by Jaymin Eve
17
House of Darken was so freaking pretty. Legit. Like Switzerland but slightly more rugged. It was natural, no obvious towns or cities. Similar to House of Leights, but with far less in the way of trees. Its landscape was mainly mountains and valleys. Snow and trickling streams flowed through passes. The Daelighters explained that they had very strict rules in Overworld about messing with nature. Earth’s technologies, for the most part, were not allowed here. No cars. No cell phones. Daelighters communicated through the network, or via a postage system that was delivered to the platform between the lands.
Despite those small inconveniences, I really liked their way of living. It made me feel comfortable in my skin. Although, I would miss organic sheets. The transporter had taken us right into Lexen’s home, a beautiful dwelling made of a marble-like stone. Even more crazy, his castle was inside of a cave that had been completely carved into a city. Yep. A freaking mountain city, everything chiseled from the rocks. We stopped long enough for sandwiches, which were filled with a creamy cheese-like spread, and then we were heading closer to the network.
A lot of locals watched us as we walked through the city, most of them half-bowing with their hands pressed to their heads when they saw the Darken siblings. Probably, that’s what I should have done when I met Chase’s parents.
The bowing was a huge reminder that I was now bonded and friends with royalty. Chase just winked at me, a crooked grin in place, and I felt better about it. It was all worth it to have someone like him in my life. Once we were through the city, we took a path out of the mountain and down into the valley below it.
“You know, you could have stayed behind and rested,” I told my parents, who were marching right beside me.
My father just shot me the “look,” the one he reserved for the times I broke the rules. “Maya, little one, you know that’s not going to happen. We need to be here in case you run into any danger.”
My mother gave a deep head nod, as always, on the same side as her husband. I learned about teamwork from my parents; they always supported each other.
With a sigh, I turned back to face the way we were walking – fairly important when trailing down a mountain path. There was nothing my parents could do to help in this situation; neither of them had magical powers. But I liked that they were here. Despite all of the ups and downs, I’d spent more continuous time with them over the last few days than I had in the last few months. Maybe this would bring us closer now that they could share this world with me.
“Will you guys continue to work for the government agency?” I asked, curious about how much might change for them now. Everything had changed for me, but maybe they’d go back to their normal lives.
In some ways they had been preparing me well to live without them, but I still wouldn’t like it.
My parents exchanged a look before they both turned back to me. “We’ll go wherever you are,” my mom said in her gentle way. “If you stay here in Overworld, in House of Leights with Chase, then that is where we will stay as well.”
That response actually stunned me. It showed me the real truth of what they’d been saying to me all along. They’d taken the government jobs as a means of keeping me safe. I was their first priority.
Turning to observe Chase’s profile, I realized that I hadn’t given much thought to where we would live. I mean … I wasn’t sure I was ready for the whole “move in together” thing yet. But at the same time, I didn’t want to be separated from him.
“You’re bonded, that’s like marriage to the Daelighters,” my father added, reading my expression. “It would be normal for you to stay with Chase now.”
“I … yes, you’re right. It’s just fast, you know.”
Chase wrapped an arm around me and I calmed. “Maya is going to finish school, and then decide about college,” he told them. “Because she has to be protected, she’ll have to transfer to Daelighter territory. But she doesn’t have to make any other life-changing decisions.” He brushed a hand along my spine and heat trailed after it. “I have a home in Daelight Crescent. All of the overlord families do. You’re welcome to use it any time you want.”
My breathing was even, and when we stepped into the valley floor I threw my arms around him. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for being patient with me.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “I will always wait for you to be ready. Being a team means considering all players.”
“I would prefer to stay on Earth,” my mom said, surprising me. “At least for another few years. So I’m glad that’s an option.”
Brad huffed. “I’m going to start looking for colleges in Oregon,” he declared. “No way is everyone living over here having fun without me.”
My dad gave him a solid back pat, which didn’t seem to bother my beefed-up best friend. “I’ll talk to your parents,” he said to Brad. “They might be okay with you finishing up the school year with Maya in Astoria.”
Brad and I locked eyes, excitement bubbling within me. That would be amazing. Surely they wouldn’t care; they were barely home at all. Before we could celebrate the possibility of staying together, Lexen burst our bubble, bringing us all back to the reality of this situation.
“This is our last chance,” he started. “If Laous gets to the starslight stone before us, he will be very powerful. He will destroy the treaty, and possibly both worlds. Failure is not an option.”
There was a flapping sound, and all eyes turned toward the sky. All eyes except Lexen’s, because apparently he didn’t need to see a dragon lazily soaring through the air toward us.
Jesus, take the wheel. What was happening?
The creature was a brilliant white that almost hurt my eyes to stare directly at, and massive, like three elephants in length and width. Its head looked to be bigger than my entire body.
“What’s Qenita doing here?” Emma asked, shielding her eyes so she could stare up at her. “Do we need her?”
Lexen turned, a smile pushing up his lips as he stared at the majestic beast in the sky. “She’s bringing Xander. He’s been dealing with some unrest in House of Royale. They’re having trouble with his sister and her new partner, so he wasn’t able to get away until now.”
