The Sky Gate shimmered like a mirror stretched between worlds, suspended between the stars and the clouds. As Elara stepped through, the air changed—lighter, thinner, laced with magic. Her breath caught.
She was no longer on Earth.
She stood in the very heart of Aetheria.
The sky above was painted in lavender and gold, the palace floating high above the misted lands below. Spires of glass and stone stretched toward the heavens, humming with enchantments. Beneath her feet, marble pulsed faintly with energy—alive, almost sentient.
Elara swayed.
"I've got you," Auren said gently, steadying her.
His hand in hers was warm, grounding. She turned to him, heart still racing. "It's beautiful," she whispered. "And terrifying."
He smiled. "It gets better. I promise."
---
They entered the main hall of the palace—an awe-inspiring corridor lined with floating lanterns and giant windows that framed the eternal sky. Servants paused to bow. Magic rippled subtly through the air.
At the far end stood the Queen and King, dressed in ceremonial silks, their eyes full of quiet expectation.
And beside them—arms folded, face carved in stone—stood Prince Kael.
Elara's steps slowed. Her breath hitched.
It was him.
The second figure from her dreams. The one who never spoke but always watched her with something unreadable in his eyes.
Now he was real.
And those very eyes—gray, stormy, piercing—were locked on her.
---
Kael said nothing as they approached. But his jaw tightened, visibly, when Auren placed a protective arm around Elara's back. His expression was neutral, but a muscle ticked just beneath the surface.
She felt his stare like a brand on her skin—not admiration… not hatred either. Something darker.
Jealousy.
But also confusion.
Recognition.
Resentment.
He inclined his head slightly, just enough for courtesy. "So," Kael said, voice low and cool, "this is your chosen Queen?"
Elara tensed. Auren's fingers gently pressed at her waist, subtle but reassuring.
"She is more than chosen," Auren replied, calm but firm. "She is fate."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Fate seems… inconsistent."
Elara flinched slightly at the cold tone, unsure what she had done to deserve it.
Auren stepped slightly forward, between them now. Not aggressively—but protectively.
"Kael," he said softly, warning in his tone.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then Kael's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "I'm sure she'll… adjust."
And with a sharp turn of his black cloak, he walked away, leaving only silence in his wake.
---
Later that night, in the golden suite prepared for her, Elara stood by the window, looking out at the floating towers and the sea of clouds.
She still felt Kael's eyes. Still heard his voice—calculated, sharp, disapproving.
"Auren," she asked softly, "does he… not like me?"
Auren stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "He doesn't know you. He guards his feelings like swords."
"I didn't do anything to him," she whispered.
"No," Auren said, resting his chin on her shoulder. "That's why it hurts him."
She looked back. "What do you mean?"
He kissed her temple gently. "Kael doesn't let people close. But he's always seen things in dreams… especially you."
Her breath caught.
"Wait… me?"
"Yes," Auren said quietly. "He saw you in his dreams long before I ever found you. He never told me until after we returned."
Elara stared out the window, her heart thudding.
"I think," Auren added, "a part of him believed you were meant for him. But you're here now. With me."
He turned her gently to face him.
"Don't be afraid of him, Elara," Auren whispered. "He might carry shadows, but I'll always stand in your light."
She leaned into his warmth, but somewhere deep in her chest…
…a flicker of unease stirred.