Page 130 of The Powers of Nyx

“You know now that our magic is tied to the stability of the lands.” Queen Greer lifted the tea to her lips again as I nodded. “That is fundamental to our rule, Ivy. Our magicisthe stability between worlds. Without us, there is no Avalon. The Underworld and Faery would cease to exist, because the magic of these lands would destroy everything in its path should we not exist. Balance is our true power. Parts of each realm make up our entire being. We are part Avalon, part Underworld, part Faerie, and part Human. That is why we are the vessel.”

A shiver rolled down my spine; it made sense to me, like I’d always known that to be true. Her words settled between us. “Would you say that we’re a diplomat, then? Considering the power of Nyx?”

Queen Greer’s smile broadened, and she nodded. “Yes. More than anything, we are the peace between people. There was not always union between the creatures of Nyx. There was war over land, over mates, over gold and gemstones. When the first Queen rose to power, she put a stop to all of that. She built the council to allow the creatures to still maintain control without micromanaging, I suppose. They had freedom, but they still existed under her.”

“And this works because we’re the vessels of Nyx?” I asked. “That’s how it was explained to me.”

It felt like a lifetime ago, thinking about that night in the apartment after the hellhound attack. I’d been an entirely different person, then, too. Closed off to any form of love, detached from my family, living and breathing my work. I missed parts of that life. But I also wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to go back to it.

“We are,” Greer agreed. “But we are also our own person. We rule for Nyx because she can no longer wander these lands; her magic is too powerful for that. And so, she creates us. Gives us part of Her power to do what She can not. And to maintain the balance, we must let another rise in our place.”

The mood turned solemn at the statement, and her mate sighed. “Balance is a heavy burden,” he murmured, “and one you must share with your mates, Ivy. I imagine you must be a lot like my dear mate. If I might impart some advice upon you: don’t forget that you are not alone. Nyx has made certain that you have equal partners in this. And with the fight I am sure is to come for your rightful place upon the throne, you will need them.”

My stomach dropped, but I bowed my head in agreement. Guilt washed through me, and for the rest of the lesson, I asked very few questions while Greer went on to explain the other responsibilities that made us Queen. Visiting the other realms, interacting with the magic, and travelling through the Crossing being something I hadn’t expected. But reconnecting to Nyx’s magic was one of the most important parts of our power.

By the end of the lesson, I was mentally exhausted. “Maybe, once we deal with the usurper, we should go on vacation,” I muttered as we left the meeting room. “Like, somewhere cold.”

“Cold?” Elias asked, a hint of amusement filtering down the bond.

I nodded. “I’m not the biggest fan of heat,” I admitted. “Only if that’s what the kids want. But for a mate only vacation? A rustic cabin in the snow, where the only way to stay warm is through snuggling. I think I’d like that.”

Elias chuckled, guiding me through the maze of halls towards our elevator. “I’ll tuck that away for once you finally have your crown.”

Trepidation hit me, but I offered him a smile. “I can’t wait.”

He kissed the top of my head. Queen Greer’s lesson played in the back of my mind, a new kind of fear growing within me now that I knew what was truly at stake if the False King tried to take the crown. It wasn’t as simple as him booting me off the throne and taking over. It could mean the utter destruction of everything.

And I couldn’t let that happen. For my family. My mates. My friends. I would have to become Queen.

48

ORION

NOTlong now. The thought was the only thing that kept me moving. Fighting. The knowledge that soon, I would be withheragain.

I only had to hold on a little longer. Bide my time withhimlong enough to understand his plans.

The False King would know my wrath soon.

Still, it burdened me, and the chasm between Ivy and myself weighed heavily on my magic. Without her, it was weak—Iwas weak. And she only grew wearier the longer I remained away.

I needed to see her, touch her. Feel her warmth and be reminded that I was fighting for her.

When she’d confronted me in the library, I’d wanted to fall to my knees and admit to her I’d done it all for her.EverythingI did was for her. And if I hadn’t cut those mages down when I had, then they would have become another enemy for her to fight on her own. The betrayers were whispering to anyone who would listen, and the three males were weak in their worship of not only Nyx, but Her Queens, too. Inevitably, they would have fallen for the False King and his traitorous words.

My hands curled into fists as I began the trek to my father’s office. Fear was something I’d learned long ago to hide, but even now, it still trickled down my spine. The closer I got to the office, the more my magic reared within me.

I drew on my memories of her as I came to a stop outside his doors. Her soft voice during the long, warm nights alone. It helped in calming my magic. Settled it enough to not makehimquestion me.

The doors opened without command, and the servant didn’t look up as I passed. The Luna Fae staff were terrified, and rightly so. Their High Lord wanted to bring war upon the court. His dealings would inevitably kill them all. Destroy one of the longest thriving courts in Faery.

All because he could not stand the fact he was rejected.

I gritted my teeth, but I would play the part of the perfect son. But only for now.

My father, High Lord Hyperion, looked up from his crystal glass of Summer wine at my entrance. Under the facade of perfect poise, he was the evil destined to destroy these lands. For a male who so badly denied the influence of the human world, he consumed their words and customs greedily. Perhaps he was too blind to see it, but I wasn’t.

I never had been.

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