22. The Last Stand
22
The Last Stand
A storia and Cyrus made their way through the dark, narrow dungeon pathway towards the exit. She had expected Rowan’s men to be thundering towards them by now. Hadn’t they heard the wall crumbling down?
Maybe they had been called off duty for some other emergency.
Astoria peered into the cells lining either side as they passed by. They were empty.
“You would be surprised, but the crime rate in Draken is really low,” Cyrus whispered to her as though he had heard her thoughts. “The ones with petty offenses we keep in the city prison. There hasn’t been a serious one in years.”
“Sounds like we could make use of these cells for Rowan, Orion, and their men,” Astoria replied in the same hushed tone. “And no, I’m not surprised. Not anymore.” She gave him a besotted smile.
Cyrus lifted their joined hands and pressed a long kiss to her knuckles, his lips twitching into a soft smile.
As they neared the exit, Astoria heard men’s laughter coming through the heavy iron door. She glanced at Cyrus, confused. How could they have been there the whole time but not heard anything that happened inside?
“If my guess is right,” Cyrus began in a whisper, “our powers produced a silence shield when they were magnified.”
That had to be it. There was no other way the sound of a crumbling wall didn’t reach them.
“Ready?” Cyrus looked down at her.
“I was born ready.” Astoria fixed her eyes on the door, prepared to push it open.
“Promise me you won’t leave my side. At all. No matter what awaits us beyond this door.”
“Never.” She turned to him and shook her head. “Never again.”
Cyrus turned to the door, his face grim with determination and his eyes hard with resolve. He stretched out a hand, and a bolt of lavender-grey entwined with gold shot forward. It hit the door with a powerful blow, bursting it open.
Astoria’s breath caught at the force of the power and its colour.
Shouts filled the air. Astoria and Cyrus walked through the door with purposeful strides. The men who had been laughing at one another’s jokes now looked shock-stricken. Before they could move, Astoria waved her hand and immobilized them in their spots.
“Now, which one of you called my husband a rat?” She looked at each of them and stopped on the man she recognized. “Ah, you !”
Though he couldn’t blink, the fear that entered the man’s eyes was hard to miss.
“Wait until I return after dealing with your master.” With that, she turned and stalked away with Cyrus, who couldn’t hide his fond smile.
He took the lead as they emerged from the damp dungeon corridor into the dimly lit castle hallways. Early evening light filtered through the narrow windows. One of Rowan’s men crossed their path. He barely had time to react before he was frozen in place with a flick of Cyrus’ wrist, surprise etched on his face.
They moved past him, doing the same to every man of Rowan’s who crossed their path. None of the castle staff seemed to be around. It made sense that Rowan would place his own men throughout the castle, but if he had done something to their people because of their undying loyalty to Cyrus, Astoria would make him pay double.
A group of Rowan’s men stood at the grand staircase near the throne room. Astoria and Cyrus immobilized them before they could raise the alarm.
Muffled voices drifted towards them from the throne room. Its doors were closed, and no one was guarding it. Astoria recognized Rowan’s voice. It sounded like he was holding a meeting. She glanced aside at Cyrus and they strode forward together, bursting open the doors.
Gasps and shouts of surprise filled the air. The room was surprisingly crowded. Astoria faintly recognized some of them from her coronation—the vassal kings and their men.
“Traitors,” Cyrus gritted through his teeth, and Astoria felt his righteous anger ignite in her own bloodstream.
“What is the meaning of this?” Rowan’s voice thundered from the dais. Astoria turned to him as he shot to his feet from his unearned throne, glaring daggers at them.
“You tell us, Rowan,” Cyrus countered, his rage barely suppressed.
But Rowan turned to his men and shouted, “Guards! Chain them!”
“Oh, really?” Cyrus snorted, and with a wave of his hand, froze the men in their place before they could even fumble for the cuffs hanging from their waists.
Sharp gasps rose from the traitor kings. They shrank back as Cyrus turned to them, looking between him and Rowan with fear alight in their eyes.
