Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
ISLA
T here is only soul-crushing anguish as Estee and I hold our father’s unresponsive body in our arms. I only just got him back. I didn’t have near enough time with him. I’m not ready to lose him again, not so soon.
Yet I know in that moment the dagger pierced his skin, he was gone. And with the way his veins turned black, this isn’t the same as what took the two of us out. No, this was meant to end a life, not to curse one.
Though he can be reborn. We can wait and see him again one day. It might take decades, and this is still heartbreaking, but this isn’t the end. I hope.
Maybe I’m wrong and he’s cursed to never return, especially since the dagger was meant for me, but I can’t think that way. Not when I was so close to having almost everything back.
Asher’s fingers wrap around my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Isla. I don’t know how he moved so fast, but your dad, he saved your life when I might have been too late.”
“We can’t control fate,” I tell him, doing my best not to be consumed with grief and, thanks to our bond, knowing Asher is also battling with guilt, I add, “None of this is our fault. Not mine or yours. At least it’s over now.” I glance back down at my father. “We’ll see him again, one day, and I know this is what he wanted. He knows we’re at peace and safe and now he can be too.”
Estee holds Dad’s hand tighter. “Daddy, please come back. I know Mom is there, but we still need you. Tell the gods you want to come home.”
There’s a chance he’ll stay for Mom, but maybe, considering the power Asher was just wielding, we can get both of them back.
With that hope in mind, I turn to my mate, moving to stand. He helps me and we take a few steps away from Estee. “Why were you glowing?—”
My words are cut off as Sosheena limps toward us. She’s gasping for breath through her tears and keeps her eyes on the ground. There’s blood on her face and thanks to her pale skin, she looks decades older than she did… Gods, was that really just this morning when I last saw her?
She’s not speaking even as Asher tries to talk to her. Her feet barely lift from the ground as she walks, hiccupping through the tears. Even though Gideon turned out to be a vicious man, my heart still hurts for her. It breaks for the woman who just lost her mate, who realized her whole life was a lie, and now, needs to find a way forward.
For the years I knew Sosheena while I was growing up here, she was always a strong woman whom I could look up to. She might feel shattered just like the rest of us do right now, but she’ll make it through this. We’ll make sure of it.
Asher speaks softly to her and I stand quietly by, feeling lost yet at peace all at once. None of this seems real, maybe because I never would have suspected Gideon could hurt his family like this, or because I’m not ready to process that I’ve just lost my father. Either way, I stand there, numb to the world around me.
Malimorte’s auburn wolf arrives just a minute later. The lone shifter transforms to his human form and, without uttering a word, takes Sosheena from Asher and begins to walk from the bloody scene with her safely tucked against his side.
Asher turns to me and wraps me in his arm, muttering his apologies again.
I hug him back, clinging to the love he has for me like a lifeline. “I don’t blame you for any of this. Please don’t apologize for something that isn’t your fault. No matter how much I might grieve for my father in the coming days, I know in my heart that I’ll never hold you responsible, so you can’t, either.”
His head shakes against mine and his chest rumbles. “I forgave him because I didn’t want to be bitter like him, but I hate that you’re hurting, that none of this would have ever happened if I weren’t your mate.”
Pulling back enough to see his face, I look sternly into his sapphire eyes. “You have been the best part of my life. Even if our moments have been brief, that’s not your fault. You gave your father your forgiveness—now you need to give it to yourself. You’ve always been better than him and deep down, he knew that. It was his own insecurities that did this, ones that are likely responsible for whatever choices brought us to this day. Not you or me or us.”
He presses his forehead against mine and breathes me in. “You might need to keep reminding me of that as I’m forced to clean up the messes he’s made.” He tenses and holds me tighter. “Declan.”
Oh, hell. I forgot he’d gone on the run. What if Gideon already got to him?
“The dark magic lifted from his mind,” Asher explains before my thoughts can get too out of control. “He’s been hiding under a literal rock ever since he attacked you.”
“Tell him to come home,” I say, knowing there isn’t a single part of me that holds him responsible for the things he was forced to do.
“Already done.” Asher crushes me against his chest, the vibrations growing from deep within, moving from him to me. “Fuck, Issie. I almost lost you again.”
“Care to explain how you were wielding god energy?” I ask, keeping my head against his chest, listening to his racing heart, in hopes of keeping mine from completely breaking.
I can feel his cringe move through his whole body. “When I summoned the gods for a meeting, Aurora appeared. She might have kissed me before I left and temporarily transferred some of her power to me.”
Now, it’s my turn for my chest to rumble. My teeth grind together and growl. “I’ll fucking kill her for touching you.”
Asher’s hands smooth over my back as nothing but love flows through our bond. “I thought the same thing, but I don’t know that I would have been able to kill my father without her. Let’s just be grateful this is over now. ”
Easier said than done, especially when I know this is far from over .
