Page 29 of Favored By the Stars

My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to process the queen's words. Choose a partner? As if I am nothing more than a broodmare? They measure my worth by the magic in my blood. The thought made my gut twist in revulsion and the Moon Mark on my skin flickered with barely restrained power.

I took a step forward, my chin held high, and I willed my defiance to show in my every movement, every breath. "I am not a pawn to be bartered and traded," I declared, my voice ringing out in the grand hall. "My magic, my body, my choices, they are mine alone. I will not be objectified, reduced to a mere vessel for your political gains."

The court erupted in whispers, shock and outrage mingling in the air. Queen Esylit's eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You would defy the court's decree? You would place your own desires above the needs of your people?"

I met the queen's gaze unflinchingly, the flicker of magic in the corner of my vision from my Moon Mark growing stronger. "I will fight for what is right, for the freedom to make my own choices. No matter the consequences, I will not submit to your demands. As I have already stated, I am following the path the goddess has laid out for me, and the last time I checked, a goddess ranked higher than a queen."

The court fell silent, the shock of my words finally rendering people speechless.

The truth of my feelings resonated deep within me and I knew without a doubt that I was more than the mark on my skin. I would forge my own path, no matter the obstacles in my way.

King Sulien's face reddened with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. Queen Esylit's expression remained impassive, but her eyes glittered with a dangerous intensity.

Let them rage. Their threats or their manipulations would not sway me.

I turned to face the rest of the court and what I assumed was the council, my voice clear and unwavering. "I will take my leave now, with Thorn at my side. We have a mission to complete, a duty to fulfill, one that was set by the goddess herself, and we will do so on our own terms, not yours."

ChapterTwelve

Senara

My heart raced as I darted through the fae court's corridors with Thorn, the echoes of King Sulien's enraged voice still ringing in her ears. The ethereal walls shimmered with an iridescent glow, their beauty a stark contrast to the danger that lurked behind every corner.

"Guards! Seize them!" Queen Esylit's command had reverberated through the halls as soon as we'd left the audience chamber, her voice cold and sharp as she tried to seal my fate.

Thorn's hand tightened around mine as we ducked behind a towering pillar of living crystal. The translucent structure pulsed with an inner light, casting dancing shadows across our faces. I held my breath as a patrol of guards rushed past, their silver armor gleaming in the soft light of the court.

As the sound of armored footsteps gradually faded into silence, we cautiously emerged from our hiding spot. The rough stone walls seemed to cling to my sweaty hands, the stone digging in where I couldn't quite let go as though the wall was keeping me safe. Enchanted vines sprawled next to us, their tendrils clinging to the stone similarly to my fingers, while their luminescent flowers seemed to whisper secrets in an ancient language I could almost understand.

Finally, as we got the courage to do more than just inch away from the wall, a voice I knew well called out in a soft whisper, "Senara! Thorn! Over here!"

Wyn stepped out of the shadows, her silver-white hair casting a gentle glow in the dim surroundings. Relief washed over me as I rushed to embrace my friend.

"How did you find us?" Thorn asked, his eyes darting warily down the corridor.

Wyn's eyes twinkled with a mix of mischief and concern. "I knew you were being summoned by the courts. I... may have set up a little magical tracking spell. Just in case."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You can do that?"

Wyn nodded, a faint blush tinging her cheeks. "It's a new trick I've been working on. I had a feeling you might need help."

Thorn's expression darkened. "If you can track us with magic, do you think the courts could do the same?"

The question hung in the air, its implications heavy and foreboding. A chill ran down my spine, and my Moon Mark tingled with an uncomfortable warmth. The thought of being hunted, of having nowhere to hide, made me feel trapped, even amidst the vastness of the faerie realm.

Wyn bit her lip, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I... I'm not sure. The magic I used is quite specific, and it relies on our connection. But the courts have access to powers we can only imagine."

A distant shout echoed down the halls, reminding me of the urgency of our situation. My mind raced with possibilities.

Thorn's eyes lit up with sudden realization. "I know where we might find a way out," he whispered urgently. "The Sun King's side of the court. There are secret passages there, hidden escape routes. Plus, the Moonlit Court's guards will be less likely to search for us there, since they don't enjoy going into Sun Court territory."

We hurried through the winding corridors; the atmosphere shifting subtly as we crossed into the Sun Court's domain. The air grew warmer, filled with the scent of sun-kissed meadows and golden honey. Walls of honey-colored amber pulsed with an inner fire, casting dancing shadows that mimicked the flicker of flames. Delicate threads of gold traced intricate patterns across the floor, forming sigils and runes that hummed with barely contained power. Tendrils of light danced along the floor patterns like sunbeams through leaves.

Thorn led us through a series of smaller chambers, each more resplendent than the last. One room boasted a ceiling of living stained glass, where iridescent butterflies fluttered between panes of jewel-toned crystal. Another held a fountain of liquid sunlight, its golden droplets chiming like bells as they fell.

As we moved deeper into this unfamiliar territory, I marveled at the contrast. Where the Moon Court had been all silver and shadow, here everything pulsed with vibrant life. Flowers of impossible hues bloomed from cracks in the stone, their petals unfurling before my eyes. Butterflies with wings of spun gold flitted past, leaving trails of sparkling dust in their wake.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, momentarily forgetting our peril.

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