Chapter 41
Reign
“Ihave seen the war play out many times.” The Oracle’s iridescent cloak flows like there is a gentle breeze passing through. “And every time you’ve lost. That is, until you died.”
“I don’t understand.”
“When you rose as a phoenix, the outcome changed. There are infinite possibilities for the war ahead. But your death has set in motion new possibilities. In many, you lose. But each day it changes. His side. Your side. The only thing I do know is that your rebirth has given the Shadow Lands a fighting chance, which is something they didn’t have before. ”
“REIGN! Reign, wake up!”
I open my eyes to find Amaya standing over me, shaking me awake. The words the Oracle spoke still linger in my mind as I try to come to my senses.
“He’s back!”
“Who’s back?” I ask as she drags me from the comfort of my bed.
“Zane!”
Hearing his name snaps me out of whatever slumbering daze I was still in. Amaya pulls me out into the hallway where Emeric is already waiting, also shoeless.
“Where is he?”
“Grimstone.”
The three of us take off in a sprint, each still wearing our pajamas.
Once we reach above ground, I’m wishing I had shoes on as we run across the ashy dirt.
One of the large doors is already ajar, and when we slip through, there he is.
Amaya springs into his arms, and he clings to her like his life depends on it.
I reach for Emeric’s hand as we wait our turn to embrace our friend.
Ryder, Damien, Elias, and Akari are all standing off to the side.
“Come here, you two!” Zane stretches out his tattooed arms and Emeric and I go in for the group hug.
He’s been our missing piece. The last of our family finally home again.
“Not that I’m not thrilled to see you, man.” Emeric grabs his shoulder. “But what are you doing here?”
Zane turns to Ryder.
“We have some catching up to do.” Ryder is tense with a look on his face that tells me he’s fighting the urge to tear the whole castle down.
Without a word, we all follow him to the room where the council meetings are held. Artemus is already waiting in his chair at the end, along with someone else I don’t recognize. He looks to be around our age with harsh features that should make him look intimidating, but for some reason doesn’t.
“Sit,” Ryder orders, and I have a sinking feeling that whatever we’re about to hear won’t be good news. “You can tell them.”
There’s an undeniable expression of dread on Zane’s face.
He starts off by motioning to the guy across from him.
“This is Nexus. Him and I were recruited by Ryder to be the eyes and ears in the Sector after the attack. The first couple of months back weren’t too bad.
They wanted it to feel like we were rebuilding.
That didn’t last, though. I’m not sure what Ryder has told you, but training began to go back to how it was right before we entered the Sector.
Torture techniques, curses, fighting to the death.
We thought that was as bad as it was going to get.
So, Nexus and I agreed to stick it out and do what we had to do. That was, until a week ago.”
Ryder must pick up on Zane’s hesitancy to continue because he takes over.
“A week ago, my father decided to start sending civilians he felt didn’t support him to the Sector.
There, the students have been ordered to torture and kill anyone who wouldn’t pledge their allegiance to him.
He began branding people with the Royal Insignia to show their loyalty and obedience. ”
Branding. Just like he branded Kane’s love, Lytia, for him to see.
It’s the king’s way of showing everyone that they belong to him.
I knew things would escalate with time, but I never imagined it would get this bad.
The lockdown was one thing. Even the executions I expected. But this? It’s sadistic.
“We decided we couldn’t stay,” Nexus says. The look on his face tells me he’s still haunted by the things they had to witness… or even do.
Amaya reaches for Zane’s hand. I’m sure whatever conversation they’ll be having after this won’t be an easy one.
“There will be more to discuss, but it’s been a long day for these two, and this is a lot to process.” Ryder stands from the head of the table. “Get some sleep, everyone.”
He’s already gone before the rest of us get up from the table. I want to follow him. I want to tell him he isn’t to blame, but I don’t. I know he won’t listen. No matter how much I try to make him see that he isn’t some monster who’s beyond redemption, he insists on condemning himself.
“You okay?” Damien gently brushes my cheek as he moves a rogue hair from my face.
“I’m more concerned about Zane right now.”
“I know.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Stay with me tonight?”
I nod. As everyone disperses for the night, I give one last supportive smile to Amaya before they leave. She looks stoic, and I know she’s trying to stay strong for Zane, but I can tell her heart is breaking for him and the things he’s had to endure these past months.
