Chapter 64
Sixty-Four
LUCCA
Ican’t breathe or move as I stare at Vivi levitating from the ground, her white dress smeared in blood from the waist down. Her blue eyes glow white, and her hair dances violently with the wind around her face. She’s a force of nature, powerful and beautiful.
The battle still rages on, but it seems the wards Queen Maewe had put in place are down because I can sense King Ruel’s shadowbeasts instilling terror in everyone.
Still crackling with power, Vivi flies down the hill toward the battlefield to end the bloodshed. She has the power of the land now. I can see it as well as feel it in my bones. King Ruel’s insane plan worked.
The crying of a baby breaks me from the trance. My baby. Adrian’s attention is also transfixed on Vivi when I reach for my daughter. He blinks fast, at first holding her tight before he realizes it’s me trying to take the baby from his arms.
Undiluted joy fills my heart as I take in the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. She stops crying and stares right back at me as if she knows I’m her dad. Her eyes are sapphire blue like Vivi’s.
Someone shrieks, and I turn in time to see Queen Maewe racing toward us so fast and disjointedly, she looks like a demon, and the spear she already threw in my direction. It’s going to hit me and the baby, but Adrian steps in front of us and acts as a shield.
He gasps, staggering back, but somehow he’s able to angle his body so he doesn’t collide with me and my daughter. Instead, he falls against the tree and slides down slowly, clutching the spear that’s protruding from his chest. My heart sinks. It’s a fatal wound.
“No!” Uncle Raphael races toward Queen Maewe, and as she turns, he brings his sword down, cleaving her head off in one fell swoop.
Her headless body rolls down the hill, but he doesn’t stop moving until he reaches Adrian, dropping to his knees. His face is contorted in agony as he touches the man’s face. “Adrian, please. You can’t leave me. I just got you back.”
Blood spills from Adrian’s lips as he attempts to talk. “I never wanted to leave you.”
My uncle kisses Adrian’s bloodied lips, then says, “I can change you. Please let me.”
Adrian shakes his head. “I love you.” Then he closes his eyes and stops breathing.
A ragged cry comes from deep in Uncle Raphael’s throat as he pulls Adrian to him, hiding his face in the crook of Adrian’s neck.
My heart breaks for them. I’d be destroyed too if I lost Vivi.
Our daughter, perhaps sensing my uncle’s despair, cries as well.
Tears of sadness and rage run down my cheeks.
I can’t believe that odious bitch was able to take another loved one from my uncle before her demise.
Vivi returns to us, accompanied by her father and Rikkon. Her eyes are back to normal, but she feels different to me, and yet the same. “Adrian… no.”
Uncle Raphael turns to her. “You can help him. Please.”
She drops to her knees next to Adrian and curls her fingers around the spear sticking out of his chest. The weapon disintegrates, and a memory stirs in my head.
I’ve seen her do something like that before.
A second later, I remember when. Karl and I had been ambushed in the forest by hunters.
He’d been hit by an arrow laced with wolfsbane when Vivi appeared and saved us.
She did the same thing to the arrow lodged in Karl’s legs.
I thought I had dreamed that, but it did happen.
I return to the here and now and watch her press her palm over the gaping wound in Adrian’s chest. Her hand glows, the light spreading rapidly until it’s covering his body completely. A moment later, his heart restarts, and he opens his eyes, blinking fast.
“Adrian… you came back.” Uncle Raphael hugs him.
The man looks stunned for a second, but then he hugs my uncle back, closing his eyes. “For you… always.”
Vivi stands up and turns toward me, her eyes dropping to our daughter in my arms. “How is she?”
“Safe and perfect, my love.” I transfer our baby to Vivi’s arms, then throw my arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to me.
Our daughter stares wide-eyed at Vivi, then smiles when Vivi holds her tiny hand. “You’re the most beautiful, precious little girl I’ve ever seen.”
Rikkon and King Ruel approach.
“She’s gorgeous, Vivi,” Rikkon says. “Do you already have a name?”
Vivi looks at me, and her smile broadens. “Yes, her name is Natalia.”
My heart seems to burst with emotion. We never discussed names, but the fact that Vivi wants to name her after my mother has me crying once again. I kiss the side of her head, then look at our baby girl. “Hi, Natalia.”
“It’s a beautiful name, Vryenn,” King Ruel says.
“It’s ‘Her Majesty’ now.” Queen Merissa comes up the hill, looking a bit worse for wear but alive.
Vivi’s father clenches his jaw hard but then nods. “Yes. Vryenn is the new queen of Aquila.”
“Long live the queen,” Rikkon says with the broadest smile.
I glance at Vivi. Like me, she never wanted to reign. “How do you feel about that, my love?”
“I don’t know. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I just want to go home now.”
“You mean the palace at Mistral, right?” Queen Merissa cuts in.
Vivi levels the female with a cold stare. “No. My real home. I’m going back to Salem.”