The Source (Chronicles of the Elements #1)

Chapter 28

Once they retrieved their belongings from the cliff, Aiden swiftly portaled them all right to the front door of their home in Sky Kingdom.

"What is this place?" Fiadh asked looking all around at the beauty and splendor of the estate.

"This is our home here in Sky Kingdom. Welcome to the place of your power, Cillian," Liam answered turning to their war gifted friend.

"It's amazing! I feel...connected, even only having arrived mere seconds ago."

"We will make sure you set foot at your source before we depart. Your war gift will intensify and strengthen while also ensuring you settle becoming full Fae. Actually, you and Fiadh will likely settle while we are away just as Aiden will."

"Is this why you asked me to come along?"

"One of the reasons," Aiden smiled. "I figured we would end up here for a quick trip to the Valkyrie libraries. You're also pretty entertaining too."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," he replied in all seriousness with a bow.

"This estate is lovely. Is this where you both will live when you have to be in this realm?"

"It depends on where we have to be, but this is a private place that means a lot to us both because this is where Liam figured out that he could not live without me," Aiden laughed playfully shoving her mate.

He grabbed her around her waist and kissed her as he used his magic to unlock the doors. Aiden walked inside first sending away all the coverings over the furnishings with her wind while burning away the layers of dust and lighting all the candelabras and hearths with her fire magic leaving the house sparkling. She then wrapped the house ensuring their privacy and set it to alert them to any intruder, friend or foe.

"When did you learn that trick? I believe I promised to teach you once you received your power," Liam asked placing his huge arms around her middle.

"I got tired of waiting for you to remember, so I taught myself," she smirked.

"You are insufferable," he told her with a kiss. "It is getting late. Let us go get the key and then rest. We can go to the Valkyrie libraries in the morning."

They followed Liam down a hallway and through the kitchen down to a cellar that was a filled with many dusty bottles of that golden wine Sky Kingdom was famous for. On the back wall hung a painting of the sea depicting what looked like a banner with a family crest upon it floating in the waves as the sun shone down.

"That looks similar to the one I saw belonging to your father, but it's not an exact match," Aiden remarked studying the details.

"That is because it is a combination of my father's and my mother's. His greatest treasure was his legacy. I was a way to carry on his name," he explained as he took the painting off the wall revealing the smooth stones beneath. He placed his hand on one infusing magic into it making a whole section of the wall swing open like a door.

"My mother told me about this secret cellar centuries ago not long after my father died. She said that it held their most precious belongings that were to be passed down to me if ever I wanted or needed them, but I did not give much thought to it at the time. Then, about a year ago, Nuada had me retrieve a necklace from a heavily warded trove in an office that used to belong to my father located in the barracks of Sea Kingdom instructing me to lock it away in a place only I would know of. Now, I know why."

They all four walked into the hidden room where more paintings lined the walls from practically top to bottom and fine jewelry and weapons were displayed in glass cases placed on freestanding, ornately carved pillars throughout the space, which was now illuminated since Liam had magically lit the torches on the walls.