Chapter 4 Zayn #5
Vax was under the cover of the porch now, sitting with Remnant. Cassius had boosted Vax’s Sunveil shield in his crown, and he was also the one holding up a film around Remnant to shield him from the direct sunlight of daytime.
My attention flicked to Cassius holding Sylas up against him. And, yeah, Sylas was still clutching my cane. They were talking with Ariana and Kai.
“I’m a little offended that you didn’t include me in workaround royalty,” Kai told him.
“Well, I didn’t want to give away everything up front, did I now, brother?” Sylas teased.
Ariana ruffled Kai’s hair. “The ego is staggering, baby. You already have your Kai Hunter fan club, remember?”
“That might be considered excellent fuel for an ego—if I had one, Ari.”
She gave him a look, then they both burst out laughing.
Sylas joined them with the laughter.
Kai rubbed his shoulder.
I’d noticed him doing that several times already in the last few minutes since Temperance had left. It was like he needed to touch Sylas to make sure he was real.
Here and actually alive.
Fuck. Win was gonna be the same way, even more so, once he found out.
But… being down there with Ruxnoth… would he believe his dad was still dead all that fucking time? That… no. Maybe he’d feel him through their necromantic blood link or something.
“Are you okay, Zayn?”
I blinked and looked to see Velra walking up to me.
“Sort of.” I shifted my weight. “How about you? I’m so sorry… about Winter… and Sylas going through all that.”
“It’s been a lot. Without a doubt.” She smiled and rubbed my arm. “But we persevere. Keep moving forward.” Her eyes twinkled at me. “For those we love, hmm?”
I smiled back. “Yeah. Yeah, we do.”
“We’ll bring Winter home.”
“I know we will.”
Vax came down the porch, while Remnant was now pacing in the shade on his phone—to Lazriel, it sounded like.
Apparently he’d been running in wolf form with his mom at Glacialis Arx, all the insane stress of everything needing an outlet.
Made sense he hadn’t come along for this, if he was on edge like that.
It hadn’t exactly been a situation that could handle that sort of thing—and that was coming from me.
“I have an idea that could bring Winter home sooner,” Vax spoke to Velra as he stopped beside me and slid his arm around my waist.
I leaned into him, nuzzling a little, the contact like a super-salve after that fucking battle madness. It had only been about ten minutes since Evira had been bear hugging me—well, dragon hugging me—but I guess I needed another boost now.
Vax explained, “The vibrational leash I have on Winter has been compromised with him being on another metaphysical plane entirely and one unnaturally grafted to the fabric of reality. But in the same vein—vibrational resonance—if I can access enough power, once Sanctus is located, I could deliver it through said entry point and damage its structural integrity. Significantly. But I need to speak with the High Empress to obtain support for such a thing.”
“That’s really impressive,” Velra told him. “But the position it would put you in—”
“All will be well, I can assure you.”
Off Velra’s look, I told her, “He always has some Machiavellian plan up his sleeve.”
“Wow, okay,” she said, then told Vax, “Well, then what I’d tell you before you head off and do that is that I have the full support of the Dark Fae Realm.
Should you need that, it’s there. Not to mention, my family’s backing as well.
You can name-drop, do whatever you need to add pressure. Understand?”
Vax smiled. “Yes, I very much do.”
We all looked out then as a curse came from Sylas and he nearly collapsed, but Cassius caught him before he hit the ground.
Velra called over to them, so much worry all over her, “You need to rest. Now, Sylas.”
“Yeah, I’m getting that message loud and clear.”
I told Velra, “He can rest here for a bit if you think he’s too weak to be teleported or vamp-sped.”
She blinked at me, then flicked her gaze to the house. The front door was open because I’d gone inside with Vax right after the battle to clean the blood off us. We could’ve done it magically, but he’d understood that I’d needed a few moments to… you know, calm the hell down.
I saw her focus on the special way the living room was set up, definitely noting the cobalt-blue throws and cushions.
Then she beamed at Vax and me. “This is a new home? For the four of you?”
“It’s our place and—Vax?”
He grinned and stroked my nape, as he told Velra, “Yes. It’s our place. We stayed here for the first time last night.”
“That’s beautiful,” she said. “Congratulations.” She rubbed her fingers together. “Winter has something so perfect to come home to.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. It’s all… moving along awesomely.”
“Huh, I guess your temporary abdication isn’t gonna be so temporary now after all,” Vorzyr spoke, coming over with Evira. “New place. New life. No Dracoryn Realm bullshit?” he asked her. “Exalt all the way?”
“Not something publicized to said Realm or anyone in it yet,” she told Vorzyr pointedly.
He smiled. “You know I’ve got you.” He looked at me and nudged Evira.
She cleared her throat and told me, “I know you offered to come with me to this meeting I’m having with Vorzyr and Fanor today, but there’s—”
“It’s a dragon thing?”
“Not that, really.”
“It requires a whole lot of subtlety and patience?”
She winced. “You know I adore you just the way you are. The truth is, it’s gonna be hours of boring, technically draconic political threads and puzzle pieces that—”
“Got it.” I chuckled. “I’m seriously good. Vax actually needs me as backup. He’s heading home, and I don’t want him walking in there alone in case things take a turn. Some potent Ifrit flame could come in handy if an extraction is needed.”
“Hades, that was a swift escalation you just painted oh-so vividly,” Vax said, grinning at me. “Honestly, it’s not far from the reality that could come to pass. It’s a big ask I’m going there with.”
“For the vibrational resonance boost?” Evira queried.
“Exactly.”
“What was that about resting right here for a bit?” Sylas spoke, and we looked to see him being helped over by Cassius.
I saw Kai, Ariana, and Vorzyr teleporting out.
“This is our son’s new home with his loves,” Velra told Sylas and Cassius. “A surprise he’s gonna have when he gets back.”
Cassius started scanning all around.
Sylas’ whole face lit up. “Things have come a long way.”
Velra stroked his back. “Come on, let’s get you sleeping.”
“For the love of Hades, finally,” Cassius grumbled, which had Velra then stroking his back, too.
It was… fuck, it was cute as hell.
Evira, Vax, and I exchanged a look, getting it on so many levels.
I couldn’t wait.
I couldn’t wait until the four of us were living here full-time.
Settled here.
Settled with each other.
Once we got Win back—and we fucking would—it would be our life together always.
Forevermore.