“How are you, Lana?” Storm asked, approaching my other side. He laid his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
“I’ll be all right. You?”
He nodded once.
I noticed a small satchel in his hands and inclined my head toward it. “What’s that?”
He cleared his throat. “We spoke once about you receiving your warrior markings.”
My lips parted as my gaze jumped to the tattoos on his arm. I remembered how beautiful I thought they were when I first noticed them. Back when he told me their meaning—that Mysthaven Guardians get them after their first kill to remind them that, even when justified, taking a life leaves a mark.
“I thought if you were ready, you’d allow me to perform it,” he added.
“He’s done all of ours,” Kade said from my side, running a hand down my arm in comfort.
“Only if you want them,” Storm reassured. “The choice is yours.”
I smiled at him but hesitated, thinking about what the sentiment meant to me now. I’d killed an untold number of dark ones as well as many of the king’s men inside his study before Thames was released.
That list now included Casimir and Andras. The thought of having those deaths marked on more than just my conscience made me pause.
“If I may.” Storm apparently sensed my reluctance and sat on the side of my bed. “I had an idea.”
Glancing up at him, I met his gaze.
“Our tradition started a long time ago, in a land where brutality reigned. It made sense for us in Mysthaven because many times we had to dig deep to hold on to our humanity, especially when the dark ones spread and Dargan’s commands became more vile.” Storm unzipped the pouch, letting me see inside to a pot of black ink and some sharpened tools. “You’ve never succumbed to your own version of the darkness within, even with what you’ve endured, Lana. I wonder if you might start a new tradition. One where we honor those you fight for. Your marking can remind you of your strength. The cost of creating the world you’ll rule, even if it’s for the better.”
My heart beat faster as I thought about Storm’s idea. The beautiful meaning would allow me to honor the tradition of my friends while making it something of my own too.
“I—” Reaching forward, I gripped Storm’s arm. “I would love that. Thank you.”
He bowed his head and rose. “I can set up everything here.”
Kade tugged on my arm, pulling me toward him so he could cup my face. He kissed my lips, then rose. He didn’t say anything, but it didn’t matter. I felt his pride and his love for me. His shadows lingered by my side as he ushered me up off the other side of the bed.
He straightened the sheets to give Storm a flat space to work. “Where would you like it?”
I bit my lip, thinking for a moment. “My back?”
He nodded and flipped two pillows around, moving me to the edge of the bed. “Lie here on your stomach.”
I reached over to the nightstand, grabbing the journal so I could continue reading while he worked. I supported the book in front of me with a throw pillow. Kade’s shadows surrounded me as I removed my shirt before laying on the bed.
As Storm continued preparing his tools, Kade sat in my reading chair nestled against the wall, just a few feet away. I opened the journal and found my spot. The first mention of Apollo. I would understand everything there was to know about this blade gifted to me from a line of queens. I glanced at Kade, earning a smile.
“This will hurt, but I’ll make it as quick as I can,” Storm offered reassuringly.
“I can handle pain.”
Kade leaned forward, brushing my cheek gently, as Storm began to work.
As the instrument touched my skin, a piercing sting radiated across my back, but after a few minutes, it numbed. My magickicked into gear and gave me a reprieve from the initial shock of the needle’s touch. While the discomfort lingered, I swallowed it, letting the pain remind me of those who’d died for this cause.
Taking a deep breath, my focus returned to the journal. The entry was from Queen Daniella, Evelyn’s daughter and my great-great-grandmother. Too many of my family’s line had met early deaths. Over the thousand-year time period between Evelyn and me, there were four women. All with powerful magic and all pouring their beautiful magic into the weapon I now carried.
How Evelyn continued our line without her mate made my stomach turn though. I didn’t know if I could have done it.
From the hand of Queen Daniella:
