Page 43 of The Storm of the Empire

“That sounds challenging. What if you can’t find them?” Hazel had driven home just how important they were to the kingdom.

“We don’t have a problem finding the opals if they are moved. We can feel them. They are infused with our magic, and we are trained to sense them when we learn to tend the fields.”

“So you’re connected to the storm opals?”

“We are connected to everything here. The earth and trees. The hills and the water. It’s all made from storms as we are.”

“Why aren’t other kingdoms like that?” I wondered out loud. I wasn’t trying to be unkind. I wanted to understand.

“Maybe they are. But maybe the storm fae are different, or we pay more attention to where our magic comes from. We all have magic in our veins. It keeps us alive, just not all of us can use it outside of our bodies.”

“I wonder if the other kingdoms know…” I’d never thought of myself as magical, but maybe he was right. Life was magic. Maybe I could be, too?

“I don’t think many fae are as connected to their innate magic as we are here. It’s their loss if they don’t learn what they are capable of,” Cal said matter of factly.

It was an interesting dinner conversation with a fascinating family. We passed the meal with many such subjects. I had thought of myself as quite well versed. Despite having grown up in isolation, I had met so many different fae from far and wide since breaking free, I thought I’d seen a lot of what the realm had to offer.

But by breaking bread with a family of a different culture in their home, I was learning that I’d hardly even scratched the surface. This was how you got to know about life in new places, and it was opening my eyes. These fae belonged, not just in their kingdom and in the community they were a part of within it. They belonged to each other, and it was inspiring, but a gut punch at the same time. I was left wondering if I would ever truly belong no matter how hard I tried.

One thing I was feeling quite strongly about was dragging them into this—I didn’t know what to call it. ‘Investigation’ sounded too organized for what this had become. It was just my mess, and I should have dealt with it without drawing good fae in, just in case it all went wrong. I didn’t even want to get this book from her mom’s office anymore. There had to be other ways for us to find out if these eggs were painted with something mixed with the opal, to disguise them for some reason.

I put my hand on her leg under the table. “Your family is great”

“They are,” she smiled, putting her hand on top of mine.

In a split second the air between us shifted, or maybe my mind did. It wasn’t like when the taste of blood transported me back to a memory, but it was a similar feeling. Like a nudge from a higher power. A feeling about where to go from here and what to do.

We didn’t need the book because it didn’t matter. We needed to go to the source. We needed to see Alora’s egg for ourselves. Or maybe we were placed here right now by the Goddess to stop her egg from being stolen when they check it? The timing seemed too coincidental, and I believed in divine timing, so this felt important.

But I had to wait to tell Hazel. I couldn’t do it in front of a table full of her family. My mind reeled while trying to keep up with the conversation.

“Luka, will you be staying the night?” Hazel’s mom asked, and I looked up, realizing both parents were eyeing us and might be able to see our hands were connected beneath the table. I carefully slipped mine away from Hazel’s.

“Yes,” Hazel answered for me in a casual tone.

“I will make up the guest room then,” her dad said, standing from the table and gathering some bowls as he went.

Cal stifled a laugh across the table, and Hazel shot him a look that had him straightening, chastised.

It was fair enough. I wasn’t even expecting them to allow me to stay, so I would never expect to be granted free reign to cosy up with their only daughter under their roof after our first meeting. Besides, I still didn’t know where we stood on the whole thing. We’d been together, but that didn’t mean we would continue to be so.

“I’m extremely grateful for your hospitality,” I said.

I was shown to their guest room, which happened to be across from the hall from Hazel’s room. Out of habit, I checked for escape routes in case I needed to get out of here in a hurry.

My brain felt conflicted, like I could go a hundred directions or stay in one place, and none of them would lead me to where I needed to be. I wanted to tear at my insides to escape this purposelessness.

But most of all, I didn’t really want to sleep because I didn’t want to dream. I considered getting a head start on my hunch and leaving alone to try and learn about this dragon who had the kingdom’s only egg currently. The window opened fully and cut out the side of the hill the house was built into. When I leant out, I could see the route, so that was easy enough. I knew the path back through the house if I needed to go that way. But an anchor in my chest held me back.

Hazel would check on me before bed, so I couldn’t leave. And I needed Hazel with me. I knew that deep inside. I didn’t know why—maybe it was apprehension about dealing with another storm, or maybe it was knowing she could get me into places I couldn’t get myself—but I suspected it was more than that. Not working alone on this felt right.

“Why are you half out the window?” Hazel’s voice startled me.

“Warn a guy before sneaking up on him, will you?” I withdrew from the open window and sat on the sill.

“Who’s the spy? Shouldn’t you be listening for me?”

“You’re a dragon, so you have better ears than I do. You can sneak around and shit.”

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