Chapter Fifteen

A True First Kiss

That night, Phobos awoke to the sound of a sudden storm. The prince laid in his bed, red silk sheets covering him as he listened to the howling. Air in the room hot and thick from the humidity. Turning over, he stared at the dark glass of his patio doors, wondering if the storm was natural or magic, only for a small bit of shock to shoot down his spine at the flash of lightning.

At the door was a bulky, black silhouette, pressing and pulsing against the glass, large enough to block most of the light from each blazing flash.

In the back of his mind, he felt a sense of defeat, just wanting peace while he slept, but he pushed it away, steeling himself for whatever would come.

He wouldn't die. So what did the pain matter? Even when it echoed in his mind, replayed in his dreams? All that mattered was making it to another day, another step closer to freedom.

Phobos sat up, pushing the covers away, leaving him in thin sleeping breeches. Seeing that the thing at the door didn't move other than the rhythmic shake, he slipped from his bed, eyeing the bedroom door. For the first time, he thought he should go alert his guards, but a sound, like a release of a large pocket of air, caught his attention, as he knew that sound.

Phobos walked over, still unable to make out the details of the large shape, the size of Frost curled in a tight ball, but could make out long spikes jutting from its back. Phobos stopped as a bit of lightning sparked between two spikes and dissipated just as fast.

Opening the door, the chilly rain pelted him, causing him to take a few quick steps back. The wind caused the doors to blow open with a snap, and Phobos realized the thing at his door had been asleep, as enormous eyes, glowing with white magic, peeled open. The eyes blinked a few times as the creature gained its senses.

It stood, supporting itself on all fours, and stretched its long, wiry limbs, toothless mouth opening with a sound that was between a croak and a yawn. Electricity bounced from the several long, bone-like spikes along its back and forearms, giving Phobos an unobstructed view at its size and shape.

"Achilles?" Phobos called, truly shocked at the sight.

The massive frog beast shook itself like a dog before lumbering in from the storm, now walking on its hind legs, webbed hands tipped with sharp talons. As it neared, the spikes along its back glowed brightly, lighting the room, and the magic from its eyes faded, replaced by the familiar wide stare he knew.

"Master," the frog croak, voice deep and monstrous. It lowered itself, pressing his muzzle toward him. "I have made the journey to return to your side."

Phobos pressed a palm to the thick, deep green, armor-like hide, and it closed its eyes, pressing its head to his open hand. There was a surge of static at his touch and the beast was humming with electricity, charged and ready for his command.

"Your new form," Phobos started, looking over his once tiny familiar. "It is impressive," he praised, seeing the large muscles flex as the creature shifted.

Achilles pulled away, standing to his full height, head near brushing the ceiling. On the underside of his throat, he saw a single glowing triangle pointing down. "Your magic granted this form," he said, eyes deep. "But I have another, base on the magic that feeds me."

Phobos frowned at the news. While the frog was feeding on the Heart of Meridian, it was being funneled through Elyon first. He knew she would influence his familiar, but it surprised him how annoyed he was it was actually happening.

Could nothing be his without her interference?

Not Meridian?

Not Metamoor?

Not his familiar?

Not the Keeper?

Was he cursed for his sister to control his life forever?

"Show me," Phobos demanded harshly, now agitated.

Achilles wasted no time, his body glowing white as his shape compacted on itself, growing smaller and smaller and smaller.

Once he stopped glowing, he just stared up at Phobos, waiting.

The prince felt his mouth twist in disgust, as this form was the opposite of the glorious war beast that was just before him.

Tiny and soft.

"Hmm," Phobos thought. "But maybe not useless," he announced, a smile twisting his lips.

Dawn of the fourth day had Phobos in a mixed mood. On one hand, his familiar was returned to him, now off in his other form, learning the layout of the castle at the prince's command. So that was a good thing, as his idea to ask the Keeper to retrieve the beast had unsettled the prince. He was growing more and more unwilling to lie to her or involve her in his plans to escape.

But that was moot for another reason, as the Keeper was yet to return.

This was beyond just waiting.

Some type of action was required now.

And, as her companions were used to her taking action, he realized he needed to intervene. Push them in the right direction.

Like clockwork, the three were buzzing around him as he sat at a table in the lower library. His guards were stationed outside, a new set, a man and woman, both half-breeds, and Phobos swore he knew their faces from his reign. They were polite and respectful, not bothered by the sight of him, making him think this wasn't the first time they guarded him. Phobos did not care enough to inquire, as even a past loyalty to him could end in deceit, as Cedric and Miranda had proven.