I was interested in finally meeting the last of the overlord quartet – and the possible mate of the fourth secret keeper. If he could ever stop playing the field long enough to fall for her, of course. After my experience with Chase, I was pretty sure fate was stronger and cleverer than this Xander. He had no hope.
I’d worry about the Royale overlord after he landed, though. Until then, I was all about the dragon. Because … uh … dragons. A creature, until this very moment, that had been reserved for television and movies.
Callie echoed my thoughts: “Did we just stumble into a fantasy world? Because I can see a dragon. Everyone else can as well … right?”
“Right,” was the return murmur from more than one person.
Lexen moved forward, heading toward a little clearing of green grass that must have been the dragon’s landing ground. I didn’t follow, because as fascinating as she was, she was also absolutely terrifying. Qenita could eat me in one bite. Whole.
Yeah, I was perfectly happy staring from back here.
Despite her huge size, she landed with so much grace that she barely even made a sound. Her wings tucked in behind her, and a tall blond man jumped off. Lexen and Xander did a quick guy-hug, pat-on-the-back-thing, before they both placed their hands on the dragon, speaking to her, and then her wings were out again and she was soaring back into the sky. By the time the two overlords made their way to us, Qenita was nothing more than a pinprick above.
Which was scary when one thought about trying to hide from a possible dragon attack. They could be a tiny dot above, and seconds later would be right on your butt. Made me want to shuffle a little closer to Lexen, the dragon lord.
Xander greeted Daniel in the same way he had Lexen, then he crossed to Chase. After their
hug and back pats, Chase reached for me, bringing me closer. “This is Maya, the third secret keeper. She wears a bonded mark, blessed by the Galinta.”
Xander’s eyes widened, then he let out a series of colorful curses. “You have got to be shitting me.” I wasn’t the only one staring wide-eyed at the Royale overlord. “I don’t like this. It’s bullshit that we’re having our choices and freedoms stripped from us.”
I didn’t want to flinch, but tall, muscled, angry men hit all of my wary nerves. I’d never physically match someone like Xander, so I usually chose to retreat. Even though it was annoying that I had to.
Chase’s arm tightened, stopping me from moving. “Calm down,” he said to his friend, bite in his tone. “You’re scaring Maya, and I’m about five seconds from teaching you some respect.”
Xander’s face was awash in fury, blue eyes darkening to something very stormy. “You’ve all been brainwashed,” he declared. “Especially you, Chase. Seriously, you’ve always been content with your life. You turned down all of those possible matches when your parents suggested them between some of the other Leights. Now you’re telling me you’re just going to fall for the first pretty piece of ass—”
He was cut off by a fist to the face. Chase had released me, moving me back a few inches before he slammed his fist into Xander’s jaw. The punch knocked the Royale overlord back a decent six feet. He straightened, shaking himself off.
Chase did not hit him again, but he moved in front of me, his body changing. He was at least six inches taller than usual, which meant I was basically staring at his butt.
Short girl problems, I tell ya.
I peeked around to see Xander glaring and rubbing his jaw. “You know I’m right.” He sounded resigned. “Within a matter of months, the three of you have all bonded to a human. Doesn’t that sound a little coincidental?”
Lexen and Daniel moved behind Xander so that he was now surrounded by his best friends. “Fate designed it this way,” Daniel told him, turning so he could see Callie. “My life was shit before I met her. I would not give up my bond with Cal for anything in either world. I consider myself blessed.”
“It’s the same for me,” Lexen added.
“And me,” Chase finished. “I could search my entire life for a woman like Maya and I would never find one. Not even close. How do I know this? Because I have searched for fifty years already, and no one has stirred even one percent of the emotion inside of me that she did from the first second I heard her name.”
Holy gods. I was going to cry, seriously. I stepped up and pressed myself to his back. His body was back to normal size now, so my face wasn’t pressed into his butt. Was I disappointed or relieved about that? Hard to tell.
My skin was tight and flushed from all the energy and adrenalin, so I just breathed in the fresh, outdoorsy scent of Chase, and let myself calm down. His hands wrapped over mine.
Xander pushed his hair back in agitation. “I … fuck – sorry for being an asshole. I’ve had a hell of a week, which I know is nothing compared to what everyone else is dealing with. I don’t begrudge any of you this new happiness in your lives. Just … don’t expect the same from me. I’m never going to be the Daelighter for the fourth secret keeper. It’s better that everyone knows it from the start.”
No one argued with him, and I started to breathe easier as the palpable tension faded out of the group. “You’ve always been free to make your own choices,” Lexen said. “You do what’s right for you.”
Sounded to me like Xander did that anyway, but again, who was I to judge? I didn’t know what went on in his life. Maybe Xander was trying not to bring anyone into a mess of a world.
I’d give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Lexen and Daniel went straight for their girls, needing to touch them. I understood that need. Xander’s rant had left a sour taste in my mouth, tainting some of the happiness I had been feeling. But the moment Chase turned around, his arms scooping under me so he could hug me properly, the world felt right again.
