Chapter Sixteen #5
“Calli, darling?”
I shook myself, coming to. “Sorry, Mama. I was just saying that despite how much of a raging jackass he can be, he’s my soulmate.” A small smile danced on my lips. “I know that more than ever now.”
She hummed. “I admit I understand the appeal. I loved my fair share of jackasses.”
“Wait, what? Asses? As in more than one? But I thought you said Papa was your true love.”
“He was my one true love and mate, but it took me hundreds of years to see that. All the while your father was patient, caring, supportive, and yes, a bit of a jackass too.” I sensed her rolling her eyes behind her lids.
“He loved telling me that I could deny it all I wanted, but one day we’d end up together.
Want to know what the bastard said after I told him I loved him for the first time?
I told you so.” She snorted. “With the biggest smirk on his face too. I almost followed the confession with a punch to his throat.”
I giggled.
“Even though he could infuriate me like nothing else, what I wouldn’t give to go back and tell him I loved him sooner. It’s the biggest regret of my life that I wasted hundreds of years not feeling as blissfully happy and loved as he made me.
“Don’t make my mistake,” she whispered. “Don’t spend a single day being less happy than you could be. Meya gave blessings to the bugs and birds. She has even more wonder and adventure in store for you.”
“Oh, Mama...” I fell on her other side, clutching her tight and blubbing against her shoulder.
It was a while before my tears stopped, but that was okay. They weren’t all sad tears. Some were hopeful for the promise of happiness to come with the man who made me want to punch him in the throat and kiss him until I couldn’t breathe—all in the same measure.
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slow—hugging her tighter. “You know, I was actually thinking of you and Papa when I was trying to get Alisdair to fall in love with me. Will you tell me more stories about him? What was it, in the end, that changed everything for you two?”
She didn’t reply.
“Mama? Are you asleep?” I peeked over her shoulder, and froze. “Mama? Are you okay? Mama?”
I shook her gently, then harder. She flopped in my grasp—eyes closed shut.
“Mama!”
Jerking in surprise, Savia started bawling.
I grabbed my baby sister and scrambled off the bed. Feet tangling, I fell hard on my butt and kept going, crawling back until I hit the wall. Clamping my hand over my mouth, I screamed—nails piercing my cheek smothering my cries.
I thought I knew pain. I suffered unbearable agony trying to force the magic through the bindings around my soul—shredding myself from the inside. What I wouldn’t give if it only hurt that much.
Tucked in that corner alone with my crying sister, my smothered wails leaked through my tear-soaked fingers. I cried and cried until there was nothing left in me, then evermore I cried.
“Calli?” Knock-knock. “Is everything okay? Does Savia need a bottle?”
I sucked in hard, shuddering breaths—roughly wiping my face.
“Calli, open up. I’ve got Mama’s medicine.”
By the time I got to my feet and crossed to the side table, my tears were gone.
I blew out the candles, plunging the room in darkness, and opened the door. Meli tried to come in and pulled up short when I held out Savia, keeping my red, puffy face cloaked in the shadows.
“She is hungry,” I croaked. “Would you mind feeding her? I’ll give Mama her medicine.”
“Oh, but—” She tried to peer around the baby. “I was hoping to spend some time with Mama. Gisela and Jaclan are doing their lessons now, so I can spend the rest of the day with her until I start supper.”
I squeezed my eyes shut as a wave of sorrow drowned me. “How about a trade? You feed Savia now, and I’ll cook supper, so you have more time sitting with her.”
“Hmm. Okay,” Meliora said—so light. So unaware. “That’s a fair trade. Come here, baby.” She took our fussy sister and held her close, dropping a kiss on her crown. “Be back soon, Mama.”
Only when she descended the stairs did I shut the door, resting my forehead upon it. Of course I couldn’t hide the tragedy that just cratered the soul of our family. I simply... wanted her to be as happy as she was for a little while longer.
My feet carried me away, bringing me to her side. Carefully, lovingly, I rested her on her back, crossed her arms, and tucked her in tight. “I love you, Mama,” I whispered. “I already miss you more than there are stars in the sky.
“I promise, I’ll take care of them. It won’t be right away. It won’t even be soon, but one day you’ll look down from the Meadows, and you’ll see us all as you were—blissfully happy and loved.” She swam in my vision. “Good—”
“Ahh!”
I jolted upright. “What was—?”
“Get off me! Let me go!”
I took off, bursting out of the room and racing down the stairs. “Meli? Meli!”
He stood in the entrance—so still and silent, I almost didn’t register him as a threat until I saw the coudarian crystal sharpened into a blade... pressed to her throat.
