The Paragon Antaris - a secret World of magic #2
Chapter 3

Since Jade now knew how to make my dreams visible, it was easy for her to use witchcraft. Still clearly impressed by Leilal's idea, she decided to use the same method to replace out where my mate was.

"The only one who can look in the mirror without consequences is you, Elyon. So I'm going to do the hex on the Great Seal so you can see better. You might not have much time, so think carefully about what you ask," Jade explained to me as she made the preparations.

My mother was very scared for me, and father had to hug her to calm her down.

Devas and Evelyn stood next to my parents, all turned away from me to protect them. When Jade finished the spell, she turned her back to the mirror just like my parents. Only I stood in front of it and looked at everything. The young woman was still sitting on the floor with her knees pulled tightly to her body, crying.

"Where are you?" I asked her quietly.

She looked up at me with her beautiful dark eyes filled with tears.

"You're a dream..." she said quietly.

"I am Elyon. And I am not a dream," I answered her.

She watched me with her head tilted to the side and reached out to me. She couldn't touch me, but when her hand passed over mine, she jumped and looked at me with wide eyes.

"You can see me?!" she said, shocked.

"Tell me where you are so I can help you," I asked her lovingly.

"You can't replace me...only I can replace you," she explained to me, which confused me. "I am a somnia cursor. A dreamwalking demon," she explained.

"Then how can I help you?" I asked sadly.

"If I trust you, I have to bring you to me through your dreams. That's the only way you can come here," she explained to me.

"My father is King Avery. He will guarantee you protection," I said without thinking, because as my mate, she belongs to me and also to Antaris.

"Avery... and Iris," she whispered as she said my parents' names.

We were confused, and I could feel the tension in my parents who were still standing with their backs to me.

"You don't have to be afraid of me...if you give me your word, then I'm ready to take you to me," she said quietly after hearing who my father is.

I looked at my father, who looked at my mother. Mother nodded, and father then said firmly, "You have my word, we won't harm you!"

The girl watched my face as if searching for the truth. I meant no harm to her. On the contrary, my only wish is to help her. My whole being wanted to protect her.

"Close your eyes and repeat after me," she said as she decided to trust us. "Gratus sum ad somnium mundi," we repeated her words.

When I opened my eyes, we were standing in front of her. We were no longer in Antaris. We were in a dark place. My mother's aura glowed red and illuminated everything, which frightened the young woman, and she retreated into a protective position.

"Don't be afraid, I promise I won't hurt you," Mother said reassuringly.

Her eyes were frightened, and her expression showed fear. My heart ached as I realized how afraid she was of us. I knelt in front of her and looked at her beautiful face.

Her face was dirty, but I still recognized her fine facial features. Her small button nose and the full red lips that seemed to be a little torn. And her dark eyes adorned with long, thick eyelashes. Her black, curly hair seemed unkempt, and the clothes she was wearing were clearly too small for her. Her beauty was breathtaking, but her eyes showed so much sadness.

"What is your name, demon, and why are you hiding here?" Devas asked as he looked around. She was still in the same position and didn't move.

"I'm scared," I heard a child's voice speak to her. When I looked behind her, I saw a little face looking at me. A child!

"Please don't hurt her. Don't hurt my sister," my mate begged us, and my heart broke because of the fear she had of us.

My mother became emotional when she saw the little girl. She was clearly malnourished and pale, with a worried face and shaking body. I put my hand on her shoulder, and she looked at me.

"You're both safe, I promise you no one will harm you," I assured her.

The little girl behind her looked at me curiously with the same big black eyes as my mate. Her little face smiled at me, and my mate also seemed relieved.

"I'm Elyon...these are my parents and their protectors Devas and Lilly... and this is Jade...all friends," I introduced us.

"Friends..." she repeated quietly.

"What's your name?" I asked her as I still knelt in front of her.

She looked at me and smiled as if she was just now realizing that I was real.

"My name is Innia, and this is Nyllis," she said as she held the child's hand protectively.

"Evelyn... Jade?" Devas asked, as he wanted to know what they could see and feel regarding the two. When I looked at Evelyn, she smiled and nodded as a sign of their good nature. But Jade's face showed so much pain, suffering, and sadness. She could see what they were experiencing, and their thoughts seemed to be deeply hurtful.

"Good. Well, we can't stay here. I don't even know where we are... We have to go home!" Devas said to my father.

"Leave? But they will replace us," said the little girl, frightened.

Her big black curls fell over her dirty face. Her lower lip trembled with fear, and her eyes filled with tears. My heart ached for this child. No creature deserves so much fear.

"Don't be afraid, I will protect you," I promised little Nyllis.

Innia was still standing protectively in front of her sister when Jade opened the portal to Antaris. Little Nyllis was no older than 5 years, and the sight of the portal excited her. As we walked through the portal, I could still feel my mate's fear.

Things didn't get any better when we arrived in Antaris, and Aidan was waiting there with the guard. Innia took a few steps back and bumped into me. Her back was in front of my chest, and the contact of our bodies triggered fireworks in me.

Touching my mate here in Antaris is something different than in her dream world.

And everyone felt that. My parents looked at me in amazement as they saw the tremendous energy of my aura, which was now glowing dark red, and my eyes seemed frightening after Aidan's facial expression.

I heard myself for the first time as I let out a frightening growl and warned the guards who were pointing their weapons at Innia.

Innia turned around and looked at me in surprise, her hand on my chest as she stared into my eyes in shock. Her mouth fell open slightly, and she was speechless when I hugged her protectively.

"Wooow!" said little Nyllis as she looked at me.

Her little voice pulled me back to reality, and the aura around me slowly disappeared. Everyone stared at me, except Nyllis, who hugged my leg, clearly relieved because she was now sure that I could keep my promise and would protect her.

Word of the arrival of my mate and her sister seemed to spread quickly, and shortly after we arrived, my friends came to see them. My mother, however, sent them away because although she knew that this was a happy event, she was aware that it was too much for Innia.

I looked at Innia as she was still staring at me, and my mother came to us.

"My child, let us help you first...then we can talk. You are safe here now," she assured my mate.

Innia looked at her and nodded in relief as father sent the guards away.

"Get the healers and Ava immediately," my mother ordered as she sent us men out of the room.

Innia watched me leave the room. She didn't want me to leave. I could feel that. I waited outside the door to make it more comfortable for her, and when the healers and Aunt Ava walked in, I knew it was for the best for both of them. The laughter of little Nyllis and Innia was the most beautiful thing I had heard in a long time, and when the healers left the room, Aunt Ava called me in. Mother straightened Innia's dress and stepped aside. If I thought Innia was beautiful until now, I was proven wrong again. She wasn't just beautiful...she was fantastic. The healers took care of their well-being, and the previously visible injuries and thinness were a thing of the past. They were healthy and well-cared for and now showed their true appearance, which amazed me.

"We should go to your father now. I think there's a lot to talk about," Innia said to me as I still stared at her.