I contemplated telling him about the Angelcurse, but there wasn’t time now. After the ball. I would tell him then. No more secrets.
“I believe you can handle whatever is thrown at you,sorrida. I’m very proud of the way you’ve conquered what you’ve faced so far.”
“Even the rescue?” I looked up at him, expecting frustration for once again running off, but his eyes crinkled as he smiled down at me.
“Especially that.” He placed a kiss to my head. “You were handed a tough decision, and you followed your instincts like a true leader. You’ll find your heart and head will often be at war while you’re forced to consider so many lives beyond your own, but place trust in yourself and your path will be clear. The Spirits bless you, may you always follow your heart and choose what you love.”
His words were simple, boiling down my rule to intuition and choice, but they echoed through my mind as we watched the sun’s rays spread across the mountains, piercing through the wisps of white clouds lingering from the summer day.
I was grateful to have him beside me, reminding me that no matter what happened with the council or my position, with my heart, I wasn’t alone. There was another hand to guide me, to remind me why I was fit for this position when I sometimes forgot myself.
For there was a war on the horizon, and my heart and my head were caught on the brink of battle.
Tonight, I wouldn’t think of it, though. I’d forget curses and queens and heartache. I’d remind myself of the power thrumming through my blood and the promise the Mystique Warriors wanted from me.
“They’re almost ready for you,” Danya said from the door. “We’ll head to the temple shortly,” she directed at my father.
The rest of the council would make their way to the Sacra Temple to wait for me while I completed one ritual in the ballroom with Missyneth. Then, I’d meet them to honor the Angel.
“Thank you, Danya,” I said. Maybe it was the beauty of Daminius, maybe it was the swelling emotion overwhelming me from the conversation with my father, but I stepped up to the Master of Weapons and Warfare and took her hand. “And thank you foreverything you did while I was gone. I truly don’t know how we’d be faring without you.”
Her answering smile was small, but her cheeks blushed as she looked up at me. “It is an honor to serve the Mystique Warriors. And you, Revered.” She shook her dark hair back from her chin, straightening her muscular frame. “We will see our people through any approaching threats together.”
“That we will.” I grinned, warmth blossoming around my heart. “Go,” I told her and my father, hugging him a little tighter one last time, hoping he understood every ounce of appreciation pouring from me. “I’ll meet you down there.”
Then, I turned to the window and stole one last moment to stare out over my sacred city, soaking in the golden sunlight and the joy buzzing through the crowd.
Missyneth would callfor attention soon, but I had some atoning to do first.
Rushing into the ballroom, I ignored the hushed murmur of voices at my entrance and deposited Angelborn and Starfire on the rack waiting before the dance floor to hold the Revered’s weapons. The scene was dazzling, thin golden streamers trailing from the chandeliers and dousing every surface in sparkles. My dress fit right in, but I barely appreciated Jezebel’s fine design.
Instead, I found Santorina and Cypherion, pulling the latter away from a stunning Vale in her emerald gown. He protested, but followed when he saw the plea in my eyes.
“What’s going on?” Cyph asked as I tucked us away into a corner. I hadn’t seen Malakai or Tolek yet, but this was a start.
“I need to apologize.” They stared at me, confusion in their eyes and protests on their lips, but the hurt expressions they’d worn when the Angelcurse was revealed haunted me. “I shouldn’t have hid what I knew from you all. I should have found a way around Damien’s warning. It wasn’t fair to expect your help only to keep secrets.”
“Ophelia, we understand?—”
“No.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t be here without you both. Without all of you. And…just let me finish.” I took a breath. “I didn’t truly try to fight Damien on the warning because if I kept it to myself, it was easier to pretend it wasn’t a threat. I thought telling everyone would be adding kindling to a fire we couldn’t control. The truth is, though, I was the one who wasn’t in control, and that only got worse by letting secrets pile up.”
With my friends—my family—by my side, everything could be controlled. Every puzzle would find an answer.
As I admitted that to myself, those pieces I was given during the Undertaking—the riddles of truth and forgiveness—clicked together. I had seen them in my past, but now I knew how to take the steps forward. To work toward instituting them in my life.
Because the Undertaking may have made me a warrior, but it didn’t ensure that I never made mistakes. I had to work for that. Every day, every word out of my mouth to these people I loved more than life itself, I would work for that.
“Santorina, you may be human, but you’re fiercer than many warriors. You’ve always provided steadfast healing and even stronger friendship.” I squeezed her hand, and silent understanding passed between us. “And Cyph, you may be the most aggravating trainer I’ve ever had the displeasure of working with and the biggest self-sacrificial martyr among us?—”
“Is that supposed to be an apology?” he whispered to Rina.
“She doesn’t do it often,” Rina muttered back. “Maybe she needs practice.”
“But,” I said loudly, smiling at them. “My mind would have fled to dark places long ago without you. So, thank you. I promise to do better.” Words didn’t do justice to the love I held in my heart for them. For Jezebel and Tolek and Malakai. The five people who had gone to the ends of the earth to protect me, to fight for me—even if in ways I didn’t always understand.
One thing was certain—it was more than I deserved.
“You don’t need to thank us, Ophelia,” Cyph said.
