Page 49 of Heir of Broken Souls

I want to know everything about you.

Staring into his sapphire eyes, open and shining bright, I nod, take a deep breath, and push open the gilded door.

Refusing to look at what Knox has stepped into, I peer down at my feet and watch a white tendril of fog roll past me. I kick it with my leather-clad boots and it puffs in all directions as Knox’s footsteps come to an abrupt halt next to me.

Delilah…

My name hangs in the air, the only thing he says. The tension building behind me climbs higher and higher until there’s such a gravitational pull to turn around, I can’t stop myself. Knox, as dashing as ever, stands in the middle of my gilded room full of power.

Columns of gold soar into the sky, with no end in sight. The billowy smoke drifts across the floor so high it dances along Knox’s knees. I’ve given up searching for the source of it. Every time you push it out the door, it always comes back. Golden tendrils bounce from gold wall to gold wall, gilding everything in their wake. One glittering golden tendril aims for a speck of column that’s still white, and as it bounces off it, it leaves gold in its wake. The only thing still left untouched is the fog.

Taking a tentative step forward, the golden tendrils freeze midair, turning to me with a consciousness I can’t even begin to analyze. Before I can brace myself they pounce, flying into my body as if to greet me.

Despite the severity of the situation, I can’t help but chuckle as they brush along my arms and coil through my hair. They don’t let up until I pull myself together and say,Okay, that’s enough now, off you go.

Delilah, Knox repeats, awe in his voice.Where’s your pool of magic?

I shrug, taking a seat and waving my hand in front of me. The wisps of clouds dance through my fingers as I do so.You’re looking at it.

But this is…

Endless.I nod. I’ve looked for a cap, or a gilded roof to this room at the least, but if it’s there, I can’t see it with my Fae sight.

You can’t tell anyone.True fear encases his entire body, his legs quivering from it.If Peter ever finds out, he will?—

I think it’s too late for that. Everyone, including the demonic army, witnessed me transform. One of them probably shared the memory with him before they all perished.I snort without humor.Peter will also suspect something amiss when not a single creature from the army he sent can’t be summoned again.

Knox falls silent, his eyes wide with horror.

I take it from your shocked expression you haven’t seen this before?

Seen it? I’ve never even heard of such a thing.

Building up courage within me, I leap off a cliff I know I can never return to, and finally ask the question I’ve been terrified to face, mostly because I’m not sure I can bear the answer.

Am I still Fae?

Whether it’s the look in my eyes, or the wobble in my voice, Knox kneels in front of me, until all I can focus on is him. Why does the thought of not being a Fae terrify you so much?

Swallowing thickly, I bite my lower lip to stop the flow of tears that wish to escape.Because I thought…I finally found my people.

Knox’s thumbs brush back and forth across my cheek, soothing the ache in my heart.You have found your people, regardless of your heritage.His eyes flick back and forth between mine, assessing, before he says softly,I believe you’re still Fae. Just an extremely, once-in-a-lifetime, powerful one.

I can’t help but burst out with laughter.

He leans forward and plants a gentle kiss against my forehead before taking a seat beside me and wrapping me in his warmth. He tugs lightly on my pointed ears.Hmm. You certainly look Fae to me. Besides the glowing skin, but I think you have so much power now it’s hard to contain within. He places another kiss on the top of my head.You possess all the abilities of a Fae, with your sight, speed, and strength.A softer kiss to my cheek.And most importantly, we have our bond. I’ve never heard of a mating bond outside of Fae. Other creatures don’t have them.

With his every word, the constriction around my chest lessens. Sighing deeply, I nuzzle further into his warmth as Knox continues to stare at the room and my power.

It’s amazing, isn’t it?I say in awe.

It’s divine.

Who would have thought?I think to myself.

If I told the little girl who felt like the most powerless person in Aloriah that she would one day be the most powerful, I wouldn’t have believed it,I say, my voice cracking slightly. I tilt my head back to trace his jawline with my finger.What did it look like? I know how it felt but what…happened to me up there?

Without a word, I’m suddenly watching myself atop Aurora, the moment my wings unfurl and power consumes me until we’re one and the same. A flying phoenix above the world. A gasp flies from my lips as I watch myself fall from the sky and wreak havoc on the demonic army.