Luxeos smiled sadly. “In name only, I'm afraid. I can no longer return to the sun, not since I used part of my robes in the creation of the Shendri.” She perked up. “I've managed to retain a good deal of power, however, as you've already seen. So long as I stay within the bounds of this magical hideaway that I've created here,” she added, gesturing to the room around them. “The barrier creates a greenhouse effect, of sorts, providing me with access to the sun's undiluted rays, pure nourishment straight from the source. When I leave here, as I did when I went to help you, my power begins to dwindle.” She shrugged. “Which means I'm either stuck here as a goddess, or I can travel the land as a mortal.”
Josselyn shook her head in disbelief. “I can't believe I'm sitting down with a real, live goddess. And you... trapped in this one, tiny glen when you used to watch over all of Lehi? It doesn't seem fair.”
“The choice was mine to make. No one forced it on me. I have no regrets for myself, only regret that I couldn't do anything to help Lunares' child. She was my other half, my sister in the sky. But never mind about all that. I see in your eyes that you have a question, a request to make of me? I'm listening.”
Josselyn felt her cheeks heat at being read so easily. “Oh, well, if you're asking, there is something I could use your help with, seeing as how you're basically the ultimate authority on these celestial beasts that we have...”
Luxeos smiled. “You need a little help controlling Kella?”
“Kella?” Josselyn placed a hand on her chest. “Is that what this hellcat is called?”
Luxeos chuckled. “She is a bit wild, isn't she? A born warrior.”
“She's beautiful and strong.” Josselyn frowned. “I'm not sure I'm a very good match for her. For all of my training, I haven't been able to save anyone, not even myself. If it weren't for Kella, I wouldn't even be here.”
“You're a Shendri warrior by birth, my dear. All you lack is confidence.”
“But I can't even get Kella to come out on my own. I'm not sure she can even hear me. She's spoken to me a few times, once back home in the garden and again the night she first appeared in the forest... but now, there's nothing. You were the one who called her out back there, not me.”
“I can help you find your voice, if you wish.”
“You can?” Josselyn looked at Luxeos hopefully, leaning so far forward onto the table that it threatened to tip over.
“Indeed I can. And I shall.” Luxeos patted her hand. “But first, you need to rest. I can see your exhaustion in your eyes, my dear. Sleep now, and later we'll begin your training.”
Josselyn nodded, stifling a yawn. “I suppose I am a bit tired.”
“You can take my bed for now, until I've had a chance to prepare a pallet for you.”
“How long do you think I'll need to stay here?”
Luxeos shrugged. “As long as it takes for you and Kella to reestablish a connection.”
Josselyn bit her lip, looking out the window. “There were people I was staying with when I was taken, friends who'll be worried about me. Is there any way I can let them know I'm all right?”
“I'm afraid we're rather cut off from the rest of the kingdom here. There's a magical border keeping us hidden. The best thing you can do for your friends is to get some rest, so you can focus on your training. If you can find your voice and call out your beast at will, it will go a long way toward restoring your throne.”
“I guess I'll just have to train hard, then.” Josselyn wrapped the other woman in a tight hug. “Thank you, Luxeos, for everything. You saved my life back there.”
Luxeos gave her a comforting squeeze in return. “You would have figured something out eventually. You're a warrior, same as the celestial beast within you. You mustn't doubt yourself.”
Josselyn smiled crookedly.
“I'll do my best.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kella...
Can you hear me?
Sweat trickled down Josselyn's forehead, catching in the corner of her eye with a salty sting. She attempted to ignore it as she focused on her breathing and listened for a response. Nothing.
Kellaaaaaaa, where are youuuuuuu?
“This isn't working.”
Luxeos' voice spoke the words that had been whispering at the back of Josselyn's mind for the last four hours as she sat cross-legged on a boulder outside the cottage, meditating in an effort to hear her celestial beast's voice. This was the third day in a row she'd spent trying to communicate with her beast, to no avail.
“I'm sorry, Luxeos. Every time I try to clear my mind, something else pops in to it.” She growled with frustration.
Luxeos hummed, drumming her fingers on the stone's surface. “Perhaps there's another way.” She reached a hand up to pull Josselyn back down to the ground, before cupping Josselyn's face with her hands.
“It's been a long time since I last did this, so bear with me.”
She closed her eyes, applying gentle pressure to Josselyn's temples with her fingertips. Josselyn swayed, suddenly lightheaded, but managed to remain standing as Luxeos began crooning something in a foreign tongue. The pressure on her temples increased, and Luxeos' face became distorted with concentration. Moments later, she pulled her hands away as if burned, shaking them out before wiping her palms against her sides.
“Oh, honey.”
She gave Josselyn a concerned look. “It's hardly surprising that Kella can't hear you, what with that cacophony of emotions trying to break free inside there.” She patted Josselyn's cheek. “You've been through so much in such a short time, and yet you keep pressing on, focused on the goals you've set for yourself. It's admirable, dear, but, unfortunately, all of that repressed emotion is creating a wall between the two of you. Your voice will never reach Kella, nor hers you, if you don't sort yourself out, first.”
Josselyn gave her a hopeful look. “I don't suppose you have any special 'sorting out' magic, by
