35. Barrett
BARRETT
T hree months had passed since that dreadful night, every day a new horror as we faced the task of searching through the destruction for any survivors, for those who were still missing, their bodies likely washed away or buried under the silt, never to be found.
Some had been found miles away along the riverside once the flood waters had receded, our search going on far longer for fear their bodies might be found by humans.
None of them had survived, though, and thousands remained missing.
The loss of life had taken a heavy toll on our people and the humans in the city, who believed everything they’d called home had been wiped out by a failed dam.
We had lost every healer of House Latros, which greatly impacted our recovery efforts, and the remaining houses of power had lost so many of their bloodline that some now hovered on the brink of extinction.
“Figured you could use some coffee,” Zephyr said, entering the makeshift study in one of the buildings left still standing after the flood with two mugs. The damp scent of the muddy waters still clung to the brick, and it had taken a long while to ignore the musty smell.
“We’ll see if it’s enough to give me a second wind,” I groaned as he offered me one.
Zephyr took a seat at the opposite end of the table, looking over the paperwork strewn about. We’d taken up shifts, helping Damien with his work and recovery efforts, rotating out periodically to keep Lucia company.
What she had done in manipulating thousands of human minds the night of the battle was nothing short of amazing, but it had cost her dearly.
Thank The Fates their babe was well, but Lucia had been bedridden ever since, her body weak and drained under the stress of the magic and the pregnancy.
We all worried for her and what long-term effects the battle might have left her with.
My eyes drifted over the paperwork before me, the final tallies of survivors in each house finally collected after months of identifying bodies and performing funeral rites in Selene’s temple.
Thalia, Micah, Zephyr, and I had worked together on updating the census of every immortal, both civilian and warrior, recording the deaths each house of power had endured.
We had lost so many of our own...too many.
House Leukós, the wielders of light, were dwindling when they had already been as small in number as House Latros.
The blood wielders of House Aíma had fared even worse.
We had gone into battle with four hundred and thirty-two warriors.
Only two hundred and twelve had made it to the other side.
Countless civilians had been killed in the attack on the city, and the loss of human life was just as severe. Over two thousand human lives had been snuffed out, and over four hundred immortal souls had returned to Elysium’s embrace.
And that was just what we knew. There were still hundreds of our own unaccounted for; hundreds I feared would never receive the rites to deliver their souls across The River Styx to Elysium.
The Fall of Kingdoms. That was what they were calling it, what Salwa had labeled it as when she recorded it into the historical texts.
I took a drink before grimacing. “Fuck, this is nasty. Did you even add any sugar?”
He glanced at me sidelong as he took a sip of his. “Go make it yourself next time if you want sugar.”
“Only you would like your coffee so bitter,” I said as I set the mug down on the table.
“Damien and Lucia wanted you to stop by,” Zephyr said without looking up from the piece of parchment laid out before him. “You’ve been up all night working, though. You think you’ll have the energy?”
I blinked and looked at the clock. “Shit, I didn’t realize what time it was. I can swing by on my way home. ”
“I’ll take over and finish this up before Damien gets in,” he said, gesturing to the door. “I’m sure she’ll be glad for your company. You’re good at lightening the mood.”
“Is that a compliment?” I asked arching a brow.
“Don’t let it go to your head,” he deadpanned without looking up at me.
I huffed a laugh and rose from the table before leaving him to his work. I hoped she was in better spirits today, hoped she had more energy.
The sun pierced my eyes as I stepped outside, and I winced before they adjusted to the brightness.
Dried mud and residual silt still covered the dusty roads as I continued through the city, which seemed to finally be clear of heavy flood debris.
Surviving humans and immortals alike had come together to rebuild, though the humans still knew nothing of our existence.
There was no telling what would’ve happened if Lucia hadn’t altered their memories.
Would The Twelve have intervened if we had failed?
I didn’t want to imagine what would have happened had they crossed over to mete out their judgment as they had with our goddess, Selene.
“Barrett!” a young voice called, and I looked up to find a boy with a mop of blond hair watching me from a nearby rooftop, an old worn hammer in his dirt-stained hand.
“So you’re a roofer now, Vincent?” I shouted back as he rose to his feet.
