Page 99 of Within the Veil

"As you have gathered, I have transferred one of my sacred duties to you. You are to watch over Draíocht Solas with your life. It's loyalties now lie with you, tethered to your very being as intricately as your mate marks are woven in the deepest parts of your soul. It will use your strength and heart to guide its blade."

"Blade?" I question as I spin the spear in my hand getting a feel for the weapon and as I say the word, the ends turn into sharp weapons, one shaped much like my favorite scythe and the other with a stiletto point.Fucking amazing, I marvel.

She smiles, "You will also see four different color gems strategically placed around Draíocht Solas. The amethyst gem will shield against negative energies and enhance your psychic abilities," she starts to point out the gems as she speaks. "The emerald will heal and replenish your strength and resilience. The opal gem will allow you an open mind to consider strategic advantages during battle. Outside of battle, it will allow you to come to peaceful resolutions. The final gem," she points to a shimmering gem that shifts color with the light. "This gem, Aetherite, is quite powerful. It will provide you with whatever Draíocht Solas feels you need at the moment, be it an unwavering determination, positive energy to boost morale, or serve as a conduit for elemental forces. In its very center is a sliver of adamant," she looks me in the eye, her gaze piercing me like a dagger to the heart. It's times like these that I understand why people want a pet fennec fox; adorable but deadly as fuck.

She rolls her eyes at my thoughts, "If you use this gem while in combat with anyone under the influence of Uranus, they will perish, or the connection will be broken depending on how deep his corruption has spread. There is much to learn about Draíocht Solas, and it is not knowledge that is accessible beyond the protective realm of the Knowledge Library, nor can it be accessed without opening the Dùn Leabhar. As you have been granted access to Draíocht Solas, you will have access tothattomb of knowledge. I advise you, not like I have to encourageyou,to read, to learn all that you can. Information is its own form of weapon."

I admire the weapon for a second longer until I realize that everything around us is suspiciously quiet. I look at Elodia and then look around the training ground to see that the soldiersandmy mates seem to be frozen, suspended in time, like creepy, very sexy wax statues.

"What in the 'Madame Tussaud Museum of Wax' is going on in here?" I murmur, my eyebrows so far up my face they have more than likely escaped into my hairline, and walk over to Zane and poke him in the eye.

I giggle, "This is so freaking cool. It's the Fae-Trix. I wonder if they chose the red pill or the blue." I pause to consider Zane would probably choose the red pill. He always needs to know what is going on.

I turn back to Elodia, who puts her hands on her hips and rolls her eyes, "you have to be the only Fae, or anyone for that matter, who receives one of the forbidden weapons of all time, is frozen in time and is contemplating The Matrix." Her eyes are clouded with confusion but twinkle with amusement, so I know she can't be too frustrated with me.

I shrug, "Priorities and all that. Frozen in time? Makes sense, can't have everyone seeing one of the legendary keepers and hearing all about forbidden sticks of murder and mayhem. Speaking of, who is watching the sacred desk of Mary Poppins?" I ask since she technically isn't supposed to leave her post.

"I haven't," she smiles mischievously. "The library is in a different dimension. So technically, I can be here and there, and so can you through me. Gaia called, and I answered. I will also answer the next questions I see brewing in that strange head of yours. No, it doesn't mean I can do it all the time, it is taxing, and I have to make sure I do it sparingly. No, the Fae are not allowed to see me, and no, I am not the boogie woman. Once I leave, your Mates and sentinels will have the memory and knowledge of what we have discussed. Yes, that means Zane will feel and know that you poked him in the eye, " she says, amused.Damn.Thwarted by magic. Again.

"And while they will be aware that you have a powerful weapon gifted to you, they will not know the full capabilities of the Draíocht Solas until the desk has deemed them worthy. They will have to come to the library in order for that to happen. Time will continue as if it never stopped, and no one else will know what has occurred here," she finishes.

