Crown of Ellova, Vol. 1 (Crown of Ellova Duology)

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

T he main hallway on this level is mostly empty, with its shining marble floors and open windows. Most of the residents of the Ellovian palace are away at the midday meal. Lillian leads us at a quick and steady pace back to our rooms.

I link arms with Nueena and she squeezes my hand, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “Is he as wonderful as you thought?”

I cannot resist the urge to look back and whisper, “Yes.”

Her smile is as giddy as I feel.

Leon takes everything in as we walk through the High Court’s palace. Every few steps, pillars wrapped in flora hold up a half-moon ceiling of opalescent glass where sunlight streams through in pastel beams. Much like the natatorium, potted plants line the halls. I follow his eyes as he gazes up to the chandeliers made of glowing crystals encased in light. Wisteria flowers, frozen in time, hang gracefully outside the windows, blocking the view of Ellova’s capital city, Lavencia.

The last staircase in the west tower leads to a similar hallway lined with family portraits. Our small group passes a few portraits of myself with Nueena and the royal family. Leon turns his confused eyes on me .

The last and largest painting hangs in a golden frame just outside of our rooms: a portrait of Nueena and Tavien dancing in ceremonial gold attire at their Zemras celebration to honor their new matebond.

Lillian turns down another hallway and waits at the wide double doors, its carved archway made of gold, flanked by two twisting trees. Sensing our arrival, the doors open on their own, welcoming us to the royal west wing, the tower I share with Nueena and Tavien.

Nueena leads Leon into our large, circular sitting room. She gives a little sigh of contentment at the sight of our main living space and summons four large fae lights to illuminate the spacious room as hot tea is set for us.

A golden arch identical to the front entrance leads to each of our private rooms. There is a fine dining area with crafted chairs around a driftwood table with a towering floral arrangement in various shades of purple and green in the center. Behind the table, but before the balcony, sit the soft couches, and piles of books and unrolled scrolls lie over edges and on the floor.

Lillian, who keeps a watchful eye on Leon, says, “Have a seat.”

He does, but not before he looks out over the balcony and the Merawood Forest below.

Lillian’s eyes darken.

I walk to the other side of the room, where twin doors lead to my quarters. “Leon, I’ll be right back. I just need to change, and when Tavien returns, he can assist in finding you new clothing.”

To reach my sleeping space, I must first walk through our private library. I look over my shoulder to find Leon watching me as I leave his sight.

Most shelves are packed with our personal libraries, but they overflow with a lifetime of collections and keepsakes of our adventures over the past century. It was once a detailed and organized space, but over the hundred years we have lived in the shared apartments in the west tower, it now holds countless trinkets—broken swords I keep meaning to repair, vases, wobbly floral teacups from our childhood tea parties we just can’t bear to throw away, shoes that fell out of fashion, a jewelry box made of the shells we collected over summers at the Shell Court’s seaside palace. It was lovingly named the room of many things , as any attempts at organization failed us and we would spend the time revisiting the past, forgetting to finish cleaning it. It has a small bathing room in one corner for guests.

I drop my soiled travel clothes onto the rug of enchanted marigolds, the petals soft beneath my toes. We don’t have much time, but I tie up half of my hair with gem pins to hide the crown until I am before Nyvenah. I brush my lips and cheeks with crushed pigment the tint of ripe peaches.

In the smaller connecting room that doubles as both workspace and closet, I pull a fresh gown from the pinewood armoire.

I change into an off-the-shoulder, low-cut dress with two high slits in the front. Its gossamer sleeves almost touch the ground, a popular Ellovian fashion. The deep yellow material is made marginally more modest by sheer fabric panels hanging beneath the gaps, covering my legs. It’s a style far more revealing than what Leon is used to, and I smile, imagining his reaction.

A swirling gold belt I created a few decades ago completes the ensemble. I shuffle through the tangle of delicate metals in my ornate jewelry box and take out a gold bracelet.

