Page 156 of Hidden Kingdoms

But then why the fuck should she?

I knew she was powerful, but to be an Anomaly was something else. I’d met few others whose magik practically crackled off their skin like hers did when she wielded it.

I hadn’t had the chance to dig through all the records of the names of Anomaly’s listed in Oraculum, though there was a high chance that whoever had taken her to the mortal realm hadn’t registered her at all.

For all we knew, Elodie might not have even been her real name.

Not that she would know with that fucking block on her.

That was what we needed to focus on, getting rid of it. Properly, not in some half-assed way like Bastian had attempted.

Fucking dangerous way.

There would be no point in any of this if removing the block like that broke her mind.

Bastian was slowly losing control, and I knew that despite what he showed, it terrified him. He had pushed himself for years to control the flames, the ones that weren’t made from the magik that flooded his veins, but from the anger that had its grip tight on him. Sure, he wasn’t really the wondrous prince he portrayed to the kingdom, and could be a mean bastard when he wanted, but I hadn’t seen him this unbalanced since we were teenagers.

He was unravelling and—to me at least—it looked as if Elodie was the one tugging at those threads.

Scrubbing my hand down my face, I made it to the side exit of the wards, my feet taking me where I needed without any guided thought. In reality, everything she had found out just opened up more questions. Questions I had made a soul tie to find the answers to.

A sliver of magik pressed into the sealed gates in the boundary wall, the huge grey stones looming high above. The guards stationed in the towers stood that little bit straighter as the gates opened under the impression of my power.

Barely a step over the palace’s wards, I willed myself to travel, my being pulling through space until my boots hit therocky ground of a mountain pass that snaked between two craggy slopes and out of sight.

I knew that the moment even a whisper of my magik had arrived, it triggered every ward, camera and the long list of other fun shit that was put into place here to keep other Fae out. And eviscerate those who came without permission.

It was colder here in the mountains despite the respite from the wind they provided. I was glad the snow was still a few seasons away. It had taken me a while to adjust to the climate in Incaendium when I had first come here, and the frigid temperatures still found a way to seep into my bones if I stayed outside for too long.

Striding through the pass in front of me, I ensured to follow the correct path, others leading to various wicked traps and pits that Darrow had gleefully designed. There were some passageways that we didn’t dare venture down, where ancient beasts of the mountains slept in their lairs and caves, and were best not to be disturbed.

Continuing through the twists and turns, past new boulders that had broken from the mountain face to slam into the ground, past the gnarled trees that somehow managed to eke out an existence here, I let memory guide me. There were no markers—no “This Way” signs—if you didn’t know the way, you were fucked.

Soon enough, the sheer stone walls of the mountain opened out, and I stood at the mouth of the Valley of the Lost—home of the Arasauk. The valley had its own name in the old Fae language that forged the magik of the realm. Ironically, it had long been forgotten.

Xol’s rays shone down, lighting the way even if they didn’t heat it. Though it was enough that the ground was covered in a layer of wild grasses and hardy flowers that stubbornly grew through the rocky floor.

I helped it along with my own magik when necessary. I found quickly I couldn’t live in the barren valley long without some sort of greenery in the area.

It was a large space, the routes through the mountains hidden from view. Various stone buildings were scattered around. Armouries and warehouses, stables that housed the long-haired shaggy horses we kept here for trips that our trucks would be useless on, or wards prevented us from travelling. Many made so well that at the right angle, they blended into the looming mountains completely.

The biggest one was where we had established ourselves, the wide stone manor that had been constructed from the boulders thrown from the mountain—offeringsthe natives had called them—was pressed against the sheer mountain face. The bulk of its interior carved into the stone itself. It had been a risk, extending some of the caves that had already existed, but so far nothing had crawled from the mountain's belly to eat us up.

I suppose we were lucky.

Eager to be out of the cold, I held my coat tighter and crossed the valley, the dirt crunching under my boots with each step. I made it through the front door, grateful for the heat that washed over me and inhaling the heavy scent of incense that hung in the air—almost too heavy. I wasn’t surprised to look over and see Calida set up at the long table, situated half within the kitchen with the rest jutting out into the open dining room.

Two laptops were laid in front of her, along with numerous other devices that hummed with magik.

And sure enough, no less than four incense sticks were burning behind her, the thick smoke burning my nose just slightly.

“Boss,” she acknowledged without looking my way as she clicked away at the keypad.

“Still trying to track Marina?” I asked her, as her eyes flicked between the screens, and she nodded in response.

“Any leads?”

“Nothing yet, boss.”

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