Chapter 60
Ryder
Night has fallen and Naomi has taken over for Nio who should be at least two glasses of wine deep by now.
Sending him back to Zentria early not only allows him to celebrate with his brother but also stops the others from setting off on a rescue mission.
By now, they’ll know we’re on our way back and not empty-handed.
Nio insisted we come along too, but it felt wrong leaving Naomi all alone out here when she’s the reason we were even able to find the island again.
Besides, alone time with Reign in the middle of the Infinite Sea seemed like a much better way to spend the night.
When I join her at the nose of the ship, she seems entranced by the sight of the moonlight reflecting off of the dark surface that looks black this time of night.
“We won today,” she says as I rest my chin on the top of her head and wrap my arms around her, careful to avoid touching the scepter still strapped to her body.
“We sure did.”
She tilts her head to look back at me. “It feels like now we have a fighting chance. I know your father has other tricks up his sleeve that we aren’t aware of, but I believe in our people and the alliances we have made.”
I love hearing her call them “our people.” I never imagined I would have someone to rule by my side, but I could see it with her. Even more so, I want it with her. I want her to stand beside me and help me build a better future. The Great Six Realms need her just as much as I do.
“I do, too.” I kiss her temple and she turns her attention back to the void of darkness that is only illuminated by the moon and stars.
The two of us take in the feeling of peace that only the sea can offer.
The sound of the waves coming from the ship fills the silence between us as we bathe in the moonlight.
To simply exist with her feels like a gift.
Neither of us feel the need to speak. It’s a comfort I’ve never felt with anyone before.
There’s always a feeling of needing to act or plan or command.
But not with her. With her I can just simply be.
As Zentria comes into focus, I savor the last of the sea’s serenity.
“They really know how to celebrate, don’t they?” Reign finally says, pointing to the orange glow of the island up ahead.
“They certainly don’t do anything half-assed.”
“Not at all. I can only imagine what the wedding will be like tomorrow.”
A wedding.
Something else I’ve never let myself dream of, but standing here with her, it’s almost impossible not to.
The unity of two souls forever linked even in the afterlife is a sentiment I’ve never entertained for myself.
Instead, I’ve spent most of my life imagining that my soul is condemned.
It wasn’t until Reign that I even allowed myself to consider a different fate.
One that didn’t have to consist of eternal damnation.
What would the afterlife even look like with her? Would my link to her soul break with her rebirth?
Questions I surely have no right to be asking at this point in time. She made it clear that she can’t promise forever, only right now. So right now is where I should stay. The future is uncertain, and I would be a fool to drown myself in the thoughts of tomorrow.
For now, being here with her is enough. More than enough, actually.
It’s everything.
“Something’s wrong!” Naomi shouts from her post at the wheel. Fear and panic coat her face as she points toward Zentria that now looks like it’s been set ablaze.
Reign whirls around and clings to me. “I’m going with you.”
My fear for her safety is overshadowed by my need for her respect. If I’m going to be with her, then that means I can’t hold her back. She’s my equal and I have to treat her as such.
Before my smoke even clears and I have time to make sense of what is happening, we’re both thrown across a field of rubble.
In less than a second, I feel her body slip from my hold.
Pain radiates as my vision fights to return.
Blurry silhouettes of dragons and other winged beasts flying overhead claim my attention first. As my vision begins to clear, I start making out the sharp claws and large jaws tearing each other apart in the sky.
Streams of dragon fire engulf tails and wings. I watch as a silver-scaled dragon shoots off a round of fireballs aimed at the ground, realizing that must’ve been what sent me and Reign airborne just as we landed. I lift my head and quickly find her several yards away covered in a blanket of debris.
I’m still slightly disoriented when I vaporate to her, landing on my knees by her side.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she assures as she fights to sit up. I start to look her over, but she shakes me off, motioning to the chaos surrounding us.
We each take in the sight of death that has replaced the parade of love we had witnessed before leaving this morning.
What was once a sea of white is now a graveyard of blood and deceased.
Screams and cries have taken the place of cheers and chants.
Where flowers rained down earlier, rubble now falls.
All signs of harmony have been corrupted by unrelenting violence.
What was meant to be a day of celebration has turned into a day of slaughter.
“What do we do?” Reign asks as she slowly stands back up with my help.
The brief pause of shock ends and the part of me that was raised for moments like this is activated. The Ryder that was swept up in the dreams of tomorrow retreats back into the shadows while the Ryder who was chosen by his people to be their king emerges.
I do a quick intake of the damage. Most of the Infinite Sea people lack weapons.
This wasn’t an attack they were prepared for.
It was a strategic ambush. As I glance around in each direction, including the sky, I realize the only soldiers my father sent are dragons and winged chimera.
The only ones who could’ve made it to the island of Zentria without ships.
The people here would’ve outnumbered them easily if they had been prepared. This attack was thought out, though. My father would have known that the people of the Infinite Sea would be distracted and unarmed. He would’ve planned this, knowing they would only have their power to defend themselves.
