Chapter 109: Wake Up

Aeloria POV

The first thing I noticed was body parts.

Not my own. Theirs. Everywhere. Something heavy rested across my legs. Another warm weight leaned against my shoulder. Fingers were loosely tangled with mine while another hand lay protectively across my waist. I frowned. Why did I feel like I'd been buried beneath people? My eyes fluttered open, and sunlight poured through the windows of the house, bathing the room in soft golden light. Then I realized I wasn't alone. Not even close.

Dorian was slumped in a chair beside the bed, asleep with his sword still resting across his lap. Calren had somehow fallen asleep sitting on the floor with his head resting against the mattress. Rhyven was stretched across the foot of the bed, one arm hanging limply toward the floor. Tavren was asleep in another chair with an open book covering his face. Zorath had apparently decided the rug made a perfectly acceptable bed. Riven was sitting upright against the wall, arms folded, though judging by his slow breathing he'd drifted off sometime during the night.

Across the room, Nyra was curled beneath a blanket on the window seat while Arren had somehow managed to sleep sitting against the wall beside the door, with his arms crossed over his chest. Every single one of them looked exhausted. Dark circles. Messy hair. Wrinkled clothes. Gods...How long had I been asleep? I shifted slightly and the bed creaked. Immediately eight pairs of eyes snapped open.

"Aeloria!"

Dorian was at my side before I even had time to sit up. Rhyven practically launched himself off the end of the bed. Calren reached me at almost the same time, his hands immediately cupping my face. "How do you feel?"

"Are you dizzy?"

"Does anything hurt?"

"You scared the absolute shit out of us," Zorath blurted as he climbed to his feet. Tavren was already checking my eyes with intensity. "You've been unconscious for nearly a full day."

"A day?" I squeaked. Nyra smiled so broadly I thought her face might split. "Welcome back."

Arren gave me one of his rare warm smiles. "It's good to see you awake."

Riven remained quiet, but relief washed through our bond so strongly it almost made my chest ache. I looked around at all of them. "You've all been here?"

Nobody answered immediately. They didn't have to. The room itself answered. Blankets. Half-eaten food. Empty mugs. Someone had clearly been taking shifts. Nobody had wanted to leave me alone. Emotion tightened my throat. "You idiots."

Calren blinked. "What the hell?"

"You all look terrible." That earned several tired laughs. Dorian brushed a strand of blue hair behind my ear.

"We've looked worse."

"I doubt that."

"You haven't seen Zorath first thing in the morning."

"I'M RIGHT HERE."

"I know."

Everyone chuckled, and the knot in my chest loosened. Then panic hit me like a tidal wave. I bolted upright. "Oh no!!"

Eight heads snapped toward me. "The trials!"

Everyone stared. Silence stretched for exactly two seconds, then the entire room burst into laughter. Actual laughter. Even Riven smiled. "What?" I demanded. Nyra wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh my gods." Arren shook his head. "You really woke up worried about the trials."

"Of course I did!"

Dorian gently pushed me back onto the pillows. "Aeloria."

"What?"

"We weren't going to continue without you."

I blinked. "You...weren't?" Calren snorted. "You're the one running them."

"Oh." Fair point. I thought about that for approximately three seconds before throwing the blankets off. "Excellent."

Dorian sighed. "No."

"What?"

"You've been unconscious."

"I feel fantastic."

"You should rest."

"I literally feel brand new." I snapped.

"You should still rest."

I hopped off the bed anyway, shaking my head no. "I'm fine."

"You are impossible," Rhyven muttered.

"I've heard that before."

"From all of us."

"Repeatedly." I stretched. Nothing hurt. Actually...I felt incredible. Better than incredible. Stronger. Like whatever had happened to me last night had somehow expanded something inside me instead of draining it. Interesting. Very interesting.

Nyra stood and brushed imaginary wrinkles from her clothes. "If you're truly feeling better, Arren and I should gather the remaining contestants." Arren nodded. "They've been waiting for word."

I smiled. "Tell them the next trial begins this evening." The giant inclined his head."As you wish." Nyra bumped my shoulder before heading toward the door. "Try not to destroy anything or pass out again while we're gone."

"No promises."

"I knew you were going to say that." The two of them disappeared outside. I watched them go before another thought occurred to me. "Seris." I immediately reached through the bond we'd built. A moment later she appeared in the doorway carrying an armful of scrolls. "You called?"

I smiled. "Just checking on you."

She blinked. "That's...surprisingly wholesome."

"I have my moments."

She laughed. "I'm good. Busy. Everyone is helping prepare housing." Relief settled over me. "Good." After she left, I closed my eyes briefly. "Kaelthys?" The answer came almost instantly, his ancient voice echoing through my mind like distant thunder beneath the sea. "I am here, Little Queen." A smile tugged at my lips. "Report." A long pause followed. "Rogue shadow sea creatures continue testing the wards."

My smile vanished. "What?"

"They do not attack in force. They probe. They observe. They learn."

A growl escaped before I could stop it. "Cowards."

Warm amusement rumbled through our bond. "Perhaps."

Are you alright?"

"The sea is mine. I have it covered. Nothing beneath these waters will reach your shores without meeting me first."

Relief washed through me. "Thank you, Kael."

"Always."

The connection faded gently and I opened my eyes. "We need another council meeting." Tavren was already nodding. "I was thinking the same thing."

"I want everyone together." He waited. "We need to discuss the Shadow Realm rings." His expression immediately sharpened. "Agreed."

"There are too many questions."

"And not enough answers."