"Except me!" a little voice says, and we turn to see Li'Ella skip over to us with a smile on her face. "I just pretended to be frozen. You can't hide time from a Seer, silly goose," she giggles.

Elodia frowns briefly, "Interesting, indeed. I guess we cannot hide from you, little one."

Li'Ella leans in closer with a stage whisper, "It's also because my best friends are descended from Gods and a Goddess." She straightens with a conspiratorial smile, "But mostly because Gaia says, 'Seers see beyond the shimmer and constructs of time.'" She mimics Gaia's light, melodic voice with a giggle. "Anyways, can we stop the game of magical freeze-tag? I want Daddy Grayson to start training already," she pouts.

I blink a few times. Li'Ella is me if I were a mini Seer. There is no other explanation for how she goes from sneaky to cheeky to sad that she isn't currently playing stabby with Grayson.

Elodia laughs, though it's clear she is still a little disconcerted that Li'Ella is able to bypass her mystical ability to matrix the shit out of the Fae. Clearly, Elodia is going to have to quickly learn that nothing around us is remotely normal. It must be the clover juice. Or all the iced coffee. Either way, even by magical standards, we are a fucking cluster-fae-uk.

"I will take my leave. If Gaia has gifted you with the ability to bypass my strongest of magic, I can extend the same. I am Elodia, little one," she smiles down at Li'Ella.

"If you have need of my knowledge, you know where to find me," she inclines her head at me and faedes out. In a second Li'Ella is back to where she was standing before--smart cookie-- and everyone comes back to life.

"Fucking ouch, Hudson," Zane scowls, rubbing his eye. Everyone suppresses a laugh, not even discreet about it. Except for Oberon, of course, same serial killer look. So sexy, I sigh.

Looking at Zane, I whistle and pretend I have absolutely no idea what is going on, "Are you okay? It must be a bug. You really should glare so much, it is obviously dangerous."

"I'm going to..." he growls, and I cut him off.

"Love you too, sweet swan-y cheeks. No time for threats. How about I make good Queenly announcements? Hmm? We can talk about everything else later," I blow him a kiss.

Jensi snickers, "Swan-y cheeks."

"Senti-wenti-sugar puff pie, don't make fun of my nicknames. Don't you have some training to do? Off you go," I shoo him off, and he frowns, muttering about being way sweeter than just a puff, and Luca claps him on the shoulder with a laugh, pushing him towards the combat zone.

We are going to talk about your ass poking me and all the magical shit that just happened.I roll my eyes,well obviously, we will discuss the magical stuff babe. Just not here. We can move to the knowledge library later. Right now, I have to talk to the soldiers, and then I want to hold a village-wide meeting with the council. We should be able to fit everyone in here, right? Magical and all?I pause to look around curiously, and I'm sure we can. It's pretty damn big in here, and it extends pretty far outside. I look at the spear in my hand and consider the Amethyst stone to enhance my psychic ability and make my speech reminiscent of Voldemort talking to Hogwarts at the final battle. Fucking epic.

"Anyways, Grayson. Li'Ella is waiting for you to get all stabby," I point to where Li'Ella is glowering in our direction, tapping her mini sword on the side of her hip--so much sass. Grayson laughs and presses his lips against mine before wandering in her direction.

"Ryder, my sweet sugar puff, stop stroking my spear of death. It's not a dick," I frown at Ryder, who had crept closer and is masterfully twisting his wrist as he strokes the spear, his mouth practically watering. I would say, 'Same, bro,' but I fucking hope I don't look like that when I touch their dicks--Like a hungry hyena waiting outside of pride rock for baby lion flesh.

"It's so shimmery," he says reverently.

I roll my eyes, fucking spear masters. I swat his hand away because it's getting weird, and I step back, twirling the spear in my hand.

"I think I shall name you 'he who shall lead the collective liberation and insurgency takedown of the Unseelie," I say thoughtfully as I spin the spear in my hand, marveling at the perfect balance and how it pulsed under my hand as if sensing my moves before I made them.

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