Page 25 of Wings of Snow
“We need to join hands for the portal key to transport all of us at once.” Drachu held his palm out to me, but I clasped my sister’s hand first before taking the king’s.
Drachu’s skin felt warm and dry, but stiff, not like the supple skin of the crown prince’s.
An ache so sharp punctured my breath that it felt as though the wind had been knocked from me.Gods, I miss you, Norivun.Even though it’d only been a day since we’d fled our continent, I missed my mate so acutely that it was a physical pain in my chest.
Cailis squeezed my hand, probably sensing my reaction. I forced my breathing to slow as Drachu pulled one of the tiny portal keys from his pocket, the same pocket that he’d tucked that rock into.
“Open key for thou, I ask. I need a door for this new task.” He whispered that strange statement, then squeezed my hand harder.
The realm disappeared around us in a wink of magic.
CHAPTER 9 - ILARA
Portal keys were nothing like mistphasing. It felt as if I was being pulled apart and squished back together all within the same breath. By the time we reappeared on a solid surface, my stomach was tumbling, and it felt as though I was going to be sick.
“Blessed Mother.” Cailis dry heaved beside me, and Tylen winced.
Drachu chuckled. “The keys can be a bit jarring. Did I not warn you?”
“Funny how you forgot to mention that,” Cailis grumbled.
I took another deep breath, thankful that my breakfast stayed in my stomach, but despite the portal key transfer being a million times worse than a natural mistphase, it had indeed moved us across the realm.
Straightening, I took in the vast view. We stood on the top of a high mountain, sheer drops on all sides. A temple made of white stone rose just behind us. Stairs cutting into the rock climbed to it. The temple was a simple design with a circular floor, domed ceiling, and columns supporting the structure.
Since we stood just beneath it, I couldn’t see if anything was inside the open structure, but if there was, it had to be low to the ground. Open air swirled through the columns.
A fierce wind tangled my hair, sending black locks thrashing around my eyes as I scanned the terrain’s descending slopes. Hundreds of feet below us, the ocean crashed against a pale sandy beach as a warm, salty breeze flowed over my cheeks, and a clear pale-green sky stretched above.
And the landscape...
My mouth dropped at the lack of snow and ice. Everything was vibrant, warm, and so very alive. Emerald-green, bright-blue, and magenta leaves coated the island’s plants. Not one speck of snow or frost was anywhere.
“Is this the Adrall Temple?” I asked.
“It is.” Drachu pointed toward the sea. “And if you look that way, you can see our continent. It’s just south of here.”
My attention whipped south, and my jaw dropped at the huge land mass glimmering in the distance. Blessed Mother, we were in an entirely differenthemisphere.
Cailis gaped.
My heart pattered even harder. We were likely thousands of millees from our northern continent.
A chill raced down my spine, but before I could regret this decision entirely, a soft female voice carried to me on the breeze, distracting me. “King Drachu. You bless me with your presence.”
I whirled around to see a female at the top of the temple’s stairs. Like all Lochen fae, she had startling green eyes. Dark hair, a shade lighter than mine, hung in ringlets to her shoulders. She walked slowly down the steps, her movements graceful and light. The sunlight shone off her umber-brown skin, then caught on the pendant hanging from her neck.
Like Drachu, she also wore a necklace with shells and gems, but unlike the fae king’s, there wasn’t a central stone throbbing with light.
When she reached us, she brought her thumb to her mouth, then to her forehead.
“Priestess Genoova.” Drachu inclined his head.
“I’m prepared and ready for your arrival. Is she the one you spoke of?” The priestess turned to me, her malachite eyes sharp and assessing.
“Indeed.” Drachu smirked.
Cailis and I shared an apprehensive look as Tylen stood behind his father.