I try the pull of my magic, sensing it separate from the ancient magic of the crown that is held within me. The crown’s magic feels like an ocean, while mine is a shell clinging to the sand, crushed by its waves. The pressure in my head builds again at my attempt to drag out even a speck of my magic. It weakly comes to me when I call, and as I gather it, I close my eyes, giving it all my focus.

My breath comes in uneven gasps at the sight of the unaffected metal. I beg the crown for my summons to yield any results on the cold chain. I’ve held on to a desperate hope that when I returned to Ellova, when I returned to all the magic held here, my powers would resurface.

This metal-wielding magic within me was the only thing I had left connecting me to my mother. Despair floods my aching chest when my attempt to manipulate the gold leaves me empty.

Just like in the forest, whatever power was in me that caused metal to mold and shape at my will, the force that gold and silver obeyed, is gone. The crown’s magic has truly suffocated my own.

It’s impossible to hide the growing panic in my voice as I call out, “ Nueena !”

From outside the door, wooden legs slide hastily against a marble floor and Lillian’s harsh demand echoes: “Get back here!” A moment later, the door slams open and Leon darts in. He looks around and then at me, up and down. He opens his mouth, but Nueena is just behind him.

“What is it?” She gives him a questioning look before they both look at me.

“Leon—” I try to sound calm. “—thank you for your care, but I need to speak with Nueena.” After a moment I add, “Alone.”

He appears as if he wants to object, but reluctantly leaves with one long glance back, Nueena shutting the door behind him.

“My jewelsmith powers, metal magic, I can’t use it. It flickered out like a candle. I didn’t work when I was fighting Grayden’s guards either.” I hold up the chain of gold and focus on it. Nothing I do has any effect on the limp jewelry. “I keep trying, but it won’t…”

Nueena looks at the crown with confusion. “When was the last time you could use your magic?”

“Moments before Jedrick died. I used my magic to melt the armor his kidnappers were wearing so I could escape with him, but he…Nueena, what if my magic is gone forever?” My heart aches at my woeful words.

She pats my arm. “Let us go talk with my parents. They will have more answers. And besides, we need to brief my mother on some significant events, like the arrival of the first mortal in a millennium and Inara’s crown. First, we need to find out how long your pretty mortal can survive here, and how to remove this.” A curious kind of hunger gleams in her golden eyes when she asks in a small voice, “Can you feel it? All the magic stored there. ”

“Yes, and it throbs. It feels like it is trapped in me, willing to tear me apart to get free. We need to find out how to get this crown off. If anyone can control it, it’s you! The well of magic trapped inside is extraordinary but it’s suffocating to me.” Another painful realization pierces my chest. “Will my court still consider me a jewelsmith if I can no longer use metal-wielding magic?”

“Of course they will! In no world would Lazalai cast you out of her court. Magic or not, the Gem Court will always be open to you.”

Together, we walk out of the room. Lillian stands between us and Leon. From behind him, we can see the tops of the Black Castle and the forest that keeps Ellova safe. A hint of the Elbasan Sea is visible.

A loud chime fills the room, but Leon is the only one who glances up for the source of the noise. Lillian turns to Nueena. “I am going to meet your parents at the entrance and send guards up to watch him.” Leon pretends not to notice her side eye and flips the page when she leaves.

Nueena returns to her quarters, giving me and Leon a moment alone.

As soon as her door shuts, Leon asks, “You live here? In the royal family’s personal suites?”

“Yes, most of the time. I do enjoy the solitude of my little cottage, though. It’s been in my family for years, and the bustle of the palace can be overwhelming at times.”

“I gather Nueena is a princess?”

“We do not have titles like king or queen in Ellova, so the term princess is not used here, but yes, she is the royal heir.”

“It appears I am missing some key moments. Are you considered royalty here as well?” His eyes are bright as he waits for my response.

“No, no. However, Nyvenah, Ellova’s Realm Keeper, the closest to your version of a queen, welcomed me into their home when I was young, still a dewling. Nueena and I have shared this part of the royal west wing for many years. I wield no power here; I’m not even a part of her court. I belong to the Gem Court, but I am treated like family.”

