I smiled softly. “Your bravery is commendable, and I cannot personally thank you enough for fighting for Brookmere.”
“The honor was ours, Your Majesty.” He bowed his head again.
“Tend to your injuries, eat a good meal, and then return to your homes. Repair what has been broken. Rejoice with your loved ones. We are free from the evil plaguing our land. You deserve to celebrate our victory.”
The group of men bowed once more. “As Your Majesty commands it.”
They walked away, clapping each other on their backs. One of them even jumped into the air, hollering in excitement.
A line began to form as others followed the lead of the first group. One by one, those I’d battled beside thanked me for their victory.
I trembled, overcome with emotions knowing that what Kade said was right. This was the start of a new land. Nobles and lesser Fae stood together, waiting, talking among themselves, and working together to pack up camp and share a meal together.
Each time someone thanked me, I responded, “The victory is yours.”
Because none of this would have happened without Fae from the entire land answering the call.
Close to an hour passed as I stood with Kade by my side, greeting anyone who wished to speak to me.
We tensed when one Fae threw himself at my feet. “Throw me in the dungeon and toss away the key,” he cried. “I did not want to do it, but he threatened to kill my entire family if I didn’t allow his darkness inside of me. I do not deserve to live for what I did to our kingdom.”
I kneeled in front of him, as a few gasps came from the line behind him.
“Look me in the eyes, please.” I ensured his gaze met mine before I continued. “What happened to you was not your fault. You were forced into something you didn’t ask for.”
The man lowered his head, but I pressed a hand to his heart. “When the evil left you, you stayed. You fought. You braved the darkness, and I am proud to have battled this war beside you.”
He opened and closed his mouth, struggling to find words.
I held out my hand, standing with him. “Go return to your family. I’m sure they’re worried about you.”
Though he left visibly upset, his shoulders weren’t as slumped as they had been before.
Kade’s shadows whispered across my cheek and through my hair, begging me to turn to my mate.
“We love you.”
I couldn’t help but giggle—his shadows always were the most vocal with me, but as I let the little pieces of my light out, they wrapped together in complete harmony.
“We love you too. Let’s go home.”
Chapter 45
Lana
Aweek had passed since the battle at the void, though it felt like no time at all.
Between getting back to Ellevail and devising a plan for how to move forward as Atheria instead of Brookmere and Mysthaven, discussing the prisoners of war, setting up teams to help rebuild, and planning for a memorial service, we were all run ragged.
Today though…today we planned to honor those who had fallen during the battle. Not just our final one, but the entire time Thames had infiltrated the minds of both the innocent and the evil people already lurking in our world.
After all, this had taken years of planning, years of seeping into the minds and bodies of our people. Those who fell deserved to be recognized, and we all needed to say goodbye so we could move on. Together. I readied myself to enter the arena, brushing my palms over the front of my dress. Kalliah swatted my hands away and made a few final adjustments to my outfit.
“Are you ready?” she asked me, stepping back and admiring her work.
“I’m not sure I could ever be ready.” I clenched my jaw shut, hoping I had the right words to heal our kingdom. I reachedfor her hand and squeezed it. “But I know with my friends by my side, I can make it through this day.” I took a deep breath. Thousands across the land were grieving the loss of their friends and family. I knew the chances of holding myself together without falling into a puddle of emotions would be next to impossible. Today, I would be a queen grieving alongside her people. Just as I had fought beside them.
I lifted the skirts of my dress and ascended the stairs to the dais overlooking the arena.
