Chapter Five

The Search

"The girl is here."

The words settled over the balcony like a curse.

Below them, Aurelis continued to shine beneath the light of three moons, its streets overflowing with music and celebration, its towers glowing silver and gold against the night sky. Thousands of lanterns drifted above the city like stars torn from the heavens, and somewhere in the distance a dragon's roar was answered by the delighted screams of children.

Yet on the balcony, silence reigned.

Lord Cassian Vaelor slowly turned toward his wife.

For eighteen years he had trusted Seraphina's instincts. For eighteen years her gifts had never failed her.

Now he found himself wishing they had.

"Are you certain?" he asked quietly.

Lady Seraphina's gaze remained fixed upon the city below.

The wind lifted strands of dark hair around her face.

"I felt her."

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

A muscle tightened in Cassian's jaw.

Across the balcony, Morwen Nythara smiled.

Not because she found the situation amusing.

Because she had spent eighteen years waiting for those words.

"Then she exists," Morwen murmured.

The shadows around her feet stirred.

A moment later they slipped away from the balcony and vanished into the darkness below.

Searching.

Watching.

Listening.

Lord Thorne Draven stepped forward.

"The city gates?"

"Seal them," Cassian replied.

No hesitation.

No debate.

The command was given.

Somewhere below, guards were already moving.

Lady Celeste Aurelis dipped her fingers into the silver goblet resting upon the railing. The water immediately began to glow, rippling unnaturally before transforming into dozens of floating mirrors that drifted into the air.

Each reflected a different part of the city.

Different crowds.

Different streets.

Different faces.

Searching.

Lord Rowan Sylvaren raised one hand toward the night sky.

A heartbeat later hundreds of birds erupted from the rooftops of Aurelis.

Owls.

Hawks.

Silver-winged creatures older than memory.

The sky darkened with them.

Within minutes the entire city had become a net.

And somewhere inside it walked the lost heir.

Completely unaware of the chaos unfolding above her, Eveline was trying to decide whether the tiny dragon perched on a merchant's counter was real.

The creature sneezed.

Silver sparks exploded from its nose.

Eveline jumped.

The dragon seemed delighted by this.

The merchant sighed.

"Please stop encouraging him."

"I haven't done anything."

"You smiled."

The dragon sneezed again.

Eveline laughed.

The sound escaped before she could stop it.

For a moment she forgot about hidden kingdoms and ancient mysteries. She forgot about crowns and rulers and the constant feeling that everyone around her knew something she didn't.

She was simply a girl standing in the middle of the most beautiful city she had ever seen.

The festival stretched endlessly around her.

Crystal lanterns floated overhead.

Music drifted through the streets.

Magical creatures wandered freely among crowds that barely seemed to notice them.

It felt impossible.

Wonderful.

Alive.

And for the first time since arriving in Vaeloria, she felt as though she might actually belong here.

"Evy."

Elara's voice cut through the noise.

Sharp.

Urgent.

Eveline turned.

Her aunt stood several yards away, scanning the crowd with unusual intensity.

Something was wrong.

Immediately wrong.

The realization settled heavily in her chest.

Without another word she began weaving through the crowd toward her.

People brushed past from every direction.

Nobles in embroidered cloaks.

Winged Aurori laughing as they drifted overhead.

Merchants balancing trays of glowing sweets.

The plaza seemed even more crowded now.

As though the entire kingdom had decided to gather in one place.

Then someone stepped directly into her path.

The collision was light.

Barely enough to stop either of them.

Still, both instinctively stepped back.

Eveline looked up.

The stranger appeared around her age.

Dark hair.

Sharp features.

A black coat embroidered with silver thread.

Not handsome in the way stories described princes.

There was something colder about him.

More controlled.

His gaze met hers briefly.

Neither spoke.

Around them, the crowd continued moving.

Lantern light reflected in silver eyes.

For a moment she had the strange feeling that she had seen him before.

Not him specifically.

Something about him.

A memory she couldn't quite grasp.

Then another voice interrupted.

"Kaelen."

A golden-haired young man appeared beside the stranger.

Smiling.

Effortlessly charming.

"Your father is looking for us."

The dark-haired boy—Kaelen—looked away from Eveline.

Toward the crowd.

Toward something unseen.

