Chapter 27
LEON
Guards escort me down the staircase into the unused kitchen where we prepared Viella for her journey into the mortal realm.
Nyvenah follows as we make our descent deep below the palace to the base of the mountain, and she unlocks the door with a wave of her hand.
“You've done enough damage. See that you do not attempt any more.”
I can only nod. The wide door opens, sunlight pouring in, and I step into an unknown future. The door slams behind me.
Erenia jumps at my sudden appearance. I turn around just in time to see the entrance has disappeared into the mountainside, glamoured completely.
Dread devours me.
I run my hands over the rocky mountainside, the sharp rocks scratching my palms. I slam my fist into the rocks on the mountain side and rest my head against it. There must be a way to convince Izadella of my true intentions before it’s too late.
I need her to let me back in, but for now, Adreania’s more vulnerable citizens stare back at me. I must help them. Return to my home, my people.
I’ve been gone far too long.
Lula’s long, dark blue wings flare out, catching the breeze, and she lands on my shoulder. My azure hawk lightly pecks my ear in greeting, allowing me to pet her gently.
One of the Adreanian rebels brings me a horse but I choose to find my way back to Kalvorn on foot, passing off the animal to someone else who needs it more as we walk in the direction of my kingdom, eager to meet with my brother. Callen must be briefed on everything that has happened.
What will he say when I tell him I’ve met my soulbonded mate and that she has the crown I once sought? That the throne he’s kept for me will be his forever now?
“Let’s head out!” I yell at all those around me. “There is food and shelter in Kalvorn. We will find you new housing, and you can start over.”
A shout rings out from the back of the gathered group. “Are you really the king?”
“Yes, my brother is on the throne in my place ’til I return.”
The weary faces that stare back relax. Reluctant hope appears.
The Merawood Forest’s thick canopy of the trees shades us from the beating sun.
These people followed me, trusted me when they were ill as they do now with their lives outside Adreania.
I’ve let too many people down today and I will honor whatever promises Erenia has made to them.
They deserve a place to be safe and happy, not used as a villainous king’s personal shield.
But every step away from Izadella is agony.
Breaking my heart a little more, ushering in my death that much sooner.
I know she is my Zemra.
From the moment I saw her across that dreary ballroom, I knew. Her essence called to me, screamed at me to keep her near, protect her, love her, worship her.
Her brown eyes seared into my soul, forever changing me the moment they met mine at her booth.
My body demanded I claim her, my heart yearned to truly know her, and while every part of me ached with an unwavering awareness that her soul and mine belonged to each other, my head still screamed for me to run from her.
She threatened everything I had been working towards, a distraction I couldn’t have but desperately desired.
It was endless elation and torture all at once.
When I found out she was fae. That we felt the same about each other, that she was drawn to me in the same unexplainable ways I was to her. I knew then what we were to each other, why I couldn't let her out of my sight.
To never see her again because of my own mistakes is anguish I’ve never known. I won’t entertain the idea that such a thing could ever come to pass.
No matter how much time I have left.
She is my Zemra; she needs to know that. Even if we could never be truly soulbonded.
I just need to give her time—space to remember what I mean to her and who we could be together. No matter what happens, she will always have a place at my side and in my heart.
I will crawl on my knees and beg if need be.
The forest is peaceful. The trees stay still, apparently seeing no issue with my departure and keeping their branches to themselves.
Erenia catches up to me. “What the fuck is going on?” she demands.
My anger at everything rises in me, but this is my friend who has suffered greatly. “We had a plan,” I say roughly. “You needed to wait ’til I became king again or head straight to Kalvorn if you must.”
“Yeah, well, what was I supposed to do? I waited as long as I could. We all did.” She motions to the small army of people behind her watching us carefully.
“I told you to just go straight to Kalvorn, alone. My brother would have believed you if you had shown him the letter.”
“You did say that, and we tried, but you actually haven’t spoken to Callen in a hundred years, so you have no real way of telling how he would react.
I, however, do. We were attacked on sight.
No matter how many white flags we raised, no one from Kalvorn would let me get near enough to let me explain that you were planning on returning.
Even if they had, I would have had to explain that I had no idea where you were and why you never returned to Kalvorn with the crown but please let us all stay.
For all he knew, we were a trap sent by Grayden.
A large group of citizens from the kingdom he’s about to go to war with just shows up with a promise that we know you, my only proof a letter. ”
“Erenia, that letter had our invisible family seal on it. He would have trusted what was said.”
