“We’ll wait for you, Xander,” she murmured, leaning against him.
He kissed her cheek, letting go of her hand to draw her in for a hug. “You’d better,” he said gruffly.
Sharing a quick, meaningful glance with Daegal, Xander nodded once before turning. He marched on the stone, his every step filled with purpose, as he reached the spiral staircase and climbed.
Within moments, he was out of sight.
The five of us looked at each other as an unspoken agreement to remain silent settled in place. Daegal took my hand, leading me to rest against a stone wall in this cavernous, hollowed out mountain.
Nearby, Maiela and Kysha were laying on the stone, using Kysha’s pack like a pillow. The Earth Elf sat against the wall, tapping the flat part of her dagger against her thigh. Every so often, she cast worried glances in the direction Xander had gone.
I yawned, covering my mouth with my hand, but of course Daegal noticed. His brows furrowed, and he frowned, drawing me against him. “Why don’t you rest for a while, Princess?” he murmured, rubbing soothing circles on my back. “I’ll keep watch over you.”
That sounded perfect. It was impossible to tell time down here, but judging by the exhaustion running through my bones, it had to be getting late. Or maybe it was early. Either way, sleep was exactly what I needed.
Shutting my eyes, I let the smooth rise and fall of Daegal’s chest lull me into a restful state.
* * *
A strange,oddly pleasant and familiar smell wafted over me. It filled my nostrils, drawing me out of my rest. Blinking, I shook myself awake. Soft white light surrounded me, and mist fell like warm rain on my skin. I was in a large, opulent room that reminded me of my father’s castles.
I looked down and my brows knit together. This wasn’t right. The dirty, torn tunic and leggings that I’d worn since leaving the witch’s cottage were gone, and in their place was a sleeveless, crimson chiffon gown. The straps were barely more than wisps of fabric hanging over my shoulders, and though the dress fell to my feet, it was completely indecent… and utterly delightful. In many ways, it reminded me of the fashions of High Queen Mareena’s people in the Indigo Ocean. The merfolk had been free with their bodies in a way that Ithenmyrians never were.
But I was not under the sea.
“Where am I?” my voice echoed, the question repeating three times over, but there was no reply.
A cool breeze brushed up against my skin, and goosebumps erupted all over my flesh. Rubbing my arms, I looked around. This space was windowless and doorless, filled with paintings of nature that hung in gilded frames. How did I get in here? If not for the lack of entry points, this could have passed as an apartment of some kind. The centerpiece was a large golden bed that could easily hold a dozen people comfortably.
If it wasn’t for the steady mist, I would have thought this was real. But it couldn’t be. It didn’t rain indoors.
It had to be a dream, but it feltsoreal. My fingers ran up my bare arms, pinching my skin.
“Ow!” A red mark appeared, and I glared at my offending fingers.
This was real. That complicated things.
“Hello?” I called out again. “Is anyone here?”
Silence.
“Daegal?” I traced red and silver lines of my mating bond, tapping those marks. Thank the gods, they were still there. “Where are you, love?”
Nothing.
The mist fell fast, becoming a steady rain and dampening the chiffon gown until it stuck to me like another layer of skin.
The air shimmered. I stumbled back a step as a golden door appeared in the middle of the room.
“Well, that confirms it,” I muttered. “I’m either losing my mind or this is a dream.”
Although I supposed it didn’t really matter. Dream or not, I was not keen on staying in this room. I lifted the hem of my dress and walked towards the door. Twisting the knob, I stepped over the threshold.
This time, a blinding light flashed as another brisk breeze blew around me. This one didn’t stop though, instead swirling in a cyclone. I held my left hand in front of my eyes, my right hand going to my chest as though my touch could ease the rapid beating of my heart.
It did not.
“Greetings, Ryllae of the House of Irriel.” A feminine voice sounding like wind chimes reached my ears. It had no central point. Instead, it came from all around.