Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms #4)(116)

The firestorm grew smaller as the glow around her grew brighter, expanding outward until it touched Kyan.

The ethereal halo transformed into strands of glowing purple that moved over him like chains, restraining his fire, restraining his rage. They wrapped themselves around him until Lucia couldn’t see any flames beneath them.

Kyan started to shrink, smaller and smaller, until he returned to his usual height. But then the light only grew brighter.

Brighter still, until Kyan screamed and the light exploded into a million violet shards.

And then the world around Lucia turned to cool, endless darkness.

? ? ?

She woke to the scent of warm, green grass and apple blossoms. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find that she lay in the middle of a meadow—the very same meadow where both Alexius and Timotheus had met her in her dreams.

“Am I dreaming?” she whispered.

No one answered her, no beautiful golden boy appeared before her. No hawk took perch in the apple tree. In her previous dreams, everything here had appeared jewel-like, the grass like strands of emeralds, the apples as red as rubies.

But now the meadow appeared to consist of only soft green grass, and though the trees were tall and beautiful, they were no different from what she might find in Auranos.

Beyond the meadow was a huge stone wheel she remembered from her dreams. And in the distance, across green hills and valleys, lay a crystal city that sparkled like diamonds under the sun.

She was in the Sanctuary. The actual Sanctuary.

How was this possible? Alexius had told her that mortals couldn’t come here. Had he lied? Or had something happened to Lucia that made her an exception to that rule?

Lucia turned in a circle, as if the answer might magically appear to her.

And then she knew.

Her unborn child. A baby who was half mortal, half Watcher. And she, a sorceress with the power to vanquish the god of fire. These two extraordinary developments combined had given her the ability to be here.

She didn’t know where Kyan had gone or if he’d return. But if he did, she knew he had to be imprisoned again. And his siblings—they could never be released from their crystal orbs. Kyan had been the most dangerous creature she’d ever seen. She could only imagine how much worse things would get once he reunited with his family.

Had Timotheus foreseen this? She would ask him as soon as she found him.

She had to make right what she’d helped go horribly wrong.

Lucia took a deep breath, summoned every last remaining scrap of her courage, and began to walk toward the crystal city.





CHAPTER 33


CLEO

LIMEROS

This time, when Cleo woke, she knew exactly where she was.

And with whom.

For her first waking moment, all she could do was stare at him as he continued to sleep beside her.

The events of the night had unfolded very unexpectedly. He’d come after her, he’d risked his life to try to find her.

And he’d told her he loved her.

Magnus Damora loved her.

She couldn’t help but smile then—a scared, nervous, but hopeful smile.

He looked so different when he slept. Younger. Peaceful. Beautiful. She tried to memorize every line and every angle of her dark prince’s face.

He slowly opened his eyes, and in an instant his gaze was locked with hers. He furrowed his brow.

“Princess . . .”

“You know,” she began, “I really think you should start calling me Cleo now, exclusively. Proper royal titles are so . . . yesterday.”

The serious look remained in his eyes, but his lips curved up to a cautious smile. “You think so, do you? Hmm. I’m not sure I like it. Cleo. So short, so . . . cheerful. And it’s what Nic calls you.”

“It is my name.”

“No, your name is Cleiona. A goddess’s name shouldn’t ever be shortened.”

“I’m not a goddess.”

His smile grew, and he stroked the hair back from her face. “It is encouraging that you haven’t run away from here yet, away from me.”

“I haven’t, have I?” She brushed her lips against his, dizzy from the knowledge—both sweet and scary—of how she felt about him. She hadn’t even realized the truth of these feelings until she’d spoken them aloud last night. But this was real—realer than any emotion she’d ever felt.

“Wait,” she gasped and sat up, pulling the blanket around her. “Magnus . . . it’s light out.”

He sought her mouth again, his fingers tangling in her hair. “Light, yes . . . much, much better than darkness. I adore light—it allows me to see you completely.”

“No, Magnus . . .” She pointed at the window. “It’s dawn. It’s tomorrow.”

His expression tightened and tensed, then he swore under his breath. “How long were we asleep?”

“From the looks of it, far too long. Lord Gareth’s castle is only a few miles from here, and if they’ve sent more guards out to search for me . . .” She turned a bleak look on him. “We need to get out of here.”

“You’re absolutely right. We’ll have to put this very important discussion about what I shall call you now on hold.”

“Yes, right after we discuss what to do about Amara and your father.”