“Just tell us!” Charles shouts, standing and pointing at me.
“I can’t!” I shake my head, looking at the cloaked figures behind Josie and Danny. “I was too youn—” The barrier glows again and I cry out in pain. “I didn’t do it. Please, believe me. Vallier,” I whimper as I watch those blades start to slice through their necks slowly, blood spurting out from them as my eyes meet Josie’s.
Her dark green eyes are kind, telling me without words that it’s okay as a tear slips from her eye. Her head turns toward Danny, blood coloring her lips, and they look at each other in so much pain, and love and heartache until her body falls to the side, her eyes closing for the final time. Danny lands next to her, his chained hands touching her like he always has done, wanting to be as close to her as possible. Even in death their bodies are close, always with each other, and as I watch their essence coming from their body, I let it all out in an anguished scream.
All the pain, all the hurt, all the heartbreak comes from me as Runa stands and lets out a mournful howl within me. Cracks form on the barrier before it flashes, and I’m flung back, my body hitting against it as my chains pull, and then I’m yanked to the floor.
I see black boots appear through my blurry vision in front of me, laces tied neatly but now covered in specks of blood. I lift my head, sobs still wracking my body, guttural sounds coming from me as Darius crouches on the other side of the barrier. He looks at Kade behind him, still gripping his head in his hands, to Anna, Taylor, Sebastian, Hudson and Colten who are trying to get up, pulling on their chains. Then to Josie and Danny, their essence floating up and into the air. Then finally to Josh on his knees to the left of me, his head hanging low, before his eyes come back to mine, flashing black quickly before returning to green.
He clenches his jaw. “This is only the beginning for you if you don’t—”
“Remember what I told you in the cave,” I cry, cutting him off as my eyes lock with his. Darius’ dark brows lower in confusion as I continue. “About someone you love, protecting it.” My eyes flash, and my face begins to tingle. “I’m too late for them,” I sob as I look at Danny and Josie’s bodies behind him. “But I can’t let anymore be taken from me.”
“What the fuck are you on about?” he demands, voice harsh. He looks behind him, at Lord Higher Charles who still stands, looking toward us before his gaze meets mine again.
“I can’t let it happen, but if I must reveal myself, so will you,” I choke out. “But you are not worthy of being hidden, of being Vihnarn.” His eyes widen at my words, shock spreading across his face as he looks over my features.
“Don’t,” he growls low, so low that a shiver goes through me as I hiccup through my sobs.
“We are all falling, and so will you.”
I feel whispers of fingers stroking my face, palms cupping my cheeks, and I look deep into green eyes speckled with silver before I close them. Feeling a warmth spread all over my body, a warmth that’s familiar.
Safe.
Home.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Let go. This is your path. You have done so well to stay hidden. I didn’t want this burden to fall on your shoulders. I never did, Milal, but it has. I know you are frightened, but the lands needs you to right the wrong. It’s time.”
“Mom,” I whimper, feeling the warmth become hotter, centering at my chest and traveling up to my neck and face.
“Yes, sweetheart, I’m here. I’ve always been here, within you. I made sure of it. It’s time for me to go now, though. It’s time for me to give you the last part of me that has been waiting for you.”
“Don’t go Mom, please. I need you.” I reach out in the darkness, but feel no one there.
“Hush now. It’s alright. All you need to do is let go. You are not going to break the promise you made to me. I release you from it.” Lips touch my forehead, tiny pinpricks of pain caressing there before it becomes hot, and I see flashes of light behind my closed lids.
Memory after memory rushes through my mind. Playing with Mom and Dad in the woods behind our house. Gathering the lesia flowers and giving them to Mom. Dad giving me my knife and the proud smile on his face. Mom and Dad dancing to their own music on our porch. Then pain and confinement. Hiding away from the opening of my cage when I heard footsteps. Sneers and mocking laughter taunting me as I cried. Them touching me. Josh hugging me and panicking about the amount of blood when he got me out of the basement. Josh holding me through the nights and promising me would always be with me.
Getting Kade and cuddling him as he cried after a nightmare and soothing him when he fell. Burying his mate, getting his wolf, and the smile on his face after he changed the first time. Getting our tattoos and creating the blood link. Josie helping me with her hugs and gentle touches, helping me with Kade when he would sometimes stop eating. The way her eyes lit up when they landed on Danny, and Danny twirling her around and laughing as they spoke in hushed whispers to each other. Meeting Solvier for the first time when I had tears rolling down my face in the forest, feeling so lost and having too much pressure from Eridian. Solvier curling up next to me, and me laying against him and sleeping. And him guiding and offering advice as we walked along the lakes and told me stories.
And Darius.
Darius eyes landing on me in The Deadlands. Darius with the wisps. Darius with the wolf pups. Darius with his tattoos. Darius helping me find Sam. Darius as he held me in the cave when I had a nightmare. Kissing me under the moonlight, and looking at me with speckled silver flecks in his eyes, seeing deep into every fiber of my being.
Heat rushes through me, and I welcome it. I welcome it all with open arms as I let go.
“That’s it. I’m so proud of you sweetheart. You are strong, my girl. Show them.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know, Lasandrhea, but have courage and show them. Show them you will not break, that you will not surrender. Show them all exactly who. You. Are.”
The heat leaves my body in a rush, the lingering touch on my forehead disappearing as my eyes spring open. My hair floats around me like I’m underwater, and I rise from the ground, barely feeling any physical pain. My legs are steady, my spine straight, and I feel power coursing through me, lighting me up from within. I keep my eyes on Darius as he follows me to standing, and I see his markings mixed into the tattoos on his neck pulse, reacting to mine on my face, neck and torso.
He looks over my own markings, tracing them everywhere he can see them with light green eyes full of shock and awe. He follows the one in the center of my chest, traveling in delicate lines to spread along my collar bones to the top of my shoulders, then thinly up my neck. His eyes move to my face next, following my markings from my cheekbones to up and around my temples before stopping in the center of my forehead.
“So that’s who you are,” he whispers, reminding me of all the times he’s asked as the great hall becomes silent. The last time he asked me who I was, I told him that I was someone he wouldn’t want me to be.
“I’m Lasandrhea Zaphina Kazari, Canaric wolf, Heir to Zahariss, protector of the lands. You, Darius Rikoth…” I pause, watching as his eyes flash black and his markings crawl further up his neck to just below his jaw. “You are Canaric wolf, Heir to Cazier, destroyer of the below.”
And then I let loose a blast of power, shattering the barrier around me and knocking him back as everyone screams.
To Be Continued…
