Chapter 10: Celestial Distractions

DORIAN

The Fire Slifer followed Dorian down the broad stone streets of the capital. She had been nearly impossible to get out of her room, but with some persistence, the young wizard had managed to win her over.

“You’re sure this is urgent?” Lydia asked as she looked around at the nearly empty streets.

“It is of the utmost importance,” he replied with a mysterious smile.

Lydia touched his shoulder with her hand, stopping his movement. There was something special about her touch. He seemed to perceive it at his very core, more so than with any woman he had ever met.

He felt something for this young Slifer. Even though she was spoken for by the King of Imarnia, the energy between them was undeniable. He had only heard her laughter a few times, but when it happened, it was like listening to a songbird’s call in the midday sun.

It hurt him to mislead her—but a little white lie couldn’t be that bad, could it?

He believed his secret mission was vital and only hoped she felt the same, especially if it had the effect he intended.

They made their way up to a set of short steps. Before they reached the top, he heard Lydia gasp.

LYDIA

“My goodness…” Lydia said in awe. She wanted to say more, but the words wouldn’t seem to form.

Dorian and Lydia were staring at a beautiful torch-lit courtyard. It was usually only filled with a single tree and a few shrubs. But tonight, it was transformed into a magnificent sight full of trees and vivid flowers surrounded by a blanket of soft, velvety grass.

It was as if the stone floor had grown tired of the dull city life and magically sprouted a small forest in the middle of Ellesmere. Capping off the beautiful sight was a small waterfall fed by an underground spring. A small stream wound whimsically through the courtyard.

“How did you…I can’t even…” Lydia stammered.

“I had a little help from your friends,” Dorian admitted.

Redmond, Ayana, and Elise stepped out from behind the trees. They waved at Lydia as the Fire Slifer rushed forward and hugged each one of them.

“Don’t get too sentimental,” Elise said while straightening out her dress. “It’s not like it’s only for you.”

Lydia nodded her head in agreement. She had fought against Gabriel for only a split second. The pain of that realization stung like a bee.

Poor Redmond had nearly ~died~ at the hands of his queen.

“It wasn’t just us,” Redmond said.

Lydia followed his gaze and saw Dorian standing at the edge of the grass, his smile as bright as the moon in the sky.

The three other Slifers began to walk away. Lydia followed after them.

“Where are you going?” she asked, confused.

Redmond chuckled. “Ms. Wind here forgot to bring the snacks we asked for.”

“I was excited to see the view!” she rebutted.

“We’ll go with her to make sure she brings them this time,” Ayana joked. “See you in a few.”

Dorian watched Lydia walk toward him and decided it was finally time.

“Before you say anything,” he said, “I wanted to add a special touch to the night.”

His hands began to glow a dark purple. The glow was mesmerizing and brightened the darkness. When Lydia’s eyes readjusted, she could see the courtyard meadow filled with celestial creatures of all shapes and sizes.

Birds flitted from one treetop to the next. Small fish swam in the stream. A long snake colored like a kaleidoscope slithered around a low-hanging branch. Foxes trotted through the shrubs, chasing rabbits that moved too quickly to be caught.

Lydia approached Dorian as if sleepwalking through a dream. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek before she even realized what was happening.

“Oh!” she said, realizing herself. “I—I’m so sorry…”

She could feel her cheeks reddening by the second and tried to hide her embarrassment by turning away. But Dorian’s hand gently touched her arm and turned her around.

She looked at the young wizard in a new light. There was something else she felt as well—a certain shudder deep in her chest that reminded her how good it felt to be touched by a man. Especially one so handsome and capable…

“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Dorian said, tearing her away from her thoughts. “I’m just glad that you like it.”

“I love it,” she corrected. “Why did you do it?”

“We all needed some kind of pick-me-up after Ulu. And luckily your Slifer friends agreed to help.” He sat down on the soft grass.

Lydia joined him, feeling a sudden urge to scoot closer.

~Damn these surprise feelings!~ she thought.

She tried to lure her mind from these unwanted desires. Her eyes followed a beautiful canary as it landed on the stream bank to drink.

“If I can say so,” Dorian said calmly, “I’m surprised you’re as strong as you are. Not with your powers, but your emotions. Seeing Gabriel attack you today was a lot, even for me to handle.”