"How do you not get lost here?" Irma asked after they settled around him, peering down the long, seemingly endless rows of the enchanted room. Books from every realm rested there, waiting for their spines to be cracked open, their pages caressed.

"You can not become lost in a place you never wish to leave," he answered, flipping through a book on bonds between the living and non-living objects.

Irma gave him a flat look. "How are you and Taranee not best friends?" she followed up with, looking at the adjacent table, filled with far more books, Taranee's black hair near hidden from view.

Taranee poked her head up from her own research. Most of the books covered in the Meridian crest, making him wary of what she was searching for. "Did you call me?" she asked her friend.

"Nothing, nothing," Irma answered, waving dismissively, now leaning on the table near him. Not caring why she was mentioned, Taranee sunk back down to her readings.

"Why are you reading about familiars and bonds again?" Hay-Lin asked, flying down from the tall shelves that were out of reach, sitting down with two new books she found on the subject.

Phobos took one of the new books, 'A comprehensive Guide to Maintaining Familiar Bonds', and began flipping through it.

"While on Earth, when employed to deal with Nerissa, I recall you all were not connected to the Heart when the Keeper was absent. Yet, now, you all freely use far more magic than before."

Hay-Lin nodded, floating in the air. "Will says the Heart likes us. That it can hear our call and answer us, too, like her."

Irma was quick to catch on, "Oh, so you think we can, like, call the Heart? Find out where it took Will?"

Taranee was clearly listening as she stood and joined them. "That could work," she said, now gazing at at the surrounding books. "Will always encouraged our connection to the Heart, so she would be open to the mental connection."

Phobos, not wanting to think too hard about him helping them, that it was more about his selfish need to be near the Keeper again, explained his thoughts.

"While I do not know the magical bonds that connect you to the Heart, the only similar one I am aware of, that shares over distance, is that of a master and familiar. Who is the master and who is the familiar is unclear."

"What?" Hay-Lin asked, alarmed. "What does that mean?"

Taranee placed a hand on her chin. "We can be seen as servants to the Heart."

"What?" Irma repeated, sounding annoyed. "Servant? Me? Hell no."

Taranee went on. "So maybe we can locate it? Seek it out?"

"Possible," Phobos agreed, thinking about Achilles seeking him. "Yet, this is a problem you all must solve," he said, standing up, Taranee eagerly taking his place. "I have no connection to this."

Irma snorted. "Yeah, clearly, no connection at all. No stakes here." As he walked away she yelled, sounding exasperated, "You aren't missing her at all! Nope! Not one bit!"

Phobos, not one to hold someone's hand, left them to figure out their connection to the Heart, and returned to his quarters, not liking his want to stay and plan with them. They were on the right track, and Taranee was likely to discover what was needed.

After all, if they couldn't even handle recovering the Keeper, then they weren't worth his time, right?

He didn't surround himself with those weak and inferior. And that would be the same, even in his forced servitude. These three were determined to prove themselves in ways they never had to before. They needed to stand firm on their own power, their own convictions, even when that meant clashing against one of their own. Even if that meant taking charge when they were used to the shadows.

They were going about the crisis with the heart and Keeper all wrong. The Keeper didn't need the Heart stripped from her. She needed equals to help keep the growing nymph in line.

Needed others to lessen the burden.

He wondered if just the three would be enough.

Because the Earth Guardians' loyalty to his sister might be more than that to the Keeper. And with a wild nymph, a missing guardian might be more than they could overcome.


Will knew it wasn't a dream.

She had struggled with the Heart for what felt like both seconds and days. It didn't want to lose her. It was a scared child, grabbing her and running away, hiding. And now there was nothing but the infinite spread of swirling magic around them, flowing in her veins, filling her lungs, holding her tight.

It had lost so many before her, fading and losing itself over and over. But now that it was awake, it wanted to stay. Stay with her.

But it was growing distrustful of those around them. They wanted to tear her away, make her give up the Heart.

Will tried to reason with it, calm it, but she couldn't lie.

Because it was true.

They thought Will's time as the Holder of the Heart was nearing its end. That her future was on Earth, with her family and Matt. With normal humans living their normal lives. Eventually, that would come true for all of them. A new generation would take over and Will would fade into the background.

Now, in the void of magic, a shapeless form curled against her, growing stronger each day that it was awake and unchecked. It didn't want to sleep anymore. It wanted to live again.

Will hugged it to her, promising to stay with it as long as she could.

But she still needed to leave the void. Return to her friends.

