Page 38 of Realms of Shadow and Sun

A shrill laugh came from the elderly woman's mouth. “That's just the index.”

They all stared at the elderly woman, except for Cyrus, who started walking towards the bookcase.

“This is Libera,” he said, acknowledging the old woman. “She's our head seer and the Keeper of the Knowledge.”

“We've briefly met,” Selenia grumbled, still irritated over their abandonment in the locked chamber.

Cyrus ignored Selenia's comment, humming to himself as he pulled out a book from the shelf. He handed it to Libera, who smiled widely as she accepted it. She ran a pale, wrinkled finger over the spine, and the door next to the bookcase started to sparkle and pulsate, almost as if it was moving incredibly fast while standing still. Suddenly, it stopped, and the door swung inward.

Cyrus stepped through the door, beckoning for them to follow him. Wordlessly, they entered the room, mouths agape. A huge, multistory chamber was laid out before them. Books and scrolls lined every inch of the room, with sliding ladders on every wall. A wrought-iron spiraling staircase stood in the middle of the room, leading up to the second and third stories. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and leather bindings, and a soft, golden light seemed to emanate from the very walls themselves.

“Whoa,” Phillippe said, breaking the silence.

“What is this place?” Grayden asked, his eyes wide as he tried to take in the vastness of the library.

“The great library of knowledge. Libera has been protecting it since we found it. It was long forgotten, but my grandfather stumbled across it while chasing a pig through the palace—long story—and it's taken years to categorize and organize the books.” Cyrus strolled over to a shelf, picking up a set of scrolls.

“Is that what I think it is?” Grayden asked, his heart racing with anticipation.

“Yes. The Sun Realm Scrolls. Once they were found, Cressida became obsessed with them. It was what led me to sever our fated bond.” Cyrus's face darkened at the memory. “There was a seer who deduced Renya would usurp Cressida, and I feared for her life. Her Aunt Agatha and I hid her away, as I'm sure you've figured out.”

“You were fated? I thought fated bonds couldn't be broken?” Grayden asked, his crinkling in confusion.

Cyrus sighed heavily, his eyes distant. “They shouldn't be, and I'm the first person I know who has attempted and succeeded,” he said, looking at Grayden. “It cost me dearly, and I lost my magic for over twenty years, in which I was stuck in the human realm, aging rapidly. But it was worth it, to save my daughter.”

The weight of Cyrus's sacrifice hung in the air, and Grayden felt a newfound respect for the man. “Do you know where Agatha is?” he asked, knowing that Renya was incredibly worried about her aunt.

“I have a hunch that she's been bound to another realm in the portal corridor in the human world. Sion and I are going to go track her down.”

“What about Renya? How do we get her back?” Selenia asked, voicing the question that burned in Grayden's mind.

“We will need to pull her away from the Shadow Realm. She can't leave voluntarily, or at least, it can't seem that way. Cressida believes I severed Renya's mating bond. She also still thinks the blood promises remain intact. In order to keep her trusting Renya, we will need to make it seem like we are removing her against her will.” Cyrus looked around the group, making sure everyone understood. “I'll go with you, to make it seem like I'm there to break the blood promise.”

“Won't she try and get Renya back?” Phillippe asked, his tactical mind already working on potential problems.

“She will, but we'll head towards the Snow Lands. Her magic will be weakest there, and I can place a protection spell on your lodge that will make it seem as though it's abandoned.”

“Is that what you've done here?” Grayden remembered the small girl he thought he saw in the window, understanding dawning on him.

“Yes. The Sun Realm never fell. It's been cloaked for many, many years.” Cyrus looked pleased with himself, no doubt proud of the magic protecting his city. “Now that you know it's cloaked, the magic will break and you'll see the city as it truly is. Trust me, you'll never want to leave.”

Grayden's mind raced with the implications of all he had learned. The Sun Realm still thrived, hidden from the world. Renya was free of her blood promises but chose to stay to gather information. And now, they had a plan to bring her home.

“When do we leave?” Grayden asked, determination burning in his eyes.

Cyrus smiled, recognizing the look of a man in love. “We'll need a few days to prepare. In the meantime, I suggest you all rest and learn what you can from this library. Knowledge will be our greatest weapon against Cressida.”

As the others began to explore the vast library, Grayden approached Cyrus. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “For protecting Renya all these years. And for helping us now.”

Cyrus placed a hand on Grayden's shoulder. “She's my daughter, and I'd do anything for her. But I can see she's found someone else who feels the same way. Take care of her, Grayden. She's special, and not just because of the prophecy.”

Grayden nodded solemnly. “I will. With my life.”

Chapter Nineteen

“I'm here, Little Fawn.”

Renya opened her eyes, sitting up in her bed. Grayden stood before her, his chest bare and his eyes sparkling.

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