Chapter 18
Iyana
A sharp pang reverberated through her chest, and as she peered across the dead landscape surrounding her, she saw herself in Altair’s arms. He was kissing her, but she struggled against his hold.
Iyana’s hand clutched at his chest as she tried to free herself from his grip.
Then she was up and running towards Altair and the version of herself in his arms. Maybe this time she’d be fast enough.
She was at least fast enough to catch herself before her head hit the ground. Iyana looked down into her own face, watching herself go in and out of consciousness as Altair belittled and degraded her.
She was a fool for ever trusting him.
Then she leaned over her unconscious body as Altair prepared a ball of magic to finally kill her. Iyana saw a flash of red, then Kaz was leaping at Altair, and Zane was shouting, and Talon…oh, Talon. He was lying in a heap, his neck broken, his red hair spilled around his face like blood.
And she felt the tears falling from her eyes and then onto her own face, and she only wanted to wake up.
Wake up.
Wake up!
Iyana’s eyes flew open, and it took her several seconds to remember where she was. A thin sheen of sweat coated her entire body, and her chest rose and fell rapidly.
She was okay. She was alive. Talon was alive. They were in Nyr, and they were all okay.
Iyana took a moment to reflect on her nightmare—she hadn’t had one quite like that before. As though she was outside of her body, watching herself go through everything. Like she was…
Emmeric.
A soft moan sounded behind her. Iyana rolled over immediately, only to see Emmeric hyperventilating, his face scrunched together in pain. She moved a sweaty lock of hair off his forehead, and his face relaxed marginally.
“Emmeric,” she said softly. His only response was a low groaning sound. “Em!” Iyana shook him a bit this time, but he still wouldn’t wake. The moaning was getting worse—louder—and he was beginning to thrash his arms.
“Emmeric,” she tried again, but this time placed her brow onto his and focused on their bond nestled in her chest. Iyana thought of all the times Emmeric had soothed her when she was upset or scared.
She thought of all the times he’d helped her through her own nightmares; how warm she was whenever he took care of her.
Then Iyana sent those feelings, that affection, down their bond and into Emmeric’s body.
His face immediately smoothed into a serene expression, and the moaning ceased.
His hand lifted and pushed into her hair. Emmeric touched her so gently, Iyana was on the verge of crying.
“Iyana?” he asked, his voice muffled by sleep.
“You were having a nightmare.”
Emmeric’s hand was still in her hair, and he cradled her head against his bare chest. Iyana felt his heart pounding underneath his ribs—this dream had really rattled him.
“I think I was dreaming the same thing you were, Em.” She drew idle circles into his skin, and Emmeric sucked in a sharp breath. “In my dream, I could see myself. I think I was dreaming your memories.”
Emmeric nodded his head, and he tugged her in even closer, as if he needed her near simply to know she was alive.
She should pull away from him and put an end to the contact, so Em wouldn’t start to think she wanted something she didn’t.
But she knew they both needed the comfort only the other could provide, and so she wrapped her arms around him and held him just as tightly.
They stayed that way for several seconds until Emmeric spoke; his voice was raspy with the vestiges of sleep still clinging to him. “I’ve been dreaming your dreams.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what you just experienced. I’ve been seeing things from your perspective.”
“Like what?” Iyana asked.
Emmeric only shook his head.
“What have you seen, Em?” The idea of somebody else seeing her dreams terrified her. To Iyana, it felt like such a breach of privacy. Especially when her dreams hid the demons she was so desperately trying to bury.
“Azazel.”
Iyana flinched at the name. Emmeric ran one hand soothingly up and down her spine.
“And Uther. I think the bond is evolving.”
“Evolving?”
“Or advancing, I don’t know. It’s changing, though. It seems as though we’re able to see pictures, dreams, that are projected by the other one.”
Oh, shit. “Nine hells, you mean like the other day when I basically felt you show me the middle finger?”
“Yeah, I thought of it and sent it through.”
This was a lot to process in the middle of the night, especially when Emmeric sounded like he was still half-asleep.
“We can discuss it tomorrow.”
Emmeric nodded and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. He was asleep again within seconds, and Iyana wondered if he even realized he’d just done the most tender thing anyone had ever done for her.
A few nights later, as the full moon rose in the eerily dark sky, the five friends hiked through Nyr Forest towards this mystical lake of theirs. Kaz called it the ‘divine site,’ but after she explained it, it basically sounded like a magical pond.
Even at night, the air was thick and humid, and sweat rolled down Iyana’s back.
Although she’d been training with the others, she still wasn’t to where they were physically.
It seemed she’d never catch up, especially after a lifetime of avoiding anything to do with exercise.
She found it was nice to have a physical outlet when her emotions became too much, and the nightmares lessened when she was exhausted.
Her lungs screamed for air as she followed behind, listening to them chat and laugh with each other. If she were to even attempt a laugh, Iyana thought her body would probably give out on her. Either that or she would vomit.
When they finally reached their destination, Iyana wanted to collapse to the ground, but the sight before her stopped her in her tracks.
The large pond was a perfect circle, outlined by the tall trees of the jungle.