“Who is next?”
In her peripheral view, Astoria saw Rowan raise his hands. She was hurled backward instantly, flying out of the throne room into the hallway. She sprouted a vine bed from the marble floor before hitting the ground, with Cyrus landing a few feet behind her.
Rowan’s laugh boomed across the room. “You think you can stop me?”
Astoria grunted and pushed herself up to her elbows, fighting back a snort. They had been prepared. She and Cyrus wanted him to think he had the upper hand.
Astoria began to move towards Cyrus when footsteps thundered down the hallway. She looked up and froze. So did the owner of the footsteps and the ones catching up behind him.
“Storie!”
Fierce joy exploded in her heart. “Emmett!”
Emmett advanced towards her, a sword clutched in his hand, but Astoria was quick to cast a shield and block him. “No! Stay back!”
Silas was right behind him, and so were Jasper, Skylar, Spyrah, and at least twenty of Daliston’s guards. Her brother was never less careful when it came to her.
“Watch out!”
Cyrus flung an arm and threw up a shield in front of them. Astoria’s head whipped around in time to see Rowan’s spells clashing against it, one after another. She stretched out her own arm and strengthened the shield.
A hand clasped over hers on the floor. Astoria turned and met Cyrus’ determined eyes.
“Till death do us part,” he vowed, his intense gaze boring into her soul.
She stared back. The beautiful depths of his eyes represented the night sky adorned with a million stars. “Till death do us part,” she repeated.
They stood and turned to face Rowan together.
The air was thick with magical energy. Rowan’s spells were still clashing against their shield. Astoria could feel the power flowing through her, far more than it ever had. Cyrus threaded their fingers, and they walked back into the throne room, pushing forward their shield.
Rowan raised his hands, and dark energy swirled around him in smoky-grey threads. Wizard Orion joined his side, his fingers dancing in intricate patterns, summoning a storm of elemental force. Without a word, the two launched their spells, twin beams of destructive magic hurtling towards Astoria and Cyrus.
Astoria tightened her grip on Cyrus’ hand.
The spells collided with their shield, clashing violently against it instead of dissolving like the previous ones. The room reverberated with the force of the impact, sparks and flashes everywhere.
The force was immense, but their recently magnified powers made Astoria resolute. She advanced, step by step with her husband, pressing on despite the relentless assault from Rowan and Orion.
“You should surrender while you can, Rowan!” Cyrus called out. “I might consider not executing you if you do— oh wait .” He paused dramatically, and his voice took on a dangerous note. “I won’t. You sealed your fate the moment you kidnapped my wife.”
Rowan’s frustration was palpable. He disconnected his spell and redirected his focus to the ceiling. Astoria’s eyes followed his gaze, widening as she saw the massive chandelier above them. Snarling, Rowan unleashed a grey bolt at the chandelier.
Astoria freed her other hand from Cyrus’ grip and threw up another shield, arching over them and every other person in the room. The chandelier’s crash was met with a burst of light as her shield absorbed the impact, protecting everyone beneath it. She marveled at the ease with which she now managed multiple spells simultaneously.
Then her gaze fell back on Rowan and Wizard Orion. They were still fighting relentlessly, madly. Her eyes locked with Rowan’s stormy ones. They were filled with hatred, void of the light she had been certain he wasn’t entirely faking just days ago. His betrayal still stung, but he had declared himself the enemy.
And so be it.
She curled one hand into a fist, her fingers folding in one by one. Then, with a precise motion, she yanked it downward. She felt the surge of power respond to her will.
Rowan dropped to his knees, his spells faltering as shock etched across his handsome face. He tried to fight against her powers and stand up, but his efforts were futile.
“ You are the Angel of Destruction,” Astoria began gravely, fuelled by so many emotions that she barely recognized her own voice. “ You are the one the prophecy spoke of, the true angel of destruction. You manipulated the truth and hid behind the rumors you spread about my husband. You made him the villain—the bloodthirsty, power-hungry monster that you are! So, how does it feel, Rowan, to finally embrace your title and your fate? I have brought the angel of destruction to his knees at last. The prophecy is hereby fulfilled.”
