Chapter 29

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Navine asked. His voice carried over the wind as we soared through the sky.

The morning sun was just beginning to warm the day, and as promised, Navine was escorting me to the beach to meet Anika. Despite the beautiful day and my cheerful mood, Navine couldn’t shake his concern about how I might handle the day, given the recent events in my life.

“I’ll be okay, Navine,” I assured him. The salty sea air brushed against my face, the scent and sound of the ocean soothing my nerves. “Anika is a healer, so I’ll be safe with her if anything happens.”

“I guess,” Navine conceded, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced.

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry so much. I’ll call you if anything goes wrong.”

I touched the pendant around my neck, a gift from Navine. It was more than just a piece of jewelry; it was a lifeline, a way for us to stay connected. The pendant was a beautiful Lamia’s tear, encased in a silver vine setting—a memento from our day at the hidden cove.

Navine had imbued the tear with both our essences, creating a magical link between us. Navine seemed to relax a little at my reassurance.

“I know you will, and I trust you,” he said.

The ocean shimmered under the mid-morning sun as we began our descent, the rhythmic crash of the waves a comforting melody in my ears. The beach was quiet when we landed on the soft, white sand. The distant calls of the Sirens were absent, probably because they were out hunting.

Anika emerged from the tree line just as we touched down. A bright smile lit up her face as she rushed over to greet me.

I returned her hug with equal enthusiasm. “It’s so good to see you again, my dear! You look wonderful!” Anika exclaimed.

She then turned to Navine and gave him a respectful nod. “And you too, Lord Navine. Thank you for bringing Raelina to me.”

“I know she’s safe with you, Anika. After all, you raised her,” Navine said, patting my shoulder. “I should get going. Remember to call me if you need anything.”

“I will,” I promised.

Navine kissed me gently before spreading his wings and taking off. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as he left. I wished he could have stayed with us.

It would have been nice to spend more time with Anika. Anika’s hand in mine brought me back to the present.

“It’s lovely to see you and Lord Navine so in love,” she remarked.

I felt my cheeks heat up. “Yes, I guess we are.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed, darling. It’s natural to show affection to the one you love,” Anika said, her voice gentle.

“Yes, you’re right,” I agreed. I looked in the direction Navine had flown off to, then back at Anika. “It’s really good to see you too. It feels like it’s been too long with everything that’s been going on.”

“I agree,” Anika said, holding my hand as we strolled down the beach. “I need to gather some herbs from the trees, but let’s chat a bit more first. Is it true what you told me about your soul reincarnating?”

“Yes, it’s true. Did you really not know?” I asked.

“I didn’t,” Anika confessed. Her gaze was distant as she looked out at the ocean. “But it does make sense. We never understood why the Sun Fae died the way they did. It seemed so random and terrifying. But the idea that an alpha could be behind it is even more frightening.”

“It is, but not all alphas are good. We’ve heard the stories about the Golden Queen and the previous ruler of the Eastern Lands,” I reminded her.

“Yes, you’re right,” Anika said, stopping to face me. She gently ran her hand through my hair and over my cheek. “It just scares me to think of what he might do to you. You’ve already been through so much at such a young age, and you’ve recently faced more trauma that could have shattered your soul.”

I understood where she was coming from. I mean, I was scared too. But I wasn’t about to back down—not when my life with Navine was just starting to take shape.

“I get it, and I know it might be risky sticking with Navine. But I also know that this is where I’m meant to be. I’ve known since I was a kid that I was supposed to be by his side, and I’m not giving that up,” I said with conviction.

Anika closed her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips. “And you shouldn’t if it’s what you really want. We all deserve a shot at happiness.”

“You’re right,” I said, smiling back at her and taking the extra wicker basket she was holding. “How about we start hunting for those herbs now? That way, we’ll have more time to chill later.”

She was all for it. After going through her list with me, we ventured into the woods to find the grasses and herbs. I was having a blast; everything felt so familiar and comforting.

This was how we grew up, and I loved helping her in any way I could. Plus, I knew I was helping others by doing this too. It took us around ninety minutes to wrap up, and afterward, we decided to chill on the beach, gazing at the ocean and chatting.

“So, the Snake is still with you? It’s intriguing that they’d put him on the mountain with Navine. I wouldn’t have thought any Snake could survive up there,” Anika mused.

“I guess a lot of it is thanks to Emelio and Navine. They made sure he had what he needed, and Nanash does live in the conservatory now,” I filled her in.

Anika traced her fingers over the sand. “Honestly, I’m glad they did that for him. I bet his own clan would’ve killed him if they found out what he’d done. They’d probably see it as a betrayal.”

“Do you know a lot about Snakes?”

“I know a fair bit. My dad knew more. He made it his mission to know about almost all the creatures in the Northern Lands. I guess he was fascinated by how we coexisted yet were so different. But I’ve heard the same about humans too, for the most part. I can’t say we’re that different from them, even if our lives and time flow differently,” she shared.

“Have you ever been to the human world?” I asked.

Anika shook her head. “No, and I doubt I ever will. But it’s interesting that Lady Lana is human. We’ve also heard that Lord Merrick’s wife is human too, and they say that Lord Lyric’s wife is a Nephilim, which makes her half human.”

I stared out at the ocean, taking in the shimmering water and the gentle breeze that wafted off it.

“I guess we’re not that different after all. We were all created by the same maker.”

“That’s true,” Anika agreed. She gazed out at the ocean with me, her rainbow hair fluttering in the breeze. Her eyes radiated contentment.

“I won’t lie, I was a bit worried when Lord Navine chose you as his bride. I was even more worried after you told me about everything that’s happened and how Lord Jekia confirmed your reincarnation. But seeing you now, I feel like I can let go of a lot of that worry. You’re genuinely happy, and it’s clear how much Lord Navine cherishes you.”

I looked down, my cheeks warming up despite my best efforts to keep my cool. It was nice to hear Anika say that most of her worries were gone, and I should’ve been over the moon that she could see Navine’s love for me.

Maybe I was still getting used to our relationship in front of others.

“I’m glad to hear that,” I managed to say. I tried to pull myself together. “And I am happy to be with him now, even if some things might be tough.”

“Even if they are, you can always count on me,” Anika assured me.

I smiled back at her. “And I will.”

The sound of wings flapping caught our attention. I looked up, fully expecting to see Navine. Maybe he had finished early and decided to join us.

My heart dropped when I realized it wasn’t him. Instead, I saw the familiar shimmer of multicolored wings that looked like prisms.

~Oh no, not now.~

Anika moved closer to me, her hand tightening around mine as Dominick soared above us, his wings spread wide against the ocean backdrop. He circled once, then twice, before descending and landing a few feet away.

I held my ground, refusing to let him see any fear in me.

Dominick didn’t seem hostile, just friendly. His smile was warm and inviting.

“Well, this is unexpected. I didn’t think I’d find you out here alone,” he said, his gaze shifting to Anika. “Or maybe not entirely alone. Are you two having a friendly visit?”

“We were,” I replied, reminding him, “Anika raised me after my sect was wiped out.”

“Ah, I remember hearing about that,” Dominick said, studying Anika more closely. “You’re Harod’s daughter, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. It’s been a long time since I last saw you, Lord Dominick. You haven’t changed much,” Anika replied.

I was surprised to hear that Anika had met Dominick before. I assumed it must have been when she was very young, and it seemed he knew her father as well.

Dominick’s smile remained in place. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Anika continued, “I hope I’m not being rude, but your visit is quite unexpected. Raelina and I were just enjoying a peaceful visit while I gathered some things.”

“I figured as much,” Dominick said, “but it’s still surprising to see Raelina out here alone. I thought Navine would never allow it.”

“He trusts me enough to let me visit whoever I want. He wouldn’t deny me time with Anika. She’s like a mother to me,” I told him.

Dominick nodded. “Yes, she did raise you, didn’t she?” He sighed, a look of sadness crossing his face. “It’s tragic what happened to your parents and sect. I can only imagine how it’s affected you.”

I didn’t deny it, but I also didn’t let it get to me.

“It has,” I admitted, “but I can’t dwell on the past. I’m looking forward to my future.”

“I bet you are,” Dominick said. “Becoming Navine’s queen has its perks, doesn’t it? Just like being with any alpha. It raises your status, especially when you didn’t have much to begin with.”

“That sounds a bit condescending, Dominick,” I pointed out.

“Do you think so? I didn’t mean it that way. I just like to state facts,” Dominick replied.

He didn’t seem angry or upset. He looked genuinely surprised that I took his words that way. But I couldn’t believe he didn’t understand the implications of his words. He was old and powerful enough to know their weight. This had to be another one of his games.

“Maybe they are facts,” I conceded, “but you should think about how they might be perceived.”

Dominick shrugged. “I suppose I could, even if I don’t really care about the opinions of those beneath me.”

Anika chimed in. “Is there a reason you stopped to talk to us? We can’t be that different from anyone else you’d see.”

“No, you’re not,” Dominick admitted, “but I couldn’t resist seeing Raelina again. Navine tends to keep her to himself, and I feel bad that we haven’t gotten to know each other better.”

I frowned at him. “Let’s not go down that road, Dominick. We both know Navine doesn’t trust you around me, and you haven’t given him any reason to, especially after recent events.”

“Are you referring to what happened at Lorelei’s? I thought I apologized for that,” Dominick said.

“Maybe, but an apology isn’t enough to change minds, especially considering past issues,” I replied.

Dominick’s eyes flashed, and for a moment, they seemed icy cold. But he quickly hid it.

“I guess the past has a way of sticking around, huh? I’ll just have to work harder to prove myself, especially to you,” he said, leaning in closer. He twirled a long strand of my hair around his finger. His voice was a soft whisper. “You’re even more beautiful this time, more than I remember. It’s a pity you always end up with Navine.”

“My heart has always belonged to him. Maybe you could find the same if you decided to move on,” I suggested.

“You’re a brave Fae, but that’s one of the things I’ve always admired about you.”

I held my ground, meeting his gaze with determination, refusing to let the fear gnawing at my soul show. His eyes, like prisms, reminded me of the time when I was Rosaline. I could see them now—cold, calculating, looking right through me as if I were nothing more than a plaything.

Anika stepped in, pulling me back and positioning herself between Dominick and me.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I wanted Raelina to walk back with me. We have a long journey ahead, so we should get going,” she said.

It was a convenient excuse—one I was more than happy to latch onto.

“Yes, you’re right,” I said, bowing my head, trying to maintain a balance of confidence and courtesy. “I hope we get another chance to talk. It would be beneficial for all of us to mend fences.”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Dominick said, his tone friendly once again. “I’ll take your word for it then. Until next time, ladies.”

Anika pulled me toward the woods as he flew off. She waited until we were under the cover of the trees to speak.

“Maybe it’s best if you go home, Raelina. I wouldn’t trust his intentions.”

“I won’t let him scare me. He wouldn’t do anything. He’s always made sure to cover his tracks,” I assured her.

“That may be true, but that doesn’t mean he won’t change his approach if he feels cornered,” Anika warned.

I scanned the sky through the trees, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dominick, but he was long gone. I clutched my pendant, trying to hide the slight tremor in my hand. The last thing I wanted was for her to see me rattled.

“I’ll be okay, even if he tries something,” I reassured her. I forced a smile, taking her hands in mine. “Now that he’s gone, do you want to walk along the beach with me a little longer?”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” Anika conceded reluctantly.

***

I agreed, stepping out from the cover of the trees with her onto the shoreline. The waves gently lapped at the sand, the only sound for miles. It was a bit eerie, but I brushed it off. Dominick had just unnerved me; that was all.

But Anika wasn’t as easily convinced by the silence. She stood close to me, scanning the ocean and cliffs.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“I don’t like this. It’s too quiet,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

I looked around with her, but everything seemed normal.

“Maybe Dominick’s presence scared off the other creatures. It does happen sometimes when…”

I stopped mid-sentence as a foul smell hit my nostrils. It was a mix of mud and musk, hanging heavy in the air.

Anika was instantly by my side, gripping my hands as the water in front of us began to churn violently. The waves grew larger, and the smell intensified.

“We need to get out of here, now!” Anika urged.

Without a second thought, I followed her, instinctively knowing that something dangerous was approaching. The waves washed over the entire beach as we reached the safety of the trees. I glanced back just in time to see a monstrous form rising from the ocean.

“The Leviathan!” I exclaimed.