Page 161 of Dark Fate

Rewinding to the moment, Axilya's ice queen act cracked when she found out Rhyland got snagged by Amara. It's hitting me now—her soft spot wasn't just random feels. Alinar didn't just get nabbed; she thought he bailed by choice. Talk about an emotional minefield right in her chest.

A flash of rage hits when Rhyland's antics cross my mind—his latest tease-a-thon, acting nonchalantly about his freaky new lightning tricks. Whenever he shrugged it off, my irritation with him cranked up another notch. But simmering beneath that irritation is a realization: our powers are as knotted up as our destinies—mine with its sway over light and the stuff of life, his cracking with this stormy energy. Calimero's mysterious hints about the one who commands lightning being aware of his ancestry echo in my mind. Just how deep doesRhyland's understanding of his bloodline go? It's a puzzle piece that may unravel many mysteries, but it's not the day for solving riddles.

So, game on—I'm gonna freeze him out, flip the script, and see how he likes a taste of his own meddlesome medicine. But let's be honest, who the fuck am I kidding? This is Rhyland, Mr. Irresistible himself. Whether I can hold out against his charms... well, only the tick-tock of the clock's gonna spill that secret.

And as if summoned by some twisted universal scheduler, right on cue, my monthly visitor decided to join the already chaotic party. Seriously, timing is everything—and mine has a wicked sense of humor, deciding to make its grand entrance amidst all the mayhem. Just another variable in the complex equation that is my life right now.

Thank the heavens for Alina—what an absolute gem! She swooped in like a fairy godmother and saved the day with her stash of lady essentials.

Strutting down the hall to Axilya with my game face on, it is high time to straighten out this knotty mess of secrets and fibs wrapping around us. Cue the no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is chat; fingers crossed, it will blast away our murky doubts.

The vibe in the Sun Court is mystical. The air practically sparkles with happiness and sunshine as I hustle down the halls to Ax's room, a cocktail of jitters and boldness bubbling up inside.

I knock on her door with a little extra 'oomph,' not even trying to hide the ants in my pants.

"Enter," Axilya calls out, her voice sailing through the door like she's got this hosting gig down pat.

Stepping in, the place has that Whispervale zen—quiet and cozy, like it's a little bubble away from the world's racket. Ax is perched by the window, all dramatic with the sunlight turning her into a shadow puppet of intrigue.

"Danica," she hits me with a welcome, not even bothering with a peek, as though her Axilya-senses told her I was dropping by.

"I need answers," I cut right to the chase, shutting the door behind me.

That's when she swivels, locking me down with her pale green eyes, which somehow manage to be super intense and weirdly reassuring.

"You probably have a list," she says, poised and ready to spill the tea.

I nod, and funny enough, I find my motor mouth on pause—just for a hot second, though. Then, it’s like the floodgates open. I blurt out everything: my head-scratchers about Calimero dropping the truth bomb on her, the sneaking feelingFaderyn kept secrets, not to mentionAx's own story wrapped in mystery.

Axilya doesn't make a peep; she gives me the serene queen look while I unload.

After my spill-the-beans monologue, she exhaled gently, “Well, I figured you’d stumble onto the big reveal sooner or later.”

"But seriously, why all the smoke and mirrors?" I demand, slicing through the still air. "Why not just spill the royal beans from the jump—you're the rightful queen around here?"

Axilyalooks away momentarily, gathering her thoughts before meeting my gaze again. "I…I gave it all up. So no, not anymore. I wanted to stir away from enemies—from making choices out of obligation rather than free will." Her voice is steady but tinged with regret. "I wanted you to carry out your cause because you believed in it, not because of my title or crown."

I shift gears, my tone edged with a hint of sass. "And what aboutFaderyn? Did he know all along?"

"Faderynknew only as much as he needed to,"Axilyareplies gently. "His loyalty was always to our cause first—to ensure your safety and success."

Gotta say, even when it's dressed up with good intentions, that sting of betrayal still tastes like shit.

"So, this entire time..." I grapple with the mixed feelings, trying not to let the cracks show.

Axilyareaches out, her hand touching mine in a rare gesture of comfort. "I am sorry—for not telling you. But you've proven yourself more than worthy, Danica. Your strength and heart have brought us closer to unity than we've been in ages. I gave up on the throne long after…"

She pauses and looks away again, another secret she's been hiding. She's offering a balm here, but it's not entirely taking the edge off the burn of those hidden truths.

My head's damn near spinning with a whirlpool of thoughts ready to take me under, but one fact stands out through the chaos—I've got a laundry list to hash out with Axilya.

Gripping that nugget of clarity, I plop in the chair facing her. This isn't your garden-variety chitchat—nope, we're about to dive into a talk that'll probably map out our next moves in wild, unpredictable ways.

The quiet in the room is heavy, like a blanket of snow untouched by footprints, waiting for something big to happen. Axilyya's eyes are on me, solid and deep—I might as well be staring into the abyss. I hiccup a breath, trying to herd my swirling thoughts into something coherent.

"Amara," I spit out; the word is straight-up venom. "She's been the fog machine, the spider spinning her fib-fest that's muddled up the whole picture."

Axilya’s eyes darken, a tempest brewing in their depths. "What do you mean?"

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