Rowan sneered at her, hatred pouring out of him. “Maybe. But this doesn’t mean anything.”
“Oh, it doesn’t?” Cyrus advanced, the shield still in front of them. “Then, I shall make sure it does when you and your friend are executed.”
Astoria curled her fist once again and yanked it down, bringing Wizard Orion to his knees as well. He glared at her.
“And on what account are you going to execute us?” Rowan laughed. “Treason? Oh, Cyrus… tsk, tsk .”
“Because you are from the former royal bloodline, and the throne is ‘rightfully’ yours, you think this doesn’t count as treason?” Cyrus asked challengingly and raised an eyebrow. “In what sense do you think the people of Draken want a descendant of King Biba on the throne again? They curse his name even still. I never took you for a fool, Rowan.”
Rowan snorted. “What makes you think I care what the people think?”
Cyrus nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps your punishment should be decided by the people you count so little, just like your family did.”
Rowan smirked. “You are welcome to try.”
Suddenly, there was a glow behind him and Wizard Orion. It grew enormous.
Astoria’s eyes widened. “It’s the portal!” She released a bolt of energy to destroy it but was blocked by a dark, invisible force.
Rowan and Wizard Orion fell backward into the glow. The portal closed in on them, and Rowan’s final words echoed in the air. “Until next time, Cyrus!”
Cyrus swore under his breath.
“We should search the castle—the third floor—”
“No, he is gone. I can feel it in the shield around the palace,” Cyrus said grimly, looking around at the traitors who shrank further under his gaze. “But he is not coming back.” He turned back to Astoria. The edge in his eyes softened. “Because we are putting up a new one, as in, right now.”
He cradled her hands in his.
“I’ve never put up such a vast shield before.” Astoria stared at him with wide eyes. “Teach me?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” He kissed her knuckles. “Close your eyes, focus, release your energy. Let it flow. Draw it up in shields and send it around the palace borders. You start from the main gates towards the right, and I will meet you halfway from the left.”
Astoria did just that. Where her powers used to flow like water, now it was a waterfall. She smiled at the sensation. It was elating. Cyrus gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
Once the shield was up, she opened her eyes and looked out the nearest window. Fading shimmers of the shield glinted in the distance. She glanced back at Cyrus.
He was smiling at her adoringly. “We did it,” he murmured, dropping her hands and cupping her face. “We saved Draken.”
Astoria leaned into his touch. Though this wasn’t the victory she had anticipated, he was right. They had saved Draken from destruction. And their enemies would know better than to rebel against them again.
She grinned back. “Yes, we did.”
Cyrus leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Someone coughed loudly from far behind.
Astoria pulled back and turned to the doorway immediately. She had nearly forgotten her brothers and the others were still there. Heat flooded her cheeks, but Cyrus pulled her back into his arms with a chuckle.
“For goodness’ sake, we are married.”
“Good luck getting that through Emmett’s thick, overprotective skull,” she replied and took down the shield to let them through.
Emmett held out a hand to feel the shield and then took off in a sprint towards her. Astoria pulled away from Cyrus and met him halfway. She buried her face into the collar of his shirt and inhaled his signature perfume. Her eyes watered, and the full force of missing him hit her. Oh, she had missed him more than she thought she did.
Even though he no longer smelled like home.
Home. Her home stood right behind her, watching her reunion with a soft smile. She didn’t have to turn to confirm it.
Astoria felt Emmett’s chest shake. She brought her hand up and stroked his hair in comfort. No words were needed; their actions were enough.
There was a commotion at the doorway, and Astoria heard Cyrus and someone else’s voices, but she refused to let go of her brother. Finally, Emmett pulled away to look at her.
His eyes were wet, but they smiled. “You scared me. You are so good at scaring me it is a miracle every strand of my hair isn’t grey already.”
