Chapter 17 #2
Davina’s head swiveled from Auraelia to the bloody mess where Xander once was, and when she turned back, she loosed a blood-curdling scream as she charged forward.
But Auraelia was ready.
Charged with rage and the need for vengeance, she released the hold she had on her magic. Wind and rain assaulted Davina from all sides while the quaking ground threw her off balance—but still, she persisted, fighting through everything Auraelia threw her way.
With her lightning once again swirling in the palm of her hand, Auraelia took aim as time seemed to slow to a crawl.
Red.
All she could see was red.
Crimson like the blood that poured from her brother’s face.
Hatred and rage led the charge in her need for retribution against the person who had irrevocably altered her life. For the one who facilitated the murder of her mother and threatened to destroy all that she loved. Who was trying to destroy the one she loved.
Daemon.
One thought of him, and the red clouds began to part, leaving room for clarity and her earlier words to shine through. I don’t want to be like her.
Taking a deep breath, Auraelia spooled some of her magic back into her veins.
I’m not a murderer, but I will fight for what I love.
Davina’s magic slammed into Auraelia, ice filling her veins and stealing the breath from her lungs, her assault faltering as her muscles turned rigid.
No, this can’t be happening.
Auraelia reached deep within her well of power. Let the fire in her veins melt away the ice that was determined to take root. When Davina was only an arm’s length away, she took her shot. Lunging forward, she gripped her by the arms and let her lightning course through Davina’s veins.
Her eyes shot wide with a mix of fear and anger, her mouth left gaping as Auraelia’s magic assaulted her system.
“I said, get out of my court. And if I ever see you again, it will not be my blood that is being washed away in the rain.”
Davina staggered backward as Auraelia released her grip, her nostrils flaring in her rage. But when she tried to lift her arm toward Auraelia, she cried out in pain. Burns the shape of Auraelia’s hands, with trails of what looked like lightning streaking out from them, marked each of her arms.
There was a small part of her that was sorry for the burns she’d inflicted; she’d never been the one to intentionally hurt someone. But as she watched the blood slowly seep from Davina’s ears, just like they had Xander’s, that small part died.
“Leave, Davina. I won’t tell you again.”
Cringing, Davina reached into her tunic and pulled out a clear crystal attached to a chain. One that looked strikingly familiar to the one stowed away in a box in her chambers.
She watched as Davina gripped the stone in her hand, then disappeared into a flurry of snow.
Fucking Caius.
After a few deep breaths to calm her pounding heart, Auraelia pulled back what remained of her magic. But as the clouds began to disperse, and the clear blue winter sky was once more overhead, the devastation that Davina had brought to Lyndaria was glaring.
Every step she took through the city made her want to break down and cry.
Almost every home was destroyed, or at the very least, uninhabitable. Black scorch marks covered every visible surface. Windows had been blown out either from the heat or from the flames themselves, and some homes were gone altogether.
The gardens and wisteria were nothing but ash, mixing with the debris and rubble that covered the streets.
And her people.
Everywhere she looked, her people were crying. Tears streaming down their soot-covered faces, leaving flesh-toned tracks in their wake.
Children cried out for their mothers or fathers.
Women roamed the streets, calling out for missing loved ones, while men scoured the rubble.
No one noticed who was among them. And with that thought, Auraelia knelt down in the street and wept.
Wept for her mother and for the healing of her brother.
Cried for her people, the lost, and those who had lost someone.
She stayed there for a few moments and just let herself feel.
Let all of the pain and grief and sorrow wash over her like violent waves in a storm. Let it soak into her soul and erode away the stone that she’d built around her heart.
Enough.
She’d been closed off from pain for long enough. She needed to heal so that she could help her people heal.
Wiping her nose on her sleeve, Auraelia stood, took a deep breath, then headed to the nearest group of people and got to work.
She’d been there for hours, digging through rubble, searching for people, and praying to the Goddess Rhayne that the ones they found would be safe.
But those prayers fell on deaf ears.
Body after body, pile after pile, hope that they would find someone alive dwindled away.
