Sapphire Falls (The Lost Realm #2)

23. Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Morgan

M organ and Susan were both settled into the low-back couches in Rylo’s library. They’d been undisturbed for two days as they poured over ancient texts, looking for any clues about the ancient witches and the Divine Five. It was remarkable that Morgan could even read this strange language with its foreign alphabet, but it was like her mind instantly translated what she was reading. Another one of those Goddess gifts that she felt a mix of gratitude and disgust for.

Yes, she was being used for some purpose that she still didn’t even understand, and that absolutely disturbed her on a daily basis. But there was also this part of her that reveled in the power and control she was building with her magic. How each day she’d practice spells in ancient books until she was exhausted from the effort and she’d collapse into a dreamless sleep in the bed she once shared with her sister. Or how those incredible shadows seemed to do her will more and more each day.

“Tea, please,” Susan muttered to the room. Immediately, a tea set appeared, steam wafted out of the spout of the teapot. Susan poured a cup for Morgan and a cup for herself.

“We could use a snack too,” Morgan said. It took a bit longer, as if the enchanted library was considering what Morgan needed most at the moment, but then a plate appeared with fruits and nuts. Morgan gave a tight smile. She was getting used to life here. Whether she wanted to stay in Aeritis or not, her day was beginning to have a comfortable rhythm to it.

“Morgan, are you concerned about Avery? Do you think she’s worried about you?” Susan asked as she set her tea cup down.

“My sister can take care of herself. She’s always been independent, and despite living in the same town and seeing each other pretty frequently, we were both wrapped up in our own lives. In some ways, it feels the same here. But, I did send a letter to her the other day. I asked Selene to send it.”

“Do you think she did?” Susan asked.

Morgan shrugged. “We’ll see. It’s not like I’ve heard from her either.”

Susan tapped her fingers on her thigh, a nervous tick Morgan had noticed Susan do a few times. “I don’t mean any offense, but I would have expected the two of you to be closer. Perhaps I’m wrong in my observations.”

Morgan sighed. “We’re close in our own way. We’ve always checked in with each other, but I’m more private than she is. Avery’s always ready to share what’s going on in her life, and isn’t afraid to ask for help. I’ve just—I’ve always been a bit in the shadows compared to my sister. In school she always had a big group of friends that I was on the outskirts of. I’ve always been more studious. I like yoga and meditating. I chose a job that paid well and challenged me. She chose jobs with zero benefits, but they’re her passion,” Morgan said, holding up an ancient tome. “It’s probably why I like sitting in this dusty library. I think she’s used to assuming that what she wants is what I want too, but here, where my life is on the line, isn’t the place for me to let that happen. I’m sure she’s fine in Orofine with Savine.”

“I can see that. Avery, from what I’ve noticed, seems to wear her emotions openly for all to see. I think she wants what is best for you, but perhaps what is best for her isn’t what’s right for you.”

Morgan took a handful of huckleberries and popped them into her mouth. The sweet tang reminded her of home, picking huckleberries with her family in the late summer.

“Yeah, I also think we’re better off using our talents here, looking for answers to what Althea is searching for.”

Susan nodded as she picked up the book that she’d been reading earlier. They both went back to silently studying and the quiet of the room felt peaceful in its own way. As Morgan scanned a book titled The Fae After the Cleaving, she found a sentence that stopped her in her tracks. “Oh! Here! I think I might be onto something about the Divine Five. It says, ‘the five formed by the witches were scattered amongst the nations of Aeritis, never to be bound again. The divine gift of Gaia never to be forged for ill use again.’ Well, that’s vague, but it’s the closest I’ve come to finding the words five and divine together. What do you think it means?”

“I think it tells us that the witches were responsible for whatever the Divine Five are, so we can at least narrow our search to the same place. The five witches responsible for The Cleaving, and the years shortly before and after that event.”

Susan turned back to her book. Morgan tried to concentrate on the text in front of her, but her mind and body felt restless. She needed to get up and stretch, maybe go through a few sun salutations.

“That’s a start, at least. I wonder if Rylo has any other texts in his other book collections? I’ll go see if I can find him and ask. I think we’ve pulled every book on witches and humans from this library.”

Susan looked up at her, concern in her eyes. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Regardless of him letting us stay here, I don’t think he should be disturbed.”

“All I’m doing is asking him for a book. I’d hardly consider it disturbing him when I’m using him as a glorified librarian,” Morgan huffed as she headed to the door.

She walked into the dark, stone hallway, buried somewhere deep within the tower. Morgan had learned to navigate the halls easily, even in the low-lit space. She walked quickly through the passage she’d had to take the night she’d returned from Orofine. The night that Rylo had put her in his bed. His reasons still didn’t make sense, but she hadn’t seen him for long enough since their return to question him further. As she walked through the dark hall, she heard voices coming from inside the rock wall.

