Page 37 of The Dragon King's Curse
“You wish,” she muttered.
As soon as Feryn approached the door, it slid open, rising up until we were able to pass through. We entered a large room with an opening in the ceiling so the sun could shine down into the building. A large circle with a compass-like design had been etched into the floor long ago. Now it was faded and marked in places.
A second door on the other side of the room was marked with the same compass design. Fearless and determined, Feryn marched toward it. I remained at her side, ready for anything. I didn’t trust this place.
“The temple feels old,” she remarked. “There was once great magick here. It feels forgotten, like nobody has come here in a very long time.”
The second door did not immediately open for us. When it wouldn’t be easily opened, Feryn studied it closely. Placing her hand in the middle of the compass symbol, she pushed her magick into it.
I was surprised when the door opened. Even more so when we entered a room lit up with candles. The room was spacious and empty aside from a desk in the corner, and the woman who sat at it furiously scribbling into a book with hundreds of pages.
She glanced up to find us standing there, staring at her. Right away I sensed her magick. Vast and powerful.
“The forest brought you here,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
Feryn nodded. “Yes. We seek a way out. Can you help us?”
The woman rose and came toward us. I tensed. Long red hair cascaded down her back. White wings were tucked close to her body which was draped in a long white robe. Was this the lost Fae Queen? The one nobody had seen for quite a long time?
“Did my husband bring you to our realm?” The woman spoke, confirming my suspicions.
“We were his prisoners,” Feryn said, bluntly speaking the truth. “We escaped. The land won’t allow us to leave. Is there anything you can do to help us?”
A malicious scowl crossed the woman’s face. “So Atlas is still Atlas, I see. That hateful man will never change. My name is Llana Rein. I am the Fae Queen. Atlas banished me here years ago. He could never control me so he locked me away in this temple.”
“He locked you away?” I repeated. “You can’t leave?”
“Sadly, I cannot. I can help you leave though. He probably never thought you would find me. The temple is guarded by old magicks. You must be very powerful to have found me.” Llana graced Feryn with a friendly smile.
“Is there anything we can do to help you escape this place?” Feryn asked. She seemed genuinely concerned for the queen.
The Queen’s gaze drifted over Feryn first and then me. She lingered especially long on me, making me uncomfortable beneath her inquisitive stare.
“There is one thing you can do. You can promise me that you will come back one day and kill my husband. Only upon his death will I be able to walk free of this temple.”
“I promise.” There was no hesitation as Feryn made her vow to the queen.
Apparently, that wasn’t enough for Llana. She looked to me next, waiting for my confirmation.
“I would be more than happy to kill your husband, Your Highness. I promise to do everything in my power to make that happen.” As far as promises went, I didn’t make many, although this one I intended to keep. Atlas Rein deserved to be brought to justice for everything he’d done to us.
“Thank you. I will take your word as payment and offer you passage from the Shadow Realm.” Holding out a palm, a small blue crystal appeared in Llana’s hand. “Take this with you. As long as you have it, you will be able to enter and exit the Shadow Realm at will.”
Feryn stepped forward to accept the crystal with a nod of thanks. At Llana’s instruction, we returned with her to the first room with the large compass on the floor. She had Feryn and I stand in the center while she walked the perimeter of the circle. Waving a hand to conduct her magick, Llana chanted beneath her breath.
The circle began to glow. Magick rose up all around us. Instinctively, I reached for Feryn, sliding my fingers between hers as I tightly grasped her hand.
The glow grew blindingly bright, forcing me to close my eyes against the light. The sound of Llana’s voice faded away as a disorienting sensation shook me. It felt like being flipped upside down, then right side up again.
When I was able to open my eyes, I discovered that we were no longer in the Shadow Realm. Llana had opened a portal, transporting us through to the land in between the realms. The Seam.
I had no doubt that Atlas would send his people after us. We would not be safe until we reached my homeland. For now we were free of the fae realm. I intended to keep it that way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
FERYN
I blinked furiously as the wave of dizziness passed. Travelling by fae portal was a nauseating experience. Thankfully, the queen had sent us to The Seam.
