Chapter 84
CHAPTER 84
VALARIC
A s my mind slowly awakens, I immediately recognize the familiar weight of Juliet lying in my arms. Her head rests against my chest, her breathing soft and even as she sleeps.
Gently, I brush the hair back from her face as relief floods my system. She’s alive. Safe. Here with me.
We’re lying in a massive four-poster bed, covered with soft fur blankets. I don’t recognize this space, but judging by the obsidian stone walls and luxurious accommodations, we must still be in the winter palace.
I curl my wings protectively around Juliet’s delicate form, and she lifts her head. “Valaric?”
She wraps her arms around me and peppers my face with kisses before I capture her lips with my own.
When we finally pull back, I cup her cheek. “Thank the gods.” I stare deep into her luminous green eyes. “I almost lost you, my Juliet.”
I drop my forehead gently to hers, closing my eyes as I relish this moment between us as our hearts beat in sync, the bond between us thrumming with life and reassurance.
“I felt it,” I whisper, struggling to keep my voice even. “I felt you die, my Juliet, and I—” My voice catches, and I cannot speak around the lump in my throat. Instead, I pull her closer, wrapping her tight in my arms. I never want her to feel like that again. “You are everything to me.”
A quiet rustle draws my attention. Instantly on alert, I turn and spot a pair of lavender eyes in the shadows, near the far corner of the room. My muscles relax when I realize it’s only Aerlyx.
He flashes a grin. “It’s about time you two woke up.”
“Wait a minute.” Sitting up in the bed, I narrow my eyes. “Have you been standing there the entire time, watching us?”
“Really, Valaric?” He scoffs. “ Excuse me for not wanting to interrupt your tender moment with your bride.” He rolls his eyes dramatically. “Of course I’ve been watching you. I’ve been standing guard for the past three days with everyone else.”
I blink several times. “Three days?”
A door opens across the way and Lysander walks in, followed by Eben and Damar.
Obviously having heard my conversation with Aerlyx, Lysander nods. “That’s how long you’ve been unconscious.”
“Why are we still at the royal winter palace?” I ask. As glad as I am that Juliet is all right, I’d prefer to be back in one of our own holdings, behind several layers of protective wards.
“It was my call that we remain here.” Damar steps forward. “After you collapsed, I didn’t want to risk moving you. Juliet was only unconscious for half a day, but you’ve been asleep for three. Prince Raine’s personal healer has been checking on you regularly.”
Juliet turns to me, concern on her features. “We were worried when you didn’t wake up after the first day.”
Eben gives me a lopsided grin. “Apparently, performing miracles is exhausting work.”
“Miracles?” I frown, glancing down at my palm as the memories return. I nearly lost Juliet. “I can’t believe it actually worked,” I murmur, more to myself than anyone else.
“What you did,” Damar says, voice reverent, “hasn’t been done since the time of King Drovyan. Everyone saw it, Valaric. There are none who can deny it now. They saw you bring her back to life through the power of your fated bond.”
Lysander looks at me. “Word has already begun to spread throughout the kingdom about you and your ashaya.”
Prince Raine is probably thrilled about this as it will only strengthen the belief that Juliet and I are the ones spoken of in the ancient prophecy. But I worry what his father thinks. “What about King Corvin? He already considered the prophecy a threat to his reign.”
“I doubt he’s happy about this,” Damar admits. “But there’s a High Council meeting tomorrow. Now that you are awake, I think you and Juliet should attend. We need to show them that you’ve both recovered. We need them to see that the Great House of Greyvale is still strong.”
As much as I am loath to admit it, he’s right. I’d rather keep Juliet hidden away, safe from the politics of our kingdom, but we need their acknowledgment.
But I won’t make this decision alone. I turn to my bride. “What do you want to do?”
She squeezes my hand. “I think Damar is right. You told me before that Vampires only respect one thing: strength. So we must show them that we are not weak.”
“All right,” I agree.
Damar nods. “We will present Juliet to the High Council so they can officially recognize her as part of our clan and our Great House. They cannot deny you, Juliet.” Determination lines his features. “They wouldn’t dare. Not after what they witnessed.”
I lean back, exhaling slowly. Damar is right. It’s important that we show the High Council our strength, but I cannot help but worry. Tomorrow will be a test, one we cannot afford to fail.