My mate takes my hand and together, we face the biggest loss of the day.
I’m not ready to say goodbye. I’m not ready to admit this is real, that my father is dead, but I know I don’t have a choice.
Though as much as I want to break down, I have a feeling that between Asher and Estee, that moment is going to have to wait for me.
I reach for my sister with my free hand. “We need to take him back to the castle.”
She shakes her head. “No, he’s going to come back.”
“Maybe,” I tell her softly. “But not in this body. He’s gone and we need to release his soul so he can make his choice.”
She looks up at me, her eyes swollen and red. “What if he stays with Mom? What if we’ve lost both our parents?”
Asher releases his hold on me, and I bend down to hug Estee. “Then we get to know how lucky we were to have them for the time we did and be thankful they’re at peace, together again. We’ll still have each other, no matter what happens next.”
She nods against my shoulder, her body shaking. “I don’t know how you’re being so strong right now, but I’m really glad because I don’t think I can be.”
“I know,” I tell her with a smile she can’t see. “You’ve been the big sister for long enough. It’s time I pulled my weight.”
“I love you, Is.” She sniffles. “We don’t say that enough, but I need you to know how grateful I am that I found you again and that we made our way back home together.”
“I know, and I love you, too.” I kiss the side of her head, then pull her upward. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
Asher is still right there beside us. He picks up our father without saying a word and we leave Gideon’s ashes behind. At least we won’t have to burn him ourselves.
His death, while welcome, is a disgrace and when he appears before the gods, they’ll know. I just hope they don’t give him a choice to come back and make up for the horrible things he’s done. Asher deserves to live the rest of his lives without worrying about his bastard of a father trying to interfere in our lives ever again.
Right after sunset, Estee, Asher, and I lead a procession of people through the town and toward the beach. My dad’s body has been prepared and blessed and now it’s time to say goodbye.
Estee hasn’t stopped crying since we left the waterfall. Even when she’s yelling, there are still tears. Her grief weighs down on me along with Asher’s guilt at what’s been lost and the mess that still needs to be cleaned up, but I keep reminding him that we have time and we need to be thankful for what did go right.
Aurora followed through on her part of their deal. The dark objects are all gone, the vault empty of anything sinister. Plus, our pack isn’t in an uproar over the betrayals from Gideon, and the threat against us is gone. At least for now. Of course, once word gets out about the duplicity within our own kingdom, the others may talk and someone might think we’ve weakened, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth.
Our sadness doesn’t show how vulnerable we are—it shows how fiercely we love. And we will fight to the death to protect our family. I hope that’s what anyone else sees when they hear about what happened here. If they think otherwise, they’re in for the fight of their lives.
We arrive at the shoreline where we will give our father the sendoff he deserves. My hands shake and there is a pain in my chest unlike anything I’ve ever felt, but there is also peace. I don’t know how I know, but everything is going to be okay.
Somehow, we’re going to get through this hardship and we’re stronger because of it. Maybe it’s shock from everything we’ve been through, or just an overwhelming desire to no longer worry, but I’m choosing to believe this sense of unity is only the beginning of what’s to be the best life I’ve yet to live.
Asher steps in front of the platform that’s been created for my father and faces those who have traveled with us. When I turn around, I’m rendered speechless.
Nearly the whole pack is here to honor his life, and they’re here for us. That’s a kind of loyalty that can’t be forced and proves my mate is more of a king than Gideon ever gave him credit for.
Noen and Declan move to stand next to us with Mali and a few of the other council members opposite to Asher as he speaks.
“Today has been a day of tragedy, but we end it in celebration,” he says, his voice rough with unshed emotions. “Grayson Blackwell was one of the best of us. He served this pack well, always putting others before himself, even when life wasn’t kind to him. This king never lost his way.”
Asher pauses and looks at me, tears in both of our eyes as he continues. “Grayson will never be forgotten and, if he chooses not to return, his essence will live on through those he’s left behind. Tonight, we honor him, we celebrate him, and we set him free.”
Sorrowful cheers erupt through the crowd of our people as Estee and I step forward. Asher hands us the torches before lighting them and I sob uncontrollably for the first time that day. I can’t hold in the pain any longer.
I nearly fall, but my sister grabs my hand and holds me up. “I’ve got you.”
I thought earlier that I was going to need to be strong for everyone else, but this loss isn’t on any one person. We’ll bear the weight of this together, picking up the pieces as needed.
“Are you ready?” Asher asks through our bond.
“As much as I can be.”
Only then does he ignite his own torch, signaling for us to say our final goodbyes.
Closing my eyes, I picture Dad’s warm eyes. I remember that first day back when it was him who made me feel something for this place. Without that moment, I don’t know what may have happened.
I love you more than I ever got to show you, Dad. Give Mom hugs from us every day.
Maybe that’s why this is so hard because there’s a part of me that doesn’t believe he’ll choose to return. More so, that part of me doesn’t want him to. He deserves to be with his mate, resting, even if that means we’re left missing them both .
