Chapter Twenty
KYELLA
I was still bubbling with excitement from working with Ross on crafting my very own set of armor.
While I knew that it symbolized a very serious moment, going to war, an underlying current of determination came with it.
Knowing that I was going to fight for my dreams for this world was exhilarating.
It was time to seek retribution for all of Malakai’s atrocities.
Not just for the ones committed to my family and me, but for all of the souls out there that have felt the pain and devastation he wrought throughout his life.
Gazing at my reflection in the mirror atop my vanity, I felt in awe of the determined glint that seemed to be present in my eyes more often than ever before.
My shoulders were almost always pulled back with my head held high, which was a drastic change from living my life in fear of being noticed.
Slumped shoulders and a downward gaze saved me from several unpleasant situations in the past. But this version of me?
I wanted to be seen.
I wanted to be heard.
I wanted to be known.
No longer was I embarrassed or ashamed of my past. I would let the world know that I was an unwilling Thrall to Malakai.
I would scream from the rooftops that he killed my family in order to have control of me.
I’d keep my head held high when I spoke of being tortured at the hands of his underlings.
Why? Because I’d endured through it all, and it helped shape me into the woman who was going to fight fang and nail for justice and freedom from his tyranny.
I’d meant it when I told Dakath and Kolvar that I wouldn’t change a moment of my past because it led me to this moment.
It wasn’t simply because I’d met my three vampyres and fell fully, irrevocably in love, though.
It was so much bigger than that. If all of those steps wouldn’t have happened, would someone else have found the path to defeat Malakai?
As horrible as the tragedies in my life had been, I was more certain than ever that this was destiny’s plan all along.
A person had to be courageous enough to face these situations with the knowledge that their journey could end in the loss of their life and the lives of those that they love, and still foster that ember of hope that reminded them that the sacrifice was needed to win.
Luckily for me, I’d found an empire full of those people, all the way from the Empress down to the citizens. Their bravery inspired me every day.
“Are you ready, love?” Elijah called out from the sitting room where the three of them waited for me.
I found myself enjoying the moments where we weren’t doing anything in particular—just lounging in one another’s presence.
It had been a long but thrilling day, and it wasn’t over yet.
After leaving Ross with all the measurements and input he needed from me, we’d gone to the training yard where Kolvar and Dakath worked with recruits and told me to watch to see if I could pick up anything from watching opponents of varying heights and weights fight.
It was surprising to realize that after receiving so many pointers from Myrin about using our size to fight, I was actually able to notice those details in the men that fought out there.
My eyes tracked openings as they presented themselves, and I could vividly picture myself going through the steps to earn a victory against their forms.
Easing the long, golden jewelry into my ears, I called out, “Yes! I’ll be out in just a moment.”
Pushing up from my seat at the vanity, I brushed my hands over the soft, black velvet of the top of my shirt down to the thick lace around my middle.
Grabbing the matching gloves that arrived with the outfit Myrin sent for me, I pulled them on before backing up to take in the long black skirt that finished the ensemble off.
My daggers were strapped into the sheaths on my thighs, easily obscured, but more importantly, easy to access with the slit up the side of the skirt.
Undoubtedly, I would have never worn something like this in the Thaician Empire. I looked powerful and honestly…a little sexy. I wasn’t sure if it was the outfit or my new determination and confidence that fostered that feeling, though.
“You look delicious,” Dakath rumbled from the doorway as I turned in time to see his eyes run the length of me. “Dare I say, you also look incredibly fierce tonight, Ky.”
Fierce…That was never a word I’d used to describe myself before. I found myself humming a pleased sound of approval at his use of it.
Crossing the distance to him, I pushed onto my tiptoes to place a soft kiss to his cheek. “You look quite dashing yourself.”
As my eyes glanced over Elijah and Kolvar as they pushed from their chairs, I added, “You all do. How did I get so lucky to claim you all for myself?”
There was something about seeing all three of them in their formal, dark uniform that made my core tighten with need. They looked so refined and polished…absolutely delectable.
