The book seemed to glow with an otherworldly magic. Lennon noticed my gaze and asked, "Is that the gift the temple gave you?" He added, "All the gifts are individual to the person as well."

We sat down at the closest pew, the silence between us filled with anticipation. As we opened the book together, the pages glowed with a blue magic light. Shimmering with an ethereal energy, the ink looked ancient and seared onto the parchment. It was as if the words themselves were alive, burning bright on the page like a flame from within. Like the book had a spirit of its own. The sight was breathtaking; the book was a book of runes, explaining what each rune tattoo in The Dread represented. We were awestruck, our eyes locked onto the pages as if mesmerized by the secrets they held. Lennon had never seen anything like it. He took a moment to admire the book, his fingers tracing the intricate runes with a reverence that spoke volumes about his respect for the ancient magic.

But then he quickly shut the book, his expression turning serious. "In the wrong hands, this book could be dangerous," he warned.

I nodded in agreement, my mind racing with the implications. "We should hide it somewhere," I suggested, but he shook his head.

"The temple wanted you to have it," he explained. "I think you should keep it on you at all times, never let it leave your side." His words were laced with a sense of urgency, and I knew that he was right. This book was a treasure, a key to understanding the mysteries of The Dread, and it was mine to protect. As I tucked the book into my cloak, feeling its weight against my chest, I knew that this was just the beginning of our journey. The temple had given me a gift, but it was also a responsibility, one I wasn’t sure I was ready to bear. But with Lennon by my side, I felt a sense of comfort and security that gave me the confidence to protect this gifted treasure.

I turned to him, my curiosity piqued. "Are everyone's rune tattoos different?"

He nodded, his eyes locking onto mine with a deep intensity. "Yes, every person's tattoos are unique. But I've never met anyone in The Dread who knows what the symbols mean."

"And why are Veronika's tattoos purple?" I asked.

"The colors of the tattoos just represent what territory they're from," he explained, “Veronika is from Anja, the eyes of our world—a land of purple trees, mountains, and landscapes. Most of its inhabitants have some shade of purple hair and eyes as well. Mine are black since I’m a half breed, but Veronika is full Anjan"

"Did Veronika commit a crime and get sent to The Dread?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.

He shook his head. "No, she came here voluntarily shortly after I did."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why would she do that?"

His expression turned thoughtful, his eyes clouding over with memories. "I suspect her sister sent her here to keep an eye on me."

My curiosity was piqued, wishing I had a warm cup of tea for this conversation, "Why would her sister need her to keep an eye on you?"

His voice dropped to a whisper, his words laced with a deep sadness. "I was in love once, before the war, with Sully—the one who made my cards. We got separated during the war, and during that time, Sully discovered that Veronika's sister Kyrah was his fuse."

I felt a pang of sympathy for him, but my mind was already racing ahead. "You think Kyrah wants some eyes and ears on you to make sure you and Sully don't mess around behind her back?"

He nodded, his eyes burning with intensity. "I would never do that. I'm not that kind of person. But yeah, I think so."

I suspected there was more to the story. "Veronika must have owed her sister a big favor to subject herself to The Dread for that."

His expression was somber. "I'm not sure, but Veronika didn't even know she had a sister for most of her life. No one knew. Veronika was the result of their dad stepping out on Kyrah’s mom with a mistress."

My eyes widened as he dropped a bombshell. "Kyrah's mom had a lot of power—magic power and social power—and she drove Veronika and her mom away for years."

I felt my heart pounding in my chest. "What kind of social power did Kyrah's mom have?"

"Kyrah's mom was the last queen of Anja. Their father was the King of Anja. Kyrah’s mom and their dad died in the war, so Kyrah is now the queen of Anja."

Surprise coursed through me, but my thoughts raced even faster, "So... Sully is a male?" I asked, my voice husky with intrigue.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He nodded. "Yes, he is. I don’t discriminate when it comes to matters of the heart. Sidhe are less concerned with gender than humans are anyway. We only concern ourselves with gender when children are needed. Fuses are typically opposite gender for the purpose of reproducing."

I felt a wave of curiosity wash over me. "What exactly does it mean to be a fuse?"

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a deep longing. "It's a deep primal connection between Sidhe, chosen by the magic of Numariya because the magic thinks they’ll create a child that will benefit our world in some way. But it's not law; Sidhe can choose to reject a fuse if they wish. Some fuses only come together to bear children, then separate and go live their lives individually."

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Sidhe children are rare in most northern territories. They're more common in the southern regions due to the abundance of creation magic there. Creation magic is akin to sex magic—it's heavier, more passionate magic that lies in the southern lands, and lighter, more heady magic lies in the northern lands. Sometimes Sidhe from northern regions will even vacation in southern regions to conceive."

