Chapter 48: The Crystal Caves

[Ona].

A collective cry goes through the crowd as the flames rise higher. I am stuck in place, standing stone still.

Where did everyone go?

"The flames are growing, Sir." One of the knights screams to another. "We need to get the queen out of here. Let the rest burn."

As I open my mouth to scream, the world fades, the heat disappears, and I feel the sensation of hands on my back and the kind, soft words of a friend.

"Take a deep breath."

Inhaling deeply, I fill my lungs.

Darkness is brightened by the sound of rushing waves and the brief sensation of water flowing through me as I move from one space to the next.

This is not flying. This feels like falling.

I blink. Exhale. Breathe.

Everything stops.

I am standing in a cave illuminated with blue crystals. The rock is wet, slick, and cold.

"Give yourself some time," the kind voice says as he slowly comes into focus.

The Elf King is standing before me, wet from both sweat and the mist of the nearby water bouncing off the rock. "Displacement always feels a bit like falling apart. Just breathe. You'll get your senses back soon."

"Displacement?" I cough, gasping.

"Just a special skill unique to those like me," he smiles mysteriously as he reaches forward and plucks a blue crystal from the clay of the cave and places it in a thick leather bag covered in scales.

"The rest of my family?" Crouching down, I struggle to regain my breath.

"Safe," he assures me. "Rescued. Like the others. Don't worry, we'll be with them soon. The only reason we are not there with them right now is that I needed to stop to gather a bit more skystone if we are going to treat your brother and my niece."

"The palace is on fire," I remind him. Carnelia and Primus were in a stasis pod. Those are not easy to move.

"Of that, I am quite aware," he plucks another crystal. "Don't worry, we do not need to return there to heal our family. We are free of that dreadful cursed place."

"So how are we supposed to help them?" My head is pounding. I can barely think, but even to my addled brain, this makes no sense. "You know they are probably burning in the fire right now while we are here picking crystals!"

"Patience," he advises in a calm voice as he chooses one especially large crystal and plops it into his bag. His careful, methodical way of moving about his task is infuriating. I want to shout at him, tell him to hurry up because there are people out there who need rescuing, but even I'm not fool enough to start shouting at the Elf King.

He's been kind so far, but he doesn't have his reputation for ruthless cunning because he is a gentle soul against hurting others. He is just as dangerous as any royal with more than their share of power. He could incapacitate me with a thought if he wanted. Or worse, disappear me into a void, my body not quite whole.

And nobody would know.

Squeezing my palms so tight that my talons are drawing blood I take long, slow breaths.

Soon. We will leave soon.

It feels like forever before he is finally satisfied with his haul, his bag full to bursting. "I don't want to need to come back here very soon. It isn't safe for us to be this close to Luxandra. The Queen might think to come here so before she does, we need to be far, far away."

Dusting off his hands, he walks across the cave and helps me stand.

"Are you feeling steady enough for one last jump? I promise after that you won't be asked to travel this way again," he shakes his finger, reconsidering his words, and adds, "Actually I can't promise that, but I can say you won't be asked to do it again today."

Groaning, I grab my head as I stand up as straight as I can. I feel like I might vomit if I made another jump and I tell him so. Laughing, he gives me a bit more time. As soon as my head is completely clear, he takes me by the arm and I feel that dreadful sensation of the world slipping away into nothing.

When the world comes back into focus, I take one step and land face-first on cold, slick marble. The pressure on my head is immense, and I bite my lip to keep the bile from spilling from my mouth as I swallow it down and try not to throw up all over myself and the pristine floor beneath me.

The air smells salty and sweet, like roasted seaweed. I know exactly where we are.

"We're in Kraken Territory," I surmise aloud, grimacing. I hate being in Undersea. Of all the kingdoms in all the realms, it is easily my least favorite. Maybe it's because I'm a star fire dragon and there is nothing more alien to me than being surrounded by water. All I know is that whenever I am under the waves, I feel trapped. I hate feeling trapped. There isn't a moment when I am in Undersea where I don't feel the pressure of the ocean pressing down on me.

I don't hate water. Before returning to the Celestial Kingdom I lived on an island and spent my days sailing the seas as a wandering pirate. I simply hate being under the water.

Maybe if I had fewer reservations about visiting, I'd have had some clue what Tritus had been up to all these years and avoided a lot of future pain.

"Mother?"

Orion's voice pulls me out of my fog as I force myself to sit up. I know I must look terrible if Orion's face is any sign. Looking down, I struggle to grow new clothing, but the fire took too much from me. Shaking, I gasp for breath.

Kora, his mate, comes forward. She looks beautiful, wearing a traditional gown of Undersea royalty, silks woven in shades of green and blue with hints of red and brown, and a simple diadem of shells. In her hands, she is holding a garment similar to her own, only dyed in deep purple and belted in gold. Gently, she wraps it around me like a robe and my body slowly stops shaking. With Orion's help, I can stand, but only if I lean heavily on his arm.

Daax comes from another room. He is similarly attired but wears no diadem. He is holding one of the younglings, trying to soothe them, bouncing her up and down as she clings to his neck. "Ona!" His eyes are bright as he rushes toward me as fast as he feels safe to do so while carrying such a precious bundle.

As my mate pulls me into his arms, the smell of him blended with the fresh smell of my little niece helps me relax. I start crying.

"So much death," I weep. "Damn her. I know she was behind this. That stupid Luxandrian queen is going to pay for all the hurt she has caused."

Daax smooths my hair and coos, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with my words, simply providing comfort while I scream my frustrations into his shoulder.

Soon I feel spent. I turn to face my son, who stands next to me nervously. He is garbed like the rest of us to match his mate, like a prince of Undersea.

Which I guess he is now that he is mated to one of their princesses.

Juliana Korallis Majere, daughter of my brother Tritus the Traitor, takes a step forward and bows formally, placing herself lower than me in a sign of respect and submission. While standing in a palace, draped in her power, she is raising me above her.

"Queen Ona of the Celestial Kingdom," she slowly rises, "Welcome to my home. You are welcome here for as long as you need. I apologize that it isn't more.

"Daughter," I address her openly as I take her hands in mine. Orion pauses very still, holding his breath as he watches our interaction. "Thank you for hosting us in your lovely home. I am honored."

I pull the girl into my arms and hug her tightly, placing a gentle kiss against her hair as her stiff body relaxes and hugs me back.

Letting her go, I hold her hands in mine and smile. "You are family now. And soon we will let the whole world know."

Her body starts to shake as her eyes fill with tears. "You accept our union? You aren't going to fight against it?"

"You are my son's mate," I smile. "And he loves you. That is all I could ever hope for."

I let Kora go and Orion steps forward. He wraps his arms around me and holds me like he is afraid I might vanish if he lets go. Breathing in his unique scent, I take a moment to enjoy the sensation of having him hold me close. Who knows how many more chances I will have to be this close to my son? I missed his entire childhood, and now he is grown to be a drake about to start a family of his own.

He has never hugged me before.

"Thank you, Mother," he whispers in my ear. "I know you said that you would but...I...This means everything to us."

My heart fills as I see them look at each other with such love and wonder. If only my own family had been so understanding when I had fallen in love with a prince of the Solar Kingdom. My life would have been very different if I had been free to love as my heart and mind desired.

But that is the past. We need to look forward.

"Show them to me," I demand. "Show me Primus and Carnelia."