Page 130 of A Luna's Dynasty
It was finally time … time to reunite with her mother. She felt Asher’s warm arm swoop around her.
“Ready, love?” Asher kissed her temple and watched her beam up at him.
“Ready.”
The brush was thick and unyielding, each branch seemingly determined to impede their progress. The centaurs strained against the resistance, using their powerful muscles to forge a path for Lita. As they pushed through the dense thicket, trees towered above them, reaching toward the sky with gnarled and twisted branches that seemed to form an impenetrable canopy overhead. Each step forward was a battle with nature itself, but the centaurs were determined to clear a path for their companions. A wall of pine trees loomed ahead, shrouded in a thick mist. Without needing to be told, Lita could sense that Elysia was on the other side. Grayson took the lead, walking backwards while shielding Lita and Asher with his body from the sharp needles of the trees. The scent of pine overwhelmed her senses as they pushed through the darkness of the tree barrier. Gradually, rays of light began to filter through, growing brighter with each step until finally Grayson stepped aside to reveal the vast expanse beyond.
Lita and Asher were mesmerized by the view before them. It was radiant and inviting, with vibrant trees and flowers lining the white cobblestone paths. Houses dotted the landscape in every direction. Overlooking it all was a majestic white castle,situated near a shimmering lake. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and faint voices—perhaps from fairies—could be heard in the distance.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Caspian asked, now standing by Lita’s side.
“Caspian!” Lita wrapped her arms around him like she hadn’t seen him in years. He chuckled and patted her head.
“I’ve been here the whole time, Leet. I didn’t disappear on you.”
Lita felt Grayson’s body shift in front of hers. She turned to see a very tall, very muscular man in front of them. The two were staring at each other in an intense showdown. It was easy to tell. This was another guardian.
Lita couldn’t help it. She started giggling uncontrollably. The two men looked at her in confusion. Then Asher started laughing, hearing her thoughts.
“It’s like seeing another Grayson. Do you guys not even get along with each other?” Lita stopped her giggles and saw the two men give her sheepish smiles. Everything, every moment, was confrontational to them. Even with another guardian. They literally trusted no one.
“The queen is expecting you. Please proceed down the path to my right,” the other guardian said as he stepped aside.
Asher wrapped his arm around Lita and started walking down the trail.
“Asher.”
He turned to see everyone standing there but not following. “You guys go on. I think this meeting should be without an audience. We’ll look around the place.” Caspian smiled and motioned for them to go ahead.
Lita nodded back to him in appreciation and walked through the gates with Grayson and Asher. They entered the castlegrounds, which were littered with flowers of every color imaginable.
“Good thing I don’t have allergies,” Asher teased.
Lita was about to say something when she saw him. It was Nathon, her father, and walking next to him was her mother.
“Daddy!” Lita first ran into her father’s arms. He scooped her up and held her tight. “Why didn’t you say something? You just left. You just disappeared and didn’t tell me anything. You vanished in a big ball of mystery.” Lita blurted out her thoughts as he lowered her to the ground.
“I couldn’t tell you anything before. We couldn’t risk you remembering. I left the way I did … well, honestly, I had been searching because I couldn’t remember how to get here. Then I finally remembered where I had stashed the map. It was in a safe deposit box in town. I was too excited. I dropped a quick letter in the mail and made my way here as fast as possible. I missed Alice so much. I was counting down the days until I could be with her again.” Nathon reached out and pulled her forward. She looked a bit shy, nervous about being reunited with her daughter.
“I guess I don’t understand. Why couldn’t you visit her? Why couldn’t she visit us? I have so many questions.” Lita locked eyes with her mother. She hadn’t seen her since she was a little girl. For most of her childhood, she thought she had died, but here she was … very much alive. She took a small step toward her, and Alice pulled her into her arms.
“My sweet little girl. Look how beautiful you are. You’re simply wonderful. I wanted to visit, but I couldn’t. I had to bind myself to Elysia. In order to protect you, I had to discard my human body. It was the only way to hide all of your fairy essence and keep you protected until you were older. I forbid your father to come. He wasn’t allowed to leave you alone until you found your partner. So, while it was hard for him to let you go, it was also his invitation to come to Elysia. Of course he would forget how toget here.” Alice gave Nathon a small smile. She glanced up and pinned her gaze on Asher. “Come here.”
Asher walked forward and gently rested his arm on Lita’s back. “Nathon, pleasure to meet you again. And thanks for the heads up on what I was getting into,” he joked.
Nathon gave him a broad smile. “Thank you for taking good care of my daughter.”
Another big man walked up behind Nathon and Alice. At the same moment, Grayson came up and stood next to Asher.
“I guess all guardians are overly suspicious and in need of a stiff drink,” Lita teased and poked her finger into Grayson’s side.
Alice nodded with a smile. “It’s their job to not trust anyone. Even our partners at first.” She turned and looked at Nathon, then looked up at her big protector. “They all become friends in the end, though.”
“Where was your guardian the day you disappeared? Honestly, I don’t ever remember seeing him before.” Lita looked up at the man in confusion.
“I kept him in Elysia. He couldn’t stay with me in your father’s pack. I also needed him here to watch over Elysia for me.” Alice patted her guardian’s back. It looked like she was reassuring him. He probably felt bad not being near her that day.
“So can you never leave Elysia ever again?” Lita was still trying to figure this part out.
