Page 47 of Within the Veil

"Oberon is right, Angel." Grayson steps closer, wrapping his large arms around me as Oberon moves back a soft smile on his handsome face. "The Keepers would not deign to speak with you and give you such power if you weren't worthy. You may need to have a formal coronation ball for the people, but the Keepers have chosen you, your place can never be contested," he follows Oberons's lead and places a soft kiss on my lips, before Hunter takes his place.

Hunter leans down to bury his head into my neck taking a deep breath, "Gods, I will never get enough of your scent Hudson." I chuckle, breathing in strength, further grounding myself with the help of the only ones who truly understood me. "If I had to choose one person to lead beside, it would be you. We will rip apart anyone who tries to ruin what we will build," I look up into his eyes that start to glow briefly before he takes a deep breath to reign in that notorious Arallu temper that was released when they all got back their memories. He has been controlling it and I was ridiculously proud of him. It was almost legendary, actually, as control is not something that the Arallu's are known for.

"Your bloodlust matches mine," I reach up to touch his face softly, "don't hide from me. Together we will decimate our enemies," our lips meet briefly before Zane steps in. It was mate hot potato but after everything we just experienced together, we needed this, every moment we could get was special.

"In all my time, I have never had the pleasure of being bequeathed so much power from the Keepers; this was truly magnificent and a testament to what will be the most amazing Reign Tir-ag-Nog will see," his voice skitters down my spine and his hands rub my back softly before I register what he says.

"You mean, they don't typically do this?" I pull back from his hug slightly, confused.

"The Keepers are an integral part of our people, they are always present in spirit and physically in this place," he looks back at the others before meeting my eyes, "However, no. Although they share the knowledge of previous reigns and of the Fae, they do not typically just bequeath power to the current monarchy. They also don't give eternal life to a Sentinel. Their power is attained by training, experience, and natural growth. You, and by extension us, on the other hand, have been gifted powers beyond understanding even before setting foot across the veil.Yourpower is only stronger due to the pureness of your spirit and the Keepers must have recognized that. Combined with the unprecedented situation, it seems fitting for you to receive not only an influx of knowledge but power as well."

"How about granting access to this mystical library?" King asks, excitement shining on his face--my awesome nerd. Immortal but excited about books. Gaia, I love him.

"Yeah, mystical library. Any chance there is, are some regular books? Mallory Fox? Letty Frame? Maddison Cole? Amanda Richardson? Maybe a little Christine Feehan?" I know I'm getting off track but um, mystical grand library.

Oberon sighs and gives me a mock glare, "you get told, by the one of the greatest of entities in our people by the way, that you are getting access to all the great Fae knowledge and our several millennia of history yet you are still trying to read your smut?" Before I could correct his use of 'smut' and replace it with 'literary art,' he continues.Fucker.

"But to answer your question, I do not believe so. Our great library is typically at the Royal Palace. It could be that since it is no secret that you do not have access to the Royal Palace, the Keepers were able to temporarily relocate it? Interesting really. Useful too, because that means Nici would not be able to access it. Hmm, I always wondered if the library was in another dimension and the door was just a portal," he mutters the last to himself.Thats fucking epic.

* * *

Ryder taps Oberonon the shoulder and he rolls his eyes at him in response. Oberon takes the cue and steps back, allowing Ryder to move in and take his place in my arms. Ignoring their exchange, I consider Oberon's words. If what he is saying is true, and deep down I know it was, then we are writing history. Ryder bops the edge of my nose with a finger, "as the spear master, being an expert welding and knowledge of various spears," he waggles his eyebrows suggestively and I laugh, "I hereby decide that you're not allowed to dwell on this any longer. Remi," he casts his gaze to Remi who nods , as she steps closer, wrapping her petite arms around me from behind. Looking over my shoulder at her I grab a taste of her lips before Ryder clears his throat to get our attention.