The moon was only beginning to peek over the canopy, casting its reflection onto the smooth water.
There was only the sound of water trickling softly through rocks—no birds cawing, no leaves rustling, no bugs chirping.
But, unlike the Dead Lands, this silence brought a sense of serenity instead of dread.
Even nature worshiped this place and was loath to disturb it.
“Now what?” she whispered, and even that sounded too loud—too sacrilegious—in this space.
“We wait,” Kaz replied, also whispering.
Several hours of silence later, when the moon hung directly above the pool of water—and Iyana was on the verge of falling asleep—the pond began to glow.
It became brighter and brighter until the light overtook that of the moon.
The center of the pond bubbled, and a woman emerged from the water.
She had long, silver hair that shimmered in the moon’s glow, piercing silver eyes, and pale skin.
Once her entire petite figure was above the surface, she walked towards them on the water, leaving no ripples in her wake. Iyana could sense her power, even from a distance. She remembered a similar experience when she’d spoken with Altea in the Everlands.
This was Yrza—Goddess of the Moon and daughter to Athos, God of Darkness, and Anja, Goddess of Night.
Everyone other than Kaz took an instinctual step backwards, and fire tingled in Iyana’s fingertips, her magic ready if they needed to fight their way out.
Yrza reached the edge of the pond and continued walking until she stood directly in front of Kaz. Her friend seemed rooted in place, completely in awe of the deity in front of her. Then Yrza did something Iyana didn’t know goddesses were capable of.
She smiled.
“Oh, Gana,” Yrza said, her voice wispy and ethereal. “You’re even more beautiful in person.” She raised a hand and stroked Kaz’s cheek. The shifter didn’t appear to be breathing.
“My lady…” Kaz whispered.
Yrza frowned, a furrow forming between her silver eyebrows. “You don’t remember me.”
“What?” Blinking at the goddess, Kaz recovered from her reverie. “What do you mean?”
“Zoara Kazumi Zaya Tsenira, Crown Princess of Nyr…you are Gana, Goddess of Nature, reborn, and the great love of my immortal life.”
Iyana’s magic fizzled out. They all stood, mouths agape, staring at their friend.
Talon was the first to recover. “I’m sorry, what?” His gaze darted between the two women. “How?”
“You died,” Yrza said sadly. Her hand drifted from Kaz’s cheek down to her chest, where it rested atop her heart. “Around a hundred years ago, and I have been waiting for you ever since.”
“Gods can die?” Zane asked. “What happened?”
“A tale for another time, perhaps. You called me here for a purpose, and once the moon leaves the water, I must go.”
Iyana glanced up at the full moon and noticed it had inched closer to the opposite side of the pond. When she looked back towards Yrza, the goddess’s full attention was on Iyana. Her head cocked slightly to the side as she appraised the Aztia. Iyana stood still, afraid to move.
“The answer to your question, Aztia, is yes,” Yrza said. Iyana’s stomach dropped, and suddenly the urge to vomit increased.
Emmeric glanced between them. “What question?”
“She is wondering if she is needed to defeat the stars, or if others could achieve it without her. But the Aztia is the only one capable of banishing them. Your victory is not assured, however much I’d like to tell you otherwise.”
That was not what Iyana wanted to hear. Although it made her feel like a coward, she was hoping Yrza would tell her that Zane would be able to win this war on his own without her help. She wanted to stay in Nyr where it was safe.
Yrza’s gaze was sympathetic as she continued to stare at Iyana.
“You could not stay here forever, Iyana. Nyr’s wards are old, and as the magic of Arinem dies, so do they.
” This was another shocking revelation. Iyana had thought the wards surrounding the kingdom were strong and steady.
It continuously felt like the rug was being yanked out from underneath her feet, and it was impossible for Iyana to gain her balance.
She was beginning to feel hopeless—like nothing she did was ever going to be enough.
Like she was never going to live a normal life.
“Some of the answers you seek can be found in Istoria.”
The goddess hadn’t stopped touching Kaz during their conversation, and now she turned back to her. “My love…your place right now is with your friends, but I will see you soon.”
“Wait,” Zane interjected. “Please.” Yrza turned her gaze to him, then glanced up at the moon, which had almost crossed the entire pond. “I know it won’t make a difference in this war, but I need to know—”
“Yes, young emperor, Uther Holygazer was your true father. But you are more than he could have ever hoped to be, and if you survive this war, your reign will bring strength and prosperity to your empire.”
A soft glow surrounded Yrza then, and a quick glance at the moon showed only a small portion of it was still reflected in the lake. Without another word, the goddess pulled Kaz close and kissed her deeply. Kaz hesitated for less than a second, then was kissing Yrza back fiercely, clinging to her.
She stumbled forward a step when Yrza disappeared, pressing her fingers to her lips like she could keep the kiss there for just a moment longer.
“Well, then,” Talon started, “now what?”
“Let’s get back to the palace first,” Zane said. “We should all get some sleep and discuss this in the morning.”
Everyone nodded their silent agreement, and they began the trek back through the jungle.