28. Nyx
Chapter 2 8
Nyx
With the flames extinguished, the war finally ends. I place my arm around Lyra’s shoulders, and for a brief moment she leans into me before pulling away abruptly.
“Colton,” she breathes out, her voice thick with emotion as she whirls around. I follow her into the small study across the hall. She falls to her knees beside Colton, and I have to steady myself against the doorframe, hardly believing my eyes.
He still lies on the floor in the center of the room, with Chepi nestled by his side, yipping at us and wagging his tail. I blink several times and take a step closer. Lyra’s shadows—the darkness she poured into him when he was dying—still remain.
Small inky wisps swirl around him, stitching up the last outer layer of skin on his chest. His color is restored, and when she leans over and kisses him on the cheek, I see his chest visibly rise as he takes a breath. I’ve never seen anything like it. I saw him die. His heart stopped. I am certain of it, and yet her dark magic has brought him back.
She feels his chest rise in tandem with my observation and starts to cry again, kissing him frantically on the cheeks and forehead until his eyes flutter open and he steadies her with his hand. Reaching up to cup her face, they lock eyes while everything seems to pause, even time itself, and in this moment I truly grasp the depth of their love for one another.
It doesn’t alter the fact that I need to have a serious discussion with Lyra about what I discovered in my father’s journals, nor does it change that I cannot allow her to marry him. However, I can grant her this moment of joy amidst the pain. When he sits up and pulls her into his lap with a kiss, I step out of the study, leaving them to bask in their moment.
It’s been a few weeks since the battle ended, and I think all of us are ready to leave—myself especially. Lyra and Colton have been staying with Lili while the castle’s reconstruction is underway.
It seems most of the Sorcerers were not truly opposed to Lyra’s leadership. It was all due to Samael’s control over them with that artifact, the mask. Adira, Drew’s right-hand, managed to take Citlali into custody and return her to the Lamia realm to face her own punishments.
Drew and Dorian killed Kaine and his wife but allowed the other higher council leaders to live once they swore allegiance to our side. Bim is going to stay here for a while to oversee things in the Sorcerer Realm until Lyra is ready to ascend as queen. Her birthday is fast approaching, and she will soon be of age to rule. I haven’t had any time alone with her yet to talk, and there has been too much requiring my attention here, so I think I’ll put it off for a bit longer.
“I think I have things under control here if you want to head back to Nighthold. Most of the men have already returned home, and there hasn’t been a violent attack since that night,” Bim says from where he sits at the conference table.
I lean against the window, looking out at the pine trees. “Yeah, I think I’ll do that. You’ll reach out if you need anything?” I ask, turning to look at him. He’s sorting through paperwork, and I don’t envy his job.
“Yeah, we’ll see each other at the ceremony too. Unless you’ve changed your mind about attending,” Bim says, and I pause, not wanting to divulge anything to him yet.
“Yeah, I’ll see you,” I say and channel down to the foyer.
I debate whether to say goodbye to Lyra and ask how long they plan to stay but decide it’s better not to. I need time to gather my thoughts and see what’s been happening in Nighthold while I’ve been away. After a brief stop at Drew’s, I finally make it back home, only to face Flora’s scrutiny when she storms into my office.
“What’s going on, Nyx? I know that look, and I know you’re planning something,” she says from across my desk.
I run a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of exhaustion. “It’s been a long few days, Flora. I’ve barely slept. Can this wait?” I ask, hoping for a reprieve.
She shakes her head, her arms crossed, her foot tapping in impatience. “No, it can’t wait. I’m serious. If you’re planning to crush that poor girl again...”
“I thought you were on my side,” I counter defensively, but her expression softens slightly.
“I am on your side. But this isn’t about sides. This is about letting Lyra be happy. She loves Colton and has made her choice. Don’t ruin this for them,” she advises, her eyes narrowing as she tries to convey the seriousness.
“I don’t want to ruin anything. Why would you say that?” I respond, irritation creeping into my voice.
She sighs, uncrossing her arms. “Because it’s important. You may resent him, but your feelings shouldn’t cost them their happiness. Remember, he is technically your older brother—you usurped not only his throne but also his first love, Z. Don’t rob him of Lyra as well. You can despise him if you choose, but don’t let your anger dismantle their lives.”
That hits a nerve. I pour myself a glass of whiskey, the liquid’s amber color doing little to calm me. “Don’t talk about Z,” I say sharply, pouring more whiskey than intended.
“You never want to face anything that’s painful. Remember, I lost her too, Nyx. She was my best friend, and I loved her,” Flora adds quietly.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, struggling to contain my frustration inside before I say something I might regret. I did love Z, but I prefer to keep that buried. There’s no bringing her back, so dwelling on her feels pointless.
“I only want to do right by Lyra, I promise. And as much as you think I hate Colton, I don’t. He saved my life, had my back, and I won’t forget that,” I say, which seems to appease her for the moment.
“Good, because I’ve been planning their ceremony and am taking Lyra to try on her dress soon. The last thing I want is to worry that you might ruin her day,” she says.
I nod, pressing my lips into a thin line. I don’t want to talk anymore and have a lot to think about. She sighs heavily then channels out of my study. Finally alone, I relish the peace and quiet, ready to strategize my next move.
Everything is aligning now. With Samael and Kaine gone, the Sorcerer Realm seems ready to welcome Lyra’s leadership. I’m sure Drew will support it, though she’s been quite reserved about her thoughts—at least with me. She and Colton always seem to share some inside joke, leaving me feeling out of the loop.
Nonetheless, I believe she respects Lyra and would support her leading Cloudrum, even if Lyra weren’t with Colton. The Lycans have been unpredictable, but hearing that Rhett ultimately joined our cause gives me hope that they won’t oppose us.
I’m anxious about what Lyra discovered in Zomea and clueless about why she even went there. If she knew what I do, I imagine she’d have returned to me by now.
The situation with Colton is complicated. Despite everything Flora said, I don’t hate him—hell, he was ready to die for me… He did die for me. I need to sort out my plans thoroughly. There’s no scenario where everyone escapes this unscathed.
I must visit Elspeth soon, before she potentially sabotages my plans. I run a hand through my hair, considering the need to review the journals again. I have to be absolutely certain of my course before facing Lyra alone. If she rejects my plan, I might have to take drastic measures. Capture her, confine her—if it comes to that, how far am I prepared to go to save her? I’d raze the world for her.
Rising, I start pacing before the fireplace. I’ll have Twig concoct something to help me sleep. Yes, I’ll rest tonight and revisit everything with fresh eyes in the morning. I’m going to need to bring evidence with me when I confront Lyra.