My breath caught at her admission. She’d been through so much…Did she really mean that?
Before we could respond to that heartwarming sentiment, Ross’s voice carried through the wind, “Are you coming? We need to get started now if you have any hope of having this in time. I have blue steel that I think you’ll love.”
“Go,” Dakath urged her. “We’ll be waiting out here if you need anything, Ky. I can’t wait to see the suit of armor he creates for you. It’ll be fit for an Empress.”
Her chest swelled as she took in a deep breath and smiled. As her lips parted, it seemed she was about to say something but quickly stopped herself before heading through the door.
A part of me wondered if she was about to say she loved us. Perhaps she wouldn’t without Elijah here so that it could all be at once like we did with her.
I was determined to hear those words fall from her beautiful lips before we set sail.
Chapter Twenty
Kyella
Iwas 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.”
