Chapter 72
Emmeric
He had wanted to stare at Iyana for as long as he could before the darkness took him, but the gentle rushing of a river made Emmeric feel at peace about dying. His only regret was that he wouldn’t be there for Iyana. That they hadn’t had enough time together.
But she had done it. She had banished the stars and was beautiful while doing it. Covered in mud and blood, a murderous expression on her face—she was breathtaking. So at least Emmeric could die knowing she was safe. Talon had promised to look out for her, and that would have to be enough.
The sounds of the river became louder until the darkness ebbed and he could see the edges of a beautiful green meadow.
A bright silver butterfly flitted around him before alighting on his tunic.
Emmeric smiled down at the pretty creature flapping its wings lazily.
With a gentle finger, Emmeric lifted the butterfly so he could inspect it more closely.
It was like none he’d ever seen. Metallic silver with a sparkle when turned into the light.
Absolutely gorgeous. It was strange, but it brought Emmeric a certain amount of peace.
Another butterfly joined the first. Then another, and another. More flocked to him until Emmeric was completely covered in swirling and diving butterflies. The beating of their wings was the only thing he heard, and he was drowning in a sea of silver.
The meadow and the river both disappeared. Everything was silver, and his body felt so hot.
As the tempest of butterflies dissipated, Emmeric was again left in the dark. There was a weight upon his chest, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Desperate whispers reached his ears.
“Just come back. Please, come back. I can’t do this without you, and I’ve only just found you.
Please, Em, come back. I love you so much.
” The words were punctuated by sobs. Blood and death were the first smells he registered, but underneath it all was a faint scent of lavender and coconut, and Emmeric knew he was home.
Because home was wherever Iyana was.
“Such pretty words, Mouse,” he groaned without opening his eyes. “Are they all for me?”
“Emmeric,” she gasped. The weight on his chest increased as she shifted closer to him. But he only grinned and hugged her tightly, finally blinking open his eyelids.
Iyana hovered above him, tears streaming down her face and onto his skin. A guarded hope shone in her expression.
“Are you really here?” Iyana whispered.
“I’m here.” Emmeric wiped the drops away from her cheeks. “Did you think you could be rid of me that easily?”
Iyana gave him a watery smile, then crashed her lips against his. Emmeric wound his fingers into her hair, undoing her plait, and held her close. Phaedros take him, he’d never get enough of this woman.
When they finally slowed, Emmeric murmured against her lips, “Marry me.”
His heart soared when Iyana nodded and more of her tears overflowed.
“I will, Em. I’ll marry you.”
“Gods, I love you so much.” Emmeric pulled her to him again, unbelieving that she had agreed to be his wife.
Somebody cleared their throat, and Emmeric looked up into the eyes of his best friend.
His brother. Iyana blushed and scrambled off of him.
Talon held out his hand and Emmeric grabbed it, allowing Tal to haul him to his feet.
He stretched out his limbs and glanced down at his torn tunic.
The skin there was completely healed, and the only evidence that he’d been injured at all was the dried blood.
Iyana fretted over him, her hands flying over his abdomen and his back to make sure he was fine.
“You’re really okay, old man?” Talon asked.
Emmeric nodded. “Just a little sore. Almost like I went a little too hard in sparring.”
He felt Iyana’s sigh through their bond. The sensation of his bond fraying inside him was almost worse than being stabbed. It was a relief to have it back and fully intact.
I’m here, Mouse.
Iyana smiled brightly and held his hand, interlacing their fingers. She looked over at their friends, and her eyes widened.
“Oh gods, I’m so sorry. Let me heal you.”
He could tell she didn’t have much of her reserves left, having given most of it to heal him, so Emmeric drew from the latent magic he could still feel in the trees and the ground and sent it to her.
It wasn’t as much as before, with the stars, a goddess, and a fucking dragon to take from, but it was enough for her to heal the others.
While she was doing that, Emmeric peered over the battlefield.
Lanterns were being lit as night descended fully, but the darkness couldn’t hide the sheer number of bodies and blood that littered the ground.
People were starting to gather the dead and put them into a pyre.
Any survivors or wounded were shepherded back to their camp. Iyana followed his gaze.
“I should go help,” she said.
“We’ll all go,” said Zane.
Emmeric helped Iyana as she healed their army—those that could be healed.
For the ones too far gone, she eased their pain as they transitioned into the Everlands.
He did anything she asked of him, whether that be holding open a wound so she could cleanse it, mixing a potion, or simply fetching hot water.
The others had all gone their own way to help where they could.
