Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Poppies.
Searing Pain.
Lush grass.
Pooled Water.
Burning and itching.
I want to flay myself to make it stop.
Mikael. He’s alive.
I’m alive.
He’s holding me.
I wouldn’t have believed this was real, but the way the cover-up tattoo is fighting against its removal from my body is anything but imagined. It is so much worse this time.
Mikael’s touch settles my aching body. I slide my hands around his back and hold onto his shoulders. His presence is now a comfort that’s easy to accept, to sink into. I take a deep breath and breathe out. Over and over until the pain subsides.
But with each breath, I feel more of Mikael through the bond that’s anchoring itself within me again. The last threads knitting together, returning our bond to full strength.
I turn my face to the sun, soaking in its warmth. It’s different now, not as hot, as punishing.
The Wastelands is now teeming with life, transforming the barren red sands into a place of beauty.
It worked.
The woman I saw near Mikael is watching us, head tilted to the side. “You are fortunate, Bryn; most do not get a second chance. Do not waste this next immortal lifetime.”
“It’s her necklace,” Mikael says softly into my ear.
Her black wings are spread wide and I immediately know who she is. She’s the one I bargained with to stop the battle.
How easily that resilient anger flares to life at the sight of her. Not all things I became over the last centuries are a bad thing. There is no other reason for her being here than involvement in the curse.
I disentangle myself from him and look at the Fate, spitting ire at her. “You bitch. Destroy your cursed necklace and save another from such a horrible experience.”
She chuckles, flexing her wings. “If you hadn’t been cursed, you would never know the truth, nor would you realize you had the power to change your fate this whole time.
We are all one decision away from a different path; the threads of fate are woven and unraveled all the time.
You chose to ignore the consequences of your bargain, instead of facing it and finding a way to change the destruction you took part in. ”
Her wings beat, and she rises off the ground. “Farewell.”
I throw a crude gesture at her as she takes off. She disappears into the sky, body wavering out of sight like she was only ever a vision.
Not wanting to ever think about them, I vow to never say, Oh Fates, again.
I rip the chain off my neck and throw it to the side, digging into the ground and burying it so it’ll be forgotten.
Mikael guides my face back to him and holds it within his hands. “I would do it all over again if this is our ending. Getting another chance to be together again.”
He brings his lips to mine, and I melt into him, kissing him back with such ferocity of love.
Claiming and owning each other with each sweep of our tongues.
It’s everything we missed over the last centuries, but with the promise of a future.
Because we’re here at the end of the trials, there’s no more curse, no impending doom or death.
He breaks our kiss and sweeps my hair behind my ears. “Do you want to go to the human lands? Find a cottage in the woods? See if the dwarf lords will give us a mountain home, near a lake? Or the orcs in their swamp lands? Anywhere, except the two places we aren’t welcome—especially Eidrfall.”
“I… I… I don’t know.” I look around as I think. I cannot go back to Varithen, or stay in Eidrfall; at least not immediately. King Thalen would not welcome me. I’ll long for Varithen, and everything I built there, but I have an opportunity to change my life.
To start again.
I stare at the female vampire lying on the ground, Mikael’s sword still sticking out of her chest. Getting up, I walk over to her body that’s slowly being absorbed into the ground, reclaimed for nourishment. I remove Mikael’s necklace from her pocket and pull out his blade.
I fold my fingers over the cool red stone. My lungs expand and collapse with each thought of my future.
Our future.
Mikael has an opportunity to rule over Saelithra, and he should take it. He could reforge alliances, prove to my father and King Thalen that he is nothing like Ignatus, and everything he did was for me.
When I turn around, he’s risen, standing only a few feet away. I close the distance between us and hand over his blade. He sheathes it on his back with the other one.
I look down at my closed hand, knowing this is the right path. Uncurling my fingers, I hold out my open palm, offering him the blood of Ignatus. “You should do it.”
“Ascend?” He balks, crossing his arms over his chest, eyes wide with surprise and uncertainty.
“Yes. You embody all the good and just things the title and role demands. This world deserves you.” I take his hand and drop it into his palm, curling my fingers over his.
His gaze lingers on my face until it falls and he stares at the blood-red jewel encased in the black necklace. He’s so quiet, eyes tracking the liquid that’s moving. It’s so slow I hadn’t noticed it before.
Mikael looks at me, then drops to one knee, placing his other hand on top of ours. “This world deserves you, Bryn, and I will only do it if you’ll be my queen, my equal, and rule beside me. I only want to be near you. Nothing else matters. So, I’ll ask again: will you have me?”
“So long as you give me another city to run.” I lift the corner of my mouth in a smile.
Mikael’s eyes sparkle with delight. “You can run the whole damn country, if that would please you.”
“In that case, I would love to.” I pull him up and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you for coming back; for finding me and fighting for me.”
“I would end this world for you.” He kisses my neck, then asks, “What about your father, and King Thalen?”
“We’ll figure out the future together.” I look into his eyes that now hold such promise.
“Are you sure? There is no going back after I do this.” Mikael holds my shoulders, a seriousness behind his grip and his gaze.
There’s no hesitation as I answer, “Yes.”
“Your word is my command.” Mikael crushes the jewel in his mouth, releasing the blood of the old king into his body, and completes his ascension.
I hold out my hand for him to take, smiling as he accepts it.
“Now take me home.”