Page 27 of Favored By the Stars

But even as the words left my mouth, I felt an inexorable pull. The surrounding cavern began to blur and fade, replaced by swirling mists and flashes of familiar landscapes. I caught glimpses of moonlit forests and sun-drenched meadows, damaged lands and corrupted fields, the very fae lands we had traveled through to speak with the elves, which felt like a lifetime ago, and now they were reaching out to reclaim us.

The Aetherweavers' forms grew increasingly insubstantial, their voices fading as the distance between our realms widened.

"Remember what you've learned!" the leader called out, their silver hair whipping in the magical tempest. "The artifacts... you must find them before it's too late!"

"We will try to reach you again," the shifting Aetherweaver called as the pull intensified, and I felt myself being wrenched away from the cavern, from the Aetherweavers, and from the knowledge we had fought so hard to gain.

As the world spun around us, I clung tighter to Thorn's hand, desperate not to lose him in the chaos. Through our connection, I felt his determination, his fear, and something else... a resolve that matched my own.

Just before the cavern vanished completely from view, I saw Kaelyn standing next to the obsidian-skinned Aetherweaver as they made a complicated gesture. A burst of starry energy shot towards us, coalescing into a small, pulsing orb that nestled itself in the folds of my cloak. Then, a final, deafening crack tore us from the Aetherweavers' realm.

We tumbled through a kaleidoscope of colors and sensations, our bodies buffeted by currents of pure magic. I lost all sense of up or down, of time or space. The only constant was Thorn's hand in mine, our fingers interlocked so tightly it was as if we had become one being.

Just when I thought I couldn't endure another moment of the chaotic journey, and would wind up vomiting on Thorn, we burst through a shimmering veil and crashed onto solid ground. The impact knocked the wind from my lungs, and for several long moments, I could do nothing but lie there, gasping for breath.

As my senses slowly returned, I noticed cool grass beneath me and the gentle rustling of leaves overhead. The air was thick with the scent of night-blooming flowers and the subtle tang of fae magic.

I pushed myself up onto my elbows, blinking to clear my vision. We were back where we had started.

ChapterEleven

Senara

Thorn's hand found mine, his calloused fingers intertwining with my own. That simple gesture spoke volumes, a silent promise of support and understanding. In that moment, I drew strength from his unwavering belief in me, letting it bolster my resolve as we left the small garden we'd somehow found ourselves in.

"Together, we can face whatever the court has in store for us. Our bond is stronger than any magic they can wield," the conviction in his words mingling with my own determination.

The future was uncertain, yet one thing remained absolutely clear: I would not bow to the will of others. After all, if the Empress couldn't force my hand, then neither could fae royalty. Although the fae court had summoned us, I knew deep in my heart that I alone would decide the course of my destiny.

A shudder rippled through my body as the spell's compulsion intensified with every step, as though summoning us to a random garden wasn't getting us there fast enough and it needed to hurry us along. It felt as if invisible threads were weaving around my limbs, tugging me forward with relentless force. I glanced at Thorn, his jaw clenched tight, and in his eyes I recognized the same oppressive weight of magic that burdened me.

"The harder we resist, the more it pulls," he muttered, his voice strained.

I nodded, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The surrounding air thickened, charged with the energy of our summons, each movement demanding every ounce of conscious effort, as though we were wading through a viscous sea of magic that both wanted us there and didn't.

Was this what it means to be bound by the court's will? To have my desires subsumed by their commands?

Drawing a deep breath, I straightened my spine as the moon goddess's mark on my skin pulsed with a gentle light. As we stepped into the main court building, I felt the spell's grip ease ever so slightly, as if appeased by our reluctant acquiescence.

"I can't believe we have to waste time on this," I muttered, concern creasing my brow. "Every moment spent answering this summons is a moment we could use to stop the corruption from spreading."

Thorn's grim nod was all the confirmation I needed. "The court's timing is suspect, to say the least. It's as if they knew."

My thoughts raced as I pieced together the fragments of information we had gathered. "Do you think Fenvalur could be behind this? He's always been obsessed with the intricacies of fae magic and wields considerable influence over the council."

"It's possible," Thorn mused, his strategic mind clearly whirring. "Fenvalur's ambition knows no bounds. If he perceives us as a threat to his own plans, he wouldn't hesitate to manipulate the council into summoning us."

But why now? I wondered silently, my fingers absently tracing the moon goddess's mark on my neck.

Sensing my unease, Thorn squeezed my hand. "Whatever Fenvalur's motives may be, we'll face them together. We've come too far to let the schemes of one man derail our mission."

"How do you do it, Thorn?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "How do you manage such calm in the face of all this uncertainty?"

A hint of a smile played on his lips as he glanced over his shoulder. "Years of training, I suppose. But more than that, it's knowing I have a duty, to both the court and you, Senara. That clarity of purpose keeps me grounded, no matter what challenges we face."

Side by side, we turned toward the fae court. Our steps fell into perfect sync as we began our deliberate walk toward the looming doors, guided by the current of magic that both constrained and carried us forward.

My heart raced as we strode through the grand archway, my Moon Mark pulsing with each determined step. Beside me, Thorn's presence was a steadying force, his expression etched with unwavering resolve.

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