"So... she can get invisible, huh?" I asked, still trying to wrap my mind around it. It was one thing to hear about someone's powers, but it was another to have them explained so casually, as though invisibility was just another trick up Maelli's sleeve.
"Cool, isn't it?" Kai responded, that infuriatingly self-assured grin spreading across his face. He always had that smile, like he knew something I didn't, and it grated on me. "It's one of her wraths."
"Wow, that's pretty awesome," I muttered, shaking my head in a mix of awe and disbelief. "In my mind, I would've thought she had the wraths of water, or maybe telekinesis, you know? Something like that—something a little more... traditional, I guess."
Kai chuckled at my suggestions, his grin widening as he shook his head. "Good guesses, but no. One of her wraths is invisibility. And let me tell you, it's incredibly useful. It helps her more than you'd think in her line of work."
I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my mind around the implications of such a power. Invisibility. The thought of it felt like something out of a fantasy novel, yet here it was, a real ability that Maelli wielded. It certainly explained a lot about her mysterious nature. She always had a way of slipping in and out of places without anyone noticing, and now I knew how. But the more I thought about it, the more questions started to form in my mind. What else could she do with that kind of power? And how far would she go to use it? I wasn't sure I was ready to find out.
"Yeah, that should help a lot," I muttered, my voice trailing off as I pictured Maelli using her invisibility to slip into places unnoticed, avoiding confrontations, sneaking away from danger. It was an odd sort of power to possess, one that could make life much simpler for her. If I had it, I'd probably do the same—use it to escape problems before they even started.
Without another word, Kai stepped forward, opening a dimensional portal with a flick of his hand. The swirling vortex of colors beckoned us, the air around it shimmering with an almost otherworldly energy. He turned to look at me, that familiar glint of mischief in his eyes. "Shall we?" he asked, his voice laced with a teasing note, like it was some kind of challenge.
I hesitated for just a moment. My mind raced with thoughts of what would happen next. Dimensional travel still didn't sit well with me, no matter how often I was exposed to it. But this time, I figured it was better to just go along with it and trust Kai. He hadn't led me astray before—well, mostly—and I wasn't about to back out now. I nodded in agreement, silently telling myself to just get it over with. With a deep breath, I stepped into the portal before Kai could say anything else.
The moment I stepped through, everything around me shifted. A strange tugging sensation yanked at my insides, like I was being pulled through some kind of cosmic tunnel. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing in a kitchen, the scent of something delicious in the air, and the warmth of the space wrapping around me like a blanket. I blinked, momentarily disoriented, and glanced around. To my surprise, I was standing right in front of the large wooden table, with everyone gathered around it. And—of course—I was standing next to Kai.
"You don't need to close your eyes, you know," Kai's voice floated through the air behind me, full of amusement. I could tell by his tone that he was grinning. I hadn't even realized that I'd been keeping my eyes shut tight through the entire transition.
"I don't trust this yet," I replied, my voice steady, though I could feel the slightest flicker of annoyance rising within me. "So I'm going to keep my eyes closed, thank you very much."
Kai chuckled behind me, the sound of it almost too familiar. It wasn't the first time I'd heard him laugh at my expense, but it was certainly one of the most irritating. Still, I wasn't about to let it bother me. Not yet.
"Well, you chose your clothes well," Naomi spoke up from across the room, her voice light and easy. I turned toward her, still shaking off the disorientation from the portal. "I like it," she added, smiling warmly. Her compliment caught me off guard, but I tried to mask my surprise.
"Hi," I offered, raising a hand in a small wave as I tried to collect myself. There was still that slight vertigo lingering from traveling through dimensions. "Thank you."
"Hi! And thank you for the compliment," Naomi responded, her smile widening as she made eye contact. Her friendliness was a welcome relief, and it made me feel just a little less out of place in this strange new environment.
"Did you sleep well, princess?" Boyd asked from where he sat at the table, looking up from his breakfast. His voice carried a casual curiosity, but his eyes held something more—a softness, a warmth that I wasn't used to seeing from strangers. The kindness behind his words was undeniable, and for the first time, I felt like I was among people who genuinely cared.
"I did," I replied, offering a small, appreciative smile as I glanced around the table. "But now, I'm starving."
The entire room erupted into laughter at my words, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt my guard slip just a little. The tension that had been holding me in its grip began to ease. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt so at ease in a group of strangers. Their laughter was contagious, and I found myself smiling along with them, forgetting my unease, if only for a moment.
"Sit here," Winter instructed, her voice warm and inviting as she pointed to an empty seat between her own and the end of the table. I nodded and made my way over to the spot, settling into the chair. As I did, Winter's expression softened. "I'm sorry again, for before," she said, her voice sincere.
"Before?" Samantha asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked between Winter and me. Her curiosity was obvious, and I couldn't help but notice how sharp her gaze was.
"I entered her room without asking," Winter explained, a slight trace of guilt in her voice. "And before she was awake, I said things I shouldn't about her parents."
"Winter!" Samantha exclaimed, her voice a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You never change, do you? You really should put yourself in the other person's shoes before you speak. Otherwise, you'll be apologizing for saying things you shouldn't all the time." Her words were firm, but I could tell she wasn't angry. There was a kind of affectionate understanding in her tone.
"I'm sorry, Sammie," Winter said, her voice sincere though laced with a hint of frustration. "I try, but sometimes I get carried away. It was just... in the moment, you know?"
Samantha shook her head, a rueful smile on her lips. "Try harder," she said, her voice light but carrying a weight of wisdom. It was clear that, even in front of the previous queen, Samantha was the responsible one here. It was almost funny, considering how laid-back the rest of the group seemed. But there was no denying it—Samantha had this unshakable air of maturity about her, something that the others seemed to naturally defer to.
"I will," Winter said with a small smile, the apology clearly genuine. "Now, Avain," she turned to the boy sitting next to me, "come eat. You're way too thin. And by the gods, what have you eaten all these years alone in that forest?"
"Mom!" Kai exclaimed, his face flushing with embarrassment. He shot a glance at me, but I was more focused on Winter's blunt honesty. I couldn't help but chuckle at the way she spoke.
"What?" she said, shrugging, completely unbothered by the reaction. "She's very thin. It's a valid question." Her tone was as straightforward as ever, and there was no trace of malice in her words—just a desire to make sure I was okay.
"Don't worry, Kai," I said, turning to the boy beside me with a reassuring smile. "She's right. And to answer her question, I've had to eat snakes, rabbits, squirrels—whatever I could find. But I also found plenty of vegetables and fruits, so I made stews with whatever I could gather."
"It was delicious, for real," Naomi added, smiling at me. She seemed genuinely appreciative, and I couldn't help but feel a warm glow of pride at the memory of my makeshift stew. It wasn't much, but it had been enough to keep me going all those years.
"Wait a minute," I said, turning to Kai with sudden realization. "So, the stew you brought with us was for Naomi?"
Kai nodded without hesitation, his usual cocky grin back in full force. "Yeah. She loves every kind of food. I figured she'd love your stew of snakes just as much as anyone else."
"And I did!" Naomi added, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she spoke. I laughed, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie with her.
"So, you had to eat those animals?" the previous queen asked, her face twisting slightly in sympathy. Her expression softened, and I could tell she was trying to imagine what it must have been like. "By the gods, that must've been difficult in the beginning."
"It was," I admitted, nodding slowly. "But I got used to it after a while. It became routine, you know?" I shrugged, trying to make light of it. It wasn't ideal, but it was survival.
I could see the concern on their faces, but I knew they understood. They'd probably faced their own struggles. And now, at least, I was here—safe, surrounded by people who didn't judge me for how I'd gotten by. I could finally eat something other than wild animals and leafy greens.