Page 18 of Fractured Souls
Could I even tease him when he was like this? Maybe I was overthinking it…
I slipped past the table in the center of the carriage and planted myself right on his lap. I didn’t say a word, instead just tucking myself against his chest and resting my head in the crook of his neck, hoping he wouldn’t ask me to explain what the hell I was doing. It was clear he was surprised at first, but after only a second his hand slid around my waist to hold me close, his lips brushing the top of my head.
“Sorry, princess,” he said softly, having caught on to why I was feeling at odds.
“Didn’t like that I felt like I couldn’t tease you,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.
Adriel chuckled. “You can always do that. Plus, you pulled my thoughts from places they didn’t need to be anyway. I hate seeing the Kingdom of Day, even from a distance. Reminds me of living there and then leaving there.”
I made a sound of understanding from the back of my throat and sent a small prayer up to the Cosmos god that we would never have to go there, that all of the answers we needed would be found in the Kingdom of Night.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t the luckiest of individuals, so we would see.
“How does the wall work?” I asked, hoping to distract him.
His gaze moved to the approaching structure, the dark gray stone feeling oppressive and threatening as it cut across the land filled with wildflowers and warmth. Something that was no doubt the point to begin with. In fact, I was starting to think that the change in Adriel was a reflection of the wall we were about to enter through, and I had no idea what to think about that.
“We only allow people to enter and leave twice a year. That’s when we do all of our trading with established vendors from the Kingdom of Day,” he said. “It ensures that no one returns to that lifestyle and brings it back here. The Kingdom of Day is very appealing, even to the most controlled beings, so removing the temptation is better. But if they ever do want to leave permanently, we’re always willing to let them go. They made the decision to change their life and live here, they have a right to change it again.”
“I love that you created a different option for your people. I’m excited to see what it’s like.”
“Cold and a bit dark,” he mused, though his eyes were filled with softness. “It’s permanent night there, but on a cloudless day, you can see every single star. It’s beautiful.”
It sounded beautiful.
Suddenly, a series of loud horns had me moving towards the window and opening the glass, my gaze captured by the looming wall ahead. Rhett joined me, Draven’s hand smoothing up and down my back in a comforting measure. The carriage came to a stop, and I heard the soldiers announce that they were escorting the king, immediately followed by the sound of metal being pulled apart and the feeling of power vibrating the air.
While I couldn’t see the gate, being that it was right in front of us, I could feel the force of it opening, and more so I could feel the cold air that rushed out from the land. I gasped as the carriage jolted forward and snowflakes flew in through the open window, welcoming us to the Kingdom of Night.
Cold and dark—Adriel wasn’t wrong. But from where I was standing, it was so much more than that. In fact…
“What are you doing?” Dean asked as I moved towards the door.
“Need a better look.” I went to open the door, but almost instantly I was pulled back into Desmond’s lap, a low rumble leaving his throat.
“Way too many fuckers out there,” Cash growled, apparently on the same page as the rest of them.
I huffed, but then I noticed that the carriage had a sunroof-type window up top, one that was currently covered with a light curtain.
“I’m going up then,” I said, my tone unyielding, cemented by the curiosity and excitement rolling over me. In an easy movement, I scooted off Desmond’s lap and stood on the bench of the carriage, pulling open the fabric and flooding the carriage with moonlight.
Before they could stop me, I pushed open the window and pulled myself through it, ignoring the grumbling coming from below. This was beyond worth it. Seriously, holy shit—so incredibly worth it.
The aurora borealis danced behind the silhouette of the castle, which seemed immune to snow that crowded the rest of the land. The winter wonderland was washed in color from the sky, the greens, blues, and purples bringing a vibrancy that you wouldn’t expect from a place plagued by eternal darkness. I couldn’t help but smile, feeling my chest relax for the first time in what felt like weeks.
There was somethingrightabout being here. Maybe it was my own connection to the Elven realm, or maybe it was something else, but the very air seemed to settle on my skin, bathing me in a sense of belonging.
I had no idea how long I sat out there, but eventually we grew closer to the castle and I turned to let them know—only to find Adriel already right behind me, looking completely relaxed and like he’d been there for hours. The others were talking below, and I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I think Rhett and Desmond may have both decided to take a nap.
Okay, clearly I’d been up here for at least an hour.
“Two and a half.” Adriel flashed a smile.
“It’s gorgeous,” I breathed out. “I literally lost track of time.”
“It’s beautiful but savage outside the city walls. These lands are left wild and untamed. It’s one reason we have such a large escort for today.”
“Monsters going to attack us?” I teased.
