CHAPTER 34
“The Darklands lava is from the God of Fire, when the land was scorched for the dark magic that began to course through the lands.
Now, it's the weakness of a Deskyiara. The Gods never meant for it, the Deskyiaras were never meant to have a weakness, but the Realm Edrelas was more powerful than the Gods intended.” - Book of Azure
EACH STEP DOWN THE STAIRS feels as if the stitches along my ribs will pull apart at any moment.
Kaine jogs ahead of me, bouncing with each step until he finally reaches the bottom and stretches out his arms wide, taking in the warmth of the sun. The wind catches his long, dark hair, revealing his pointed ears and slight grin that forms along his lips.
Now that I sort of remember, I understand who he is.
I recall whispers about him as a young teen, the Prince of the Sky.
The last true healer there ever will be, my parents would say.
As if they knew something terrible would happen to our lands.
Little did the people of the Realm know Florian would gain the ability to heal from his mothers bloodline.
Half sky. Half ice. But now with their curse, they can never again. Or eventually die.
As Florian has only one heal left.
The Sky Realm, the closest to the Gods. The Gods’ favorites. I had jealousy towards them as a kid, wondering why the Royals in their Realms gained the gift to heal, the ability to communicate with the Gods and oversee the rest of the Realms, protecting us all with the light of their Realm.
My head falls, and I stare at my ash-covered boots as it hits me. I have yet to see the light beam from their Realm. I wonder how bad the sky is cursed.
If darkness has spread across that Realm, that’s how I’ll know how mad the Gods are.
“I could stay outside all day if I could.” He sighs, lifting his chin high as he takes in the warmth. “The view down here is better than the Sky Realm.”
“The Sky Realm was hand created by the God of air, it will always be the most beautiful,” I mutter under my breath, catching the attention of Kaine, but he doesn’t respond.
My eyes squint, the sun rays creating strong glares before me, but instantly I catch sight of Koen heading towards the Pyre.
I suck in a sharp, trembling breath, my heart pounding relentlessly against my chest as if it is trying to escape. The world around me fades into a hazy blur, leaving only him sharply in focus.
The golden light highlighting his beautiful features is… everything.
The way his curls fall messily, yet perfectly, from his loose bun.
The way they frame his sharp, defined features along his neck and chin.
The way with just a sudden, gentle movement, his muscles ripple and tug against his onyx suit.
But most importantly, it's his eyes that will always captivate me. Always make me speechless. The way his eyes speak to me, without him having to even say a word.
Damn it, everything about him is perfect.
It's as if the Gods wanted me to be tortured everyday just by laying my eyes on him.
And it's working.
However, it's as though he senses my lingering gaze, feels the pull of my presence, for he halts mid-step.
I catch the subtle movement of his head turning, the rise of his shoulders as he draws a breath, as well as I, before his eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.
My knees quiver, threatening to buckle beneath me, and I instinctively reach out, grasping the jagged, uneven surface of the rocky wall beside me.
My fingers dig around the rough edge while my chest heaves, feeling as if the world around me is spinning uncontrollably.
His eyes soften as if he knows, remembers, everything that happened last night.
But when Lykia wraps her arm around him, rubbing his back as she walks beside him, nausea runs rampant up my throat. Completely snapping me out of the trance I was just in and turning my emotions into a rampant fire storm coursing through me.
“What the hell,” I growl, rage burning my insides as I watch them head towards the Pyre. “What is Lykia doing here?”
Kaine’s brow raises, crossing his thick arms across his broad chest. “I’m guessing you two finally met?”
“Wish we never did,” I mutter under my breath, violently striding past the large, white tree that glistens in the sun. The statue of the horses glistens from the morning mist.
A breathy laugh escapes his lips. “Lykia doesn’t give up easily.”
I violently narrow my eyes at Kaine. “Yeah, I can see that.”
Kaine takes a dragged-out step, throwing his head over his shoulder towards me with an irritating grin smirked along his lips. “Seems as if someone finally chose between the brothers.”
My eyes roll, hard. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Has the Queen finally decided?” His brows lift with curiosity, kicking some rocks as we casually walk around the white oak tree in the center. “I wonder how heartbroken Florian will be when he hears of this?”