“It’s only right now that we’re all back together!” Amaya pulls out a button-up shirt and hands it to Emeric. “Here, this should work.”
Em chuckles and takes it from her. “Meeka would be proud.”
“I’ll never be able to live up to her standards, but I can at least plan a semi-decent dinner.”
Earlier this week, Amaya took it upon herself to plan a family dinner for us to celebrate Zane’s return.
She even went as far as to ask Ryder if we could use the dining room at Grimstone.
I can’t say I was surprised to find out he turned down her invitation to join us, but he still insisted she make use of the room since it hardly ever gets used.
“Alright, let me get a good look at each of you.”
Damien and I look at each other and grin as she makes her way around the room, assessing each of our outfits.
Seeing as how Amaya was the one to pick out my navy, off-the-shoulder dress, I can’t imagine she’ll have any complaints.
Can’t say the same for Zane, though. She’s already tossing a silk shirt for him to change into.
Apparently his black, short-sleeve t-shirt wasn’t nice enough for the occasion.
As soon as we arrive at Grimstone, we’re each handed a glass of champagne before finding our way to the dining room.
Fancy.
Place cards sit around the table, telling us which seat is ours. I’m not sure where she got the gold runner or the rest of the decorations. I can only assume she harassed Ryder for them.
“Thank you all for joining me this evening,” she begins from the head of the table with her glass raised.
“Each one of us has had a difficult road this year, but we’ve all managed to find our way back to each other.
Of course, there will be more tough times to come, but it’s important that we don’t forget to celebrate the wins.
Sooooo.” She leans against the table with her arm stretched to the middle.
“With that being said, cheers to our family being whole again.”
“Cheers,” we all say in unison as we clink glasses.
“Solid speech,” Akari compliments.
“Thanks! I was totally winging it.”
“Can we dig in now?” Emeric whines impatiently at the end of the table.
“Go for it,” Amaya insists, uncovering one of the dishes closest to her.
Filets, salad, breadsticks, mashed potatoes, fish, and some kind of pasta with red sauce wait for us in the middle of the table. My mouth instantly salivates when the aroma fills my nose. I’m not sure who Amaya bribed to make all of this, but they have certainly outdone themselves.
Watching Elias pound down his plate of food makes me understand where Em got his appetite from. It’s been nice to see him in better spirits. I think helping the military units and training the civilians has given him purpose again. Even so, I wish we could find a mender for him.
“Alright, let me get this straight. I’m gone for less than eight months and two of you died and came back to life?” Zane’s eyes dart from Damien to me.
“We’ve been busy,” Damien quips.
“No shit!” Zane laughs. “What I really want to know though is if anyone has found a way to kick Akari’s ass in cards yet.”
“Oh, come on now,” Akari says, lifting up her glass of champagne. “They’re not made of miracles.”
“Hey!” Emeric finishes swallowing his bite. “I was close once!”
“Losing 3-9 doesn’t count as close, Em.” Elias shoots his brother a knowing look.
“Okay. Well, at least it was progress,” Emeric counters before stuffing his face with another bite of potatoes.
My heart feels full as I look around the table at my friends who have become family.
Their smiles and laughter almost make me forget about everything else.
It’s hard to imagine how much we have all been through since we met.
It’s a miracle we’ve been able to find our way back together, and I don’t plan on taking it for granted. Right now, this is all that matters.
“How is everything tasting?” I instantly recognize the woman’s cheerful voice and turn around to see Tilly standing with an apron around her waist.
“I should’ve known it was your cooking.” I shoot up to give her a hug.
“It’s good to see you, dear!”
I knew she had come here with Ramus before the lockdowns, but I hadn’t seen her around until now. Maybe she can use her homemaker skills to warm this castle up a bit. Just the smell of her food makes the place feel slightly more welcoming.
“Tilly, your cooking is incredible!” Amaya praises.
“You give the food in Strellesia a run for its money!” Emeric adds, lifting his fork to her.
“Thank you! Now, don’t eat too much. You have to leave room for dessert!” Emeric immediately sets down his fork and pushes his plate away as if he has to restrain himself from taking another bite. “Finish up and I’ll be back in a bit!”
“Thank you!” we all add as she waltzes back towards the kitchen.