Chapter 45 #2
She takes the crown off and fear spikes in me, but nothing happens.
“I’m completely fine. It’s woven its magic with mine.
I have complete control over it now.” She places it back on her head and smiles at me, wiping at her eyes.
“You were—” She stumbles over the word dead.
“—gone. Leon grabbed the crown off you and gave it to me. Then Everett ripped it away and the stupid bastard put it on. Killed instantly. It was everything he deserved.”
The reminder he is dead still feels like a cold drink on a scorching day. “What about his mother? She knew he took me. She revealed who Leon really was right before Everett snuck me out.”
Cold rage paints Nueena’s face. “She disappeared once we realized he was the one who took you, but we will find her. We know she was giving the navlue fruit to her son to give to Grayden. She will receive no mercy when she is found.”
I take her hand and pull her down to the couch, Leon and Tavien on our sides. Cyanna and Viella take a seat on each armrest, Lillian behind her new Zemra.
“Tell me everything that happened after that. Leon said you were in the sky?” I ask, wishing for every detail.
She laughs. “Once Everett died, the pull towards the crown grew with each passing second. It’s the greatest keyed item ever made, and keyed items will always choose who can control it.
Once I put it on, it was like a piece of me I didn’t know was missing slid into place.
The magic was overwhelming, but Ellova’s grave, it felt wonderful!
Before I even knew it, I was floating in the air, striking down every one of Grayden’s guards.
The ones who surrendered were spared. The ones that kept attacking, well…
The Merawood Forest has a few more bones of our enemies in its roots.
I put a protective wall around Ellova to ensure that no one from Adreania would try to seek revenge for their king. ”
I add, “Lyrora is now ruler of Adreania and I promise she is as glad of his death as we are. She may even throw a parade in your honor.”
She and I both giggle at that, but her smile fades. “When I finally came down to the ground, you were both gone. Lillian, Viella, and Tavien searched for you in the forest. I looked from above. We thought the worst, Del. There was so much blood.”
I look towards Leon, who fills in the gaps in my own memory.
“I just ran, needing to get you somewhere safe, not knowing even which direction to go. I could still hear the Adreanian guards. I wasn’t going to let them find you.
The farther we walked, the more I felt this tug deep within me.
I couldn’t have gone anywhere else if I tried.
I simply followed it all night, not knowing it was leading me to the Zemra temple. I walked right in with you.”
“That is incredible!” Viella squeals. “All of us Zemras now, how marvelous!”
Lillian pierces Leon with a sharp look, one eyebrow in a perfect arch. “And you thought the best course of action after that was to kidnap her?”
Leon raises his hands up for his defense.
“That is a fair question. Yes, Nyvenah appeared and I thought we would be punished. I knew what happened to Nueena and Tavien, locked away from each other. I had just lost Izadella. I would not be separated from her for any reason ever again, temple laws or not. I took her to Kalvorn, where she convinced me, we could return.”
We share a look, and I know we are both thinking of the way I rode him on his throne.
I quickly change the subject before a blush can tint my cheeks.
“With Grayden and Everett dead and the crown off my head, everything can return to as it always has been. You will be crowned Realm Keeper. All will be well once more and with the crown’s magic within you, there is no limit to what you can do. ”
Finally, some peace.
Nueena’s shoulders tug back with pride. “And my first act as Realm Keeper will be to restore all the damage the crown has done to Adreania. After the coronation, we will meet with Queen Lyrora. The crown stores enough magic to rebuild her kingdom, restore its fields, and finally get the harvests they desperately need. We will help in any way we can.”
“I can talk to my brother,” Leon adds. “Kalvorn can help Adreania rebuild as well. Izadella will need to speak to let those from Beggars’ Row know it’s safe to return now.”
“I do have one question,” Nueena says. “Del, how did you survive wearing the crown? The magic it held was too great, so much fae magic for your mortal body. I know I took some from you but…” Her voice cracks. “Ellova’s grave, you shouldn’t be alive.”
Before I can shrug, just as confused as she was, Leon speaks up.
“Actually, I was siphoning off the magic so it wouldn’t destroy her.”
Nueena and I both stare at him.
He had been saving my life this whole time.
Every day he was here, he was healing me. His love and devotion caresses my soul. My wobbling smile meets his smitten grin.
“Oh, Leon.”
“Every time I touched you, every night you slept in my arms, I took as much excess magic as I could. My healing magic works with touch, and being fully fae from a powerful bloodline meant I could withstand absorbing endless magic and healing all the damage the crown was inflicting without you even knowing it.”
“That was why I felt so much better waking up with you and miserable when we were apart.” My eyes water, overwhelmed with gratitude and love for him.
He leans down and places a kiss on the top of my head.
“It’s late. Let’s give the new Zemras time to themselves,” Tavien suggests.
Nueena yawns, leaning against Tavien. “It is. We should all get some sleep.”
We share one last hug before we part.
The balcony windows are open, letting in the cool night air of the Merawood Forest, a hint of flora from the wing’s greenhouse. A reminder I am safe, surrounded by those who love me, the scent of saltwater dungeons and iron castles long gone.