Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 9

Xander felt the intense gaze of Tauriel and Thorin upon him, their expressions filled with curiosity as they pondered the identity of his mate. With a knowing smirk, he tapped into his Daemati abilities, effortlessly reading their thoughts, which only deepened the intrigue surrounding him.

"I'll share that information with you later," he murmured softly to both Thorin and Tauriel, his tone laced with mystery.

Elowen, unable to contain her frustration, interjected, "What information are you planning to reveal later?"

Xander shot her a playful, mischievous grin, responding, "That's not something you need to concern yourself with."

With a dismissive roll of her eyes, Elowen huffed, "Fine, whatever."

As everyone emerged from their booths, Xander couldn't help but grin, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he remarked, "Thanks for the apple pie, kitten." Elowen, unimpressed, merely rolled her eyes in response.

As they walked out of the restaurant, suddenly, an Illyrian warrior descended with urgency, addressing her as "My Lady, we need your assistance." Concern etched on her face, she inquired, "What's going on?" The warrior quickly informed her of a troubling sighting near the city's southern borders, revealing that they were going to be invaded by Dullahans. Without hesitation, Elowen instructed him to immediately alert the city's inhabitants to seek refuge in their bunkers. "Let's go!" she urged, rallying Tauriel, Thorin, and Xander. With a powerful unfurling of their wings, they soared toward the city's southern borders, where a daunting multitude of Dullahan awaited them. Elowen cursed under her breath, knowing that they were outnumbered, as she took in the sight of her warriors positioned defensively around the perimeter.

The leader of the Dullahan bellowed, "HIGH LADY OF CELESTIAL CITY! TODAY, WE SHALL CONQUER THE LIGHT COURT AND CLAIM YOUR HEAD!" His voice echoed ominously through the air, a chilling threat that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. Xander, filled with a fierce protective instinct, prepared to charge at the menacing figure, but Thorin swiftly grasped his arm, halting him just in time, halting him just in time without Elowen noticing.

With a surge of defiance, Elowen retorted, "TRY TO TAKE IT THEN!" Her voice rang out with a fierce determination, fueled by the realization that the Dullahan underestimated her strength. "WARRIORS OF CELESTIAL CITY, TAKE YOUR POSITIONS!" she commanded, her authority igniting a fire within her loyal followers. As they swiftly organized themselves according to her orders, the tension in the air thickened, ready to explode.

"ATTACK!" the Dullahan leader shouted, his final command echoing like a death knell. But Elowen, her fury now a raging inferno, raised her hands, causing the very ground beneath the Dullahan to tremble violently, halting their advance. Xander watched in awe as her eyes glowed white, summoning dark clouds that loomed ominously overhead. As the Dullahans looked up in horror, fiery projectiles rained down upon them, incinerating their ranks in a spectacular display of power. With a swift motion, she commanded the earth to part, swallowing the remaining Dullahan whole and sealing the ground behind them as if they had never existed. The warriors erupted in cheers, their spirits lifted by Elowen's extraordinary display of strength.

Thorin placed his hand firmly on Xander's shoulder, leaning in to share a quiet revelation. "This is precisely why she holds the title of High Lady in this Court."

In that moment, Xander grasped the essence of her authority within the Light Court, a realization that had struck him from their very first encounter. Yet, a nagging concern lingered in his mind—what if her streak of fortune faltered? The thought was too precarious to voice aloud. Like her, he had been touched by the gods, granting him almost similar gifts, though the reasons behind this blessing remained a mystery to him, even his sister didn’t know what power he possessed

Their eyes met, a silent exchange filled with unspoken emotions. Xander felt an overwhelming urge to pull Elowen into a warm embrace, but he quickly dismissed the idea, knowing full well that such an action might earn him a swift punch to the face. Instead, he opted for restraint.

Elowen and Xander exchanged a knowing nod, a silent acknowledgment of each other. Tauriel beamed with enthusiasm, exclaiming, "Elowen, that was truly incredible!" Her words filled the air with a sense of admiration. Elowen felt a rush of warmth at the compliment but quickly shifted her focus, her expression turning serious as she turned to Thorin. "Thorin, we must uncover the motives behind this orchestrated attack. I fear this is merely the beginning of something much larger," Elowen stated with conviction. "We will set out at dawn to trace the origins of this threat and understand their intentions."

Xander raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face. "What do you mean by 'we'?" he challenged, his tone laced with disbelief.

Elowen, undeterred, clarified her stance. "It means that you, Tauriel, and I will be accompanying Thorin on this mission."

Xander's response was swift and dismissive. "My sister and you are not coming. I will go with Thorin, but you two can forget it."

Elowen's expression hardened as she shot him a piercing glare. "Who do you think you are, trying to tell me what to do? Your little faith in me is insulting."

"Get used to it, kitten," Xander retorted, his voice firm and unyielding. "Neither you nor her will be joining us."

Tauriel's anger bubbled to the surface, her cheeks flushing crimson. "This is exactly what I was trained for, Xander! I didn’t go to Warhaven just to be sidelined!"

Thorin, observing the escalating tension, interjected with a calm yet pointed remark. "I think you're outnumbered, Xander."

Xander's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, mirroring the fiery expression of his sister, as his nostrils flared in frustration. "Elowen, mark my words, there will come a day when your luck will run out. What will you do then, huh?!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with genuine worry for her well-being.

Elowen shot him a fierce glare, her brows knitted tightly together. "When that day comes, I'll handle it! Now, move aside!" she retorted, her tone equally fierce and unyielding.

With a deliberate bump, she bumped her shoulder against his, a clear display of her simmering anger towards him. Xander observed her retreating figure, catching snippets of her muttered words that hinted at her frustration.

Tauriel and Thorin looked at Xander, and Tauriel's expression shifted to one of understanding. "She is your mate, isn't she?" she inquired, her tone now calm as her previous anger faded.

Xander let out a heavy sigh, acknowledging the truth of her words. "Yes, she is," he admitted, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "I felt a pull the moment I laid eyes on her at the Field of Blood. It was at the Spring Equinox Ball, under the full moon, that the mate bond snapped into place. So, please, keep this to yourself," he urged, revealing the depth of his feelings.