Chapter 27
Lana
“Little Rebel,” Kade whispered, his voice wrapped around me along with his shadows, which were trailing down my arms.
I blinked, trying to wake up. My body felt like a thousand pounds. After dealing with Andras and releasing all of the vengeance I’d been holding on to for so many years, the adrenaline had faded. My mind immediately turned to Corbin, another loss I’d carry forever.
Once I’d made it outside my chamber doors, my knees gave out and Kade carried me to my bed. I didn’t even remember falling asleep.
The dim light of the setting sun illuminated my bedroom chambers. “How long was I asleep?” I asked, stretching my arms above my head as I tried to move despite how heavy everything weighed on me.
Kade wrapped his arm around my waist, turning me to face him. His soft smile grew as he looked me over. “A few hours. You needed to rest.”
My lip trembled as Kade looked at me like I was something precious. “Andras is dead, so why don’t I feel better?”
His blood would be on my hands forever, and while the world would be a better place without him, I couldn’t describe the strange mix of emotions flooding my body.
Kade pulled me closer, and I let my emotions take over, crying into his chest. He let them flow, running his hands over the back of my head, massaging my neck.
“It feels better for a brief moment, but people like that—their deaths don’t magically erase the pain they’ve inflicted.
We have to do that part ourselves. We have to be stronger than the scars they left behind. ”
My head nuzzled into his side, letting his comforting presence soothe our bond and my heart. This pulsing light inside of me containing Kade’s soul alongside my own thrummed with contentment until I could breathe again.
“Thank you for helping me destroy him.”
Kade lifted my chin, kissing my lips gently. “I promised you he would be dead when you were ready.”
A knock sounded from the main entryway.
“It’s Storm,” Kade advised, rising from the bed and heading out of my bedroom.
A moment later he returned, Storm trailing behind.
Adjusting the pillows on the bed allowed me to sit up as Kade crawled over back to his spot.
He has a spot. I smiled briefly at how normal it all felt. Kade had a place that was his in my bed.
“How are you, Lana?” Storm asked, approaching my other side. He laid his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
“I’ll be all right. You?”
He nodded once.
I noticed a small satchel in his hands and inclined my head toward it. “What’s that?”
He cleared his throat. “We spoke once about you receiving your warrior markings.”
My lips parted as my gaze jumped to the tattoos on his arm. I remembered how beautiful I thought they were when I first noticed them. Back when he told me their meaning—that Mysthaven Guardians get them after their first kill to remind them that, even when justified, taking a life leaves a mark.
“I thought if you were ready, you’d allow me to perform it,” he added.
“He’s done all of ours,” Kade said from my side, running a hand down my arm in comfort.
“Only if you want them,” Storm reassured. “The choice is yours.”
I smiled at him but hesitated, thinking about what the sentiment meant to me now. I’d killed an untold number of dark ones as well as many of the king’s men inside his study before Thames was released.
That list now included Casimir and Andras. The thought of having those deaths marked on more than just my conscience made me pause.
“If I may.” Storm apparently sensed my reluctance and sat on the side of my bed. “I had an idea.”
Glancing up at him, I met his gaze.
“Our tradition started a long time ago, in a land where brutality reigned. It made sense for us in Mysthaven because many times we had to dig deep to hold on to our humanity, especially when the dark ones spread and Dargan’s commands became more vile.
” Storm unzipped the pouch, letting me see inside to a pot of black ink and some sharpened tools.
“You’ve never succumbed to your own version of the darkness within, even with what you’ve endured, Lana.
I wonder if you might start a new tradition.
One where we honor those you fight for. Your marking can remind you of your strength.
The cost of creating the world you’ll rule, even if it’s for the better. ”
My heart beat faster as I thought about Storm’s idea. The beautiful meaning would allow me to honor the tradition of my friends while making it something of my own too.
“I—” Reaching forward, I gripped Storm’s arm. “I would love that. Thank you.”
He bowed his head and rose. “I can set up everything here.”
Kade tugged on my arm, pulling me toward him so he could cup my face. He kissed my lips, then rose. He didn’t say anything, but it didn’t matter. I felt his pride and his love for me. His shadows lingered by my side as he ushered me up off the other side of the bed.