She laughed tearfully, and Emmett’s eyes lit up even more. “That’s one way of saying you missed your little sister, I guess.”
A throat cleared behind them. “It’s a miracle my hair hasn’t turned grey yet, given it seems like years I have been standing here waiting for my turn to greet my sister.”
Astoria pulled away from Emmett and turned to face Silas. He was smiling at her. She couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her, and she flung her arms around him, squeezing out his breath.
“I missed you too, Silas.”
“I didn’t say I missed you.”
“Actions speak louder, silly .”
Silas chuckled softly and tightened his already tight arms around her. “Better?”
She must be dreaming. “Perfect.”
They were both grinning when they pulled away, just before Astoria’s attention latched onto the figure standing next to them, a few feet away.
Jasper.
She turned to him. His blonde hair was ruffled, and his hands were stuffed into his pockets. His eyes were already on her.
She smiled. “Jasper.”
He smiled back. “Astoria.”
Astoria didn’t remember when was the last time he called her by her full name. He had always called her Storie . But she understood. If it helped him, she was only glad.
She stepped towards him tentatively. “Thank you for coming.”
He shook his head with a forced smile. “It looked like you didn’t even need our help.” He jerked his chin pointedly behind her.
She followed his gaze and saw Cyrus. His mouth moved as he talked with his brother, but his eyes were on her. General Sean was next to them, his eyes on her as well. Had the commotion been their arrival?
Astoria exchanged a smile with Cyrus and turned back to Jasper. “Yes, our powers magnified after Skylar and Spyrah left to get you.”
Jasper arched an eyebrow at her.
“The magnification?” Emmett asked from behind. “But you told me it was just a myth.”
Astoria turned to him. “That’s what we thought too. Apparently, we lacked something important in our marriage.”
“What?” he asked.
“Love.”
It was Jasper who said it.
Astoria turned to him, surprised. Jasper merely smiled and said, “I am happy for you, Astoria.”
Guilt tugged at her heart, recalling her unfair actions towards him—even though they didn’t hold a candle to how she had been towards Cyrus—and that he still thought she’d bailed on him that night Cyrus interfered to sabotage their wedding.
She didn’t regret it. Heavens, she didn’t. But he deserved an explanation even if Emmett had cleared her part already. However, it would have to wait.
She nodded at him. “Thank you, Jasper.”
Astoria turned from him to Cyrus and found him and Joaquin embracing; Cyrus had his eyes squeezed shut. Her heart swelled. He had finally made peace with his older brother.
“Who is that?” Silas murmured to her.
“His older brother,” she said, smiling.
“I guess there’s a lot to learn about our brother-in-law then,” he murmured.
Astoria hummed in agreement.
“And who is that man staring at you?” Emmett asked, distaste in his voice.
Astoria looked at him and saw him glaring at someone. She followed his gaze and met the General’s intense grey eyes. He was now standing away from the embracing brothers. Astoria held his gaze for a moment before her feet moved towards him.
“Stor?”
She ignored her brother’s question and pressed on. Surprise and bafflement began to flicker across the General’s face, but nothing outweighed the relief and love in his eyes.
“Empress, I’m glad—”
“Astoria, Storie, Stor, or whatever you wish. But don’t call me that or any other formality nonsense again.” Astoria stopped in front of him and crossed her arms.
“Is ‘daughter’ included?” he asked in a cautious tone, as though testing the waters.
Astoria’s faux-serious mask cracked. She smiled. “If you insist.”
He returned the smile widely. “Then I insist .” A watery sheen took over his eyes, and his smile turned solemn. “I am so relieved you are alright, honey. You have no idea; I nearly went out of my mind when I learned you were missing. That snake Rowan, I will hunt him down and make him pay.”
Astoria’s heart cracked at the endearment and the affection he poured into it— honey . No one besides Emmett had called her that, and she had long ago given up on hearing it from the man she had thought was her father.
But this man, he was her father.