“None of what he said is true, not for me,” he told me, very seriously.
Using all of my strength, I pulled him closer to me. “I know, I’ve never doubted that for a second. What you said … that was beautiful. Thank you.” He squeezed me extra tight, and then set me back on my feet.
We moved into the main group, and I did my best not to stand near Xander, because he was kind of on my shit list right now.
“Okay, so the council used the network to find Callie and Maya,” Lexen explained. “But they don’t believe it can be done with the fourth. There are securities that make it nearly impossible to find the fourth without the stone.”
Okay, so why were we here, then?
“But they don’t know what we do, that together the eight of us are a very strong, powerful unit,” Daniel added. “A unit which is missing one part, and we believe that together our power will search for her.”
Xander crossed his arms, staring out into the mountains beyond. Moody bastard.
“So what do we have to do?” Emma asked, her hands clasped in front of her; she looked nervous. “I get the concept of the network, but the thought of trying to connect to it … I’m not sure I can do it.”
“Same,” Callie piped up.
Same, I mentally added.
“We’ll show you the way we learned as children,” Lexen told her. “Our parents take us in the first time, and then after that, the pathway becomes more instinctive and natural.”
Star stepped forward from where she had been standing back with Jero, both of them silent bystanders. “I have this to help you out.” She held something square in her hand, about the size of a large picture frame.
Once she handed it to Lexen, she returned to Jero’s side. My parents and Brad gave me a wave, then moved closer to Star, leaving just the seven of us in a rough circle.
“We need to hold hands,” Daniel said, and I shuffled around so that I was in between Chase and Callie. We reached for each other at the same time, and the moment my hands were in theirs, my stomach did a flip. It was like the “Chase feeling” – intense, but less … sexual. Which was definitely a good thing. It wasn’t that I had any problem with the poly lifestyle, but in this case, I was a one-man sort of woman.
Once the seven of us were joined, the energy running through my hands grew stronger. It felt like tingles that built up and then calmed down in waves. “The network exists beneath our feet,” Chase explained. “It’s a grid of energy; you can picture it as long lines of light, spanning Overworld, crisscrossing each other.”
Lexen nodded. “Exactly. These lines connect all around our world. Even into Earth, somewhat. You can use the lights to find something or someone. If you know what you’re looking for.
“We send coded messages to each other,” Chase jumped in, “because we are familiar with the energy of our friends and family. Now we just have to find the light that leads to the last secret keeper.”
Callie interrupted: “She’s going to be on Earth, right? Lexen said the network stretches somewhat into Earth, but will it be far enough?”
There was a beat of silence, and then Daniel said, “It’s not common knowledge, but since we set up the permanent transporter, our network crosses further into Earth’s energy. We’ve kept it from the people because too much network use on Earth could throw the balance off. But … desperate times.”
The council must have taken the same risk with the balance, which clearly turned out okay.
“Jero, we need your help now,” Lexen called out to his brother. The solemn male crossed over to our group, ducking under his brother and Emma’s clasped hands. He shook his head, body visibly shivering as he straightened.
“The energy you’re sharing right now is intense.” He sounded surprised. “For a moment, I wasn’t sure it was going to let me cross.”
“Lucky we aren’t intentionally trying to keep you out, isn’t it?” Daniel said with a grin. “Then you’d probably be peeling yourse
lf off the mountain.” He inclined his head toward a nearby rock face.
Jero actually cracked a smile, and it changed his face so much. The difference was mesmerizing. He reached down and grabbed up the square frame that Star had brought with her, the thing that was supposed to help us connect. Jero held it up in front of Emma.
“Hey!” she exclaimed. “I loved these things when I was a kid.”
Immediately I wanted to know what it was, but since I couldn’t move I’d have to patiently wait until it was my turn.
“You need to let your eyes adjust, just like you did as a kid,” Jero explained. “Once you see the lines, let them extend out of the image until they reach the ground. Follow them down. You’ll understand once your mind is connected.”
“I’ll help you,” Lexen added. “Guide you along the lines of energy.”
Emma didn’t say anything, she focused her attention on the square Jero held. The rest of us were left to deal with tingling hands while watching Emma’s face go from interested to confused to frustrated, back to confused, before eventually landing on devastated.
“I can’t see it,” she wailed, tipping her head toward Lexen. “I tried everything I could to see the different image, but there’s nothing there.”
She sounded extremely upset; her eyes were watery. Lexen leaned down and kissed her on the lips, startling her, but also bringing a much happier expression to her face.
“You’re pushing too hard,” he said. “The key is to let your mind relax. Don’t force it. Try to remember that you have been in the network before. It’s the only way your secret keeper’s abilities could work. The only way the four of you could be linked the way you are. When you were born, your souls touched the network. The imprinting from that remains within you.”
Emma sucked in a loud breath. “I can do this,” she murmured, to no one in particular. “I will not let Laous beat us.”