Together, Estee and I set fire to our father’s body, giving him the freedom to be at peace. Noen and Declan move to the end of the platform and begin pushing it into the water as we step back.
Asher steps in to help as the flames get bigger, enveloping the body without hesitation.
When the pyre is officially in the water, I hug Estee tightly and we cry together, mourning more than just the loss of a great man.
Asher is close by, continually reminding me how much he loves me through our bond, while also giving me space to be in this moment. At least that’s what I sense until his love turns to fury, and I hear him snarl.
“What are you doing here?” he says, his chest rumbling at a stunning woman with long, red hair and wearing a slinky, blue dress.
“Is that the way to treat the goddess who saved your mate’s life?” She clicks her tongue, then turns toward me, her violet eyes bright with delight. “I’m sorry about kissing him, but it was the only way to gift him the power that would save your life. I figured you’d understand.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever been sorry a day in your life.” My canines beg to extend and I’m tempted to punch her in that smug, perfect face, but Estee’s grip remains tight on my wrist, holding me back.
I don’t stand a chance against a goddess and we both know that.
“Down, girl. Good puppy,” she taunts, then she addresses me and Asher together. “Maybe it’s from the bite, or the two of you have managed to catch me on a good day, but I have a present for you. ”
“We don’t need anything from you,” Asher says stiffly. “We made our deal and it’s finished.”
Aurora shakes her finger at him, light-purple energy swirling around her hand. “ You don’t get to decide when things are finished.”
“If you hurt him…” I start to say, and her dark chuckle cuts me.
“Here I am trying to give you a gift and I’m being threatened.” The power starts to extend up her arm, growing brighter. “Maybe I should just go and the next time your world is at risk, because there will be a next time, your call for help won’t be answered.”
“Are you offering us a gift, or another deal?” I ask, knowing with the gods, there is rarely anything ever given freely.
“A little of both.” She winks at me. “You’ll accept this gift and when the time comes, I will expect your cooperation by sharing your beasts with me. You see, that nibble Asher gave me earlier did exactly what I hoped, but it was temporary. When I require it, I will get all the nibbles I want. And if you deny me, I will burn this entire world to a crisp.”
She says that last bit with a joy that tells me we have no choice here, and the rumble coming from Asher’s chest confirms he understands the same.
Aurora claps her hands together. “Great. Now that we’re all on the same page, how about that gift?”
I look around to see what she’s talking about, but the only thing I notice is that nobody is moving. It’s like time has frozen for everyone other than me, Asher, and this pain-in-the-ass goddess. Even my father’s raft has ceased moving, the flames barely flickering .
Aurora’s glow increases and the light covers her entire body, blinding me until I’m forced to close my eyes. When I can see again, I don’t know how to believe what I’m seeing.
My parents stand on each side of her, both of them in one piece and… alive . Or so I think. They’re not moving, but I can sense their warmth, even with the distance between us.
My heart soars and I want to run toward them, but my feet won’t move. Hell, I can’t move any part of my body except my head. One look at Asher and he appears to be in the same position.
“Now, listen,” Aurora announces. “You see what I’m offering, and I know I said this was a gift, but we goddesses, we really prefer things to be done cleanly. Do I have your promise that when the time comes, you will lend your pack to me?”
“No,” I answer first and while my reply kills me, I can’t allow this to happen. “I won’t sacrifice the lives of others to reverse what’s already been done.”
Her lips flatten and she speaks with disgust. “You wolves and your hearts . I don’t understand, but fine. If I promise that none of them will be at risk, will you make the deal?”
“Yes.” Asher answers first this time, then looks at me. “You deserve this, love. Take this second chance and let me worry about the pack.” His gaze returns to the goddess. “At any point in the future, while I am still King of the Polaris pack, we are indebted to you for one favor in exchange for the lives of Florence and Grayson Blackwood. In order to repay this debt, none of the wolves will be at risk while they cooperate with your one-time request.”
She looks him up and down and licks her lips. “It really is a shame you’re spoken for. Your words are almost as good as your body. We have a deal.” She blows him a kiss. “I’ll be seeing you, Asher, King of Polaris.”
As soon as the goddess disappears, Estee’s grip releases my hand and I realize she was only holding me back because she was frozen. Before I can say anything, she gasps, her sobs returning tenfold. “How?”
“I’ll explain later,” I say, pushing her forward as we rush to hug our parents.
Mom’s arms wrap around both of us. “Oh, my girls. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
There are too many tears to speak, but there is enough love flowing between the four of us that there isn’t any need for words.
I see Asher over my mother’s shoulder and his voice whispers through my mind. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“It’s going to be more than okay,” I tell him. “It’s going to be the way it was always meant to be.”
“Always and forever,” he promises, and for the first time in five hundred years, we can finally have that again.