Page 15 of Fallen Star

I haven't shared my findings with my brothers, or with Ari. They are dealing with too much as it is.

But if my fears are confirmed, we are facing an even greater threat than the release of the Storm Spirit that tore holes in the fabric between worlds and destroyed parts of our kingdom and Avakiri.

Let's just hope that the illustrious Dr. Alex Stone clear herself of her prejudice long enough to help. Because all the lines of inquiry I track all lead back to her.

Alex Stone

Iallow myself the indulgence of a steaming bath in a stone tub as I scrub weeks of travel off my body. I seem to have taken most of the dessert with me, and I'm happy to see the true color of my skin again as I emerge from the washroom, smelling of rose oil. My own clothes are not only filthy, but wrecked from water, sun and knife damage, so I search the wardrobe for something clean to wear as a freshly stoked fire blazes in the hearth near my bed.

I'm still having a hard time fathoming that I'm in a new world, in the castle of a prince. It's all a bit surreal. But I approach this like any other expedition. There's a new culture to study, new rules to learn… this is my job. This is what I've trained so many years for.

But first, I need to get dressed. I'm hoping to find jeans. Something comfortable. But all I see are beautiful silk gowns in a variety of colors. I guess they dress for dinner here. I sigh and choose the black floor-length gown accented with what look like tiny chains that give the gown a gothic touch. Seems fitting. There are no mirrors in which to check myself, which is hard to get used to, but I improvise with some water in a bowl. My hair is easy enough, being short and straight, and I don't have any makeup to worry up.

I slide on matching slippers that feel like walking on clouds, and then ring the bell for Helda.

She arrives faster than seems possible, given the size of this castle, and I wonder if she has supernatural powers of speed, or was waiting for me in the halls, knowing I'd need her. Either way, I'm impressed.

Her smile is genuine when she greets me. "The prince is looking forward to dining with you," she says, guiding me out of the room and down the halls.

"What's he like?" I ask, wondering if she'll give me an honest evaluation of her employer, but knowing enough to take her words with a grain of salt.

"Prince Dean is… " she pauses, thinking, as we pass door upon door and my mind wanders, wondering what secrets hide within the rooms. Probably just more bedrooms.

"He is an enigma," she says. "His charm and charisma are powerful, and thus he gets a certain reputation. But there is more to him than meets the eye. Give him a chance." She looks over at me, her Fae ears pointing through the buns on her head, her face unlined but with a quality to her eyes that make me think she's much older than she appears.

When we arrive at the dining room, Dean stands, dressed in black formal wear that suspiciously compliments my gown nicely. The table is decked out in a lavish spread of food, which is a bit obscene if all of that is just for the two of us. He pulls out a chair at the head of the table and gestures for me to join him.

When we are both seated, his eyes land on mine. "You look beautiful," he says.

"Thank you." Changing the subject, I admire the food. "I hope you plan on sharing this with your staff when we're done. This is a lot for just us."

"No worries. None of it will be wasted. Enjoy. You must be famished."

My stomach rumbles loudly as if on cue, but I do not turn away in embarrassment. It's perfectly normal to feel hunger after going so long without eating. "I guess I am," I say with a laugh, and I fill my plate with bits of everything.

We eat in silence. Partly because I'm too busy consuming everything in sight to carry on a conversation. Partly because I don't know what to say.

He's a perfect gentleman, and doesn't press me with questions or conversation until the food is removed and we are left with after dinner cocktails. "There's something I'd like to show you, if you'll join me?" he asks, standing.

I nod and follow him, the goblet of glowing blue liquor in my hand. I sniff it and find that it smells like cotton candy. My mouth waters, but I wait to taste it, unsure of how it will make me feel.

All thoughts of the drink are forgotten when we step into a room that you wouldn't even know is there at first glance. We enter through a tapestry hanging on the wall to find a room covered in shelves lining every wall filled with ancient books and scrolls and even more ancient artifacts from around the world. There's not a speck of dust anywhere, which tells me this is a room he spends a lot of time in and cares for.

In one corner is a large desk with parchment, an inkwell and a feather pen covering it. In the center of the room are two chairs upholstered in dark brown suede facing a matching love seat with a fireplace to the right. The walls are tall, spanning three stories, with walkways at each level and ladders on rollers positioned throughout.

A guard stands at attention, blending into the shadows near the entrance, startling me as I turn and notice him.

He's a young man, or looks it. It's impossible to tell with vampires I suppose. But as I near him his eyes widen and his nostrils flare. My skin tingles, but I am pulled from his attention by the wealth of history stacked around me. "This is magnificent," I say, my eyes wide as I take it all in.

"I'm glad you like it."

He sits in the loveseat and watches me with a bemused expression as I explore the wonders that exist in this room. I could write a hundred dissertations on just one shelf of his collections. It boggles the mind. "You have pieces here that are only rumored to exist. They should be in museums," I reiterate, my former resentment stirring up again. It's not that he doesn't have a point, but most museums do their best to avoid the unethical collection of pieces and turn over things they discover have been unlawfully obtained. They serve to educate and inform the public about our history and other cultures. They are important, even if flawed.

He just smirks and sips from his drink.

When I've filled my head with everything I can, I sit across from him in one of the chairs, placing my drink next to me on a table. "So what now?" I ask.

"Cutting to the chase, I see," he says with a grin that exposes his dimples and makes his blue eyes light up. My god the man really is the most stunning creature I've ever seen.

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