Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes Page B

anything but perfect, temperate weather.
    â€œDid you do that?” Cleo whispered.
    â€œI don’t know.” Her
elementia
gave her the power to do so many incredible things—both wonderful and fearsome—but to control weather itself . . .
    The thought was just as frightening as it was exciting.
    Cleo linked her arm with Lucia’s as they stood up together. “I know what it’s like to love someone different from you. Someone others might look down upon or deny you. It causes more pain than happiness, especially if the one you love is stolen from you too soon.”
    â€œYes,” Lucia whispered.
    â€œBefore my father died, he told me to believe in magic. And that’s what I do. I believe in things other people think are impossible, and it makes me strong enough to face whatever comes next. I believe that your Alexius is real and that right this moment he’s thinking about how much he misses you.”
    Lucia couldn’t deny it. Cleo was getting to her, breaking through that dark wall that surrounded her.
    Believe in magic. Believe in the impossible.
    Believe, tentatively, in this fragile new friendship with Cleo.
    And believe that one day she’d see Alexius again.

CHAPTER 7
    ALEXIUS
    THE SANCTUARY
    I n the two thousand years Alexius had existed, he’d never wanted anything as much as this.
    He lay back in the grass of his favorite meadow with his eyes closed and reached out through the darkness, searching for her.
    Where are you?
    No answer. He tried until his head ached, until his body felt weak. Until he was so frustrated he could scream. But once again it didn’t work.
    The princess was lost to him—out somewhere in the mortal world, alone with no one to guide or protect her.
    The thought made him laugh, and the sound rumbled deep in his chest.
    Protect her.
    â€œAlexius.”
    He jumped to his feet at the sound of Timotheus’s voice.
    â€œGreetings,” he managed to say through his hoarse throat. He hadn’t spoken aloud all day.
    Timotheus, Alexius’s friend and mentor, as well as one of the Three that made up the council of elders, regarded Alexius with his arms crossed and patience in his golden eyes. “Am I interrupting your daily meditation? Or were you attempting to dreamwalk?”
    â€œNeither,” he lied. “I was only resting.” To admit he was trying to visit the dreams of a mortal would only spark additional questions. Questions he couldn’t answer.
    â€œThere’s something different about you,” Timotheus said, walking a slow circle around Alexius as he studied his tall, lean frame. “I’ve noticed for many months now, ever since you began spending so much time with Melenia.”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œBe wary of her.”
    A bolt of worry struck Alexius, and he fought to hide it from his face. “I’m wary of everyone here in the Sanctuary.”
    â€œThat makes you wise.”
    â€œAre you just out for a stroll? Or did you come here looking for me?”
    â€œNeither. I’m looking for Phaedra. She’s still missing.”
    To hear the name of his dearest friend was an unexpected blow. “I know.”
    â€œDo you know where she disappeared to?”
    â€œNo.”
    Timotheus didn’t break eye contact. Despite their centuries of friendship, despite all the guidance and knowledge the elder had shared, Alexius still had secrets he needed to keep from him.
    Horrible secrets.
    â€œI believe Melenia has something to do with her disappearance,” Timotheus said. “You might ask her about it the next time you see her, which I presume will be today?”
    Alexius chose not to confirm this. “I’ll be sure to ask her the next time I see her.”
    Rumors had begun to spread across the Crystal City that he was their fair leader’s newest lover, a designation that drew stares of envy and jealousy from his