Lydia’s stomach filled with a flurry of butterflies. She had tried to push away those thoughts, but it was impossible. Even the dashing wizard by her side couldn’t ignore the fact that her mate had nearly killed her…

But she wasn’t the only one suffering. Redmond had watched as his mate, Queen Adria, decimated Ulu. There seemed to be no coming back from witnessing such an act, yet the Earth Slifer had gone out of his way to make this bland courtyard pop with imagination and beauty.

If he could do it, then so could she.

“We’re back!” Ayana announced.

The three Slifers sat down on the grass next to Dorian and Lydia. They each brought a basket filled with sweet and savory snacks. Lydia glanced at a basket filled with bottles of mineral water and quickly took one, wetting her parched throat with the tingling liquid.

Tonight, she was going to enjoy herself, even with the nagging uncertainties tugging at the corners of her mind.

REDMOND

Dorian had been right. They all needed a respite from the horror they had witnessed earlier in the day. With everything he’d been through, he should be passed out in his bed. But there was too much to think about for him to sleep.

Queen Adria had been a shell of her former self. And her power—it had always been mighty, but mixed with Evine’s dark magic, it felt overpowering.

Redmond felt a touch on his arm and looked over to see Lydia giving him a much too serious look.

“I know it might not be the right time, but can we talk about today?” she asked.

The other Slifers had been talking and laughing, but after hearing her question, they started to quiet down.

“I suppose so,” Redmond admitted. “It’s all I can think about.”

“I know you’ve got to be hurting,” Lydia said, “because I know I sure as hell am.”

Ayana and Elise both scooted closer while Dorian kept a short distance. It was hard to grapple with the reality of what they had witnessed at the hands of their mates. Dorian could try to sympathize, but as a non-Slifer, it would be nearly impossible.

“I’m scared too,” Elise said, shocking just about everyone. “I know Calix wasn’t there. But if Evine had Adria and Gabriel…”

“Then she must have Calix and Morrison,” Ayana finished.

Everyone nodded their heads in silent contemplation.

“What do we do?” Redmond asked. He knew it was a silly question, but trying to answer it on his own would surely drive him mad.

“Well, I know one thing we can do,” Elise said confidently. “Not give up.”

“I agree!” Ayana chimed in. “That evil witch has our mates, and the last thing I want to do is give her the satisfaction of thinking she’s won.”

“But what if she already has?” Dorian asked. “What if she’s just toying with us now?”

The group looked at him with surprise in their eyes, and perhaps a glimmer of contempt. They would have to forgive his ignorance. A ranked wizard without a mate couldn’t possibly understand what it meant for a Slifer to lose the very person that helped fuel their powers.

“She hasn’t won,” Lydia said sternly. “As long as we’re alive, we’ll make sure that she never does.”

Dorian nodded his head and looked away from the group, taking in the beauty of the courtyard one last time.

“Tonight, we make a pact,” Redmond said. “No matter what happens…no matter how hard it may get…we can’t abandon each other.”

“We’ll always stick together,” Lydia said triumphantly.

The group of Slifers cheered as one. Tonight wasn’t about forgetting the trials of their day—it was about finding the power to continue forward.

GABRIEL

“Please…no!”

The puny man gasped his last breath as Gabriel flayed him with the tip of his shadowy spear. He stepped over the crumpled body and entered the throne room.

Queen Adria was sitting atop the very throne that Evine promised she would conquer.

Adria looked out the window. The sandy dunes of her kingdom were now piled high with bodies of those who tried to stop her. It was almost too easy to dismantle the defensive forces set up to prevent them from conquering Vallas.

Gabriel smiled with wicked glee. One kingdom was down, and there were three more to go. The Kingdom of Imarnia would be next, and soon he would return to sit on his own throne.

Once he had, Evine would be more than pleased. She had entrusted him with these missions. And he would do everything he could to please her.

No one could stop them. And if they tried, he would crush them under the heel of his boot.

LYDIA

Dorian and the Slifers were nearly finished picking through the last of their snacks when footsteps echoed up the stone stairs.

Marsie Maroo bounded to the top and stomped over to the small picnic. Her hair was a mess, and her voice was ragged as she tried to catch her breath.

“What’s wrong?” Lydia asked, fearing the worst.

“The Kingdom…” Marsie sputtered. “The Kingdom of Vallas has been attacked!”

Redmond leapt up with the quickness of a jackrabbit.

“We need to get there!” he cried fearfully. “We can’t let the kingdom fall at the hands of its own ruler!”

But Marsie shook her head with a heavy sadness. “It’s too late,” she said. “The capital has already fallen.”