Page 15 of Bonded By Moons

“Thank you, B. I really appreciate you getting these for the team today,” I say while heading to take a seat on the sofa opposite him. Everyone followed to gather around the fireplace. “I know we’ve made similar missions like this lately, but tonight is extremely important. If we don’t find any vital information about the source of these murders and kidnappings, then the peace we’re chasing for this kingdom is at an even greater distance.”

“What’s the plan?” Traeger said while playing with the flames of the fire as if they were a cat purring under his touch. The flames turned orange to match his fae colors.

“We’re going to be stationed at five of the twelve quarters in the inner city. We’ll be monitoring the streets from roofs, sticking to the shadows. Our main goal is to find, track and capture the assailant that’s been sneaking through our city’s streets. Watch for any and all disruptions.”

“And if we’re caught?” Amara questioned.

“If you’re caught, use theviellaelixirs we’ve provided to wait for rescue and avoid interrogation.” I nodded in the direction of the purple shimmering glass bottles lined along the coffee table in between the sofas.Viellais a strong sleep potion that will knock even the strongest fae out for days.

Everyone’s eyes move in unison and linger on the bottles like they’re a snake waiting to wrap around their throats. A cough broke the silence.

“Well now that that's out of the way, I’ve lined your suits with silk spider strings. They are extremely durable and lightweight. You can grab your uniforms and meet us at the main hall before departure. There, Ember will assign you a district for surveillance,” Amara stands to my right with arms crossed and addresses the group.

?

We leave the library and head off to our prospective bathing caves. There are female and male bathing pools.

The male and female bathing chambers are deeper in the mountain, where two hotsprings await us for freshening before changing into our uniforms. It’s a tradition we do before every mission to ensure we’re relaxed and focused.

We travel deeper into the cave's tunnel system to arrive at a fork in the mountain. Turning left, we leave the men to get dressed. We enter the springs and take in the scents of eucalyptus and mint, lavender and jasmine which flood the steaming cave.

The warm space is surrounded by fae orbs which hum and hover hues of purple, blue and pink. The slate walls and floors are surrounded by groupings of greenery such as moss, aloe, and chamomile. The magic of our glimmer keeps the plants flourishing without sunlight.

To the left of the large hot spring bath is our dressing area. Everyone quickly gets undressed and slips out into the bathing cave. I’m not nervous about nudity around the girls, they’re more like sisters to me anyways.

With the twinkle of her fingers, Amara lights the candles lining the edges of the pool aflame.

I gather elixirs and salts from the edges of the room, mixing them in the water with a current created by swirling fingers.

Next I step my toes in, welcoming the shock of hot water and a sudden unfamiliar dizziness that accompanies my senses. Before I can brace myself, something familiar to an electric current pulses through my body. Starting from my toes and tingling to my head, I see Amara race to grab me before my vision turns white and the cave pool fades away.

“Ember!” someone screamed.

First, I see pops of green, pink, and the most blinding white as I feel my feet hit soft green grass. My body aches with electricity. I feel like screaming just to release some of the tension in my limbs. I have so much energy coursing through my body, but I also feel weightless at the same time. It’s a very strange sensation, one I’m not attuned to.

Rolling out my shoulders, as if I had slept on the ground for hours, I raise my eyes to look at a garden of willow trees and flourishing flowers. I suck in a breath at the beauty laid before me. I think I’ve dreamt of this place before? Or have I been here?

A breeze kisses my abdomen. It’s truly stunning.

But how did I get here? Where ishere, exactly?

That’s the exact moment I realize I'm still butt ass naked.

“Oh my stars…” I whisper to myself, looking down at my fully exposed body.

I spin around at the sound of grunting and swords clashing, only to come face first with my worst nightmare. There’s a ring of gorgeous men fighting before me and I'm standing here naked, like some moon offering for them to indulge in. I suppose some would call this a wet dream, but its definitely a nightmare for me.

Rushing to cover myself from prying eyes, I notice my limbs are glowing and seem almost transparent. Peering down at my body, it’s like I’m neither here,wherever here is,nor in the cave pools back at The Ascension.

My body feels weightless. As if I’m floating on a cloud. I feel warm and cozy, wrapped in the moon’s soft lights like a silk cover.

Oh shit. I’m memory diving.

Speaking of memory, I have no idea where I am and that seems like the first objective.

That familiar electric current zaps through my body once again, and I’m starting to realize it means my mate is close by. My eyes snap to him almost instantly after piecing that together.

Across the gardens, in the center of a large stone training ring, is Prince Willow. Practicing swords, he is striking his opponent with swift, perfect strikes.

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