Chapter 38
Mathilda’s sword slips from her fingers as she stands. In two bounding steps, she’s in front of him, her arms thrown around him as they embrace. Tears stream down both of their faces. Mathilda’s head tips back and Tane’s lips crash against hers.
At last.
The breeze twines through the grounds again and the earth seems to tilt.
A spark of light shimmers between them and the mating bond settles into place.
“It’s about damn time,” Lachlan chuckles, as he threads his fingers through mine.
Mathilda and Tane pull apart, the energy between them exhilarating as they stare into each other’s eyes. A deep longing tying them both together.
Evander enters the ring and claps Tane on the back. “That was incredible.”
Lachlan’s brows raise in surprise. “Impressive goading Mathilda.”
She nuzzles into Tane’s side, the look of joy on her face enough to make me cry.
Luna pushes off the railing of the fence and stands beside us, apprehension lines her face. “Good, that’s settled. We have other more pressing demands to see to.”
The happiness of the moment shatters.
“Are you serious?” I wheel on her.
She shrugs, and a look of annoyance flashes across her face. “What?” She gestures to Tane. “He’s all better now.”
I roll my eyes, ignoring her. With Tane’s position secured, there’s one less thing for me to be concerned about, so in a way—she is right.
“I’m starving. Let’s head back, anyway.”
On the walk to the Great Hall, Tane and Mathilda are congratulated both on their mating, but also on Tane’s victory.
Lachlan wraps an arm around me as we lead the others back. I’m so happy for Mathilda and Tane. Decades of love between them finally solidified by the mating bond. They must be so relieved.
“I don’t think we’ll have the time to throw them the mating ceremony they deserve before we leave,” I murmur.
Lachlan looks over his shoulder at them as they walk together, their eyes locked onto each other’s face still. He snorts. “I dinna think they’ll care.”
When we breach the throne room, I turn around, waiting for the rest of our friends to stumble in.
Tane and Mathilda. Followed by Evander, Mina, and Luna.
The throne room is empty beside the seven of us. But now seems as good a time as any.
Luna’s expression slips further into something dreadful. My stomach drops. The space between my ribs tightens and I struggle to breathe normally.
“Alright Luna, what are these more pressing demands?”
She stiffens at my unexpected announcement and glares at me before looking around at the others. “I don’t think you want to do this here.”
Lachlan’s grip on my hand tightens at her words or her tone. I’m not sure.
I huff, gesturing at everyone in the room. “What you can say to me, you can say to them. We don’t keep secrets in this court.”
She lowers her head, and fear grips me completely. What could be so bad that it has Luna, of all people, uncomfortable. Her eyes meet mine and my breathing halts altogether.
“You’re going to die.”
Mina bursts out laughing. The sound ricochets around us.
I glance sidelong at Lachlan. His jaw flexes as he grinds his teeth.
The words don’t scare me like they should. But there is genuine fear in the eyes of my friends.
“And why do you think that?” I ask her.
“That’s what the prophecy says. The healers figured it out.”
“And what did they say?” Lachlan grinds the words out.
Evander shifts on his feet, stuck between defending me and protecting Luna from the violence in Lachlan’s eyes.
She stifles a sigh while pulling out a scrap of paper from her leathers and clears her throat before reciting it.
The pendulum swings in a kingdom of the sea,
A queen of two worlds shall rise up and lead.
The chosen of thirteen, her heart will deem,
If the night will grieve, then the land will bleed.
A mate’s whispered plea,
For their fate is forged by loyalty’s key.
Her voice takes on the same hauntingly beautiful quality that Elowen’s had when she revealed what her sight had shown her.
The words seem distant though, like they’re spoken underwater. I feel Lachlan turn towards me and he speaks. But my mind is miles away.
Their fate is forged by loyalty’s key.
I knew it was too good to be true. That we might survive this, that we might all come out of this unscathed. My breath slips through my lips, and the world comes crashing back down.
“Lena.” Mathilda’s eyes shine with her tears. “Did you hear us?”
I shake my head, my mind clearing.
“It means nothing.”
Mina’s bottom lip quivers. “It means everything. What are you talking about?”
I look at my friends. “The prophecy can’t be about me. It says the chosen of thirteen. There’s seven of us.”
My shoulders shrug of their own accord, effusing some of the lackadaisical feelings into my words that I don’t truly feel.
“Freya and Odr thought the prophecy was about ye, too,” Lachlan whispers.
I turn to him and my heart breaks. Such sadness and hopelessness are etched on his face. It’s enough to make my chest ache.
