Essence of the Angels (The Starlight Chronicles #2)

Chapter Fifteen

Lucy's POV

A cold shiver went down my spine.

"This is impossible . . ." I whispered, frozen with shock. "How are you even—"

"Alive?" Titania offered, taking a fearless step forward. When I didn't answer, she chuckled softly. "I imagine this is a lot to take in—and I've been anxious to meet you, my heroic little Starlight Princess. I was quite surprised when my city angels informed me that they had you and your friends in captivity." She gestured to a tunnel, leading further into the caves. "Why don't we go take a seat and talk? I'm sure you have many questions."

I glanced quickly to Neo, who seemed to be looking to me for guidance at this point. I swallowed hard, feeling pressured—across from me, Andrew and Kyra's lives were literally in the hands of the city angels, and I was standing inches from the goddess who had created this realm and was supposedly dead.

If there was ever a time to make smart choices, it was now.

She waved us towards the tunnel, the train of her dress floating along with her. The silk seemed to almost levitate slowly, twisting in rhythm with Titania's movements. Her gown was sunset gold and covered in intricate detailing fit for someone of her ranking, and her golden hair spilled down her shoulders in tangled waves, all the way down to the floor.

"Come," she coaxed, her expression calm.

My stomach knotted, but I finally managed to nod, and we all followed her through the tunnel. I glanced to Andrew for advice—hoping he could give me something, anything, that would explain what the hell was going on. Andrew looked just as clueless as the rest of us.

How was Titania here? If she was alive, why was this war happening? What about the bad blood between the Starlighters and Urenphians—wasn't that what had started all of this?

My brain worked in circles, trying to understand, but I couldn't comprehend what was going on.

The cave began to widen finally—but as we walked further along, cold dread came over me. The ground sloped down into an arena, with rows of seating surrounding it. I slowed in my tracks, and Titania glanced over her shoulder at me. "Is there a problem?" she called lightly.

When she'd suggested for us to sit and talk, I didn't know what I'd been expecting . . . but not this. Why were we here, of all places?

"Come, Starlight Princess," Titania said—and this time, I could hear the demand in her tone. I glanced at Andrew and Kyra, still being held by the city angels, and the only reason I complied was for their sake. Something didn't feel right, and I couldn't help but get a chill down my spine as Titania guided me to a seat, front and center of the arena spectating ring that protruded off the edge of the slope.

I was about to sit when I heard a muffled struggle, and my gaze whipped around—only to see that Neo had now been grabbed by city angels and was being bound as well.

My eyes widened. I moved to go back, but Titania's firm grasp locked onto my wrist.

"Sit," she hissed, a deadly edge to her tone. Her bright, brown eyes narrowed at me, and I forced myself to sit in the stone chair. Satisfied, Titania strode to stand in front of me, and folded her arms.

"You and I have much to discuss."

"Why are you holding my friends hostage?" I said, ignoring her playful tone and cutting to the chase. "How are you here?"

"So many questions," she mused thoughtfully. "All will be answered in good time. First, let me start off on the right foot by giving you my praise—which I think you can agree is long overdue."