“We’re the lucky ones,” Kolvar grumbled as he pulled me in for a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “You look stunning.”
I hummed my pleasure in the back of my throat as Elijah held out his arm for me to take. As we made our way out of my room and down the hall, I glanced up at him and noticed the tightness in his jaw. “Is something wrong?” I asked, the sudden onset of nerves pinching my stomach into knots.
“Yes,” he answered gravely. “I’m going to have to stab the eyes of every man who looks at you tonight, and then we’ll be left with barely anyone in our army.”
His words were cold, but I noticed the slight tilt up of his lips at the end of his statement, like he was barely holding onto the facade.
As we descended the stairs, the faint cries of a familiar voice pulled my attention.
“But daddy, you can’t!” Rina sobbed, holding onto Tristan’s leg with all her strength as Bailey tried to gently pry her off.
“Honey, this is something your father feels strongly about. We have to support him, okay?” Bailey quietly tried to reason with the red-faced child. “Remember, we want other families to have this freedom and happiness, right?”
As we approached, Tristan gave us a pained look, his lips tight as his brow creased and he ran his hands through Rina’s hair.
“But why does daddy have to go?” she questioned, the tears still flowing heavily. “They already have an army! They don’t need him as well!”
My throat quickly dried at the clear pain in Rina’s voice. I hadn’t expected Tristan to join the army, not after all he’d gone through to get his family here to safety. I expected him to find a home to settle into with his family in the countryside, so they could enjoy their lives in peace.
It was like having a bucket of cold water dropped over my head. So many had told me that lives would be lost in this war, but this was the moment that almost brought me to my knees. The sorrow lacing through Rina’s voice for her father’s safety was damn near my undoing.
There would be mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents, siblings, and friends that wouldn’t return to their family.
They were fighting to free an empire full of people they didn’t know and frankly owed nothing to, but they were doing so of their own free will.
Elijah assured me that no one was forced to join the army, that each person wanted to be there.
My voice wobbled as I sank to my knees a few feet from Rina, glancing up at her parents. “May I?”
I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries with their child, but it was breaking my heart to see her in this state. The despair written all over Tristan’s and Bailey’s faces didn’t help matters either.
Bailey’s eyes widened a fraction before she nodded. “Please do.”
“Hi, Rina,” I whispered, softly trying to gain her attention.
“Ky?” she questioned through a sniffle and turned her attention to me. What I didn’t expect was for her to throw herself into my arms and for her sobbing to start anew. She choked on big, gasping sobs before crying in my ear, “Ky, daddy is going to leave us! Please make him stay.”
I was shocked for a moment but quickly snapped out of it and circled my arms around her, squeezing gently. Running my hand over her back in what I hoped was a soothing manner, I asked, “Do you know how brave and strong your daddy is, Rina?"
She didn’t answer but began to hiccup through her crying, so I pushed on, hoping she was listening.
“Your daddy is the reason why all of us are here in this beautiful castle, with such kind people. If it wasn’t for him, I would be stuck as a prisoner of that really horrible emperor across the sea.
There are a lot of other people who are still trapped there that could use the help of someone like your daddy. ”
My eyes met Tristan’s, and he offered me a soft smile, his eyes red like he wasn’t far off from shedding a few tears himself.
I couldn’t imagine the agony he’d gone through deciding whether to fight in this war or to stay with his family.
This was breaking his heart just as much as Rina’s and Bailey’s were hurting—of that, I was sure.
Her voice wobbled as she pulled back to look me in the eyes and asked, “Daddy saved you?”
While she had been with us when we escaped, it was clear she didn’t understand the full extent of the situation.
Nodding, I brought one hand up to push her hair from her face and wiped her cheeks free of her tears.
“Yes, he did. He is a hero, and he’s going to help so many more people when he goes back for a little bit.
He’ll help so many families that have little kids just like you that desperately need it, and then he’ll be right back with you. ”
Her throat bobbed as her eyes searched my face. “You promise?”