"Exactly." He closed his notebook. "I'll gather the council immediately."

"Perfect."

He headed for the door, and I turned toward Rhyven. "I need another favor." He smiled. "I assumed as much."

"Can you check with the librarian?"

"About the trunks?"

I nodded eagerly. "I want to know if they've identified anything new. More relics. More weapons. More records. Anything."

He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. "I'll report back as soon as I know." Within moments everyone had scattered across the island, each with a new purpose. For the first time since waking, I found myself standing alone in the middle of the room. The house creaked softly around me. Outside, I could hear waves rolling against the shore. Somewhere beyond the wards, shadows were still watching. Testing. Waiting. I squared my shoulders.

Let them come. This island wasn't going down without a damn fight.

~

Rhyven POV

The walk to the library should have been peaceful.

The island was alive with purpose. Builders were measuring empty fields for new homes. Warriors trained along the cliffs. Messengers hurried through the streets carrying letters bound for distant kingdoms. Everywhere I looked, people were preparing. It was strangely comforting. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere. Not because of my title or my bloodline. Because of her.

Aeloria had somehow managed to gather broken people from every corner of the world and convince them they were family. It was... incredible. Nyros rumbled contentedly in the back of my mind. "Our queen has a gift."

"I know."

"Creatures wish to follow strength. Mortals wish to follow hope. She somehow became both."

I smiled to myself. "She'd probably tell you she's just making it up as she goes."

"She would be lying."

I laughed quietly. She probably would. As I rounded the corner toward the library gardens, someone stepped into my path. A young fae woman. Her hair was a soft pink that shimmered in the sunlight, and she'd clearly spent far too long making herself look effortlessly beautiful.

She smiled brightly. "Prince Rhyven?"

I stopped politely. "Yes?"

"Oh my gods." She clasped her hands together. "I can't believe I'm actually talking to you."

I smiled kindly. "It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Elira."

"It's nice to meet you, Elira."

She giggled. Actually giggled. "I just wanted to tell you that I think you're amazing."

"Thank you."

"And handsome."

"...Thank you."

"And incredibly brave."

I nodded awkwardly. "That's very kind."

She stepped a little closer. "I've watched you training."

"Oh."

"And fighting."

"...Right."

"And swimming."

Nyros immediately spoke. "Why has she been watching us swim?"

"I... don't know."

"Weird."

"Very weird." I cleared my throat. "Well, I appreciate the compliments, but I really should.."

"It must get tiring."

I blinked. "I'm sorry?"

She leaned against a nearby tree like we were old friends. "You know." She waved a hand. "Sharing one girl."

My smile disappeared. "What?"

"There are so many of you." She laughed lightly. "I just wondered if you ever got... lonely."

I stared at her blankly.

"I mean," she continued, "everyone has needs."

My stomach turned. She smiled sweetly. "I could always help with those needs."

Silence. Complete silence. Even the birds seemed offended. Nyros made a gagging sound in my head. "Absolutely not."

I couldn't have agreed more. I looked at the woman for a long moment, trying to decide whether she genuinely didn't understand what she'd just implied. Apparently she took my silence as encouragement, and she smiled wider. "I'd be very discre.."

"No." The word came out much colder than I'd intended, and her smile faltered. I took one deliberate step backward. "I am very happily mated."

She blinked. "I wasn't saying..."

"I think you were." Another step back. "I love Aeloria." The words came easily. Naturally. Without hesitation. "I have absolutely no interest in anyone else."

She crossed her arms. "You don't have to pretend."

That did it. Disgust settled heavily in my chest. "I'm not pretending." My voice remained calm, but there was steel beneath it now. "I wake up every morning grateful that she chose me." Her expression shifted. "I go to sleep every night wondering what I did to deserve her."

Nyros practically purred. "Better."

"I would never betray her trust."

The woman's cheeks reddened. "I didn't mean.."

"You knew exactly what you meant." For the first time, she looked embarrassed. Good. "I suggest you don't make assumptions about relationships you don't understand." Without waiting for a response, I walked around her. Behind me, she muttered something under her breath before disappearing down another path. I shook my head.

"What in the depths was that?"

Nyros snorted. "Who the eff was that girl?"

"I have no idea."

A laugh escaped me. "I was trying to be polite."

"You were too polite."

"Probably."

"If she approaches us again, I am splashing her."

I laughed harder. "I don't think that's necessary."

"It would make me feel better."

Still shaking my head, I finally reached the library. Before I could even step inside, the front doors burst open. The librarian hurried toward me so quickly I thought she might actually trip over her robes. "Prince Rhyven!"

I caught her before she stumbled. "Easy."

Her eyes were absolutely glowing. "We found them!"

I frowned. "Found what?"

"The artifacts!" She grabbed my arm and practically dragged me inside. Books were stacked everywhere. Tables overflowed with ancient relics.Several assistants darted between shelves carrying armfuls of scrolls while others carefully catalogued weapons and jewelry. The entire library buzzed with excitement. The librarian pointed toward one long table. "You need to see these." Dozens of rings rested on velvet cloth. Each one shimmered with a different colored gemstone. Ruby. Sapphire. Emerald. Amber. Diamond.

Unlike the Shadow Realm rings, these practically radiated elemental magic. "What are they?"

Her grin became almost feral. "Power rings."

My eyebrows rose. "Explain."

She carefully picked up a ruby ring. "This one grants the wearer mastery over fire." Then a sapphire. "Water." An emerald. "Earth." A pale crystal. "Air."

I stared at the collection. "They're... enchanted?"