Page 33 of Queen of Thorns
Rai narrows his eyes.
I smirk. “We won’t wake her. Not yet.” If I’m honest, I’m not convinced it makes sense to wake her at all. But this is the course the spell book thinks makes the most sense. He openly dislikes the idea of approaching theLight Ancient.
“Anything else you two need from the Black Lake?” His eyebrows are high, he’s hoping this business is done for now.
I shake my head.
He nods sharply. “Good.”
***
RAI TAKES US BACK TOhis palace a few miles south of the lake where we change into fresh clothes. Rai seems in a decent mood considering we’d just barely survived an interaction with an ancient.
He invites us to a small meal with him and his mate, a lovely red-headed female who smiles shyly.
The palace is bright and bustling, covered and yellow and blue décor. The lights flicker with electric power, buzzing through every hall and chamber. There are no fireplaces, only the buzzing lights along the walls.
We sit at a small round table in a quant dining hall where serving fae deliver plates of finger sandwiches and fruits. Rai recounts the story of our adventure on the lake to his mate who’s eyes are wide. He seems to enjoy telling the shocking tale, though.
“It’s a mystery we’ve always wondered about but never thought we’d uncover. It is exciting to know the truth, even if I do fear the repercussion of having an ancient so near to my court.”
“What do you think her reaction means?”
“Honestly?” I say, “I don’t think it means much. She wasn’t truly conscious. She wanted to dance in the storm and we were just in the way.”
Rai frowns but nods slowly.
“Well, now that you are finished harassing the ancient powers in my kingdom—” Rai side-eyes me. “What is your next move?”
I consider what kind of surprise he could have for us as Rev tells Rai of our plans to eventually travel to the Twisted Forest, where another ancient is said to dwell, but that our next stop is the Shadow Court.
“We are taking Caelynn to the Shadow palace.”
Rai’s eyebrows rise, but his lips quirk. “As I suspected.”
My lips part in surprise. “Really? Do you really think it’s a good ideanow?”
“It’s a good idea for several reasons,” Rev says, eyeing me like he expects me to argue again. Of course I want to go to the Shadow Court, like yesterday, but with everything else going on it feels... selfish.
TheNight Bringer is out there plotting ways to destroy us all, and I’m intending to indulge in wish fulfillment. Even so, my mouth dries at the thought of walking through the gates I’ve admired only from afar.
“Caelynn has never been to the palace she is meant to rule. It is a wrong I intend to right.”
Jaw clenched tightly, I keep my gaze away from the two males examining me. I won’t show them the emotions welling inside. We have so much to do. Things we must focus on.
“Well, I have something to show you that may be of interest to you then.”
I bite my lip and resist the urge to ask anything more.
After our short meal, Rai escorts us back into a carriage and we ride around to the north of his palace. The Black Lake can be spotted through the trees, glistening in the distance.
We follow a pathway into a small forest of massive trees stretching a hundred feet into the sky with thick pine-like branches. Little rooftops can be seen down the hillside beyond the copse of giant trees.
Rai stops at the entrance of a circular clearing surrounded by stones with lightning-filled lanterns swinging gently. There are several empty archways facing us, the insides rippling like water. They’re portals. My brow furrows—he’s taken us to the Crackling Court portal system.
The stone of the archways are all a smooth dark blue, with streaks of yellow inlaid, but at the crest, each has a carving representing the different ruling courts. Each of the ruling courts has a High Court portal within their palace gates, and a portal circle for the rest of the courts a few miles out. There are also scattered portals throughout the realm that are more for trade or recreational travel. These portals are made for royals.
I take slow steps toward an archway empty of the rippling magic of the others. Near the top of the archway is a plaque made of shiny black obsidian, with a raven carved into the stone.