He straightened the sheets to give Storm a flat space to work. “Where would you like it?”
I bit my lip, thinking for a moment. “My back?”
He nodded and flipped two pillows around, moving me to the edge of the bed. “Lie here on your stomach.”
I reached over to the nightstand, grabbing the journal so I could continue reading while he worked. I supported the book in front of me with a throw pillow. Kade’s shadows surrounded me as I removed my shirt before laying on the bed.
As Storm continued preparing his tools, Kade sat in my reading chair nestled against the wall, just a few feet away.
I opened the journal and found my spot. The first mention of Apollo.
I would understand everything there was to know about this blade gifted to me from a line of queens. I glanced at Kade, earning a smile.
“This will hurt, but I’ll make it as quick as I can,” Storm offered reassuringly.
“I can handle pain.”
Kade leaned forward, brushing my cheek gently, as Storm began to work.
As the instrument touched my skin, a piercing sting radiated across my back, but after a few minutes, it numbed.
My magic kicked into gear and gave me a reprieve from the initial shock of the needle’s touch.
While the discomfort lingered, I swallowed it, letting the pain remind me of those who’d died for this cause.
Taking a deep breath, my focus returned to the journal.
The entry was from Queen Daniella, Evelyn’s daughter and my great-great-grandmother.
Too many of my family’s line had met early deaths.
Over the thousand-year time period between Evelyn and me, there were four women.
All with powerful magic and all pouring their beautiful magic into the weapon I now carried.
How Evelyn continued our line without her mate made my stomach turn though. I didn’t know if I could have done it.
From the hand of Queen Daniella:
One of the merchants in town for the Festival of Blessings gathered a crowd today in the market. He spoke about an orb with the ability to hold a water wielder’s magic inside of it until the user required it.
The idea is fascinating that magic can be stored.
Mother mentioned that a sorceress created something similar for Jasper in order to trap Thames. She used the same concept to put her magic into her dagger.
I still can’t believe what the sorceress went through. If the words weren’t written and recorded here, I would never have known of her bravery or of the sacrifice she made for our kingdom. I don’t know if I will be able to make choices so selfless.
Right now, things are in order. Though there have been one or two reports of Fae going mad with an infection, it’s been handled easily. Brookmere is thriving. We recently expanded to a new city, Broham, out on the coast.
But with the words of my mother’s prophecy—that Thames could only be contained until a stronger power came along to defeat him—I know this bliss and safety will not remain.
The merchant’s idea sparked one of my own. A Fae with unique magic to banish darkness must be coming. She will be strong, no doubt, but what if we could help her? What if she not only fights with her power, and my mother’s, but with the power of generations to come?
I plan to seek out the merchant tomorrow during the festival. My mother gave everything to Brookmere, and to Atheria, as we were once called. If I can find a way to contribute, I will do it too.
I ran my fingers over the ink marking the page. So many women in this line had worked together to lead us to this moment. Flipping the page, I smiled at Daniella’s obvious tenacity. Sure enough another entry referenced the day after the festival.
From the hand of Queen Daniella:
Fates above, I’ve got it. The merchant—quite handsome a Fae, actually—wants to visit me again, but that’s beside the matter at hand. The merchant said he merely poured his power into an object of his choosing. He told me to think of it as if I was channeling healing power toward a wound.
The object would be the conduit, maintaining the power within it until I wanted to use it. He called the water out of the orb he had and then showed me how he put it back in. It’s truly a remarkable feat.
When I returned to my chambers, I noticed my mother’s dagger on the nightstand where I always left it.
I may not have a sorceress to guide me, but the way the merchant explained it to me should work.
Wouldn’t her own dagger make a wonderful conduit for each generation to store some power for the one who will defeat evil for good?
I’m going to try it.
I continued reading as the time ticked by.
Hours passed into the night while Storm worked diligently.
Kade flipped through a book he’d pulled from my nightstand.
Every few minutes he’d stroke a tendril of shadows down my arm or touch my face gently, like he was reminding himself I was still here, but he didn’t interrupt my reading.
A few entries later.
From the hand of Queen Daniella: