Page 43 of Kissed By the Sun

To my amazement, every elf in the room—save for Echo—dropped to one knee. Even more astonishing was the crown of pure light that materialized and hovered above Echo's head.

"What in the name of..." I muttered, awestruck by the display.

As the light faded slightly, Echo stood, his posture regal and commanding. The crown remained, now solidifying into an almost tangible form upon his brow.

"Rise," he commanded, his voice resonating with newfound authority. "Behold your new High Lord."

Echo's eyes swept across the room, landing on me for a brief moment before addressing the crowd.

"My people," he began, his voice carrying a weight that hadn’t been there when the two of us spoke earlier, "we stand at a crossroads. For too long, we have isolated ourselves, ignoring the growing threat beyond our borders. No more."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I tensed, my hand instinctively tightening on my weapon.

"We will forge an alliance with the fae," Echo declared, "to fight the blight that threatens us all."

The whispers grew louder, a mix of shock and disbelief. I caught fragments of conversation: "The fae?" "Impossible!" "Has he gone mad?"

Echo raised a hand, silencing the room once more. "Advisor Thelian," he called.

The older elf stepped forward again, producing another scroll from his robes. Echo took it, then turned his gaze to me.

"Thorn," he said, "step forward."

My heart pounded as I approached the throne, acutely aware of every eye in the room upon me. The elves parted, creating a path, their faces a mixture of curiosity and thinly veiled hostility.

As I reached Echo, he held out the scroll. "This is a blood pact," he explained, his voice low but clear. "If the terms are acceptable, place a drop of your blood on the seal at the bottom. This will make our alliance official."

I took the scroll, my mind racing. This was it—the moment that could change everything. But could I trust Echo? Could I trust any of them?

With a respectful bow, I retreated to the back of the room, eager to examine the scroll's contents. As I moved, Echo's voice rang out once more.

"Send for healers immediately," he ordered. "See to the wounded fae and their companions."

I glanced back at Echo in surprise and he just gave me a nod. When I turned back I could see Senara and our demihuman allies huddled against the wall, looking wary and exhausted. My heart ached at the sight of Senara, still unconscious.

Echo wasn't finished. "I want any information about the blight," he continued. "Rumors, sightings—anything about corrupted fae or other beings in our territories. Bring it to me at once."

As the room erupted into activity, I turned my attention to the scroll, my mind filled with a mix of hope and apprehension. This could be our salvation—or our doom.

Chapter

Twenty-One

Senara

I awoketo a sea of softness, my body was being cradled by a plush comfort unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I found myself in an unfamiliar room, sunlight filtering through a gossamer curtain of emerald leaves that danced with the gentle breeze.

Where am I? The last thing I remembered was...

My thoughts scattered as I sensed a presence nearby. Through our bond, I knew it was Thorn before I even saw him. He stood silhouetted against the bright light streaming in from what appeared to be a balcony or patio beyond the billowing curtain.

As if feeling my gaze upon him, Thorn turned, his broad shoulders tensing slightly as he stepped back into the room. Our eyes met, and I felt the intensity of his stare as it roved over me, searching for... something.

"Thorn," I whispered, my voice hoarse from disuse. "What happened? Where are we?"

He moved closer, his steps measured and cautious. "You're safe now, Senara. We're in Elderwood, the Elven capital, do you remember?"

I struggled to sit up, wincing at the lingering ache in my muscles. "Elderwood? But how did we?—"