“Look, even if it is about me, it says my heart will deem what happens. Not that I will die. Apparently, fate hasn’t decided yet. It changes nothing.”
Lachlan’s hand squeezes mine and I know what he’s thinking. This changes everything. Now more than ever, my life truly hangs in the balance.
“We have happier things to focus on right now.” I gesture to Tane and Mathilda, still wrapped around each other. “We can’t give you guys a huge mating ceremony, but we’d like to do a small one if that’s agreeable?”
Mathilda looks up to Tane. His brow is lowered until he feels her looking at him. He softens, looking down at her, love shining in his eyes.
“I’ll do whatever she wants.”
Mathilda giggles. “That’s what you said when I brought you here.”
Tane places a kiss on her cheek and she melts. “Still true today.”
I wait patiently for their answer, but my heart pounds. The warning of my demise soaks into every part of me.
The land will bleed.
“A small one is fine. All of us here, together. We can do it on the training grounds,” Mathilda laughs.
Mina wipes the tears from her face and looks at Evander. “We can help set up.”
Evander clears his throat. “We’ll make all the arrangements immediately. We can have it ready by tomorrow evening.”
I clap my hands together once and plaster on a smile. “Great! Let’s get to it.”
Mina meets me on the training grounds first thing in the morning. Her eyes are red and swollen. The life that usually sparkles from her has dimmed.
“Are you okay?” I ask quietly as I stand beside her.
She launches herself at me, throwing her arms out and gripping me tightly. Half of her hair is tied up and the top of it tickles my chin.
“I don’t like this. Any of it.”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her to me. She smells like sunshine, and I inhale deeply. “I know, but it will be alright.”
“You don’t know that.” She mumbles against my chest. My medallion warms either from agreement or her proximity to it.
“Yes. But a wise person once told me that tomorrow is never promised and you have to love and live as much as you can each day.” Lachlan’s words ring in my heart, causing a sad smile to appear on my face.
“What a wise person,” he calls from behind us.
Mina giggles and I turn to see Lachlan standing with his arms crossed as he leans against the archway. Such striking beauty it leaves me speechless. His dark hair is brushed back out of his face, highlighting those otherworldly green eyes I love so much.
“I didn’t want to wake you.” It’s the only thing I can think of to say.
We went round and round about the prophecy’s meaning last night. The only joyous thing we managed to discuss was Evander’s impending promotion. It felt like he had only just fallen asleep when I dragged myself from our bed for training.
He shakes his head and prowls towards us. “We’ve just been told there’s a prophecy about your death. You’re not going anywhere without me.”
“Or us!”
I peer around Lachlan to see Mathilda, Tane, Evander, and Luna.
My eyes burn and I squeeze them shut to keep from crying. But a hand on my shoulder has me opening them again.
“We’re in this together. Ye dinna ha’ to do any of it alone,” Lachlan murmurs, as our friends stand around us. “Now—how’s your flying going?”
I glance sidelong at Mina, who grimaces.
“It’s uh—it could be better.”
Everyone laughs and some of the weight on my shoulders eases.
Lachlan steps up and gives everyone their training orders for the day, but not before Piominko and Harald walk through the archway. Mina cranes her head to see Harald walking her way and the color rises on her cheeks.
But it’s the silent exchange between Piominko and Tane that has stolen my attention. A quiet reverence of respect passes between them. One warrior to another, one culture to another. That surprises me.
“And what are my orders, Captain?” Harald asks Lachlan, crossing his impossibly large arms over his chest.
“You’d have to speak with the actual captain.” Lachlan gestures to Evander, who stands beside him.
His brows furrow as he points at himself. “Me?”
I smile at Evander when his gaze swings from Lachlan to me. “Surprise! You’ve been promoted to captain of the guard.”
He blinks.
My words are not quite registering for him like they do for everyone else. Mina jumps up and down cheering, while tugging on his arm. Tane claps him on the back, and Mathilda looks on with a broad smile.
“You’re serious?” he asks slowly, like at any moment I’ll rip the rug out from underneath him.
“We’re serious.” My hand grips Lachlan’s, and we smile at each other before turning back to him. “You’ve more than earned it.”
“What does that mean for Lachlan?” Mina asks, brow furrowing.
“I’ll be busy doing whatever she asks of her consort,” he chuckles.
Luna steps beside Evander, a kindness glowing in her eyes. “Congratulations Captain,” she murmurs.
My mouth parts in surprise and I’m struck speechless.
Evander’s cheeks redden as he gazes back at her. “Thank you.”