Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 4

Suddenly, Liora appeared beside her, a look of appreciation on her face. "Elowen, it’s incredibly thoughtful of you to open this event to other courts, giving them the opportunity to find their mates," she remarked with genuine warmth. Elowen responded with humility, "It’s the least I could do, especially since they stood by me in the battle against Thomas." Liora shook her head gently, insisting, "No, Elowen, you’ve inspired them to reclaim their futures, and they are deeply grateful to you for that." Elowen nodded, her heart swelling with pride as she watched the revelers enjoying themselves.

"Liora?" Elowen began, her voice trailing off as she hesitated. Liora quickly interjected, "Will your heart ever heal?" Elowen offered a small nod, her expression contemplative. Liora's gaze softened, "Yes, it will, but you must allow the time to mend..." Elowen stood up, sensing a newcomer, Liora her words hung in the air as she fell silent, leaving Elowen with a sense of concern.

"There’s someone new among us," Elowen finally announced, curiosity piqued.

Liora expressed her understanding with a gentle nod, her voice carrying a weight of shared experience as she remarked, "I experienced that as well."

Elowen focused her abilities to perceive the presence of the stranger. "He doesn't belong to any of the Courts," she remarked, her voice steady.

"Absolutely, he definitely doesn't," Liora concurred, her eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"I sense no hostility directed at anyone," Elowen continued, her brow furrowing in thought.

"He's an Illyrian," Liora murmured a hint of surprise in her tone.

A flicker of concern crossed Elowen's mind as she pondered the identity of the newcomer.

"It isn’t Blaine," Liora clarified, shaking her head. "He escaped to the human realm and started anew, finding his mate there, who also is an Illyrian female."

Elowen let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.

Elowen settled back onto her throne, her gaze drawn to a solitary figure leaning against the wall, lost in thought yet fixated on her. Despite the dim lighting obscuring his features, she could discern his tall, muscular frame, a stark contrast to the beautiful women who approached him, all of whom he seemed to dismiss in favor of her presence. Curiosity gnawed at her—who was this enigmatic stranger, and what drew his attention so intently?

"Seems like you've caught his eye, Elowen," Liora remarked with a teasing smile.

"Yeah, it appears that way," Elowen replied, her tone betraying a lack of enthusiasm.

"Well, I must be on my way; I just wanted to check in on you," Liora said, her voice warm and friendly.

Elowen returned the gesture with a genuine smile, "Thank you, Liora."

With a reciprocal smile, Liora gracefully winnowed away from the gala, leaving Elowen to ponder the mysterious man who had so captivated her attention.

The connection between the stranger and Elowen was palpable, as if an invisible thread bound their gazes together, rendering the other women who approached him mere shadows in his presence. He maintained a respectful distance, his focus unwaveringly on Elowen, even as one bold woman attempted to draw his attention by flaunting her assets. With a subtle whisper exchanged, she retreated, leaving him free to return his focus immediately returning to Elowen, as if she was the only one in the room. Just then, Thorin approached, extending his hand with a charming smile, asking, "May I have this dance?" Elowen, still entranced by the stranger's lingering gaze, replied, "I'd love to," without breaking her fixation. Thorin's smile widened, and for a moment, Elowen shifted her focus to him as they gracefully moved to the dance floor.

Thorin, tall and handsome with a playful demeanor, was a delightful companion, yet Elowen viewed him solely as a friend, just as he saw her. However, he was mysteriously absent when she glanced back at the wall where the stranger had stood; he was gone. Suddenly, a deep voice interrupted their moment, "Excuse me, may I have this dance?" The stranger reappeared, towering over both of them, his striking grey eyes and midnight-black hair shimmering under the lights. Elowen felt her heart race, and as Thorin, still smiling, acknowledged the stranger casually, "Yeah, sure, Xander," he stepped aside, leaving Elowen breathless and captivated by the enigmatic figure before her.

