Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3)(54)

He approached, and she took one shaky step backward.

His brows drew together and he raked a hand through his bronze-colored hair. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

“But . . . how is this possible?” The words piled one on top of one another in their hurry to get out. “I’d all but convinced myself that you were a figment of my imagination. But you said we’d see each other again. That you’d find me.”

“And here I am.” He took her by her arms and drew her close. She was so dumbstruck by the sight of him that it didn’t occur to her for a moment to summon her magic, which had quickly become a natural instinct when she was startled or afraid. “I’m sorry it took so long, but I came as soon as I could.”

But this didn’t make any sense! “Watchers can’t take mortal form in Mytica. You should be a hawk. I’ve been searching for hawks all this time!”

Alexius grew serious. “We can take mortal form here if we exile ourselves.”

She actually stopped breathing for a moment.

He nodded, registering her shock. “I’ve left the Sanctuary permanently. That’s what took me so long. It’s rare to leave that realm voluntarily, believe me. One must be very certain that he wants to embrace the life of a mortal.”

He’d given up his immortality, could never return to his true home. “But why would you do such a thing?”

“You really don’t know?”

She shook her head.

He leaned closer and whispered to her, “Because I’m in love with you.” He grinned in response to her stunned expression. “Yes, princess. I’m here because there’s no other place I want to be than by your side. Now, shall we make our way to the palace?”

All she could do was stare. The explosions, the rebel escape, the confrontation between Amara and the arsonist, and now . . . now Alexius was confessing his love for her.

It was barely midday!

“The palace . . .” She grappled to find words. “Oh, yes, let’s march into the palace and introduce you to my father as my new suitor—an exiled Watcher from the Sanctuary who visited my dreams when I was asleep for months.” She nervously scanned the clear sky, her gaze drawn toward the slightest glimpse of the golden spire. “He’ll begin planning the wedding immediately. No, more likely he’ll have you thrown into the dungeon!”

The smile remained fixed on Alexius’s handsome face. “Let me handle your father, princess.”

That smile quickly eased its way into her heart.

This was real.

Only yesterday everything had been bleak and unpleasant. Now Alexius was here, and hope once again bloomed all around Lucia.





CHAPTER 16


ALEXIUS

THE SANCTUARY



He’d been gone from the Sanctuary a whole week before he found Lucia.

“Alexius!” Timotheus had called out to him as he was leaving the Crystal City for the last time.

Alexius tried very hard to ignore him.

But he had stopped when Timotheus laid his familiar hand on his arm. He turned to face his mentor, who looked at him with a drawn brow. “I’ve been told you plan to exile yourself today.”

“You were told correctly.”

Timotheus shook his head. “Don’t do this. We can talk. We can work this out. I know Melenia’s filled your head with all sorts of plans and promises, but—”

“This has nothing to do with her.” Alexius’s throat hurt from all the lies he’d had to tell since aligning with Melenia. Abandoning the only home he’d ever known was difficult enough, no matter if it was as much a prison as it was a paradise. But having someone who cared enough to try to stop him made everything worse. “I can’t stay here. I’ve fallen in love with a mortal. My place is by her side.”

Timotheus’s fingertips bit into his shoulder. “There’s another answer.”

“I’ve thought long and hard, and this is the only way.”

“You can never return. You won’t be able to take hawk form once you leave here. You will forfeit your immortality. If you die out there, it’s the end for you. You’re giving up everything.”

He looked into Timotheus’s eyes. This was his friend, the one he knew he could tell all his secrets to without being judged. They had so much history together, but Melenia had forced an immovable wedge between them.

The merest thought of defying her command caused Alexius so much pain he couldn’t function, couldn’t think. Melenia’s obedience spell had sunk its claws deep into his throat and wouldn’t let go.

“I’m sorry.” Alexius embraced him for the briefest of moments, ignoring the sting of tears in his eyes. “Farewell, my friend.”

Timotheus didn’t say another word. With his eyes on the elder, who watched him now with a bleak and solemn expression, Alexius shifted to hawk form one last time. He flapped his wings and took flight, heading toward the ancient stone portal that would grant him entrance into the mortal world.

? ? ?

Before Alexius could find the princess, he first had to take care of a task in Paelsia.

The Imperial Road stretching from Auranos to Limeros was now complete, but Xanthus had remained behind at the last deserted work camp to ensure that the magic in the stones would hold.