Page 50 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

Nyvenah takes another deep breath. “My dewlings, who apparently place so little value on your own lives.” Her eyes widen and she whirls around on Tavien, who is leaning back in a chair,balancing on two back legs, and twirling his dagger. He appears unfazed by this whole conversation.

“Youknewabout this? Soulbonded mates are meant to protect their Zemras!” She glares at him, demanding an answer.

He only shrugs. “You know as well as I do that Nueena is not one to be controlled. She does what she wants, what she feels is best. I trusted her to keep herself safe; she would not jeopardize her place as heir. Nueena will make an exquisite Realm Keeper because she has a heart for justice and kindness, unable to turn away from suffering, something most of the mortals have been experiencing daily for years. Nueena understood why Del would return month after month. Nu would have done the same for any of your family. If it were her sisters on the other side, if Vaylin and Kaylena were mortal and starving. I would never stand in her way; I would advise you not to either.”

Nueena and Tavien stare at each other, smiling with twin adoring expressions. He has a proud gleam in his eyes when he gazes at her and she sends the look right back. They share a quiet moment even with all of us around, connected on a deeper level, the way only Zemras can be.

Nyvenah stares at Tavien in surprise.

“Besides,” Nueena argues, “if I did not accompany Del, I would have never seen the darkness spreading into Merawood Forest with my own eyes. The protections around the Divide were failing, the crown siphoning the magic there again, but now that we have it back, we can work on restoring the protection enchantments.”

Alachite comes behind Nyvenah, wrapping his arms around her waist. He kisses her exposed neck and she leans back into him, shoulders relaxing. She sighs deeply while rubbing her eyes before she steps out of his embrace and stands in front of us. “If you both were still dewlings, there would have been strict punishments for this, but as you are both fully grown, all I can do is express my deepest disappointment for your carelessness and disregard for your own safety. I hope neither of you doanythinglike this in the future without speaking to me first, but I do understand your reasoning.”

Nueena and I nod. It would be best if we move on from my journeys into Adreania and I address the room.

“Someone else is after the crown, and while it’s safe here, we need to know who kidnapped Jedrick and how they planned to use it. Kalvorn is going to go to war with Adreania to try to take it. It’s possible Kalvorn has also discovered a way to release its power. It could explain why they suddenly are willing to start a war for a crown that has been powerless for thousands of years. Maybe they know what Grayden does, a way to unlock it.”

Nueena turns to her parents. “It must be King Zilias then. This was a power play. Del said that Grayden met with him shortly before and Kalvorn demanded the crown in exchange for aid. They met on the Elbasan Sea this week; Grayden refused and plans retribution.”

What if Kalvornian guards come searching for me now that I have what they were willing to go to war for?

I open my mouth to speak but close it, not knowing how to phrase what I need to tell them. Then I try again. “There’s one more thing you need to know. When I last saw Grayden, he offered me fruit. Fruit I believe—no, I know—was from the navlue tree. It looked just like the same fruit in every coronation painting.”

Nueena’s parents stare at me.

“Della, that’s not possible,” Alachite says.

“He said it was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted.” I wet my lips, trying to rid myself of my dry mouth at my own words. “Right before he shoved it in my mouth. He wasn’t lying. I know what it was. Grayden claimed he found a way to use the crown, to bring back its magic once he is king. I didn’t believe him, but he had the fruit. They are connected; I just know it. Whoever broke into the throne room and gave Grayden that fruit is working with him.”

“We have been betrayed,” Nyvenah finishes for me. Her words are icy, anger burning in her eyes.

“I believe so.” I hate to be the one to tell her this.

“We will add extra guards to the throne room,” Alachite says, watching his mate carefully. “When all the court Guardians are here, we will decide what action to take once the one who seeks toshare our magic with that murderous prince has been caught.” Turning to Lillian, he adds, “Please bring the mortal man here. I think it’s time we meet him.”

She nods once, but her expression clearly indicates she thinks this is a bad idea.

Leon is going to meet those who raised me. He is still a stranger to me in many ways, but I can’t stop the hope that rises in me that they like him as much as I do.

Nyvenah looks at me, her expression thoughtful. “Alvina forged the crown that was stolen and it brought on ruination, but you brought it back to us, my sweet dewling. How proud she would be.”

“Thank you,” I say softly.

“May I touch it?” Nyvenah asks suddenly. When I agree, she raises her hand to it. Like with Leon, it vibrates angrily at her incoming touch. “It’s burning hot. Can you not feel that, or is it part of the pain you spoke of earlier?”

I reach up and run my fingers over it. “It feels warm, but mostly it gives me a terrible headache. Like all the magic is trapped in my body and it is trying to tear itself out of me.”

Alachite is next to learn of the crown’s molten rage at being touched.

Everyone in the room watches Nueena’s approach, her gown flowing behind her like water. My stomach tightens with anticipation.

“At least the crown is no longer draining the magic around it. I feel nothing being siphoned by the crown. Having the crown on your head seems to have solved the issue of it stealing magic.” She stands before me with her hand slowly rising. I wait for the vibrating to start, but it’s not the angry quivering as it reacted with Nyvenah, Alachite, and Leon.

I’m surprised when she ignores the crown. Instead of reaching for it, she takes my hand in hers, our fingers intertwined. She closes her eyes and a jolt ricochets throughout my body, followed by a violent pulling sensation deep within me. We gasp at the same time. The magic flows into her, slowly at first, then rushing to get out of me. She tightens her grip. The pressure that had been building,pushing against my skull to a painful point, leaves my body until I finally relax with welcomed relief.

Her lashes flutter open and my heart stops. No longer golden-brown, the eyes that stare back at me are glowing gold as she absorbs the magic that has been suffocating me.

Everyone in the room is quiet as they watch the exchange of magic between us. The stream of magic slows within me, sputtering to a stop. Her long lashes flutter again and her eyes slowly fade back to the color they have always been. That same golden-brown I woke up to one hundred twenty years ago on the day we met.

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