Thirty-Five
CHAPTER
ZATHRIAN
Icouldn’t feel her anymore. She was cold in my arms. Still. Unmoving. Lifeless. Limp. Dead weight, yet light in my arms. I didn’t understand how she managed to bring him back. She didn’t have to do that; she didn’t have to ask the Gods for help.
What did he say to her?
I could have found another way. Any other way, rather than her do what she did.
She didn’t have to sacrifice herself.
My breath hitched, my ears ringing, yet I paid no mind to my surroundings. All my focus was on my Mate.
My Mate.
My stupid, foolish, idiotic, airhead of a Mate.
“Why?” I whispered, pulling her closer into my embrace as tears pooled down my blood-stained face.
“Why would you do that?” My lips met her forehead, rocking her lightly back and forth in my arms in a state of hysteria.
“You saw me when no one else did. You loved me when no one else would. You never said it, but I saw it in your eyes when I called you Airhead, when I kissed you. Even when I didn’t deserve it, you loved me, you fought for me and—”
I let out a ferocious scream.
“Come back,” I begged.
Javaid reached out for us, but I jerked away from him. I didn’t care. We might have won, but I gained nothing but a gaping hole in my chest where my heart once was. I had Mateo, but I didn’t have Aerilyn, and I needed them both.
“I need you,” I whispered.
Mateo was alright, the Wall would soon be repaired, and Neil and Gelia were stripped of their essence and banished over the Wall, trapped within the Mortal Realm. But Aerilyn was everything to me.
“Please.” My hand slid through her cold, damp curls. “Please, please come back to me,” I begged, resting my head upon her chest. “I love you,” I said, embracing her tightly, unaware that the Gods were watching.
I didn’t care.
It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore because everything that I had done was for her. Always for her.
“Breathe, Aerilyn, please. Please. Gods, please, please help. Help her, please!” My sobs echoed all around me, and my chest felt tight, like all the air in my lungs had left me.
“All was not for nothing, Zathrian,” the voice called out to me. I lifted my head, quickly turning to the Gods.
“Fear not, for she is not gone,” the Gods said in unison as a small orb of moonstone floated toward Aerilyn as I held her. “Her story is not over, High Lord, and neither is yours. It has only begun.”
My heart raced, and the feeling of despair within me dissipated.
“She is one of us. Let her rest. All will be as it should be,” they said before vanishing before my eyes.
My eyes widened, not understanding what they meant by that.
Is she a God? Are they talking of her magic? Was this meant to happen? Are they referring to the prophecy?
None of that mattered because, for now, I felt her.
I actually felt her.
I felt her through the Bond, and I felt the warmth of her skin, her breath. The color in her face returned.
“Airhead,” I whispered as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
The corners of her lips perked upwards into the smallest of smiles, and her expression softened.
What happened? she asked through the Bond.
I shook my head. “Shh… I’ve got you,” I said between stifled sobs.
I’ve got you. I’m here.
She nodded. One of my hands remained around her back, while the other shifted to her jawline. I tilted her head just enough for her eyes to meet mine. Leaning in, I planted a soft kiss against those sweet, pillowy lips of hers. One that was as passionate as it was loving.
I deepened that kiss, and my thumb gently caressed her cheek.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you, too,” she whispered back.
Her hand reached up toward my cheek. Choked up, I leaned into her touch.
Her thumb brushed away my tears so carefully, I couldn’t help but cry.
My pride was gone, but I didn’t care. High Lords could cry, too.
Crying didn’t make me weak. It was my emotions that made me strong.
I only had the Gods to thank for bringing my Mate back to me. I would be forever in debt to them.
My hand that was once on her cheek, went to her hand that was on mine, gently holding it. I turned my head just enough to kiss her palm, her wrist, up her forearm, and slowly up the rest of her arm until I was able to press my forehead gently against hers.
“Let’s get you home,” I whispered, scooping her into my arms and standing. Her head rested against my chest, far too weak to protest against my wishes.
You’re okay. I’ve got you.
I turned to Mateo, whose arm was around Acheron, who was helping him stand. He was healed, thank the Gods. For I could not lose him, either. He was the baby brother I always wanted. A life without him, or Aerilyn, was not a life I wished to live.
I shared a knowing look with Acheron, thankful that he was okay.
“Thank you,” I said, turning to Javaid.
“Me? Nah, thank the Gods,” Javaid replied.
I nodded.
“I better get going,” he said hesitantly. “I don’t want—”
“Go,” I interrupted, already knowing what he was hinting at.
With a pinch of stardust and a flick of the wrist, Javaid was gone.
“She’s okay?” Mateo asked groggily, his hand going to his chest to rub where the once-gaping wound had been.
I nodded, looking down at her. “She’s going to be okay,” I said, leaning to kiss her forehead. I could feel her through the Bond, stronger than ever. Never again would I allow her to do anything so foolish.
You’re safe with me. Rest, Starshine.
Okay, she replied.
Aerilyn nodded, closing her eyes. I watched the soft rise and fall of her chest with each breath she took, just to make sure she was still breathing.
I turned toward Acheron and Mateo, the others, too. “Let’s go home.”