Xander's jaw tightened as he glared at Thorin, his expression radiating a fierce desire to dismantle him. Shifting his focus back to Elowen, he asked with a raised eyebrow, "Are you afraid of me?" His tone was laced with a teasing amusement.

Elowen scoffed in response, "Not at all. I simply thought you might be a potential adversary," she replied with unfiltered honesty. Xander let out a hearty laugh, his chest vibrating with mirth. "Me? An adversary? What led you to that conclusion?" he inquired playfully. Elowen shot back, "Well, it was hard not to think that when you were lurking in the corner, brooding and watching me." His laughter continued, and he remarked, "So, you must be Elowen, the inaugural High Lady of the Light Court, indeed the first of any Court."

"That's correct," she affirmed with confidence. "And what does that imply?" she challenged him. Xander explained, "In my five centuries of existence, I've never encountered a High Lady; only High Lords have graced my sight. So, you are indeed a first." Elowen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Your name is Xander?" she asked. "Actually, it's Alexander, but you can call me Xander or Alex; either works for me," he replied casually. With a smirk, she quipped, "I’d prefer to call you a Douche, but I suppose that’s off the table." He chuckled, "Ah, you certainly have a sharp tongue, don’t you, kitten?" Elowen rolled her eyes, attempting to ignore the effect his striking looks and strong physique had on her, especially as his hand fit perfectly with hers.

"So, how do you know Thorin?" he inquired, shifting the conversation. "Rowan," she managed to say, her demeanor noticeably shifting at the mention of his name. "I see," he replied, sensing the change. "And what about you? How did you come to know Thorin?" she countered. "We go way back," he began. "We trained together at Warhaven camp. But I distanced myself from everyone when Thomas spread deceitful lies, rallying the strongest and most powerful warriors to his side. I observed you guiding the Courts to the Field of Blood that fateful day, and it was in that moment, upon hearing him call you his daughter, that I understood the depth of his deception; he sought to eliminate you from our midst. When I returned to aid you in battle, I witnessed you engulfing Blaise's wings in flames and driving a sword through his heart. I stayed, watching you take down Thomas; I felt a sense of justice; he truly received what was coming to him.” Xander elaborated.

"Are you telling me you were on the front lines with the enemy?" Elowen demanded, a fierce anger bubbling within her.

Xander lowered his gaze, shame washing over him. "I’ve come to seek your forgiveness," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

"You think you deserve my forgiveness, Xander? You may have stepped back from the battle, but your presence was still felt," she retorted, her voice laced with menace. "Do you even grasp the magnitude of my loss? That day, I lost the love of my life—do you see him anywhere? No, because he lies buried alongside my grandmother, murdered by Thomas. They were all I had left, and he took them from me." Tears streamed down her face, not from sorrow but from the intensity of her fury.

"Elowen, I truly regret what happened," he stammered, struggling to find the right words.

"You don’t get to say that to me. The past is set in stone," she shot back, her voice sharp.

Xander let out a heavy sigh. "I suppose my request to join the Light Court is completely off the table, then?"

"Absolutely out of the question," she replied, her anger palpable.

As the full moon ascended, bathing the gala in a silvery light, Elowen glanced at the celestial body before surveying the crowd. Everyone had found their partners, including Thorin.

An inexplicable pull drew her attention back to Xander, who wore an expression of awe and shock, his eyes wide as he took her in.

Furrowing her brows, she said, "I need to leave."

She attempted to push him away, but he held firm, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her cheek.

He released her at last, and as she exited the gala, she remained blissfully unaware of his presence trailing behind her. With a graceful flourish, she unfurled her ethereal white wings and soared into the night sky, leaving him bewildered.

He sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair in frustration, grappling with an unfamiliar sense of indecision. He found himself at a crossroads for the first time, torn between the urge to chase after her and the instinct to remain where he was, paralyzed by uncertainty. The moment's weight pressed heavily on him, and he was left questioning his next move.