Chapter 154: Unknown
**Avery**
My new power allowed me to listen to the forest, and it told me something. It led us to a lake that was a portal into another realm, the realm of the Fae, where there is magic in everything. I had read only a bit about them, but based on what I learned, they don’t like outsiders and have a very strict hierarchy. My mates keep glancing at me, and I can feel their worry. I try to disguise my appearance, opting to look like I used to minus my fiery hair color. I adjust my clothing to hide my dragon scale jewelry and obscure my marks. I know that it bothers James the most, but I don’t feel comfortable being on display, especially in this unfamiliar realm.
The air in the Fae realm was thick with magic, a heady mix of blooming flora and ancient earth that clung to my skin like a second layer. My mates—Cassius, Clint, Conner, James, and Donn—moved silently beside me, their eyes scanning the vibrant landscape for any sign of the illusions we knew were coming. The Ancient One walked a pace ahead, his broad shoulders tense, his black hair catching the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. He was a force of nature, a being of immense power, and yet, there was something in the way he carried himself that hinted at a vulnerability he’d never admit. I felt it in the pull of the mate bond, a tether that grew stronger with every step we took. “Stay alert,” he said, his voice low and commanding, though there was an edge to it I hadn’t heard before. It was almost…fearful, which made me anxious. “The illusions will test us. They’ll prey on our desires, our fears. Don’t let them in.”
I nodded, my hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of my dagger. The Fae realm was beautiful, but it was also treacherous. Every shadow seemed to whisper, every breeze carried a melody that tugged at my heart. I could feel the weight of my mates’ gazes on me, their trust in my ability to lead them through this. But the truth was, I was just as lost as they were. The path to Altima was shrouded in mystery, and the only way to uncover it was to face the trials head-on.
The first illusion struck without warning. One moment, we were walking through a grove of silver-barked trees, and the next, the air shimmered, and we were standing in a grand hall, its walls lined with mirrors. Each mirror reflected a different version of me—one crowned as a queen, another surrounded by my mates in a moment of bliss, another alone and broken. My breath hitched as I saw my parents in one of them, their faces smiling down at me, alive and whole. “Avery,” Cassius whispered, his hand tightening around mine. “It’s not real.”
I knew that. I knew it. But the pull was irresistible. I took a step toward the mirror, and the Ancient One was there, his grip like iron on my arm. “Don’t,” he growled, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and fear. “They’ll trap you if you let them.”
His words snapped me back to reality. The hall dissolved, and we were once again in the grove, the mirrors replaced by towering trees. I shook off the lingering ache in my chest and forced a smile. “Thank you,” I murmured, meeting his gaze. His eyes were dark, unreadable, but I felt the tension in his body, the way he didn’t let go of my arm even after the danger had passed. He has become protective of me, perhaps he has been since our first encounter. Is it because I saw a light in him, or is there some other reason?
The journey continued, each illusion more insidious than the last. Donn’s deceased lover appeared, her laughter echoing through the forest, only to vanish when he reached for her. James was confronted with a vision of me rejecting him, his face crumpling with pain. Each time, we pulled each other back, our bond strengthening with every trial. But the mate bond between the Ancient One and me… it was different. It wasn’t just a tether; it was a current, a force that pulled us closer with every passing moment…with every touch, no matter how innocent.
By the time we reached the secluded grove, I was exhausted, my mind reeling from the onslaught of illusions. The Ancient One stopped abruptly, his head tilted back as he gazed up at the treetops. “Here,” he said, his voice rough. “This is where we rest.”
I followed his gaze and felt my breath catch. High above, the branches formed a natural canopy, the leaves shimmering with an otherworldly light. It was beautiful, but there was something else—a pull, a call that I couldn’t ignore. “Avery,” he said, his hand curling around my wrist. “Come with me.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
