“I should have killed you that day,” he said. “Instead of your mother.”
“You should have. But you didn’t. Now go to hell,” I said calmly. “Auriel’s waiting for you.” I impaled him with my sword.
The light left his eyes, blood pouring out of his mouth and coating his black beard.
I kicked his stomach, pushing him off the blade, and watched as his body fell.
Right over the spot where my mother died. The exact same spot.
I dropped my weapon, tears in my eyes, and found Lyr, and all at once, her arms wrapped around me, holding me close.
It was done. It was over. My father would never hurt me or anyone else again.
The room erupted into cheers and applause. Fucking applause. Dario was clapping and Aiden was smiling and hugging him, and Sean was rushing toward me, his eyes watering, his arms open.
Everyone began to chant, their words coming at once in a cacophony of declarations.
“The tyrant is dead!”
“Arkasva Rhyan!”
“Arkasva Rhyan!”
“Lord Rhyan Hart, High Lord of Glemaria.”
My chest tightened. The title I’d been given by a rebel army in the woods, it was now reality, now being shouted by members of the Glemarian Council. I looked up at the Seat of Power, atthe dais I’d never wanted to stand on before, and my eyes met Kenna’s.
Chapter
Forty-Six
LYRIANA
Hours had passed since Devon Hart’s demise, since Glemaria had been freed. Everyone in the Seating Room had immediately gone to the healing center to see to their injuries. It was mainly Rhyan who needed tending. But a few of our soturi had also needed attention from the fight to remove Devon’s guard.
There’d been a huge meal after, served in the dining hall, all arranged by Kenna.
I sat with her, glad to be reunited, and glad to know she was okay. Not hurt. And no longer under Devon’s threat. And never would be again.
She seemed lighter, happier, relieved. And finally told me then that she was having twins—that was why her belly had grown so big.
We both started laughing and crying, before she thanked me and Rhyan profusely. Because now, she and her babies weren’t in danger from their father.
Following the meal, everyone had gone into meetings. So many meetings. There were so many decisions that had to be made by the Council. The first order of business had been questioning Kenna, to provide any proof she could to verifyRhyan’s claims of his father’s crimes. She had produced his journals, as well as a pile of scrolls he’d written, that detailed many of the decisions he’d made during his reign as Arkasva. He’d been so arrogant, he’d written it all down, believing himself untouchable. It was perhaps the first good thing he’d done. Made it easier to convict him by confessing—even if it was from the grave.
Then, there was what to do about Devon’s funeral, how to announce his crimes, and who would rule in his place until the next Arkasva was crowned with the Laurel. Decisions had to be made about how they would proceed with the transfer of power.
I’d sat through most of the meetings, eager to help, and show my confidence in Rhyan, but I was also curious to see how all of the most powerful nobles would react to everything. To the change.
I’d never been so happy in my life just knowing that Rhyan had support. That he’d quietly had much of their support all along. The number of Council members and nobles who’d come forward admitting that they’d been forced into blood oaths, and then more recently, into Devon’s sinister blood contracts, had been appalling. He’d had far less loyalty than he ever let on. The constant use of magic to force his will onto everyone around him, had in the end, weakened his power. He’d been losing control for a long time, scrambling to keep it.
Only Kane, who had left along with his legion, hadn’t been compelled in any way. It was a true testament of how evil he was, how in line Kane’s views were with Devon’s.
And also … just how awful the promises were that Morgana and Aemon must have made to draw him away. I shuddered, and my heart ached. Morgana, who was my sister, who had felt like a part of my soul. Morgana, who I’d fought so hard to keep from losing because of her vorakh. Now I was losing her in a completely different way. The reunion of Moriel, Ereshya, andShiviel was going to have dire consequences. War was coming. Not just from them, but from the Empire. Glemaria was free, but Emperor Avery still ruled. Bamaria was still New Korteria. And we’d just thrown the first shot.
When word reached him, he’d retaliate.
But I’d think about that tomorrow.