As though he had suddenly remembered he had somewhere more important to be.

"Then we should go."

His voice was calm.

Unremarkable.

And a moment later he disappeared back into the festival.

Eveline watched him leave.

Then shrugged.

She had more important things to worry about.

Like why Elara suddenly looked terrified.

"Evy."

This time there was no mistaking the urgency.

Elara reached her side and immediately took hold of her arm.

"What's wrong?"

"We have to leave."

"What?"

"Now."

For the first time since arriving in Vaeloria, genuine fear flashed across Elara's face.

And that frightened Eveline more than anything else.

Because Elara never looked afraid.

"Elara—"

"Not now."

"Can you stop saying that and actually tell me what's happening?"

"We don't have time."

Eveline nearly stumbled as they turned down a narrow street lined with silver lanterns. The music of the festival faded behind them, replaced by quieter sounds—the distant rush of water, the murmur of voices, the beating of her own heart.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

She could feel it.

The city had changed.

Perhaps it was only her imagination, but the smiling faces around her seemed sharper now. More watchful. As though an invisible current had begun moving beneath the celebration.

"People are looking for someone," she said suddenly.

Elara froze.

Only for a second.

But Eveline noticed.

"What?"

"You know exactly what."

Eveline pulled her arm free.

"The guards. The way everyone keeps looking around. The birds."

Her gaze lifted toward the sky.

Hundreds of silver-winged birds circled above Aurelis.

Too many.

Far too many.

And now that she was paying attention, she could see guards moving through the streets in organized patterns.

Searching.

The realization sent a chill through her.

"Who are they looking for?"

For a moment Elara simply stared at her.

Then she sighed.

A tired sound.

An old sound.

"They're looking for you."

The world seemed to stop.

"What?"

"Evy—"

"No."

A nervous laugh escaped her.

"No, that's ridiculous."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me why they're looking for me."

Elara's expression tightened.

Before she could answer, a voice spoke from the darkness ahead.

"I was wondering when you would figure it out."

Both women turned.

A man stood beneath one of the silver lanterns.

Tall.

Elegant.

His silver hair fell to his shoulders, gleaming softly beneath the moonlight.

He looked younger than he should have.

Not young.

Simply untouched by age.

His golden eyes settled upon Eveline.

And for the briefest moment, surprise flickered across his face.

As though reality had somehow failed to meet expectation.

"So you really do have her eyes," he murmured.

Eveline blinked.

"What?"

The man smiled.

A sad smile.

One that carried eighteen years of memories.

"Hello, Eveline."

Elara immediately relaxed.

The change was so obvious that Eveline almost laughed.

This terrifying, secretive woman who trusted nobody had just lowered her guard.

Which meant—

"Aeron," Elara said quietly.

The man inclined his head.

"The very same."

Eveline stared.

This was him?

The person Elara had dragged her across an entire kingdom to meet?

The mysterious Aeron?

The legendary Headmaster?

Honestly, she expected someone taller.

Aeron seemed to read the thought.

"I assure you," he said dryly, "the disappointment is mutual."

For a second Eveline simply stared.

Then, despite everything, she laughed.

And Aeron laughed too.

A real laugh.

Warm.

Familiar.

Like someone she should somehow know.

Then his expression changed.

Instantly.

The warmth vanished.

The humor vanished.

Only concern remained.

"How long ago?" he asked Elara.

Her face darkened.

"Not long."

Aeron nodded once.

That answer told him everything.

And whatever he learned from it clearly wasn't good.

"We have to leave."

Eveline groaned.

"Can somebody explain literally anything?"

"No."

"Fantastic."

"Evy—"

"No, seriously. Everyone keeps saying we have to leave and nobody tells me why."

Aeron exchanged a look with Elara.

A silent conversation passed between them.

One filled with years of history she couldn't understand.

Then—

A bell rang somewhere across the city.

One bell.

Then another.

Then another.

Aeron's face hardened.

"They found something."

Far across Aurelis, hidden from view, a shadow messenger emerged from darkness and whispered into Lady Morwen's ear.

The cottage had been found.

The abandoned cliffside cottage overlooking the Sea of Stars.

Recently occupied.

Protected by ancient blood magic.

And empty.

Morwen's smile disappeared.

For the first time that evening—

She looked afraid.