She rolls her eyes. “I would have loved to show him if your army did not attack. Everyone in Beggars’ Row was healed and Grayden demanded they go to the front lines. He was going to force them to be the first to attack Kalvorn, the first to die.”
Fuck. “Of course, Grayden would take any hope these people had and destroy it.”
“We were all just planning on staying in the forest, but your letter arrived, explaining where you were. I had to track you down. It's time you return to your throne and become king again. Kill my husband to stop the war, Leon. Pursuing your little jewelry maker will have to wait.”
I purse my lips.
Erenia’s voice cracks when she speaks again. “Zilas, I just want to go back home. He’s waiting for me.”
The lover she left behind when she agreed to marry Grayden. We’ve spent so much time in the castle, miserable, longing for the ones we couldn’t have. That pain bonded us in many ways.
That and our shared hatred of her husband.
Her tough exterior breaks for a moment. I pull my dear friend to me and squeeze her shoulders tightly. “I know. I’m going to get you back to him. You will be free of all of this soon, I promise.”
Our embrace is brief, and she wipes away a single tear before she straightens her back. Her cold, calculating face returns. “Where is it?”
I know she means the crown but with so many listening ears it’s not safe to tell her the details—how I’ve long since attempted to get it back, how Izadella got wrapped up in my quest, how she is far more precious to me now—so I simply say, “I’m working on it.”
“I’m sorry,” she mutters. “We really did wait as long as we could. We just need to take everyone somewhere safe. If you can provide ships, I’m happy to take anyone who wishes to join me.
They can build new lives for themselves across the sea, but I need to leave as soon as I can.
I need to speak to my father and break the alliance between Adreania and Versairen.
Versairen will only have one ally now and it will be Kalvorn. ”
“No, you’re right. Everything went to shit once Jedrick died. I should’ve returned sooner. I have nothing to show for my efforts for the past month. You can take my fastest ship.”
“Thank you. It didn’t work out with her?”
“Arra is not speaking to me at the moment. I think I may have spectacularly ruined everything I’ve built here.” My voice breaks. “She hates me.”
Izadella trusted me. Trusted me with her body and her heart. Trusted I was who I said I was. I waited too long to tell her the truth, and it has cost me everything.
Erenia’s face softens. “Let’s just get you back on your throne. You can make things better from there. I’m sure she will understand one day. We have a war to stop.”
I do not bother to tell her that a dying king has no place on Kalvorn’s throne.
The journey into the forest is slow with so many families. I shove down the desire to go back to Izadella’s cottage and sit in the ashes just to feel like she is near again.
We reached the wide tree Izadella and I used to travel here, the magic thrumming through the roots beneath my feet.
“What is this?” Erenia asks.
“A tree portal. We need to get to Kalvorn fast. Stay here with them. I’m going to ensure a new one can be opened into my castle.”
I push the ivy that hangs over the hidden doorframe into the dark hollow, finding the hand-shaped carving.
I slip my fingers into the wood connecting to it.
Whatever enchantments this tree is made of takes hold of all the magic within me.
The sensation tugs at me and I am thankful for the sweet release of power.
The ground rumbles and I stretch my magic to the northwest, picturing the royal gardens of my childhood so clearly, spiral cypress trees that surround the blooming flora, the marble fountains and greenhouses.
The branches of the portal magic shoot like an arrow ahead, forging its path.
The shaking gets more violent, more of my magic being siphoned to create a new portal tree.
I can sense the roots deepening and growing.
Finally, it stops, and I am overwhelmed at the fragrance that drifts in from my mother’s lavender garden.
Home.
I step out onto the ruined grass. A huge tree has burst out of the center of the perfectly kept lawn. Kalvornian castle guards arrive with swords raised and bows drawn surrounding the new portal.
One guard lets his arrow fly, opting to shoot first and ask questions later.
I make no attempt to dodge the golden arrow; the skilled archer hits his mark, piercing my chest. The arrowhead tears through my heart muscles, rupturing the organ, blood vessels bursting.
Blood seeps down my chest as I wrap my hand around the arrow, ripping it out of my flesh, ignoring the pain.
My healing magic rises to the wound, slower than it ever has before, but it stitches every part that was damaged, renewing and restoring inside me ’til it is whole again.
I throw the bloody weapon at my feet.
“Go find your king. Tell him his brother has returned.”