She recognized Rylo’s honey-smooth voice immediately, the lazy arrogance in it giving him away anywhere. Two other voices rose through the rock, as if amplified for her to hear.

“My king, do not take Morgan with you on this journey. Goldoth has never sworn an alliance with us, and taking her could jeopardize utilizing her as a weapon. What if they have her killed for her role as a kingslayer?” Elio asked, and Morgan felt chilled overhearing a private conversation concerning herself.

Selene’s voice spoke next, her velvety tone didn’t match her harsh words. “Do you think the king is a fool? The thinly veiled threat by Goldoth’s king makes it clear that if she is not presented we risk war.”

Rylo’s blase voice replied, “You both are overestimating Goldoth’s interests in us. There’s a new king on the Latian throne. A man all other nations know I have seen as an enemy, and yet, I welcomed him to my home. As our southern neighbor, Goldoth wants to know where our allegiance lies. The witch is but a party trick. Now that we and Latiah have these Goddess-touched humans, Goldoth is bound to be curious. I have no plans of making an enemy out of Maglar and Mara. Only a fool would go up against the strength of the ore nation, and I am no fool. Further, I will need a strong ally if Latiah attacks in retribution for Morgan’s actions.”

The other man spoke, “If you must meet with Goldoth, have them come here. You shouldn’t travel to another nation, and the witch should be kept here. If they wish to see her shadows, bring them to us.”

“I am no coward. We’ll travel to the south, and Morgan will come with me. Selene, you’ll of course stay here to run things in my stead. But Elio, I’ll have you at my side. There are many reasons why I wish to visit our neighbors to the south. Write back to say that we’ll arrive two weeks after the Night of Feasts.”

Morgan could hear shuffling from within the wall. She backed up, bumping into a faelight sconce on the wall. She reached up to try and straighten the light, but it was too late. The orb clattered to the ground, plunging the hall into darkness.

“Who’s out there?” Selene asked, and Morgan tried to sneak away into the shadows. The wall dissolved before her and she met Selene’s gaze. “Just the witch we were speaking of,” Selene said as she pulled Morgan into the room.

Morgan didn’t bother putting up a fight as she was tossed to the floor. The room was illuminated with soft light from the wide balcony overlooking a cloud-covered sky. A spacious sitting area meant to accommodate wings and a table laid with tea met her.

“Who do we have here?” Elio asked. His wry smile showed just a hint of arrogance.

Morgan didn’t dare speak as she lifted herself off the ground and looked at Rylo. His eyes seemed to gleam like two golden orbs, and Morgan didn’t know if it was in delight or displeasure.

“Selene and Elio, you are dismissed,” Rylo said with a wave of his hand. Both left without question.

“Morgan, don’t you know it’s rude to listen in on private conversations?” Rylo asked as he took his seat on the couch. “Tea?”

Morgan shook her head.

“Well don’t just stand there, take a seat. If you’re going to listen in, at least own it and don’t loiter about like an unwanted pet,” Rylo said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

She sat down across from Rylo, and couldn’t help but notice how his long, lean muscles seemed to flex just by raising a cup of tea to his supple lips. He quirked a tiny grin at her as he set his teacup down.

“So, what did you overhear?” Rylo asked.

“Just that we’ll be traveling to Goldoth to meet the king there.”

Rylo let out a shrewd laugh. “Just that! And what do you think of traveling to another nation in Aeritis? Your last travel plans went so poorly, wouldn’t you agree?” He lifted his hands up, exposing the black lines that snaked up to his elbows as he moved around the table and sat down next to Morgan.

“Do you actually want my opinion?” Morgan asked, meaning it.

“Your opinion will not make a difference, but I like to hear a person’s reply when I know they aren’t satisfied with the outcome.”

“Then why ask at all? You already know I didn’t want to go to Orofine, but I still went. Do you think this will be any different?”

“Of course there will be a difference. You aren’t Goldoth’s kingslayer. You’ll be treated as an honored guest and will be at my side. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To be on the arm of a king?” Rylo said, reaching his blackened hand to her chin. He caressed her jawline, and Morgan felt a tingle down her spine from his touch.

Morgan batted his hand away. “I’d be happiest staying here. You’ve been generous enough to open your library to me and I want to continue to utilize my time there. Actually, that’s why I came here. I was looking for you to ask about some other texts you may have,” Morgan replied, keeping her voice cool and calm.

“I’m sorry, that is not going to be possible. I’ll need you with me. You could very well be the cause of war in my lands, thanks to that move you made in Orofine, and I find myself in need of an alliance. If bringing you with me gets that alliance, then so be it.”

Morgan knew he had a point. If Avery’s lover was offended enough to declare war against Nephel it would be all Morgan’s fault. She was the one who’d screwed up the plans— and probably left a few bodies behind in her wake. But she didn’t need him knowing she felt guilty over it.