I skidded to a halt. Grabbing the banister saved my feet flying out from under me and dropping me on the steps.
“Okay,” I said slowly. Calmly. “Let’s all just stop and take a breath. You don’t want to hurt her.”
His lips peeled back from his teeth, snarl bleeding through.
“Put down the crystal.”
“You don’t give the orders anymore,” Kirwan hissed. “Not without a stolen princess’s face. How did you do it? Huh!?” He clamped harder on a struggling Meli, making her cry out. “Was it a trick from the beginning? All of it a plot to bring about my downfall!”
“Don’t be absurd, you narcissistic kakka!” I shouted back just as loud. “Not everything is about you— Actually, nothing I do is for or about you! I saved my mother and sister, and should your downfall have come about as a result...” I shrugged, my smirk nasty. “That was just a happy accident.”
“Lies. Whenever that disgusting, siren’s mouth opens, nothing but lies and destruction falls out.” Kirwan’s eyes were bright with rage. “It’s the greatest regret of my life that I didn’t run you through with my sword the first time I laid eyes on you.”
I barely heard a word the bastard said. My attention was fixed on Meliora and the weapon at her throat. A pinprick of blood smeared on her neck where it cut her.
“Where are the children?” I mouthed to her.
“Safe.”
“Can you break free? Stomp his foot, then—”
“What are you two doing!” Kirwan hauled her screaming out of the entrance, ducking into the side hall.
“Hey,” I cried, chasing after them. “What do you want! Why can’t you leave us alone?”
Kirwan stumbled against the wall, fighting to hang on to his struggling captive.
He wrenched her head to the side so she couldn’t communicate with me anymore.
“What do I want?! You destroyed everything,” he roared.
“The king stripped me of my land, home, and title. He seized my vault. He sentenced me to execution for treason! I have nothing because of you!”
I couldn’t have glared at him with less sympathy if I tried. “And what, Kirwan? Threatening your own daughter will get all of that back? Come now, you’re smarter than this. You somehow managed to get away from the palace guards. Stop wasting time, let her go, and make your escape from Lyrica.”
He smiled, and the shiver it sent up my spine stood my neck hairs on end.
“I’m not going anywhere, bitch, because I’m not threatening my daughter. I’m threatening your sister.” His grin widened. “Here’s how things stand, I didn’t get away from the palace guards, they were murdered. Slaughtered. Undoubtedly your doing.”
My doing? What was this madman talking about!
“They left the bodies next to my cell, so I took the keys and escaped. But not to save myself. I tried to stop them! Save my people, but it was too late for anyone else. Your dogs have overrun the palace and the streets, but that’s fine,” he hissed, talking mostly to himself.
“I can make it right. I’ll be Lyrica’s savior, her leader, and—thanks to you giving me such a brilliant idea—her king. ”
I goggled at him. “What are you ranting about? You’re insane!”
“Silence! For once in your life, keep your worthless mouth closed!”
“Ahh!” Meliora screamed as the crystal cut deeper. Blood flowed freely down her neck.
Balled fists shaking, I bit hard on my lip—falling silent.
Kirwan laughed. “Finally. So this is what it takes to keep your tongue in your head? Just like I knew it would.” He sobered quickly.
“Now listen up. You’re going to get every jewel, every chalice, every bit of your stolen loot, put them in sacks, and bring them to me.
I’ll need coin to recruit the soldiers needed to take back Lyrica.
“And I’ll need you.”
My forehead crumpled but I didn’t speak, gazing at Meli. His mind has snapped. How do I get my sister away from him?
“When the time comes, you’ll recant every one of your lies and accusations. Admitting that you impersonated the princess and recruited faeriken mercenaries to help sell your lies. No doubt using your pussy to addle them under your sway.”
It was entirely certain he didn’t need to add that last comment. But leave it to Kirwan to be vile to the end.
“Go,” he ordered. “Get the coin, and get your sister.”
I stilled. “Excuse me?”
“Not the infant, I’ve no patience for those. Get the curly-haired blonde brat. Now,” he bellowed when I didn’t move.
“No.”
He arched a brow. “You either take one sister with you, or I slit this one’s neck right here on the carpet.”
I breathed hard, hands clutching the other behind my back. “You don’t have to do this,” I rushed, mind spinning. “I’ll get the jewels and go with you quietly. Just leave my faywens alone.”
“Go with me quietly? Don’t make me laugh,” he gritted. “Nothing and no one keeps you in line, except these brats. Last chance, get the girl, or I’ll kill—”
I slipped the dagger from my shift and threw—aiming right for his vile mouth.