Chapter 49
Rylee
“You’re pacing again, love,” Kal says from where he sits on a crimson cushion near the pool in his sitting room.
I pause, turning to look down at him.
He’s right. I’m pacing. I’ve been pacing.
“What can we do?” Axl asks, sitting on the opposite side of the small pool.
“Voting Day is two weeks away,” I say by way of answer, plopping down on a cushion near the edge of the pool.
“Pierce and Jax aren’t home yet. We’ve helped cure those sickened by Tox but don’t know why Tox was created in the first place.
Is it just to hurt people with powers and boost those who don’t?
Or is there more? I’m no closer to stopping the Fader attacks, and I can barely sleep from dreams of Evaluna.
” I tuck my knees against my chest and prop my chin atop them. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Kal and Axl share a look, some silent communication as Axl nods to Kal.
“This is what we’re going to do,” Kal says, setting his drink down and shifting to fully face me.
“We’re going to face Voting Day together, no matter if it’s just the three of us or not.
We’ve done absolutely everything the RAC and kings have asked us to.
Risen to every trial and test and request. There’s nothing more we can do now to secure votes.
We have the majority favor in our cities, and you’ve garnered favor in every city you’ve visited.
” His words are calm and confident, helping unwind the knots of tension in my chest.
“We will face Voting Day,” he continues. “And we will win.”
My eyes meet his, hopeful. “And then what?” I dare to ask.
“Then we live happily ever after,” Axl says with a laugh.
“Then we get to work,” Kal says, smiling at him, then me.
“We take the thrones. Our fathers take up the annual offerings to the goddesses. Our chancellors will fully transition into positions of power for our cities as we move into the palace. From the royal city, we will work to make the changes we’ve always dreamed about.
Starting with elevating the lower classes, giving them rights that never should’ve been stripped from them.
We’ll work on programs to help the process run smoothly, and we’ll make sure demis understand there is no need to fear or hide anymore.
We’ll announce your powers, the one you were born with and those you’ve acquired.
And during all that, we will put an end to the Fader atrocities, one way or another. ”
“And then we’ll live happily ever after,” Axl says again as he crawls over to my cushion, nudging my legs down so he can rest his head in my lap.
I laugh at the attention-seeking move, running my fingers through his long silken hair.
“We’ll travel during peace times,” he says.
“And eat ourselves silly. There will be weeks we won’t leave the palace, because we’re insatiable for you. ”
Heat streaks through me.
“We’ll take to the skies at midnight,” Kal offers, scooting closer to smooth his hand down my back. “Where I’ll worship you under the stars.”
“Lumathyst will prosper,” Axl adds. “Because there’s no other option with a queen like you.”
I’m blushing now, my heart thumping with hope.
But it’s just a hope, which makes my soul hesitant to allow myself to dream.
“That sounds truly beautiful,” I say. I won’t voice the alternatives. Won’t mention that so many things must go right in order for all those beautiful dreams to come true. Because what would be the point? Kal is right. We’ve done everything we can. Now we just have to wait.
Have to wait for the vote.
Have to wait for the kings to willingly give up their thrones.
Wait for Pierce to come home.
Wait for Jax.
A knife slips into my heart. A sense of foreboding I can’t shake any time I think of him.
No word. I know he’s not usually big on communication, but I would’ve thought he’d write by now. At least to let us know he’s all right.
He hasn’t. I can still feel the bond between us, stretched thin across the distance, but it’s there. That alone gives me hope that he’s okay. If he weren’t . . . I’d know.
I’d feel it.
I just have to be patient, but with Voting Day approaching, I have little patience left.