* * *

I laughat his attempt at a stern face before he continues, "before I was rudely interrupted by this display of sexual tension, I was going to say. Remi and I will be the lightness to balance out the doom and gloom of these other Fae-Fuckers. Your sentinels notwithstanding, as they are more lighthearted than Tinkerbell and all the Disney characters combined," ignoring their cries of protest, Ryder clears his throat before looking at me seriously. "I vow to ensure that despite what is coming, we will all work together to bring you light to chase away the darkness. I love you, Hudson. I love those four winged beasts inside of you and I love my brothers and sister. But I loved you first, so deeply that it defies all logic. You are going to be given so many curve balls because the fates know there is no one else suited for them. With your heart and our combined strengths, we are the only ones who can bring about change."

Remi nods, "that is why we'll be given so many challenges. Because we are destined to crush those little bitches," she laughs and her tinkering laugh pulls one out of me as well.

Feeling more than ready now, I step back and smile at everyone, "Thank you guys, lets go handle this council shit and dibs on the knowledge library as my office," I joke as I turn around and walk through the doors of my Royal Court.

* * *

Lookingaround I feel my breath catch at the thrum of power emanating from the walls.

King, leans in slightly to whisper into my ear, voice firm, "the Royal Council Hall recognizes and thereby welcomes you into their sacred rooms, ready to embrace you into its inner sanctum."

I stare at him for a second before his face breaks out into a smile and Jensi and Luca burst out in laughter behind me, everyone else holding back a chuckle. "Well, I'm no Keeper," he starts, "but it seemed like the right thing to say."

I shake my head with a laugh, reaching up to smack him in the head as he dances away in a blur of speed, "Faerie, asshole."

We start to make our way in before he speaks again, "Just take a deep breath before and during this meeting," he pauses thoughtfully, "never mind your dramatic crowning," he laughs as I stick my tongue out at him. "No, seriously. They more than likely felt a power spike and shift. I am picking up a lot of angst from the general direction of the council rooms." I raise my eyebrows before he continues, "It may be the power influx from the keepers, but I can only assume this new..." he waves his hands around to try to explain his new, pretty useful, power, "to keep you safe by knowing the general feeling of the people around you."

"That's fucking awesome," Ryder murmurs from behind us.

Everyone nods in agreement and chuckles. "Gaia, help us. We have so much to unpack after this," I shake my head and continue to walk through the entrance, straightening my shoulder and affixing a smile to my face, adopting a stern, what I think, is a regal Queen of Genovia voice, "angst or no. Soon, they'll realize that shit is going to change and they'll have to get with the times or flutter their asses out of my court. They will have no choice."Julie Andrews made it happen, so could I damnit.

We make our way through the halls adorned with paintings of former rulers and various battle scenes before coming to an ornate gold door that, this time, is opened by another Fae, who bows deeply with a murmur of welcome, before stepping aside to let us pass.

I fight the urge to take a step back as the beauty of the room punches me right in the face.Dramatic ass,Zane's voice echoes through my head along with their laughter. Mentally I stick my middle finger at them as I continue to peruse the room visually as we make our way to the light wood table in the center of the room. The table offsets the dark colors of the wall and dark vines seemingly dripping from the high ceiling. If I thought the outside of this building looked amazing, the inside of these rooms, the power that leaked from the walls, put that to shame. The room felt sentient, pulsing with life and each 'pulse' invigorated me, making me feel closer to the power of the room, protected and cradled.

* * *

At first,I wasn't entirely sure if this room was truly carved out from one of the Keeper trees, or if Keepers simply created space to accommodate the rooms here. Making this multidimensional theory a bit more reasonable. However, as I stood here I surmised that we were actuallywithinone of the Keepers.Amazing.

* * *

Despite the sizeof the Keepers, these halls and this room in particular seemed downright like an optical illusion and I half felt like pawing at the ceiling, like a cat, to see if I touched a wall, hidden by magic. I resisted the urge and ignored the muffled chuckles of my mates and sentinels as I smiled warmly at the occupants of the room and took my seat at the head of the long table.

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