It resisted. It didn't trust them not to take her away after her argument with Elyon and Caleb. They had torn deep into Will, using her own actions against her.

So it had been watching them, evaluating the risk to return her to the mortal realm, and didn't like what it saw. They didn't understand why Will was away, why the creature was nervous, and if they didn't understand, why would things be any different if they returned?

Yet, there was one person, recently who understood what was happening. That didn't come between them. Who encouraged Will to embrace her birthright.

Will was fighting the haze in her brain that was making her content with this endless sleep.

Control it, he had urged. If she was willing for the nymph to awaken, she had to give it structure, give it guidance. It couldn't run wild anymore. Not if this was its answer.

Because Will didn't run from a fight.

And she wasn't about to start now.

The call from Taranee finally grounded her, reaching through the bonds of the Heart and not her mind, making it into the magic realm. Taranee called to her, asking her to come back.

The nymph pushed Taranee away, upset, but Will reminded it that Taranee was her friend too, and simply wanted the best for the both of them. Reluctantly, the nymph pulled away from Will, looking outward. Instead of her friends, it looked to the other in the castle, the one who embraced power.

Seeing that was a fair compromise, and wanting to be free of the void, Will let the creature take her to him, to the prince.

To Phobos.


Back in his room, Phobos was restless. Wondering if giving the three what they needed was enough, or was he giving them too much credit? He pulled on his circlet, checking on his familiar, finding all well with the frog. He sat on his bed, hating the feelings in him that made him worry for her. Wasn't it enough to just be attracted to her? Why… this? This longing? This worry?

Why did he care for her now? What could come of that?

As he was now, he had nothing and could only drag her down in status.

The serpent in him coiled.

He was selfish.

And she would be his.

That was all the reason he needed.

A blinding light before him caused him to shield his eyes. The harsh pink light bled even through his closed eyelids as he turned away. Once dimmed, he opened his eyes in time to see a glowing form take shape. From the glittering ball, wings unfolded, revealing the Keeper. Her hands gripped the pendant at her chest, eyes open, still filled with magic, hair messy as it floated around her soft face.

He stood and walked over, careful of the nymph, as the Heart was still fiercely glowing.

"I understand," he said, looking at the stone, not foolish enough to think of coming between a cosmic being and its chosen one. "I have no interest in tearing her away from you. She is safe here." He meant that. Lying to this creature would be foolish as well.

The Heart dimmed but didn't stop glowing. The Keeper didn't wake, still floating in the air before him, eyes unseeing.

Frowning, he addressed the Heart again. "Let her wake. You do her no favors like this. You know she will be furious at you, no matter at this point. Face your fate, nymph."

His rebuke worked as the Heart flickered once before finally fading. The jewel dark and merging with her body.

Her eyes closed and she collapsed. He reached out, now able to touch her, able to hold her, and carried her to his bed. Laying her down, he sat by her side, brushing her hair back. He hated how his heart jumped, finally able to feel the warmth of her cheeks.

"Will?" he called, concerned she still wasn't waking.

Finally, she stirred at her name, beautiful wings stretching behind her as her eyes opened, revealing her deep, warm orbs. As soft and inviting as the rich earth that nurtured all life. For a moment, she stared, messy hair falling in her unfocused eyes.

Where did the nymph take her? Has she slumbered this whole time?

Slowly, she pushed herself on her arms, heavily leaning on them, like she barely had any strength. Her head fell forward, hair blocking her eyes, pink lips slightly parted. The large wings quivered on her back as they fell limp, spread across the red sheets, shimmering in the strong afternoon light.

"Phobos?" she questioned, sounding lost, and his heart clenched.

He reached out again.

His bonds didn't stop him from touching her like he wanted, just for touching her for selfish reasons, he realized. For so long, lost in his pure desire, he failed to reach for her other than to fulfill that want.

Now, his hand finally reached her.

With her, he realized, he didn't need to be selfish, because she was always willing to be there, to give him what he needed.

So he could give her what she had been seeking this whole time.

Someone who understood her, who did not judge her or her choices, past or present.

He brushed her soft red hair from her eyes and cupped her warm cheek. She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, face heavy in his hand. He moved closer, reaching his other hand out and lacing a hand in her hair, tipping her head back.

She opened her eyes as he closed the distance between them.

It wasn't the crude acts his jailers forbade. No tricks or games. No plan for her.

Just the need to comfort her.

To keep safe what the nymph brought him.

"Will," he breathed her name across her lips, heart leaping in his chest at the trust in her eyes. Trust never aimed at him before. Trust that he knew would be gone by the end of summer.

And he finally kissed her.