The car slowed down a little when we suddenly came upon what looked to be a cave that was lit by shining, black crystals, some which protruded from the walls and others which hung from the cave ceiling like chandeliers.

I might have made some sort of sound of wonder as the car began driving lower and lower until we were out of the cave and the car was driving right through a light transparent tunnel which was surrounded completely by water. I gasped when I realized what was happening. It hadn’t really occurred to me that there was any other way to get off the island and into the main city except through the boats, which was how the kids had gone the day before, but of course they had an underwater tunnel.

It was surreal watching the car simply glide through the channel while all around us, bubbles of water and the rippling waves went on as naturally. My shock must have shown because a now calm Atlas finally spoke.

“The Royal Court is only accessible through this route because we needed the location to be as private as could be since it’s where the Supreme and every secret of the Land are found. Usually, only the Supreme and the Prima can go to the Court, but occasionally, members of the council are summoned for important matters that will affect every member of Azzuire, and well, your matter is kind of that. Only such matters, very sensitive ones, are taken up to the court. Usually when there is a problem, it is directed the Prima, to Lanthe.” He explained, a little bit of his smile present, making me very relieved.

I processed the information for a while. “But where exactly does this tunnel go? To the main land?” I asked.

Atlas shook his head. “The court is in a smaller Island that is connected only to ours by this passage. For security reasons, there is one other passage which is closed most days and open only for the council members when there is Court.” He finished even as the car started driving higher up the water and straight into a large garage. I had many more questions but I was suddenly feeling a little nauseous at the realization of what a big deal this meeting was.

Atlas must have once again seen the worry on my face because he suddenly faced me, a serious expression on his face.

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“Listen, I know that it may seem like you’re walking into an unknown land with people trying to crucify you, all on your own. But that’s not true. You are family, Aleks. You gave birth to royalty here, that makes you royal too because you have no idea how precious and how loved your kids already are here. You too are loved Aleks, and even though you have to convince a few other people that we trust you and that the secrets of this land and all of us, all our homes will be safe with you, and my family will be with you along the way. We support you, Aleks. And believe it or not, Leukas does too.

All but three seats were already occupied by the time we walked into the white, bright room that looked nothing like I had been imagining, considering the fact that the Royal Court turned out to be a huge, gorgeous, grey fortress. Where I had imagined an original court seating where the council would play jury, Jason would play judge and I would play the accused, the room looked more like a very big and fancy boardroom than anything else. The absence of the crawling security when we had made our way into the old fashioned fortress had been surprising until Atlas had explained that to minimize security risks they relied on cyber security, the best cyber security in the continent.

After all the fingerprints scans and the recognition systems bots we had to get past, I believed him. We passed through a number of ordinary looking closed door until we came across one that stood out. A tall and majestic white wolf stature stood at the side of the last door on the corridor and I couldn’t help but stare at it for some reason. It was a gorgeous wolf with depictions of thick fur, emerald eyes and sharp fangs.

A golden label was attached to the stool of the statue. “FOR WHAT IS A WOLF, WITHOUT HIS PACK?” The statement resonated within me. The little I knew of wolves was limited to romance novels about men who transformed into wolves and made passionate love to women in the rain. I knew of little villages where everyone would be a family, all of them bound together by some moon goddess and secrets kept from human beings. What I loved the most about the cliché novels and their cringe-worthy troupes was the idea of such a big family. I’d always wanted one.

Such a big network of unconditional love, of unconditional loyalty, and of shared joys and celebrations. I loved the idea of an eternal mate, bound by the gods to love and cherish and desire for all eternity. What I wouldn’t do for such a love.

Atlas’ hand on my shoulder had jolted me from my musing and his hand had led me towards the door and into the large room with a round table and at least thirty council members, including the Supreme himself, Jason. It soon became clear however as the meeting commenced that my kids were going to be staying with or without me.