“Everyone’s chipping in. I didn’t want to stay cooped up in the tent all day,” he said as he climbed down the ladder and squeezed past workers who ruffled his hair as he passed, breaking out into laughter at the dirt smeared on his face.
Gods, he was getting tall, had just turned thirteen the previous month. My cousin, born on Mother’s side, had become my shadow from the moment he was able to step outside. Thankfully, his mother’s family was kinder, and he had been raised with love.
“How’s your mother doing?” I asked, happy to see him in such high spirits after the battle with his father having been among the fallen.
His gaze wavered, a weak smile tugging at his lips. “She’s distracting herself. It’s been hard not having him around.”
“It’s been difficult for everyone,” I said and placed my hand on his shoulder. “If you guys ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come to me.”
He nodded. “As soon as I go through my settling, I’m signing up to join The Order. Then, Mother won’t have to work any longer and can relax.”
I ruffled his hair. “Get through your settling, and then we’ll talk.”
“Vincent!” a male called from the roof he had been working on. “You quittin’ on me already?”
“Coming!” Vincent shouted back before glancing at me. “Are you going to visit Lady Lucia? ”
“I am.”
“I hope she is doing better,” he said and turned to return to work with a wave over his shoulder. “Tell her to rest up; we’ll handle the rest!”
I tapped my knuckle against the open door to Damien and Lucia’s room. “Knock, knock.”
Damien and Lucia looked up, and Lucia’s tired smile widened. She was still in bed, exactly where I had left her a couple of days before, her hand resting against her belly which had grown so much in the last few months.
“Thanks for stopping by,” Damien said, gesturing to a chair beside him.
I cocked a brow and gave Lucia a teasing grin. “Couldn’t let me get some work in, could you? I knew you missed my company.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head but couldn’t keep from smiling. “Sit down, hothead.”
My brows furrowed when Damien didn’t get up from his seat. “You called me in to keep her company while you worked, right?”
“Yes, but there is another matter of great importance we must discuss,” he said.
Lucia spoke up, drawing my attention to her. “I’ve decided to step down as Strategos of The Order.”
“Step down?” My gaze swept back and forth between them.
She nodded, and for a moment, something like resignation passed across Damien’s face before he offered her a soft smile and a gentle squeeze of her hand.
I rose from my chair, nearly sending it toppling to the floor. How could she just step down as the general of The Order? As Damien’s right hand? “But...why would you do that?”
Her brows rose, and I couldn’t understand why she would be surprised that I asked.
“The warriors need you,” I said. “What are we gonna do without you?”
Her gaze wavered, and there it was; that damned look of guilt that had painted her face since the battle.
“It is time for me to step down,” she said calmly, as if it was something that had been decided long before this moment. “Just as it was time for me to find you and help you clear your name, just as Thalia was intended to return to the Mortalrealm and meet you and Micah.”
Intended to meet me? Something both bloomed and shriveled in my chest at her words, at the thought that she truly seemed to believe our meeting was something orchestrated by The Fates…
that my meeting Thalia was fated. I shook the thought off, desperate to abandon any thoughts or possibilities that she was, in fact, my mate.
What was this really about?
“There is the matter of who will take my place,” she said, and my heart stilled.
“Who’s replacing you?” I asked.
The warmth returned to her silver eyes. “Zephyr is taking my place. He served as Strategos in my absence before, but I need someone to step up to fill his role.”
Taxiarchos … Brigadier. My stomach flipped at the implication her words held.
“That’s why we brought you here,” Damien explained. “You’ve gone above and beyond in proving yourself since you joined The Order. The warriors trust in your judgment, and you showed great leadership and care during the battle with the darkling queen.”
“No,” I muttered under my breath, and they blinked.
Lucia’s brows wrinkled, and she proceeded to fidget her fingers atop her blanket. “No?”
My pulse pounded in my ears. Third in command of The Order? Me? “Surely someone else is more qualified.”
Lucia let out a soft chuckle, and I frowned. “Of course, you would feel you weren’t enough.”
Damien took her hand but leveled his gaze on me. “We originally offered Thalia the position, but she turned it down.”
