlet and our distanced friendship. Teo. A few hours soaking does good for my body, but little for my mood.
When Liana comes for me, it is a sweet respite.
"Enough moping," she says. "There is a visitor coming who will help us with the giants and the slaves. Now I have time for you to learn about our sacred stones."
We hurry out of the room, and my heart jolts. Did Teo send someone to get Mikal? "Who left Enduvida?"
"Ask Teo," she says and I frown. I’m too weary from sleepless nights to fight.
She takes me behind the castle, and down a tunnel I don’t recognize. Everything in Enduvida takes forever to walk to, but this is deep. Far deeper than the Parting Cave we visited.
The air is hot and steamy. We stop in a small construction that looks like a stable. A twinkling sound starts seconds before something bucks against one of the stalls.
I jump back, terrified, and look at Liana. “What the hell was that?”
She smiles. “These areglacialmaras. Crystal wraiths, we ride them when we must travel far.” She crosses to one of the stalls and opens the doors, revealing something that looks like a long floating icicle. Its body bends back and forth like a serpent.
I gasp. “Teo brought one of those to save me.”
She nods as what I assume to be the wraith’s head nuzzles into her hand. She grins at the eyeless creature. Then she gestures for me to join her.
Tentatively, I approach the open stall. Theglacialmaraturns its head to look at me, and I shiver. It's beautiful and terrifying all at once, and I'm not sure I want to ride it.
Liana notices my hesitation and chuckles. "Don't worry, they're quite gentle. But hold on tight, they can be fast."
I take a deep breath and climb onto theglacialmara'sback. Its icy body is smooth and cold to the touch, but it begins to warm up as Liana climbs onto the back of the creature in the stall next to me. Suddenly, theglacialmarastake off at an incredible speed. Wind whips through my hair and I scream in exhilaration and terror.
As we speed through the tunnels, I can't help but feel a strange sense of freedom. For a brief moment, I forget about my nightmares and the weight of my duties.