“Do not lose your soul for Caelisium. You have a choice, Evie, and I want you to take it.
Find a forgotten place, maybe even a new realm, and leave. Create the home our people deserve somewhere else. Leave the devastation… leave Raithian behind. There is more than one way to save our kingdom. Find a new home where you all get to be freenow, not later. No one else has to die.
Choose life, Sunshine. Choose your happiness. Choose yourself.
Your mother and I love you so very much, and we are with you every step of the way. Whatever your decision might be, we are proud of you… and always will be.
In love and hope,
Your father, Ezra.”
Tears fell freely from my eyes as Braxton took the letter from my hands, bringing me fully into his embrace. Resting my head to his chest, I allowed myself to feel everything I was supposed to feel. The pain, the hope, but above all, the unconditional love my parents had infused into that message.
“What do you want to do?” Braxton whispered against my temple, calling my attention to back him.
“What do you mean?” I glanced up at him, wiping the wetness off my cheeks.
The light changed in his eyes, kindness sparkling in them. “What do you decide, Evie? Your parents gave you a choice, and I’m making sure you still have it.”
“But we can’t just pick up and leave,” I protested, still half in shock. “This is your home too, your legacy. I can’t tell you to—”
“My home is wherever you are, Evanna. Our love is my legacy.”
His large hands cradled my neck, and he stroked my cheek with his thumb, a tender smile tilting his lips.
“Our people will follow, whether it is to a new world or the battlefield. So will my Dragons. I’ll call on them and get as many as will come. There are still uninhabited islands, mountains, and rainforests in the Mirror World. We can choose one and settle there. If there are indigenous people, we can trade with them. I’ll teach them about living with Dragons and even give them a few to bond with. In turn, they will teach us about their land and welcome us so we can build a new home there for all of us.”
He suddenly made a face.
“I mean, hopefully they’ll welcome us. Otherwise, I would have to take my Dragons back from them and that would beawkward…”
Laughter escaped my lips, and I smacked his chest for making light of the situation. Leave it to Braxton to always say something funny.
Chuckling, he adjusted his arms around my waist, glancing down at me with love. “If you want a new start, I will make that happen for you, Evie. All you have to do is ask.”
A million thoughts went through my head as I looked into his eyes, the most prominent one was that I couldn’t believe he would do that for me. Caelisium meant so much to him too, especially now that Braxton had finally made peace with who he was. Braxton Devenish Skystorm, Caelisium’s rightful king.
And there it was…
That was my mate’s true grand gesture. The one no one else could ever aspire to ever surpass. It wasn’t a field of rare flowers, or meaningful jewelry, it was actually him. His selflessness. Braxton would choose those he loved over himself every time. Our happiness and safety were his own, and he would do everything to give that to us. It was who he was…
A true pure-hearted Devenish. My king.
“This is why you have my heart,” I added without explanation.
Confusion briefly clouded his eyes, but I pulled him down, my mouth crashing over his. He instantly gave in to me, and for a moment, we lost ourselves in each other.
“I love you,” I murmured over his mouth, pulling back to look up at him. “I choose to stay. I believe in you, Braxton. I believe in us. And my heart is telling me this is not the time to move on. We are almost there. True freedom is near, and we will win this fight together.”
31
BRAXTON
The hot yet dry winds of the Desertlands began to softly swirl around me as my body lifted from the ground. Fiery orange sand darted in all directions below my feet, until it rose from the earth like a sandstorm, following my silent command.
A slow smirk tilted Raithian’s lips with my accomplishment, and he waved his hand, signaling me higher while he floated above the desert too. “Gather the energy and let the sand concentrate around your fists. Do not order it. Do not force it. Just guide it and hold it. You don’t need to control it; it will follow you.”
And so, I did.