Lost for words, he stares at me.

I laugh at his astonished expression. “Please do not bother being impressed. A fair amount of fae here consider me more of a pet than any type of royal.”

Leon asks in a honeyed tone, “Will they see me as your pet?” He still holds my father’s sword, the end resting on his shoulder.

Before I can answer Leon, the door to the chambers opens and two figures arrive at the same time. Leon swings the sword down, ready for whoever has arrived.

“A MORTAL?” Viella, Guardian of Ellova’s spies, all but yells it as she places her short body in front of Tavien in a protective stance, her fists bursting into blue flames.

Tavien’s massive body towers over her, and he glances down in fond amusement before patting her short blonde head. He chuckles at her. “I think that may be Della’s little mortal friend she is so fond of.”

Viella’s green eyes widen with delight and she practically skips over to us, shaking out the flames with a dramatic flick of her wrist. Her pale skin is untouched, and when the fire is gone, I take a large step to the side and watch Viella hug Leon, much to his polite confusion.

“Welcome to Ellova, Leon! We need to get you into some new clothes. I’m afraid you look rather terrible. Izzy always says how handsome you are; let’s not make a liar out of her.” She takes a step back, freeing him from her surprise embrace, while she assesses the breeches he wears.

“Er, thank you?” He gives her a half smile before looking up at Tavien.

“I’m Tavien, Nueena’s Zemra. I have clothing that might work,” Tavien says, adding, “at least for now. I think a trip to the market is in order.” Tavien shakes hands with Leon before turning to me and pulling me into a quick side hug.

I see Leon stiffen out of the corner of my eye at the contact. Nueena, now dressed in a long purple silk gown, comes to stand next to her love. Tavien holds her for a kiss. Half of her braids are up in an elaborate twist atop her head behind a crown of amethyst. Nueena’s Zemra stone is now nestled in the center of her crown, and it glows the same way Tavien’s does.

Tavien’s loose shirt is the same soft material as her gown and is worn over black breeches. Tavien is taller than most fae men, so even with her heeled boots, Nueena is shorter than he is. She hands Leon a bundle of clean clothes.

“Leon.” He finishes his introduction with “Izadella’s friend.”

“Friend?” Tavien’s smile is catlike. “Is that what we’re calling this now?”

Nueena elbows him in the side but laughs anyway.

I inwardly grimace at my friends’ endearingly annoying insistence on bringing up my persistent feelings for him, but Leon is clearly amused by this and gives me a cocky grin.

Tavien turns to Nueena. “I spoke with Lillian. Your parents are waiting for us in the throne room. Viella will keep our friend here company while we discuss the…” He cocks his head to one side while looking at the crown hidden under my hair. “...situation?”

“I need to stay with Izadella. Anywhere she goes, I go,” Leon says as Nueena and Tavien start towards the door.

“I’m sorry, Leon,” I say, “but there are some things I must speak with the Realm Keeper about. But if they would like to hear your side of the story, and I’m sure they will, I will come back here and bring you.”

He opens his mouth to argue at the idea of us separating.

“The library has some wonderful books. Get cleaned up. Vi will call for some lunch for you, and I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can. Viella is wonderful, you will like her, and she can answer any questions you have. Take a hot bath. My bathing room has everything you need.”

Two of Lillian’s personal honeyguards come in to stand at the door. They are both highly trained and vicious fighters when needed, and I know she sends these two in particular as a statement. One of them gives Leon a little wave, but her acknowledgment seems more mocking than friendly .

Leon narrows his eyes at the guard. “Right.” He moves closer to my ear. “Are you sure you will be all right?”

Unable to resist the genuine concern in his question, I reach out and place a hand on his forearm, his hand quickly covering mine. “Quite all right. I promise you are completely safe here.”

Leon moves even closer to me, his lips brushing my ear. “It’s not my safety I’m worried about.”