Chapter Nineteen

Astrid POV

“That’s a loaded question, Finn,” I muttered, staring down at my hands as they fidgeted in my lap.

Finn gently placed his hand over mine, offering a comforting squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me right now,” he said softly. “Just know that when you’re ready to face that part of your past, I’ll be here to help, no matter what obstacles come your way.”

I nodded, still not ready to open that door. I had spent years making sure my past didn’t define me, and now, the thought of revisiting it felt like walking into a storm. Finn, sensing my reluctance, shooed the others away, giving us the space to get started.

We walked to the cliff’s edge, the wind whispering around us as Finn began his lesson. “You’ve had the amulet for a while now, so you’re familiar with its energy,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “Up until now, the amulet has only reacted when you were in danger, acting to protect you. But if you want to control its power, you need to learn how to call on it, not just when your fight-or-flight response is triggered.”

I listened intently as he continued. “The key is in your breath. When you meditate and control your breathing, you can tap into the amulet’s energy. Meditation is how you bridge the gap between the amulet and your own will.”

“Okay, but wait,” I interrupted. “If you’re so good at meditating, why don’t you tap into the amulet and help me out?”

Finn chuckled softly. “It doesn’t work like that. The amulet chose you to be its avatar. Its power won’t respond to anyone else. It’s bound to you, Astrid. Now, sit. You need to meditate and tap into the amulet’s energy.”

We were sat near the edge of the cliff, the wind rustling through the air as we began to meditate. Finn’s voice guided me through the initial steps, and soon, I felt the familiar buzz of energy in my hands. The sensation grew stronger, an invisible force emanating from the amulet and wrapping around me like a protective shield.

“You’re doing well,” Finn’s voice murmured in the background. “You’ve tapped into the amulet. Now, follow your instincts.”

Those were the last words I heard before a blinding light enveloped me. When my vision cleared, I found myself standing in the middle of a vast field. The amulet had transported me again. “Great,” I muttered, brushing the dirt off my knees. “Did I teleport again?”

I froze as a voice spoke from behind me. “Yes, but this time, it was by your own will.”

I spun around, heart pounding, only to be met by a man standing calmly, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Hi, Astrid. I’m Daros.”

“Aranthor?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Precisely,” he replied, the smile never fading.

My mind raced with questions. “What... What is the deal with all of this? You chose me, and now I’m caught up in fixing a mess that has nothing to do with me.”

“Ah,” Daros said, his voice calm, “you’re referring to the chaos in Rathguard. I didn’t choose you for what’s happening there. I chose you because of who you’ve become despite everything you’ve been through. You pursued your dreams, even after enduring so much. And, Astrid... I know your true goal.”

His words hit me like a shockwave. I narrowed my eyes, staring at him. “What do you mean?”

He met my gaze with quiet confidence. “I know who you’re hunting. And I can help you.”

My heart raced. “Give me a name. Please.”

“I’ll give you two,” he said, and immediately, my blood boiled.

“The first is the leader of the Crimson Order, Inquisitor Marcsinian. He will stop at nothing, scouring every corner of the world to further his twisted ambitions. The second is the leader of the Iron Claw Consortium, Commander Sven Thorn.”

“Kaden’s uncle?” I asked, the shock evident in my voice.

Daros chuckled softly. “Isn’t it interesting how everything seems to circle back?”

I could barely process the names, the connections, the danger. Daros stepped closer, his expression serious. “I’ll give you a choice, Astrid. You can hand the amulet over to Finn, and I will have him guard it until I find another worthy avatar. Or...” His eyes gleamed as he spoke. “You can tap into my power and face your destiny. The path fate has laid out for you.”

“But how? This is the first time I was in that new world.”

“No, it wasn’t. Your mother was pregnant with you in Rathguard before she gave birth to you in this world,” my jaw dropped ever so slightly.

“I am passing the information and power as we speak. Get ready. Kaden’s in danger, and he needs his queen. Rathguard needs its Queen.”

I feel the pull from the amulet, and I lay back on the grass. My eyes were glossy and tearing, and I was staring at the sky. What is happening?

"How are you feeling, Astrid? Are you okay?" Finn’s face appeared in my line of sight, concern etched across it.

I took a deep breath and stood up, my resolve steady. "I’m better than okay. I know what I need to do," I said firmly, grabbing Finn and pulling him along behind me.

We headed straight into the camp, and I marched over to Lily with purpose. "Lily, have you moved any of my stuff while I was gone?"

Lily turned to me with a knowing smile. "I recognize that look! No, I didn’t touch anything. What are you up to?"

"Come with me to the truck," I said, and without hesitation, Lily, Marcus, and Daniel followed Finn and me.

When we reached the truck, I went straight to the trunk and carefully unwrapped the one artifact I had kept from the Lorea dig, a staff. I held it for a moment, feeling the weight of its significance.

"Daniel, I need you to stay here with the rest of the students. I don’t want them involved in any of this. Can you wrap up the dig and keep things under control at the camp?" I asked.

"Absolutely," Daniel replied, pulling me into a hug that felt more like a quiet goodbye.

I turned to Marcus with a grin. "Oh, and Marcus? Ask Sam out already. You’re head over heels for her, and she feels the same way."

Marcus turned red but nodded. Then, I looked at Lily. "You with me?"

"Always," she said with a smile.

I held the staff with Lily and Finn, instructing them to hold on tight. "Here, hold on."

With the staff steady in their hands, I gripped the amulet, focusing my breathing. I felt its energy surge, aligning with mine as I willed the amulet to teleport us.

This time, I landed on my feet while Finn tumbled awkwardly and Lily fell onto her side. She winced, rubbing her thigh from the impact, her expression torn between frustration and discomfort. Without a word, she quickly got up, stumbled to the nearest tree, and... vomited.

I hurried over to hold her hair back as Finn took in our surroundings.

“It gets easier...” I said gently.

Lily composed herself and shot me a sharp glare. “Did you throw your guts up the first time?”

I shook my head, suppressing a grin. “No... but Finn did.”

Hearing his name, Finn wandered over, looking relieved. “Hey, this is the first time I didn’t puke.”

“Well, that helps,” Lily said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I couldn’t help but laugh as I reached for the staff.

Finn’s eyes were on me. “How did you know about the staff?”

“Daros told me,” I replied, noticing the surprise flicker across Finn’s face.

“Daros Aranthor?” he asked slowly, his voice full of awe.

“Yeah, the amulet connected me to him. We spoke, and he said he’d share his knowledge and power. One of the things he told me about was the staff. I’ve been fascinated with it ever since I found it during a dig, so I kept it for my collection. Then, I saw it in one of the ancient texts in the palace archives. That’s when I realized—this was Daros’ staff. The amulet brought me back here to retrieve it.”

Lily sat on the ground, wide-eyed. “Okay... while that’s all very cool, can someone please tell me where we are before I lose my mind?”

Finn turned to us, calm and certain. “We’re in Aranthor. I sensed it as soon as we arrived through the amulet. We’re at the border of the palace grounds.”

“Well then,” Lily said, getting to her feet and grabbing my hand. “Let’s go get your man.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I followed Finn, who led us out of the woods and toward the palace.