The ache behind my eye builds right along with the pounding in my ears. “Have you seen more humans here?”
Something flashes on his expression that I can’t read before he nods slowly. “Yes. A few times. The last was a female of your species. It was several moon cycles ago.” He darts a look at Jamie before staring at me. My gut sinks in understanding.
I don’t even question how I know from one hasty glance that the woman is dead. Instead, I focus on what Solan knows about what replaced our strip of land. Sure, Jamie’s here, and what we discover, we might not like, but he deserves to know.
Solan’s gaze hardens as he retakes his seat, clearly weighing his words before speaking. “It is one of two areas that replaced your land,” he says slowly, his voice holding a gravity that makes my spine stiffen. “One is not so dangerous—a radioactively peaceful stretch of Terrafeara. The other… could be a problem.”
I force myself to stay calm. He doesn’t mean radioactive, right? As in things that are green and will make me grow a third nipple? “Tell me about the first.”
Solan nods, his expression relaxing slightly. “The first possibility is an area near the queendom’s centre. A well-structured city. Yes, the Glowranth are warriors by nature, but they are also an older society. They’ve built sprawling cities and, more recently, technology based on other species’ developments. But they believe in honour and strength, led by the monarchy… Queen Serresta. They’re aware of dimensional rifts and have experienced them long before I arrived. If your land swapped with this area, the Glowranth would not see it as an immediate threat. They would investigate. Diplomacy might even be possible.”
I blink, absorbing his words. “So, they wouldn’t just… attack Earth?”
“No.” Solan’s voice is firm. “They are not mindless beasts. The Glowranth know that these shifts occur. They would assess the situation. It’s a society with rules, increasing technology, andunderstanding. They won’t risk war without reason, especially not against another world without knowing its capabilities.”
Jamie, still playing with the DVDs, looks up with a curious expression. “So… the monsters have cities like us?”
Solan nods, glancing kindly at him, while I wince a little at the term “monster” we’ve both been carelessly throwing around. “Yes, Jamie. Different, but yes. Think of towering buildings made of stone and metal, streets that weave through giant fortresses. It’s the hub of the queendom. The Glowranth weren’t skilled in technology until recently—they have some machines and devices, much like your world, but powered through different means.”
Jamie grins. “Like magic?”
Solan chuckles softly. “In a sense, yes. Though to them, it’s more like advanced energy manipulation.”
I let out a breath, feeling a glimmer of relief. “Okay, so if it’s near their”—I hesitate over the next word—“queendom’s centre, we might not be in immediate danger.”
“But….” Solan’s expression darkens again, and my relief fades. “There is a second possibility. One that is far more concerting.”
I swallow hard, assuming he meansconcerning. “What’s the other option?”
Solan’s gaze flickers, his eyes turning sharp. “The second area your land might have merged with is a Glowranth training facility. It is a place where the royal heirs are sent to train under the head of the royal guard. It’s isolated, deep in the wilds, and used for intense combat training. The heirs who will one day rule Terrafeara are expected to be battle hardened. It’s a harsh place where they learn to fight and survive.”
My chest tightens as I consider the implications. “So, if that training facility merged with my section of the world, then a royal heir and their guard are on Earth?”
“One of them, yes,” Solan confirms, his voice grim. “If that is the case, the guard would view your land’s sudden appearance as a direct threat. They are isolated from the larger society, which means there would be no time for diplomacy. The guard is fiercely protective of the heir, and they wouldn’t hesitate to act.”
I shake my head, trying to grasp the reality of it all. “So, the mo—species here wouldn’t know what happened to the heir?”
Solan’s expression turns serious. “The Glowranth,” he says. “Exactly. They would search for answers. If they discover the section of your world that contains your land, they might suspect interlopers and see you and Jamie as possible threats. The royal guard could use you to try and reopen the dimensional pathways to retrieve their heir.”
Panic rises in my chest. Is that even possible? And if so, from the concern radiating off Solan, it doesn’t sound like it’s a good thing. “So, it’s essential we figure out which part of Terrafeara has merged with Earth. If it’s the training facility, we could be in serious danger.”
“Yes,” Solan agrees. “Once we find out, we will know if you and Jamie may become targets. The royal guard would stop at nothing to find their heir, and you could be caught in the crossfire.”
I glance at Jamie, who’s obliviously inspecting the DVDs. The thought of him being used as leverage sends a chill down my spine. “We need to come up with a plan.”
Solan nods, his golden eyes steady on me. “First, we’ll need to get some rest. Tomorrow, we will return to the location where your home appeared in this dimension. From there, I’ll be able to know which part is missing. We’ll figurine out whether we’re dealing with a peaceful section of land outside of the city or the training facility.”
I nod, determination settling in, barely even drawing my brows together anymore at the occasional incorrect Englishword he uses. “All right, let’s do that. But we have to be careful. If we’re near the royal heir’s training ground, we could be walking into another dangerous situation, right?”
Solan’s expression softens a fraction, the tension in his posture easing. “I will protect you both. You have my word.”
I manage a strained smile, though my thoughts are still racing. A part of me had been clinging to the hope that this dimensional merge could somehow be undone quickly or that we could figure out how to survive here. But the thought of a monster royal heir and their guard seeing Earth as an enemy? That changes everything.
As I guide Jamie towards a sleeping area, I can’t shake the feeling of impending danger. I am absolutely not cut out for this level of action.
Tomorrow could reveal whether we have allies or adversaries in this strange, monstrous world. Whatever the outcome, I’ll do anything to keep Jamie safe. I just hope my family on Earth can keep themselves out of harm’s way too.
CHAPTER
