Page 63 of Bonded By Moons

“Why are these rooms so important they had to glimmer them?” I wonder out loud.

“There are sacred texts passed down from royal bloodlines, along with family heirlooms and the true history of our lands lie within these walls.”

I start to pace in the center of a large, dark room. The only thing I can see is her soft glowing circle and the marble stone that sits beneath us. I let out a large exhale and glanced back at the goddess.

“I need a minute. Sorry, this is just a lot to take in.”

She doesn’t respond by continuing to glow in her annoying yet comforting way. I take a few steps into the darkness and flick on my fae orb. I didn’t expect one simple act of magic to cause such a cataclysmic reaction. Somehow, my attempt at casting a single fae orb actually lit aflame all the candles, wall sconces, and dazzling chandeliers within what appears to be the most stunning and voluminous library.

I let in a small gasp. “Oh my stars.” I say to myself while taking in what I assume is my parents' treasured library. Now I understand the old smells of aged vanilla, leather and coffee.

I quickly turn to face the goddess and ask, “How did I just do that?”

She glows brighter and slowly hovers in the center of the library. We’re surrounded by floor to ceiling bookshelves full of various colors, sizes, and trinkets of significance. This room has an aurora about it and I can feel the importance of the words on the pages that fill these walls.

“You are a Primal and an Ancient. You are the last. Your magic responds differently to the world around you, allowing you to access all four elements in due time.”

“I don’t understand. How could I possibly be an Ancient? Being a primal makes sense considering who my parents are, but an Ancient? The last one died many years before my lifetime.”

“On the night of your birth, your father imprinted your soul with another. You are the only hybrid fae to exist, consisting of fae, primal, and ancient bloodlines.”

I drift back to the memory of that night. My father spoke otherworldly words over me as a white light drifted and imbedded itself in my chest. It’s all starting to make some sense.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been here too long. I must return to the others before they know what I’ve done. Goodluck, princess.”

I hear a ringing in my ears, a bright white light engulfs my vision, and my skin turns colder than the darkest nights. The goddess orb grows in size and then she completely vanishes from thin air, abandoning me in a library full of wonder.

TWENTY-NINE

Willow

I’ve been screaming down the bond for minutes now. I can’t reach Ember or feel her through our connection. My mind is racing with terrible thoughts over the loss of my mate. I don’t feel a sever of our bond yet, so that’s one good thing. And the bond isn’t fully complete yet, so maybe this is just a result of that?

I’m trying to remain calm after Amara came running into my library minutes ago, screaming “She’s gone! She just vanished!” frantically with tears streaming down her face.

Something similar happened the night she was taken by the goddess. Maybe this is something similar to that?

I’ve been running through the halls of my quarters ever since. Artie jogs behind me and Amara stays back in the library, where she’s being heavily guarded in case there is a threat nearby and it’s not the goddess, Naistrelle.

We searched the entirety of my wing and come up empty.

Ember!I shout down the bond. My chest is heaving with heavy breaths and my head is swirling with burning rage at this point. I will rip off anyone’s head, including the goddess, if she took my mate somewhere unsafe.

We haven’t completed our bond yet and she can’t be taken from me this early. We’re only getting started. We’ve barely gotten started.

There’s still no sensation flowing through our bond. It’s as if Ember built a wall around herself and shut off all connection from me. My heart aches at the thought.

I’ve searched the entire palace at this point besides my fathers wing. I finally round a corner with Arite on my tail and can hear the sounds of people eating and drinking with joy.

What the fuck is going on?

That’s when I realized I’m near our formal dining room. I stomp my way past the guards and shove the doors wide open, confused at the sight that lays before me.

“Mother?” I ask as I take in my siblings and her boisterously sharing a meal together. They’re laughing and conversing. I noticed my father’s seat was empty. “Where’s father?”

The room falls completely silent. Aspen stands, reaching for more berries and Roserra drops her fork abruptly. Everyone turns to face me standing in the doorway.

“Oh, darling! Welcome!” My mother cheers. She’s acting so free, so unrestricted, so fearless. What the fuck happened here?

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