She accepted it now, and not even nearly nineteen years of not knowing him couldn’t stop her from closing the distance between them and hugging him. His arms came around her immediately, enveloping her in his embrace. Just like a father would.
“Does this mean we are forgiven?” he asked.
“You? Yes. Mother? I am debating that.” Astoria still felt betrayed by her mother’s selfish choice. “You have watched over me all these years and… I am thankful for that.”
He sighed. “You are my daughter, honey. Of course, I would watch over you.”
Astoria opened her mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Cyrus’ voice. “General Sean, why are you hugging my wife?”
Astoria’s father chuckled. “In case you missed it, Cyrus, your wife hugged me first.”
“But it doesn’t explain why you should hug her back,” Cyrus retorted.
Astoria stifled a laugh at his ridiculousness.
Her father continued, “It’s plainly rude and offensive when you don’t hug the person who hugs you, just like how you are supposed to smile at people who smile at you in acknowledgement.”
Astoria laughed and pulled away from him. “Shall I tell them?”
“The honor is yours.”
Astoria turned to her husband, who immediately drew her to his side and narrowed his eyes at her father.
“Relax.” She patted his chest with a smile and turned to her brothers, who were watching her and the General in bafflement. “I finally have the answer to why I was born a Mage and have more powers than the rest of the Mages in the human realm.”
Emmett’s eyebrows rose.
“It wasn’t mystically bestowed upon me because I was called to fulfill some prophecy. It’s in my blood.” She paused for a moment and said, “I am a Half-blood. Our mother fell in love with a Pureblood Mage—General Sean. He is my biological father.”
Her brothers froze, and Cyrus went as still as a statue.
“And our mother is still alive,” she continued, looking solemnly at Silas. His eyes bulged. “She never died. She faked her death with the help of General Sean’s illusion. She is in Windlewade.”
“And she misses the three of you,” her father added. “She wants to see you all. And as the brothers-in-law of the Prince of Windlewade, you will be permitted to enter our realm.”
Astoria watched her brothers. Their faces were unreadable. And then, Silas sank to the floor. He propped up his knees and ran his hands through his hair. Astoria pulled away from Cyrus and lowered herself next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Is it true?” he asked in a small, vulnerable voice, not looking at her.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He tore both hands through his hair. “I can’t believe it.”
“Frankly, I can’t either.”
“Neither can I.” Emmett crouched down with them.
Silas looked up and met Astoria’s eyes. There was so much heartbreak in them—and guilt. She immediately realized what was going on in his mind.
“Storie, I—”
“It’s alright, Silas,” she cut in, blinking back her tears. “You were heartbroken. We didn’t know the truth until now.”
“I am so sorry,” he whispered, his eyes damp. “I am so sorry. You deserved none of that. I will never forgive myself—”
“I forgive you,” she interjected, squeezing his shoulder. “I forgive you, Brother.”
His eyes widened in disbelief. “I have been horrible to you.”
“Yes, but you also let me glimpse the brother I have always wanted to love me before I left Daliston. It meant the world to me, as well as that hug from you earlier and hearing that you missed me.”
Silas closed his eyes as if her words pained him even more. He shook his head and buried it in his arms. Astoria hugged him immediately, and Emmett wrapped his arms around both of them.
She craned her neck and glanced at Cyrus. His gentle eyes were already on her. Unbridled love shone in them. Drawing strength from their silent connection, she continued to hold her brother until he pulled away and gave her arm an appreciative pat.
She took a deep breath and stood. Cyrus pulled her into his embrace the moment she approached him, rubbing a hand down her back, while the other one held the back of her head. She felt like the greatest treasure in the world when he held her like that.
Astoria closed her eyes and sighed contentedly.
Their enemies were still out there. Rowan might not come after them directly again, but whatever his next move, she and Cyrus would face it together—side by side—until they stopped him completely.
They would protect their empire with the powers the Creator had bestowed upon them and build a brighter future together. Nothing would stand in their way or prevail against their love.
No enemy, no darkness, could stand against their light.