Page 32 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

As she made her way through the corridors, Renya found herself repeatedly touching the mark. Each time, she felt an odd sensation, as if Grayden's presence was with her, his mind linked to hers. It was a strange feeling, like having him right in front of her, yet transparent and silent. The connection both thrilled and unnerved her, another reminder of how much her life had changed in such a short time.

Her feet carried her up the stairs almost of their own accord, her mind whirling as she tried to process this latest development. Her body was now permanently marked, a physical representation of her bond with Grayden and her new life in this world. Renya couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Back in her old life, she had toyed with the idea of getting a tattoo—maybe a rose on her hip or some cliché inspirational quote. Now, fate had given her something far more meaningful and beautiful than she could have ever imagined.

She burst into the library, her eyes immediately finding Grayden hunched over a large stack of maps. At her sudden entrance, he looked up, concern clouding his features.

“Renya, what is it?” he asked, already moving towards her.

Without a word, she held out her forearm to him. Concerned, he glanced at her wrist. The moment his eyes fell on the snowflake, a smile bloomed on his face. He quickly pulled back the sleeve of his own tunic, revealing his wrist to her inspection.

There, gleaming against his skin, was a golden sun.

Renya felt the breath leave her body, rendered speechless by the sight. The sun on Grayden's wrist was just as intricate and beautiful as her snowflake, its rays seeming to pulse with a warm, golden light.

“There's no doubt you are a descendant of the Sun Realm, my princess,” Grayden said softly, crossing to her and pressing a tender kiss to the snowflake mark on her arm. A tremor cascaded across her skin at the touch, the warmth of his lips igniting a fire that spread through her entire body. “Now the Sun Realm has a claim to my heart as well.”

“Did you know this was going to happen?” Renya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Grayden shook his head, a sheepish smile playing at his lips. “Honestly, I forgot. As you might recall, claiming you was all I could think about. And I didn't know my mating mark would be the sigil of your realm. My parents both bore snowflakes, which now makes sense since they were both from this land. I assumed mine would be too, but it appears we get each other's.”

Renya couldn't tear her eyes away from their marks, the visual representation of their bond filling her with a sense of wonder. “Well, there's no denying we are fate-bound,” she said, her voice filled with awe.

“Did you ever doubt it?” Grayden asked, his tone playful as he placed a heated kiss on her lips. Renya allowed herself to be drawn into his embrace, losing herself in the warmth and security of his arms for a moment before gently breaking away.

“Not for a second,” she assured him. “What are you doing in here?”

Grayden's expression turned serious as he gestured to the maps spread out before him. “Just going over some routes and trying to determine our path for tomorrow. I want to check in with Phillippe before we make the journey to the Twilight Kingdom. I haven't really seen him since he recovered.”

Renya felt a pang of guilt at the mention of Phillippe, remembering how close he had come to death. “I can't wait to get to know him,” she said sincerely, moving closer to Grayden. He instinctively wrapped an arm around her, tucking her against his side. The contact sent another wave of warmth through Renya, their marks seeming to pulse in unison.

“He tends to be a bit less cautious than I am,” Grayden explained, a hint of fondness in his voice. “Between the two of us, I'm more even-tempered and pragmatic.”

Renya couldn't help but tease him. “You? Really?” In her experience, she had never known someone as practical as Grayden. Even when it pained him deeply, he had found the strength to send her back through the portal when he thought it was the only way to keep her safe.

Grayden pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his voice growing serious. “You better go prepare yourself for our journey. I'm never leaving you behind again.” The sudden intensity in his declaration made Renya wonder if he was thinking about their earlier separation as well, the pain of that memory still fresh for both of them.

With reluctance, Renya left Grayden to his planning and made her way down to the second level to check on Selenia. As she walked, she found herself continually examining her wrist, still marveling at the delicate snowflake that now adorned her skin.

She knocked on Selenia's partially open door but received no response. Cautiously, she entered the room, only to find herself confronted by a scene of utter chaos. Gowns, hats, shoes, undergarments, and a bewildering array of beauty products covered every available surface, from the floor to the bed.

“Selenia?” Renya called out, carefully navigating the disaster zone.

“I'm here,” came a muffled reply. After a moment of searching, Renya finally spotted Selenia hunched over on the floor, her head buried deep in the wardrobe.

“What are you doing?” Renya asked, torn between amusement and disbelief at the state of the room.

Selenia emerged from the wardrobe, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I hid some rather...risqué...reading material in here and I wanted to take it with me.” She rose, brushing off her skirts. “The bottom of the wardrobe is false. It's my own personal hiding spot. But don't tell anyone.”

Renya suppressed a chuckle, warmth spreading through her chest. “I wouldn't dream of it,” she promised. It felt good to be back at the lodge with Selenia, their easy camaraderie a blessing. It amazed her how quickly she had come to view Selenia as a younger sister, another piece of her new life falling into place.

Yet even as she reveled in the moment, a pang of sadness shot through her as her thoughts turned once again to her aunt. She wished she knew if Aunt Agatha was safe, longing for a way to bridge the gap between her old world and her new one.

A loud thump jolted Renya from her thoughts. Selenia had upended a large trunk and was now filling it haphazardly with an assortment of items. Renya eyed the choices skeptically, noting the delicate fabrics and impractical footwear.

“Selenia,” she ventured carefully, “you have traveled with Grayden before, right? I'm just thinking that silk gowns and satin slippers won't do you a bit of good in the snow.”

Selenia rolled her eyes dramatically. “I'm more worried about looking drab in front of Queen Kalora and Julietta. They are so fashionable. We look positively frumpy over here with our furs and velvets.”

Renya bit back another giggle, struck by how much Selenia reminded her of a typical teenager from her old world. She could easily picture Selenia poring over fashion magazines and critiquing her friends' outfit choices.

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