I smiled, my heart pounding with excitement. "Sex magic... remind me which region you're heir to again?"

He laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Mula, the most southern region of Numariya. And technically Viya, the northern most region. But I grew up in Mula with my mother."

A sultry laugh escaped my lips, "That explains a lot."

Lennon's laughter was like a symphony to my ears, his gaze brimming with amusement as he took in my flirtatious demeanor. I couldn't help but glow when I discovered he hailed from Mula, the southern region of Numariya where the air crackled with primal energy and sensual magic. Yet, all too soon, his expression shifted once more to one of gravity, haunted by the ghosts of his past that lurked behind those piercing eyes. I consoled him, my heart aching for the pain he had endured. Especially knowing that Sully could have rejected the fuse but chose to leave Lennon instead.

"I'm so sorry about what happened with Sully," I whispered.

He brushed it off, but I could tell he was still hurt by it. His eyes, once bright and full of life, now seemed to hold a deep sadness. "Everything is temporary," he said, his voice laced with a resignation that broke my heart.

The paradox of an immortal Sidhe proclaiming the impermanence of everything did not escape me. Learning more about him, the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place. I now understood why he had fled from his old life. Not only had he endured the terrors of war, but he had also lost the one who gave him solace in the midst of that chaos. The thought of such heartache made my stomach churn. And in that moment, I felt a deep kinship with Lennon, my own heart thrumming with compassion.

I leaned my head against his solid shoulder, praying he could sense the depth of my affection for him. "Thank you for opening up to me. I'm here for you, Lennon. If you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here."

He took my hand in his, lightly squeezing in a wordless expression of gratitude. I reciprocated the gesture, conveying my own appreciation in return.

“So, you're a half-breed?"

He nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of pride and melancholy. "Yeah, my birth was planned. My mother is Queen Ganya of Mula, and my father is Their Majesty Cade of Viya. Neither of them had heirs, and I was a solution to that problem."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I imagined the weight of his heritage. "What would happen if they both died? Would you then rule both territories?"

His expression turned thoughtful, his eyes clouding over with uncertainty. "The magic ultimately chooses the next heir," he said, his voice laced with a deep respect for the ancient powers that governed his world. "So, I'm not sure. It's usually the strongest Sidhe, and the strongest Sidhe is typically a child of the last ruler. But I'm not sure if I'd even qualify with most of my power gone after living in The Dread for so long." I felt a pang of sympathy for him. "It's rare for Sidhe to die, though," he continued, his voice a gentle reminder of their immortality. "Sidhe can only die from hemlock. Many Sidhe died during the war due to weapons made from Hemlock. But I don't think my parents will be dying any time soon."

As he spoke, I felt my fascination with him grow. Learning about Lennon and the mystical world of Numariya was like uncovering a treasure trove of secrets and wonders. The air around us seemed to thicken with the weight of his words, and I felt myself drawn deeper into his world.

"I'm fascinated," I admitted, my voice filled with a sense of awe. "I never knew so much about the Sidhe or Numariya. Or maybe I did, who even knows."

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just looked at each other. “I’m fascinated with you too Ace. This would be the moment I’d ask about you...” He hesitated, “But even if your memories don’t return, I’m excited to make new ones with you. And I want you to know that I’m here for you too, no matter what.”

His fingers grazed the strands of my hair, a tender gesture that revealed the depth of his love and concern. The intensity in his eyes caused my heart to flutter with emotion, and then I noticed one of his runes disappear. He really was here for me, no matter what, and he meant it. I could feel his adoration emanating from him, and I knew I would hold onto this moment forever. For even if my memories never returned, as long as I had Lennon by my side, everything would be alright. And then his lips met mine, conveying all the love and devotion we shared for each other in a gentle kiss. The remainder of the day at the temple was nothing short of enchanting. It was a haven of wonder and enchantment, leaving us spellbound for hours on end. The air buzzed with ancient magic, its energy seeping into our very souls. As I held the book gifted to me by the temple, I knew it held secrets and powers beyond my wildest imagination. Could it be the key to freeing Lennon from The Dread, or perhaps a glimpse into an unknown future? The thought lingered as we left the temple, bidding farewell to its ethereal embrace. But with each step away from the sanctity of the temple and closer to the impending separation from Lennon, my heart grew heavy with sorrow. We shared a quiet evening together, our emotions simmering just below the surface as we savored each moment. As we drifted off to sleep, entwined in each other's arms, nothing else mattered except the sensation of his body against mine, his skin against mine, and the beat of his heart in rhythm with my own. And in that moment, falling asleep next to Lennon felt like a beautiful dream come true amidst the chaos and uncertainty of our world.