It was close to dawn when Emmeric finally said it was enough and forced Iyana back to their tent.
She protested the whole way, saying she still had more to do, but she was exhausted and swaying on her feet.
Besides, some of the healers from the university had arrived, and their army was in more than capable hands.
He had asked someone in passing to make sure the Aztia had a hot bath ready, and they were happy to oblige.
Emmeric peeled her soiled clothing off and helped her into the tub but shushed her when she tried to insist that she was perfectly capable of bathing herself. Iyana had saved all of their lives and then spent the last several hours taking care of others. It was his turn to take care of her.
He took his time to wash the grime off her body and out of her hair until she no longer smelled of death.
Wrapping her in a towel, Emmeric then dressed her in one of his tunics and bundled her into their shared bedroll.
Once he had taken his own bath, he climbed in behind her and gathered her into his arms. Her sleepy sigh of contentment warmed his whole body.
It was difficult to believe that he was even alive to bask in her presence. Emmeric had fully expected to die once he saw the tip of Hadar’s sword poking out of him. He should have known better than to doubt this woman, though. Impossible feats seemed to be her specialty.
The next morning, they slept well past noon.
After they had eaten enough food for at least six people, they went to search for the others.
They learned quickly that Zane and Talon had gone into Athusia so he could usher in control now that the stars were gone.
And they were directed to another tent when they asked after Kaz.
Ducking into the tent, they found Yrza was there with an arm wrapped around Kaz’s waist, and her brother Zahar was sitting in a corner, staring at his hands. A sense of dread washed over them both.
“Where is Sekhan?” Iyana asked, a hint of panic in her voice.
Kaz only shook her head, then began sobbing. Yrza tucked her in tighter.
“No,” whispered Iyana. She looked at Zahar.
“He didn’t make it,” the prince said, his normal aloof personality turned into numbness. “It was towards the end. He was surrounded, and I couldn’t get to him…”
The loss hit them all hard. While Emmeric didn’t know Kaz’s family well, he had liked the younger prince. They had sparred and drank together in Nyr. He was always smiling and telling them a fun story of growing up with Kaz. Plus, Em hated seeing the pain etched onto his friend’s face.
“Oh, Kaz,” Iyana said, rushing to her friend to embrace her. “If I had been a little faster—”
“It’s not your fault, Iyana,” Kaz said. “I should have been there. I didn’t even know until last night after we got back.” Tears continued to fall from her sad, dark eyes. “Now I have to go home and tell Mother and Father.”
Yrza rubbed soothing circles on her back. “You will get through this, my love.”
“It feels like part of my soul is gone.”
There was nothing they could do but sit in their grief with them. Iyana kept hold of Kaz’s hand, and although Emmeric wasn’t close to Zahar, he sat near him as a steady presence.
After awhile, Iyana was the one to break the silence. “I know it’s not the best time, but I thought you would both want to know that I saw Elena.”
Yrza sat up a little straighter. “You saw Elena? Where?”
“There was a little woman made of fire that I thought was a simple embodiment of my magic. She had been missing since Altair stole everything in the Dead Lands, but when I called for help yesterday, she showed up. I could see her face clearly and knew it was Elena.”
“I don’t understand,” Kaz said. “Where is she? Where has she been?”
Iyana shrugged. “I tried to ask her. She said she could hear me from across the realms.”
The two goddesses—one dark and one light—glanced at each other.
“I will need to search for my sister,” Yrza said hesitantly. “And Khollo should not be allowed to roam freely, either. I can look for them both simultaneously.”
“I’ll come with you,” Kaz said immediately.
Zahar glanced up from his hands at his sister, frowning. “What about your duties at home?”
Kaz sighed and walked to her brother before kneeling at his feet. She took his hands into her own trembling ones. “Zahar, brother, I am formally abdicating the throne to you.”
“What?” he whispered.
“We both know that you’re better suited to the job. It wasn’t something I ever wanted for myself, and I only get it because I was first born?” She shook her head. “That’s not right. I know you have Nyr’s best interests at heart, and you’ll make a much better ruler than I ever would.”
“Kaz, I–I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you accept?”
Zahar continued to stare at her, mouth slightly agape, as if he thought she was going to tell him she was kidding at any second. “I accept,” he finally choked out. Kaz lay her brow against her brother’s hands in a bow, and just like that, there was a new Crown Prince of Nyr.
A knock at the entrance of the tent had them all swiveling towards the entrance. Someone from Athusa’s army stood there. Emmeric didn’t recognize him.
“Sorry to interrupt, but the emperor has requested your presence at the castle. He asked for all of you.”