When she’d found Piper amongst the throngs of people clambering for answers, relief flooded her chest. After pulling her into an embrace and making sure that she was okay, Auraelia sent her back to the castle for food, water, and any other supplies she could find.
And she’d come back with more than Auraelia could have ever asked for.
Not only had she brought food and water, but she’d brought carts full of tools and helping hands.
Chef Liza and her entire kitchen staff set up a makeshift kitchen and began cooking hot meals for everyone.
Guards piled people into carts and brought them to the castle for hot showers and clean clothes.
Though they extended the offer of a warm place to sleep with a roof over their heads, most declined, opting to stay in the provided tents so that they could be close to what was once their home.
It was nearing midday when Piper finally pulled Auraelia away, forcing her to take a break.
“You need to rest, Rae,” she whispered as she shoved a canteen into Auraelia’s hands.
Sighing, Auraelia lifted it to her parched mouth. She’d meant to take only a sip to appease her friend, but as the cool water hit her lips, thirst gripped her throat, and she began to drink deeply.
Only when she had drained the last drops did she reply, “My people need me, Piper. I can’t abandon them.”
“They won’t have a queen to abandon them if you run yourself into the ground!” she scolded, placing her hands on her hips as if that would emphasize her statement.
“Piper—”
“No. We’re not doing this. You’ve been out here since before the sun was up, and you were awake before I even came to get you. You need to rest.” She paused for a moment, her hands dropping as her eyes softened into a pleading gaze. “Please, Rae.”
Nodding, Auraelia handed Piper the canteen and stood. Exhaustion slammed into her like lightning striking a tree, causing her knees to buckle and her head to throb.
Piper lunged for her, but before she could get there, an arm—strong and familiar—wrapped around her waist and lifted her from behind her knees. “I’ve got her.”
As she leaned against his chest, Auraelia breathed in the scent of ocean and sandalwood and sighed.
Daemon.
“Where have you been?” she muttered, her body and mind succumbing to the fatigue that was sweeping over her.
“I was with your brother. I didn’t think you’d want me to leave him alone.”
At the mention of Xander, Auraelia tried to sit up and nearly fell out of Daemon’s arms.
“Easy, Princess. I’ve got you. I’ll take you straight to him.”
And with that, swirls of sparkling darkness consumed her sight.
Daemon stayed with her while she sat vigil by Xander’s bed. He’d gotten him back to the castle and into Ser Aeron’s care just in time, and her army commander was certain there would be no permanent damage.
Still, she remained.
From what Daemon had told her when they arrived, Xander had gone unconscious from the pain and blood loss before they’d reached the castle. And he’d been that way ever since.
“Auraelia, you need to sleep.” Daemon’s soft tone was like a blanket of warmth wrapping around her.
“I don’t want him to be alone. I need to be here,” she muttered as she squeezed her brother’s hand, silently urging him to open his eyes so that she knew he was alright. But not even the loud creaking from the door opening stirred him.
“He won’t be alone, Rae. I’ll sit with him.” The comforting chime of Piper’s voice filled the room, but when her friend placed her hand on her shoulder, Auraelia lost it.
Lost the hold she had on the tears she’d been trying to keep at bay.
Lost the ability to stay strong so that her brother saw a smiling face when he finally woke.
Gone.
Every defense she’d built around her heart to keep it from shattering was gone.
Piper’s arms wrapped around her shoulders in a tight embrace. “He’ll be fine. He’s a stubborn ass; he’s not going to let a little blood loss beat him.”
Though Piper’s voice quavered, her words brought a little bit of light into the darkness.
When she retracted her arms, Auraelia stood, leaned over to place a kiss on her brother’s brow, and whispered, “Don’t you dare leave me, Xander.
I need you. Piper needs you. I’ll bring you back and kill you all over again if you break my best friend’s heart. ”
When she straightened once more, she turned to Daemon and extended her hand. “Take me to my room?”
Daemon’s hand was warm against hers as he laced their fingers together. Pulling her to him, he swept the loose hair from her face and smiled. “I would take you anywhere as long as I got to be with you.”