“I am no Queen,” I hiss towards him, wanting to elbow the shit out him, but I can’t risk burning him. “And Koen is not mine. Neither is Florian. We are all friends.”
“Damn.” He rolls his shoulder, lifting his chin towards the opening archway of the Pyre. “Who are you lying to? Me? Or yourself?”
I suck in a deep breath while I cross my arms, catching up to him as I ignore his question on purpose. “Quit calling me Queen.”
He pauses, turning fiercely towards me. “I know Death came to see you.”
My hands toss outward, rage shooting up my throat as I mutter. “And how the hell do you know this?”
“I suppose it's time to tell you.”
I cross my arms, annoyingly glaring at him. “Tell me what, Kaine?”
“I know he went to see you, because I have been working with the Sea. Theon doesn’t know.” He glances around me. “When I met you, we had no idea who you were. What you were.”
“You are working with Death?” My voice drops to a sudden whisper, my eyes glancing between his, watching his brows pull inward as if he is at war with his thoughts.
“I have for many years now.”
“And Theon doesn’t know?” I cross my arms. “He’s going to hate you for that.”
“I fear his mom, the Queen, will see what we are doing. She is always with the oracles, watching every movement of Theon and Skie ever since the other brothers died.” His lips pull between his teeth.
“I can’t risk that. I can’t risk the plan, he has to forgive me eventually.
I don’t trust her and neither should you. ”
“And you think you telling me this might not risk it?”
“The Queen already said the oracles cannot see you.” He strides towards me. “Which means, you being around us at the Sea will protect us more than anything else ever could. You can save us. Only you.”
My head falls back, letting out a deep sigh. “What if I am not what you all expect me to be? What if I can’t do it?”
His ocean eyes mixed with amber hues soften with a gentle grin. “You are. You will be.”
I suck in a sharp breath, flashes of Koen attacking me in the Vitaei with the fire darkling tightening my stomach. My palms sweat when I realize I almost didn’t make it out alive. My heart could never make me hurt him.
But him, in transformation with no control, he could kill us all.
My lips roll between my lips before I mutter. “I fear something dark is brewing, something inside me is telling me that more people will die, and I am unsure if I can protect you from it.”
“Then I will die to make sure you live.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You don’t have to.” His eyes meet me with such sincere intensity, I know he means every word he says.
Tears burn at the edge of my eyes, holding my breath tightly in so no tears will fall.
“Just quit calling me your Queen.” I lean in towards him, sniffling as my lip pulls into a heart-warming grin.
“I am your friend. Always. And my friends will not bow to me, but stand beside me. Do you understand?”
His head tilts to the side, leaning in closer to where no one else can hear the words he says besides us. “I understand, your majesty.”
“I’d hit you right now if I could.”
“Yet, you can’t.” His shoulders shrug, spinning around as he heads into the Pyre.
“Be thanking the Gods you are my friend, not my enemy, Kaine,” I hiss, teasing him as I catch up to him.
“Oh trust me.” He turns, walking backwards. “I thank them everyday for that. My biggest fear has always been burning to death!” He lets out a hysterical laugh and turns on his heels to jog into the Pyre.
We both walk in, even though I dread every minute of this.
But the Pyre is breathtaking. I will never get over the view of this place.
In the far right corner is the lush, green tree that is one with the stone wall, its branches climbing up the towering edge as if reaching for every light of the sun.
I count around twelve branches, the leaves trickling in the subtle breeze but as my gaze drops, I catch sight of Theon with Klayra.
She casually rests her bulky boot against the stone wall while fiercely carving a stick with her dagger, sharpening it with such force that it seems she might use it to stab me in the heart.
Her piercing gaze meets mine, unflinching and bold.
My brows raise, nodding my head.
As she does the same.
Today, there's no trace of dried blood on her skin, nor is there any in her braided, teal hair.
However, I can't help but notice the tattered state of her suit, the top stitching ripped open and fresh bandages tightly wrapped around her arm.
It seems the menders were busy last night, tending to her wounds inflicted by the fire dragon's scorching breath. But I feel no pity on her.
She got what she deserved.
And I’ll do it again if I have to.
As I take steps towards Florian in the opposite corner, next to the broken tree branch, I catch sight of Koen’s blood stained along the white dirt.