"Magnus, I don't hate you. I'll never forgive you for what you did to Theon, but it's clear that we need each other. And maybe someday, when all of this is over, we'll be able to follow our hearts wherever they may lead us." Cleo said
The morning sunlight beamed down onto the balcony, giving Cleo a beautiful glow. She stood comfortably against the railing, the light wind ruffling her hair. Her eyes widened as Magnus slowly came closer. He could see the panic in her eyes mixed with a burning desire to do what they had wanted to for so long.
"I don't want to wait. Despite all my best efforts, I've fallen in love with you." Magnus whispered
He circled his arms around her delicate waist, meeting her gaze passionately. Then he leaned forward and kissed her, slowly, reverently, no longer quite so surprised that this was happening, that he wanted her so badly. In that moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them breathed. They just . . . existed together. The tension melted away. And the kiss was still artless, still desperate—but only because it was real. The most honest, truthful moment they'd ever shared.
Magnus awoke with a start. Sweat beaded down his face as his tired eyes strained to see in the pitch black. He pushed himself off the carefully laid out sheets on the ground and quietly walked to the window. Slivers of moonlight had shone onto the streets of Limeros, illuminating the buildings.
His mind wandered. He imagined Amara, on her way to Kraeshia, ready to send Mytica into chaos. They were helpless. They had nothing to bargain with and no way to stop the kingdom's inevitable collapse. And then something triggered in his brain and he began to from a plan.
If they could find Lucia and the Kindred, they could put up a barrier so powerful; the Kraeshian Empire would never be able to pass through it. With all four Kindred, Lucia would have an endless amount of magic. Magnus paced the room, his mind scrambling to work out all of the details.
It was saddening to see how things had changed. A few months ago, Magnus would have never taken advantage of Lucia's powers. Now they needed her more than ever. Mytica was on the brink of collapse and she was the only one who could prevent it from complete destruction. A light tap on the shoulder made Magnus lose his train of thought.
"Is something wrong? Did I interrupt your beauty sleep?" He asked as Cleo glared at him. "My dearest apologies, princess."
"I was awake anyways." Cleo sighed "Although it wouldn't hurt if you stopped furiously pacing around the room while I am trying to fall asleep.
"If you've come over here to argue with me, I'm afraid you're wasting your breath. We'll have plenty of time to bicker on our long journey." Magnus said snidely
Cleo shook her head. "Every time I close my eyes, I see Amara's face. That evil glint in her eyes as she stabbed her own brother. What type of a person can kill so mercilessly?" She asked, her body trembling with fear.
Magnus frowned. He stared at a girl who had been sheltered her entire life. Who had been protected since birth from the cruelties of the world. She was brave, exceptionally brave. But even the strongest people had a weakness.
"The places we're about to go and the things we are about to do are dangerous. I can tell you the plan right now, and I won't gloss over any of the details. It will be tedious and the odds are stacked against us. However, you have the option to back out now. I can hide you away somewhere here, in Limeros, where no one will ever find you." Magnus suggested
"No, I will go with you" Cleo declared. "I got us into this mess by telling Nic about our plans."
Both of them jumped when they heard a knock on the door. He met Cleo's eyes and knew they were thinking the same thing; who would want to see them at this time of the night?
Cleo walked to the door and opened it hesitantly. A man who looked about Magnus' age walked in. The first thing Magnus noticed was his eyes, dark and intriguing much like his own. The man confidently walked into the room and leaned against a wall. His breathing was heavy and his cheeks flushed from the cold.
"What do you want" Cleo said eyeing him suspiciously.
"It's not about what I want, it's about what you want." He replied putting his hands in the air as a gesture of peace. "We can't afford to waste time. I've been following you since I spotted you yesterday, wandering around Limeros. I know who you are. More importantly to you, I saw Lucia. I lost you briefly and it took me a while to find you again but I have vital information to help you." He reported confidently.
The man seemed so sure of himself, but Magnus knew not to trust anyone.
"Who are you?" Magnus responded wearily.
" I'm a man who doesn't want to see Mytica fall to the Kraeshian Empire. I was brought up in Limeros, close to the Limerian Castle. I was at the temple of Valoria when I recognized princess Lucia. The things I saw… They're unexplainable. I stayed there, frozen in shock but then you guys came in. Only, you weren't alone were you? I witnessed everything, then I followed you. That is, until I had to stop because of the devastating cold and my exhaustion. I spent the rest of the night looking for you. Kraeshian's killed my family, I don't want it to happen to yours to." He finished.
Magnus and Cleo exchanged another glance. When something was to go to be true, it was most likely a lie.
"Tell us what you know" Cleo said uncertainly.
Felix had the urge to laugh. Apparently his acting was good enough to fool two royals who had grown up surrounded by deception. It was easy to believe something when it benefited you. He would continue to lie, steal and manipulate if that is what it took to hold all the power.