Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Stop looking at me like that. I’m just as shocked as you are.” I say crossing my arms over my chest as I look down and realize I’m only wearing a very thin silk nightgown—and nothing else.

I can’t believe I just translocated.

Alyndra drops her arm full of books onto a nearby cart and steps toward me as she removes her shawl. “Here. Take this.” She says, looking around the room. No one else seems to be around though.

“Thanks” I say, slipping the shawl over my shoulders.

“You’ve been gone for nearly a fortnight. You left this place as a lowly servant girl, but now…” She sneers at the absurdity. “Now you’re a magic wielding, elven princess?”

A soft chuckle escapes my lips at her witty comment, the corners of my mouth curling into a smile. “Well, sort of… we have much to catch up on,” I reply, my voice tinged with excitement and nostalgia.

Alyndra leads me into her sleeping chambers, and I am immediately taken back by the vibrant energy that fills the room. Bright neon tapestries cover the walls, depicting whimsical fairies and flowers in bold shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow. The four wooden bedposts are intricately carved with similar designs, adding to the enchanting atmosphere. A towering bookcase, bursting with an array of novels and texts of all different sizes, stretches almost the entire length of one wall. Only a small window, adorned with a cozy built-in bench, broke up the expanse of literature. It is a reader’s paradise, beckoning to be explored and discovered.

I sink into a collection of plush pillows arranged in front of the crackling fire and inhale deeply. It feels as though I’ve stepped into a home away from home within Alyndra’s colorful sanctuary.

She pours us both a cup of hot herbal tea, setting it down on a small table between us. We spend hours catching up on all the events that have transpired during my absence. Alyndra is thrilled to hear about my new-found magical abilities and my relationship with Theo. Although maybe a little shocked by the whole idea of us being Destinara.

“I always knew those romance novels I gave you would come in handy one day.” Alyndra boasts, smiling into her cup of tea. Her face quickly turns somber as she sets down her cup to speak again, “I was very sorry to hear about your grandmother. I know how much she meant to you.”

I feel my eyes welling up, “You know…” I pause, composing my next words, “I would give it all back. The magic, the romance, the royalty—if you can call it that yet. I would give it all away if I could just sit with her in that dusty old cottage and smell her sweet honey butter biscuits, one more time.” A tear slowly escapes me, and I quickly brush it off, giving Alyndra a half smile and nervous giggle. “I haven’t yet had a chance to truly be sad. Everything just happened so fast.”

“Let’s change the subject,” she interrupts with more enthusiasm and curiosity. “Have you figured out how you translocated to me yet?”

“Not a clue. I was just lying in bed, thinking about Mikyl and what the Witches said…”

Alyndra wiggled her eyebrows. “Lying there with a certain dragon-shifting hunk, perhaps?”

I felt my cheeks flush. “Maybe... By the Gods!” I bolted upright. “Theo! He’s probably freaking out right now. Do you think he can still soulspeak to me here? ”

Alyndra shrugged, looking bemused. “Beats me. I’m not exactly versed in the long-distance communication procedures of magical soulmates.”

I relax a bit, sinking back into the pillows. “He’s probably still snoring away, blissfully unaware of my little teleportation adventure. Anyway, let’s get back to the reason I am here.” I cleared my throat dramatically. “The Witches said, and I quote: ‘He waits for you in a place obscured by spells and silence, a fortress hidden from eyes unseeing .’ Any brilliant ideas, oh wise librarian?”

Alyndra stares at the fire blankly, lost in thought, tapping the side of her teacup with her index fingernail. “A place obscured by spells—a hidden fortress. It has to be one of two places. Either somewhere on Mt. Ero or somewhere on Obscurion Island. They are the only two uninhabitable places in the realm. As far as I know, no one ever goes there, and no one lives there.”

She hops up and beelines for the bookcase, pulling out a massive, dusty tome. Dropping it on the table with a theatrical ‘thud’, she announces, “If there is a castle or fortress of any kind within Quillyan, it should be listed in this book.”

I run my hand over the cover, squinting at the elaborate script.

The Grand Atlas of Quillyan’s Architectural Heritage:

A Comprehensive Survey of Edifices Great and Smal l

“Catchy title. I bet it’s a real page turner.” I say.

We open the large tome and start flipping through its pages, our fingers tracing the detailed illustrations of both extravagant castles and simple cottages. We skim through page after page, quickly looking over the words for any potentially important details.

“Wait, I’ve found it!” I exclaim, pointing at an intricate drawing in the center of the page. My eyes scan the book, and a surge of resolve and hope fills me. The drawing reveals a map with winding paths leading up to the fortress. “According to this, the structure we seek is located in the heart of the volcano, Mt. Ero,” I say, my voice steady with new-found determination.

“You need to get back to Theo and fill him in.” Alyndra says with urgency in her tone. “Can you translocate back to Endia?”

“I… I don’t know,” I stammer. “I’m not even sure how I did it the first time.”

Alyndra offers me a hand, “Come on stand up. I think I can help you with this. It can’t be any different than our elven magic.”

I accept her offer and rise to my feet, turning to face her. Alyndra’s eyes drop to peaked nipples under my thin nightgown, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. “You know, it’s a shame you’re destined for tall, brooding, and scaly… I might have to fight a Dragon for you.” She winks, and I feel my cheeks burning hotter than Theo’s fire breath .

Switching to a more serious tone, Alyndra continues, “I think your powers are tied to your emotions. Let’s go through your greatest hits, shall we?”

I nod, trying to recall my most recent magical moments. “Well, when I went all ‘explody’ on those swords, I was pretty ticked off. Partly because Theo and I were rudely interrupted, if you catch my drift.” I can feel my face turning even redder. “But mostly because they were threatening us.”

“Anger, got it,” Alyndra nods. “What about when you froze Theo? What were you feeling then?”

I close my eyes, reliving the moment. “Terrified. I’d already lost Meemaw, then Eulee, and I thought I was going to lose Theo too. I was scared of being alone.”

“So, fear triggers your time-freezing party trick,” Alyndra says, squeezing my hand. “Now, what about your impromptu visit here?”

I try to remember my thoughts from earlier. “It was a jumble. Mikyl, the Witches’ cryptic nonsense, the library, you. I just knew you’d have the answers.”

“Sounds like you were feeling pretty cozy,” Alyndra muses. “Maybe it was love? Love for the library, the books, the sanctuary they’ve always given you?”

“Yeah, I guess that could be it,” I agree.

“Then that’s your ticket back to Theo,” Alyndra says. “Just picture your Dragon boy in all his scaly glory. And hey, if you happen to materialize on top of him, I’m sure he won’t be complaining. Might even spice up your night. ”

I roll my eyes but can’t help grinning. Closing them, I focus on Theo. His warmth enveloping me, his gentle snores tickling my ear, the rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek. My heart does a little flip, and suddenly I’m filled with an overwhelming desire to be back in his arms.

That is where I belong, with him.

As I concentrate on this powerful emotion, I feel a faint tingling in my fingertips. It spreads up my arm, pulsing like a rhythmic heartbeat. I try to hold onto this sensation, to let it grow, to summon my powers. With a deep breath, I focus on the feeling of safety and warmth that I associate with Theo. I imagine the love and devotion I have for him, and how desperately I want to be back beside him again.

Suddenly, the world around me seems to bend and shift, bending to my will. I can feel the power coursing through me, a force born from love and faith. The air around me shimmers once more as I’m surrounded by light. My eyes snap open, and I look directly at Alyndra, my gaze determined. She nods in encouragement, and I close my eyes once more. This time, when I open them, I’m back in my bed.