“Why? She would be a perfect fit.”
Lucia’s gaze wavered, and the weight of it sliced through me. “She couldn’t bear the thought of being responsible for so many lives again.”
She couldn’t bear it because she felt she’d failed so many in The Pits.
We’d never spoken of it, but I knew enough from Lucia and Micah to put the pieces together, from witnessing the horrors when we’d dismantled what remained of it all those centuries ago.
I sat in silence for a moment, trying to wrap my head around the idea.
“You guys must be pretty desperate if you’re promoting a dungeon rat to the rank of Taxiarchos,” I said, trying to wrap my head around the idea.
Lucia shook her head. “There’s no one I trust more to handle the position than you or Thalia.”
“Micah?” I suggested.
“He is where he needs to be,” Lucia said with a warm smile, as if she had everything planned out to the smallest detail.
I chewed my lip, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Once Lucia made up her mind, there was no talking her out of it. It was as if every step she took, every decision she contemplated was orchestrated by The Fates .
What if I couldn’t live up to their expectations?
“Can I think about it?”
Damien nodded. “I know it’s a lot to process. Take a couple days to think on it.”
Lucia seemed to almost tense at his words, but she eased almost immediately.
This wasn’t right.
“I’ll let you know in a few days,” I said.
“Thank you,” Damien said and leaned in to press a kiss to Lucia’s forehead. “Do you mind keeping her company today? I figured I’d help Zephyr catch up on some work since I wasn’t in yesterday.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t have any plans. As long as she’s all right putting up with me.”
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “I guess I can deal with your antics for a bit.”
“She’s had some contractions off and on over the last twenty-four hours,” Damien said. “The midwives don’t think she’s in active labor yet. Send for me if anything changes, though.”
I nodded. “Zephyr told me yesterday.”
“I’ll try to get things done quickly. I should only be a few hours,” he said and turned to Lucia. “See you this evening, mea luna .”
“Don’t work too hard, mea sol ,” she teased and tensed suddenly before a soft laugh slipped from her throat as her hand fell to her stomach. “Goodness, she’s full of energy today.”
I blinked. “She?”
Lucia’s eyes lit up. “Yes. I’ve felt her energy for a while. We kept it a secret, but I guess it’s time you knew.”
My heart soared at the news, and I tried to imagine what she might look like, if she would have Lucia’s dark hair. “Have you picked out a name?”
“Emilia,” she said, resting a hand against her belly.
“It’s perfect,” I muttered, eager to see her through this, to see them together and happy. “I hope you know I plan to spoil her rotten.”
She snickered. “Oh, I don’t doubt that.”
“I wonder what she’ll be,” Damien whispered, almost to himself. “If she’ll have magic as you do.”
Lucia looked down at her stomach knowingly. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
Damien pressed a kiss to her knuckles once more. “I’ll try not to be gone long.”
He turned and headed for the door, and I glanced at Lucia. “I’ll be right back.”
I rose and followed him into the hallway, waiting until we were some distance from their room before grabbing his arm. “Damien, can I speak to you for a second? ”
He stopped and turned to me, dark brows rising. “What is it?”
“What’s all this really about?” I asked.
His brows furrowed, and for a moment I thought he was going to deny that something was off. He glanced past me before letting out a sigh. “She decided to step down a few weeks ago.”
“Why, though?”
“I don’t know,” he said with such defeat, it halted my train of thought. “I don’t think I’m the only one who has noticed how she’s changed since the battle with the darkling queen.”
“You’re not.”
He raked his fingers through his hair and let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what else to do. She won’t tell me what happened—even mentioning it seems to tear down her spirits—and I can’t bring myself to ask her any further.”
There had been many times when I had found her alone, staring off into nothing, as if her mind was somewhere else entirely.
At times she would lose track of our conversations, and she seemed to be slowly closing herself off from the outside world.
If it wasn’t for the fact that she was on bed rest, I’d have taken her out to see the city, the relief efforts.
The people missed her, asked about her constantly—prayed for her safety, an easy delivery, a healthy babe.
“She brushes it off like its nothing to be concerned about, but…” Damien lifted his eyes to me, and the concern in them broke me. “I’m worried about her.”