The same sort of cycle happens with the Kingdoms of Earth and Air, though in a more subtle way. Earth cannot flow but its energy runs through the ground and the growing things, straight across the Forgetful Forest to the Mountains of Serenity that back the Kingdom of Air. Special air currents mimic the grounded energy, blowing across the forest to the Kingdom of Earth, where it collected in magical mists. And all of those elemental crossings converged there, at the Imleag.
Then the Dark Kingdom was added.
I saw it so clearly now, entrenched as I was within the power of the Imleag. The ring of elements at the back of the kingdoms had served as a type of ward for Faerie—a deeper, more powerful ward than the one laid by the Fey themselves. When Faerie and I had created the Dark Kingdom, we had opened that ward, creating a flow between the new element and the others. That flow was necessary, especially since the Dark Kingdom didn't directly touch Spirit. The new kingdom was like a tire fit over a rim. It would never reach the hub except through contact with the spokes. But Faerie had forgotten to close the circle beyond the Dark Kingdom after it was formed. Without that elemental protection, all of those magical sparks Al mentioned had nothing to absorb them. Nothing to neutralize them and drain the excess of power back into the elements.
Instead, they had been drawn to the hub—to the Imleag—and gathered into this mass of churning energy. They drew together into a chaotic cloud of pure potential. As the clouds in the sky grow heavy with moisture until they finally empty themselves with rain, this cloud grew heavy too. It condensed until it could hold no more and then it burst into magical rain. Or perhaps shrapnel would be a better description.
I saw all of that in a second. I knew the answer in a moment. And the Trinity Star granted my wish. Even in that blissful drift, I was aware of the contrariness of my star—that it would grant a wish I made sardonically, fully expecting it not to. I should have wished sooner. You never know when that damn nine-pointed collection of magic inside me would work. It only grants wishes that don't interfere with fate. The problem is, I never know what falls into that category.
But I was grateful—in an eye-rolling way—that this situation fit the bill.
The Nine Great Magics—Love, Hate, Domination, Protection, Health, Abundance, Transmutation, Beauty, and Acceptance—reached for me through the Trinity Star. Their power filled me and ran through me, out into Faerie. Protection took charge, and I watched as the magic arced out and formed a dome over the realm. This was rare indeed; the Star liked to do its thing without being watched, seldom pulling back the curtain to allow me to witness what happened backstage. But this time, I saw the power at work. I saw the ward cover the land and surge beneath it. I saw an orb of light gleam before winking out. I saw the chaotic cloud dissipate into faerie dust. And then, when Faerie was secure again, darkness took me and I saw nothing.
Chapter Thirteen
Wake up already, an irritated female voice said in my head.
I scowled as sounds started to penetrate the fog in my brain—the rustle of leaves, a light chirping of birds, and the heavy breaths of a worried Dragon-Sidhe. My eyes fluttered open and focused on a face above me. Exotically and ferociously handsome, with sharp bones and even sharper teeth. Glossy, blood-red scales patterned the heights of those knife-edge cheekbones and predator lips parted on hot breaths, but those dragon eyes glowed with an adoring fire and the hand that came to my cheek was gentle.
“A Thaisce,” Arach whispered in relief.
“Hey, you,” my voice was rough.
I cleared my throat as I sat up. Arach helped me and kept his hand on my back—my bare back—to support me. I had shifted back to human but, for once, my nudity didn't bother me. It didn't seem to matter in this place. In fact, it felt rather appropriate. Plus, there was no one but Arach there to see me. I looked around myself urgently.
The Imleag didn't glow anymore—the chaos cloud was completely gone—but there was a reverence in the air as if the elements themselves bowed to the presence there. It wasn't a sentient presence—the realm had Faerie for that—but it was powerful. Thrumming. A pulse. This was the Faerie Realm's Eden and I felt like Eve, sitting in the garden with her Adam.
Yeah, yeah, pick an apple why don't ya? Faerie muttered.
“You're welcome,” I muttered back to her.
Thank you, she said grudgingly. Then she added, You did well. I was not myself and unable to assist. I'm sorry about that.
“Thank you and don't worry about it.” I pulled my knees up to my chest and leaned into Arach's embrace. “Has the magic stopped leaking into the Human Realm?”
Yes. You've fixed the imbalance and warded our realm, her tone was back to being annoyed.
“Oh, I get it.” I chuckled. “You're mad at yourself for not realizing what you'd done, or not done, sooner.”
I should have rewarded the realm immediately, Faerie grumbled. But the Darkness had caused such problems that I just...
“Forgot,” I finished for her. “It happens to the best of us.”
I'm pure consciousness, Vervain. It shouldn't happen to me. I'm literally thought. How can thought forget anything?
“Well, you were in my body at the time.”
That's it! Faerie jumped on the excuse. It was your frailty that made me forget. Your paltry brain confined my consciousness!
I grimaced. “Sure, we'll go with that.”
Arach chuckled and stroked my arm. It finally occurred to me that he was back in his human form as well. We really were like the Fey version of Adam and Eve.
“What about the magic that has seeped into the Human Realm?” I asked Faerie.
I have no idea how to pull it back. It's beyond my reach.
I sat up straight. “What?”
However, she went on, it is adrift. Alone. It shouldn't survive for long.
“Shouldn't?”
There is no precedent for this, Vervain, Faerie huffed. And the future of the Human Realm has become uncertain ever since you went dark. I don't know what will happen.
“Well, that's not at all worrying,” I muttered.
“I'm going with you, A Thaisce,” Arach said as he got to his feet.
Arach shifted into his full dragon form—his body thickening and lengthening under a shimmer of magic. Crimson scales caught the fading light of the setting sun and massive wings spread to fill the clearing. The Dragon King lifted his magnificent head, crowned by ebony horns, and roared. The sound held triumph but also a warning. The warning wasn't for anyone in particular but fate perhaps. We would return to the Human Realm together and fix or fight this until the danger had passed.
So sayeth—or roareth—the Dragon King.