“And if I refuse to go with you?” Morgan added, “If I used one of your oaths to stay here?”

“It would be a waste of an oath, Kingslayer. I have need for you yet, and will see no harm come to you in Goldoth. We go to Goldoth for reasons beyond the diplomatic.”

Morgan knew Avery didn’t trust Rylo. He’d kidnapped her, after all, but he’d never shown her any reason to distrust him. Despite the time in the Tower of Teeth, Morgan had come out stronger, more resilient. She didn’t even fault him for putting her there after she’d done exactly what he’d told her not to do. In some ways, she wondered if he knew that she would come out stronger, yet there was still the nagging point that Avery had emphatically declared Rylo to be insane.

“You know my sister thinks you’re crazy, right?” Morgan said, changing the subject. “She told me how you locked Savine away for years in the Tower of Teeth. Why should I trust you after what you did to her and Savine?”

Rylo leaned in closer to her, a sharp smile on his face. “I showed your sister the side of me she most wanted to see. The mad king, as Latiah believes me to be. Do my people treat me as if I am mad? Would they allow me to rule if I were?”

Morgan leaned closer to Rylo. Close enough for her to smell his sweet and spicy scent. “So it was all an act? I thought you couldn’t lie?”

“Perhaps there is some truth to my actions. Often where truth and lie meet is not a clear line. More to the point, why would I want them to believe anything other than what they already think of me? To see me as mad, as frivolous and cruel.”

Morgan reached out and traced her finger along the black line at Rylo’s fingertip. A dark mist grew around their feet, dancing up their legs. “So you admit you are those things. You had my sister kill an innocent man and locked Savine away because you’re cruel.”

Rylo caught her wrist in his hand, bringing it up to his lips as a featherlight touch from his mouth moved along each of her fingertips. Her heart thudded in her chest at his touch.

“I am cruel, and you best not forget that, kingslayer,” he said, licking her wrist before he released her hand. Her shadows writhed up around them before she pulled them back into her.

Morgan felt a little off balance with this beautiful, strange man admitting to being cruel while also flirting with her. This was flirting, right? But she wasn’t going to let him know that he’d frazzled her. “Tell me, cruel king, what do you know about the Divine Five?”

Rylo let out a wry laugh. “Oh you have been a studious girl in my library if you’ve found any knowledge of the Divine Five! Please, tell me what you know first.”

Morgan pursed her lips, she wouldn’t reveal what Kyla was instructed to do. “Only that it must have something to do with the ancient witches. Maybe it could reveal something about what Avery and I were called here to do.”

Rylo’s feathers spread out, golden in the low light. “You are curious, aren’t you? Well perhaps you’d be interested to know that I have one of the Divine Five. In fact, I placed it around your sister’s pretty neck just to see how it would react to her magic the night you arrived. It was a disappointment to see she didn’t seem to wield it to the extent that your ancestors did. But perhaps we can try with you instead.”

Morgan poured herself a cup of tea, refusing to let him see the nervous flutter in her belly. She was finally getting somewhere and making progress on what could be keeping her trapped here. Whatever task it was that she needed to finish, the Divine Five most likely were involved. “The necklace? I remember seeing the yellow stone on her.”

“Created by the witches that caused the Cleaving, that necklace contains deep magic. It’s a vessel for the deep magic that only a powerful witch could access. During the battle in which I captured Avery, she managed to access that magic and siphoned it into Savine, making herself a vessel. Yet, when she wore the very necklace that held deep magic at Jasper’s death, she was powerless.” Rylo looked down at the shadows that once again snaked around them. “I have no doubt that you will answer the call to the deep magic and use it when it’s necessary.”

Rylo’s gold-flecked eyes seemed to take on a deeper shine, as did his flesh. It was as if that piece of the sun that was part of him shone brighter, mingling with her darkness.

Morgan’s heart was pulsing in her chest. She was finally making a breakthrough in the mystery, but her voice was steady as she spoke. “I’ll willingly go to Goldoth with you, but I want you to give me and Susan every source you have on the Divine Five,” Morgan said between sips of tea.

Rylo’s wings wrapped around him, close enough for Morgan to reach out and touch. “Not that you have a choice to go with me to Goldoth or not, but I will provide the texts. Only because I want to see what your beautiful mind discovers about the witches of the past, and what you will do with that information.”

Morgan smirked and finally gave into the urge to touch one of his magnificent feathers. Rylo shuddered, but didn’t pull his wings back. The feather was so soft, and Morgan couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have those feathers touch her naked body. “Fine, but I want my gun back before we go to Goldoth.”

Morgan continued to stroke the king’s feathers. Rylo let out a gasp as he said, “I would never deny my Kingslayer her weapon.”

She smiled as she watched his face look on the verge of being fully undone by her touch.