Page 63 of Hidden Kingdoms

I removed all the jewellery I had with me—except Kaius’ pendant—before peeling off the clothes I’d slept in and kicking them into the corner. The shower responded to my touch instantly, and I took my time standing under the hot spray.

If they’d given me a razor this would be perfect.

Wrapping a clean towel around myself as I finished up and stepped out, I dressed, putting my jewellery on piece by piece enjoying the small zip of energy that shot through me as I did.

I felt restless with the need to fill my time. Back home I would get my tools out and make pretty things. There was nothing pretty in this room. Its blandness almost as frustrating as being stuck in here. Especially when the grand sum of any sort of personality was the painting of a fruit bowl, and that really wasn’t my style.

Yes, I was lucky to even have a room, but being grateful whilst still being held against your will was a mind-fuck.

Maybe I could offer my talents in exchange for things—like the remote or a razor. Or something to look at that didn’t include food.

Kings and Queens loved jewellery and fancy things, didn’t they? If I showed them what I could do, they might agree. Excitement rolled through me at the thought of creating something as I wondered if my magik would come into play more than it had before.

Like I had been sent out into the frigid lands that ringed the palace, my excitement was doused as I realised I would have to put the suggestion to Bastian—unless the King came backanytime soon—and I really didn’t want to ask that asshole for anything. I could ask Kaius, but that would look like I was too scared to approach Big Man and that wasn’t the case; I just didn’t want to deal with him.

Climbing onto the bed and wondering if I should try and nap my boredom away, I immediately jumped back up as something hard poked me from under the covers. Eyes wide, I stared at the rectangular lump which was now fairly obvious on the bed. Throwing back the already messy covers, I stared in disbelief at the thick, green, leather-bound book which I knew, without doubt, I hadn’t slept with.

The room was way too small for a sneak attack, but I glanced around wearily anyway. ‘Encyclopaedia’ was stamped in large cursive letters across the cover, and I picked it up, testing its weight in my hands.

I had no clue how, or even why, this book got in here, and when angry guards didn’t burst in as it sat heavy in my hands, I turned my attention to the book.

Easing the cover open, the binding creaked through the quiet of the room. There were a few pages of author notes along with a page containing a red library stamp. I flicked the rest of the pages confirming that it was indeed an encyclopaedia. Neat blocks of alphabetised facts filled the pages, and my eyes skimmed over the unfamiliar words.

It wasn’t until I’d turned to a few pages at random when a word I did recognise jumped out at me—Ylva.

Images flew through my mind, one after another, of the tale I had read the other day. I looked at the small story book which was currently squashed between the one I was using as a secret journal and the rest of the boring collection.

The story was about a goddess who could turn into a dragon, and her ‘Religamicus’. As far as I could work out, that meant they were some sort of cross between a best friend anda soulmate. Faolán—her ‘Religamicus’—was dying, and despite all the powers at her command, she could find nothing in the kingdoms to heal him. She was so distraught that before he could take his last breath, she poured almost every ounce of her godly power into healing him, and he transformed into a beast. The description was vague on what beast he had been turned into. Faolán then became immortal, but since she had used up so much of her magik saving him, she was forced into her shifted form and withdrew from earth to remain in the heavens in the hope that one day she would regain her strength and return.

Her name had been Ylva.

Ylva—Reigning goddess of Fera.

I flipped through the book until I found the entry for Fera, my eyes greedily drinking in the wealth of information I suddenly had at my fingertips.

Fera—One of the seven kingdoms which make up Avelin. Predominantly populated by Animalia.

Animalia.

It was one of the elements Kaius had told me about, and I had written that word in the margins of the mushroom book.

Again, I thumbed through the yellowing pages to the beginning of the book, running my finger down the paper until Animalia appeared on the page.

Animalia—Collective name of Shifter Fae which inhabit the Kingdom of Fera. Some subspecies may take up residence in other kingdoms due to climate/population control.

The words were unfamiliar, but I soaked in every one, excited anticipation swirling within me; this was how I would get answers.

My muscles were cramped from sitting hunched over the book, and the ache in my stomach signalled it must be lunch soon. I closed the encyclopaedia, mind fuzzy with the information I had consumed while trying to make sense of.

Every description was vague, and without more context, much of it didn’t make sense. I had spent most of the time flicking from entry to entry, flying back and forth through the book as more unfamiliar words were thrown at me.

Opening the top drawer of the dresser, I put the encyclopaedia inside. The watery sun was pretty much overhead as I looked out the window. I was hoping that meant food wouldn’t be long and sure enough, as I watched a lady wearing thick gloves kneel down to tend to some weeds in the garden, the knock came.

Opening the door, I expected to see kind eyes and short blonde hair, but stormy grey ones alight with mischief stared back instead.

Leaning against one side of the doorway, arms crossed over his muscled chest, stood Kaius. Dark hair fell past his shoulders, framing a face that had been blessed by the gods, and I resisted the urge to reach up and run my fingers through it. He was wearing all black again and tattoos peeked out from the collar and cuffs of his long-sleeved top. Again sparking my desire to inspect every. Single. One.

“I think black is my favourite colour today,” he said, eyes working their way over my body.

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