Looking around at the rainbow of magic breaking through the dark smoke climbing higher into the sky, it’s clear that my father miscalculated. Even with the advantage of a surprise attack, the odds are still in Zentria’s favor.
“You’re here!” Ion grips my shoulder as if it were a lifeline. “They attacked. It happened so fast.”
He seems dazed but still somehow aware.
“Tell me more,” I demand, holding onto him for support.
“Zane said they’re all from the Sector. This isn’t the result of King Cimmerian’s army.”
“Of course.” I nod. “Lambs for the slaughter. Disposable lives.” I reach for both of his shoulders, focusing him.
“Get as many of your people off this island as you can. Fill your ships and take them to Illarium. Have your witches cast protection spells to keep the ships safe while we do our best to keep their attention on Zentria.”
“You want us to run?” His voice rises with anger.
“My father wants us to kill them. This isn’t the genocide he’s been planning.
This is a suicide mission only meant to take out as many of our allies as possible.
He’s not looking for a surrender. He’s looking for a death toll.
It doesn’t matter who is on it as long as there are more of you than them. ”
“So, what’s your plan? You can’t kill them all on your own.”
“I don’t plan to. Now, go.”
He’s hesitant but follows my orders.
“What do you need from me?”
The Reign from the Sector is all but a memory as she stands before me.
The once fragile girl has been replaced by a warrior.
Fearless and determined. Ruled by her desire to help others and fight against the evil that has spread like disease.
She’s a weapon in her own right, not only rising as a phoenix but as a queen.
Meant to save her people from the terrors that threaten their peace.
“I need you in the sky. Get the others up there to help you keep the attention away from the ships.” Her face is tense in a way I’ve never seen before.
She’s not frightened, but focused. “They don’t know what you are.
They won’t be expecting it so use it against them.
” She nods. “It won’t be easy but do your best to get the others to disarm my father’s soldiers, not kill them. They aren’t our enemy.”
I can tell by the look on her face it’s the last thing she expected me to say. Taking pity on those who chose to serve my father was never my resolve, but I’ve changed, and the things I once believed have changed, too.
Because of her.
Because she forces me to look at the grey that lies between black and white, reminding me that what is easier is not always what is right.
Just as she’s about to take off, I pull her into me. “I know you’re worried about the others. I am too, but we have to stop the bleeding first.”
“I know,” she says with understanding behind her eyes.
“Please be safe.”
“I was trained well,” she reassures before quickly kissing me.
It’s simple and short. The kind of kiss one would give when getting out of bed in the morning.
One that would be taken for granted in the routine of it all.
For a moment my heart sinks at the thought of that being our last. It wasn’t long enough or deep enough to remain imprinted on me forever.
And then I realize that was her whole point.
It was her way of telling me it wouldn’t be our last kiss.
With that realization, a spark of adrenaline ignites, and I watch as she shifts into her full phoenix, taking off into the sky that has become its own battleground.
Just as she was meant to live free from restraints, I was meant to lead others to salvation.
The instincts I have spent my whole life honing, take over and I remove the hold on my power.
My onyx ribbons unravel themselves over the remnants of Zentria’s heart, sweeping away injured and pulling apart clashing bodies. No one dares to challenge me as I make my way deeper into the hollowed city.
There’s a pause in the mayhem when my presence is noticed by all. While those from the Infinite Sea Territories look to me for guidance, those from the Sector look at me with terror. Me being here was not something they were prepared for, and it shows in the panic they now wear.
Too frightened to move, the army of Sector students stand still as if they are lying in wait for their impending deaths.
“Surrender!”
My voice echoes down the valley of rubble as the ground quakes with my power.
Almost immediately, weapons are released, and heads are bowed.
A result only due to the fact that these soldiers are young and inexperienced.
If it had been my father’s military army that was sent, we would not be so lucky.
The submission ripples through Zentria and eventually those in the sky yield, returning to the ground with a knee. The red dragon that appears to be significantly larger than the others lets out an ear-shattering roar that has all of the shapeshifters still in their beast form, shifting back.
If the size difference wasn’t enough to indicate to me it’s Damien, the commanding roar certainly was. He shifts back from his dragon form, but the dominating strength he exudes remains as he walks over to where I’m standing.
“Glad you showed up,” he says in a deep tone he only uses when acting as a soldier.
A second later, Reign steps between the two of us still radiating hot flames.
Only then, does everyone’s eyes flicker away from me.
Everyone, including those from the Infinite Sea Territories, stare at her in disbelief.
As if wanting them to see her fully, she flares her fiery wings behind her, sending a wave of gasps across the field of ruins.
Those from Zentria who clearly belong to the military units begin to cautiously close in around us, waiting for orders. Though their attention has refocused on me, I can tell they respect the authority Reign holds just by standing next to me.
“Bring them to the black sand beach, but don’t harm them.” There’s a unified nod of silent obedience before they disperse.
“What now?” Reign asks, shedding her phoenix form effortlessly.
“Now we help the wounded.”