34. Tassarion
Tassarion
“Roièssa,” Coralai screamed, leaping into the air.
I pulled back from hovering over Nahomie.
The gargoyle’s eyes had turned bright red, the lingering residue from her crying a moment ago.
As Nahomie awakened, her sight adjusting to the chambers, the gargoyles rose to a stand, visibly relieved.
Nahomie looked up. She giggled, watching the Gargorètti, Nanmiess, and Esprit fly around the lair with excitement.
“Hello, my family.”
Her voice was tired. Raspy. Worn.
But it was there.
I held onto her hands, sitting with the fact that she was here.
Eyes opened. Lungs filled with air. A smile on her face.
Rot. Emotions wrestled within me as I looked at the miracle that she was.
She was radiant. A shining star whose light we were privileged to bathe in.
Those beautiful amber eyes blazed like a thousand suns when she finally managed the strength to look up at me.
I released the breath I was holding onto, my shoulders bowing, as the life in her eyes birthed life back into my hearts.
“Everheart,” I breathed.
I lowered my head and kissed her. Relishing the soft folds of her lips against mine, meticulously ravishing her mouth as if it were the first time.
I would never tire of this. Tire of branding myself against her mouth.
Her skin. Hèls. I would never tire of her.
Stubborn, defiant, reckless as she was, she was brilliant, passionate, bold, breathtakingly stunning.
Best of all, she was mine.
I pulled back enough to brush my nose against hers.
“I love you so much, Emélie.”
She lifted a weak hand to my cheek and smiled as best she could.
“I love you, Amouré.” She winced, her face pinching. I froze at the sudden change, only relaxing when the wave of pain passed. “You are where my hearts find rest.”
Rest.
The one thing she wanted most after the feeling of safety.
I groaned, overwhelmed by my affection for her.
I scooped Nahomie up in a hug that probably did more for me than for her.
She buried her head in my neck. I wrapped my wings around her, holding her close.
I petted her hair, tenderly brushing her spine with the feathers of my wings.
“I thought I had lost you.”
I choked. Held her tight. I gripped her against me, unable to do anything but sit with her in the silence, tucked firmly into my embrace. Nahomie wrapped her frail arms around my waist and leaned against my chest.
“I’m... still here, Mi Monstaru.”
Her quiet yawn filled the bond between us.
After a few more strokes of her braids, Nahomie drifted off to sleep.
I squeezed her once more before gently laying her back down under the duvet.
I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her jawline before pulling away.
Nahomie immediately rolled over, tucked in her knees and snuggled deep into the bedcloud. On my side of the bed.
A grin stitched itself onto my face as I tucked her in.
Then a youngling Nanmiess floated over, squeezing into Nahomie’s arms. Nahomie wrapped her arm around the soul while she slept, snuggling the soul close.
My hearts swelled at the sight. One dawn it wouldn’t be a soul in her arms. It would be the next Everthorn.
I pulled away from my bride.
The Nanmiess and Esprits rushed in to surround their Roièssa while she slept.
“Keep an eye on her, Khaziah.”
The Raephim nodded at me.
“Yes, mi Roi. I will track her recovery and do whatever is necessary to make sure she is wholly well.”
I gave her a stern nod. Then I looked at the Nanmiess and Esprits.
“You will all stay behind. Protect my Everheart.”
“We will with our lives, mi Roi!”
“Good. I’ll be back.”
I turned to the Gargorètti.
“Join me.”
Without another word, I flew out of the lair.
The gargoyles followed me, remaining quiet, as we raced through the halls of Everthorn Manor.
The gargoyles kept up easily, trailing my flight.
It wasn’t long before I entered the northern wing of the manor, crossed its wide, holy hall, and stepped into the chamber I’d avoided visiting for the last three centuries since my escape from the Belial Realms. I took a steadying breath, crossed the threshold, and entered the Sanctum of Everthorn Manor.
The sanctuary, where we held spiritual ceremonies in honor of the Infinite.
The Gargorètti remained outside the Sanctum. I lowered to my boots and walked down the center aisle to the altar area up front. When I reached the space before the dais where Friere Zuriathelle would officiate services, I dropped to a knee, lowering my head and all of my wings, in reverence.
“Great King. Our Blessed Infinite. Words will never suffice. They will never adequately express the profundity of my gratitude for sparing the life of my wingmate and restoring her health.”
I took a deep breath and let my freshly summoned tears flow.
“I’m sorry for my centuries of anger aimed at you. For my perceived abandonment. I have spent a lifetime avenging on my own. Taking matters into my own hands. A foolish cause when I could have simply returned here. To this place.”
I paused. Then.
“To you.”
I coughed, pressing through the thickness in my throat.
“Please forgive my centuries of recklessness. Darkness. Avoidance. Forgive me for trapping Nahomie into a bond for my own selfish reasons. For turning to treachery and darkness instead of just coming to you.”
I punched a fist into the carpet.
“Most of all... please. Help me forgive myself.”
For the first time in I didn’t even know how long, a sustaining shroud of peace swelled in my heart of hearts. I felt... right and well. My mind was clear. I could take a real breath. I kept my head lowered as I gathered my courage for my petition.
“As my beloved Nahomie rests, I confess my rage returns. My vengeance mounts. Marcèllian has again reigned living hèls on my family and my home. I am full of wrath, but I will not hunt the traitorous piece of rot down until I am certain of one thing. If I go after Marcèllian, will you go with me? If I track him down, will you help me exterminate the plague of my existence once and for all? I will deal with the matter of Saundeiah after I deal with him.”
“Yes, my bibi. My son. While my fifi rests, go. I will be with you.”
I collapsed onto the floor under the weight of the Infinite’s support. I’d never been prepared for what it would feel like to have the might of the Elledelle realms behind me.
“Tassarion Celèstian Everthorn. Pursue, overtake, and you will recover all. You are my Horn of Everthorn, my Wings of Namenthys. Approach from the Beauradèl Wood behind the garden of the estate. Yvette still lives. Saccarièl, Marcèllian’s second born, who was sent away for his protection, also lives and has returned.
He betrayed me by aiding his Papi in lowering the shields of the Trumpet Gate to allow the trespass of the exiled Fallen Angel. Leave none alive. Go.”
Dazzling light erupted through the Sanctum.
It swelled like water rising from the floor until it reached the ceiling, covering every crevice of space.
Then it was all gone. Never had I felt such peace, confidence, in all my centuries.
It was time to deal with Marcèllian once and for all.
I snapped my wings open and stomped out of the temple.
Hands already brimming with ethèr, I walked out to my awaiting Gargorètti.
I clapped my wings thrice.
A show of my power.
A call to war.
“I’m going for Marcèllian,” I bellowed.
The gargoyles snarled at the mention of the traitor’s name.
“I will drive every breathing Beauradèl through by soul and sword until they have bled out on my blades of vengeance. I will raze everything that belongs to that accursed family to the ground.”
I raised my chin, fisting my hands as I glowered at my gargoyles.
The Gargorètti felt my ire. They burned with my wrath.
Obsidian, largest of all, stepped forward, his head lowered with his gaze intently on me.
“And what would you have us do, mi Roi?”
I grinned.
“I’m glad you asked, Obi.” My eyes glittered. “This twinight all of you are coming with me.”