Noctis was on a mission, and he stormed right for me. His hand clasped the back of my neck, tethering through my hair. His other hand drifted along my back, stopping just above my belt.
My head tilted back, neck exposed, and Noctis used the tilt to lean in. Our lips melted into each other, and he erupted in need. His tongue ran across my lower lip, his teeth gently grazingthe skin. The world had gone quiet in the strange, hollow way it does after too much noise.
The kiss came fast, like neither of us could stand the space between us a second longer. It wasn’t careful or hesitant. It was heat and relief and everything left unsaid crashing together at once.
Without separating, he lifted me under the thighs. My legs wrapped around his waist, clinging tightly to him.
I didn’t want to let go. I didn’t need to ever again. I wanted more—wanted all of him then and there.
My nails dug into the skin of his shoulder, and he hissed. A smile played against his wet lips.
“We can savethatfor later,” he laughed against my tingling mouth and lowered me to the ground. His head dropped to mine, and his eyes closed. “Next time you shackle me, I better have more fun than I did today.”
“Promise,” I said, but I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. It was raw and emotional, packed with weeks of hard-earned victory.
Evelyn cleared her throat. Calvin and Jun stood behind Noctis, attempting to look in any direction other than the two of us. Raven perched on Calvin’s shoulder, eyes staring right at us.
When Noctis and I finally pulled back, neither moved far, still close enough to feel the echo of the tension between us.
We had much to do to ensure our life-long peace, but I looked upon my family with such pride, a quiet ache threading through it all. The victory felt heavy in my chest, shadowed by the absence of Zahara who should have been standing here with us.
I ripped myself from Noctis’s arms, throwing mine over Calvin and Jun’s necks.
“She would be proud of you both. For what you saved, and the lives you finally get to reclaim.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Noctis
Dirt dug beneath my nails, the moon’s light reflecting a sheen cast off my sweating body. I’d been at it for hours, tearing into the land and carrying each slain to rest. The ground was compacted, heavy, and dense from the rainfall and the blood that seeped into every crevice.
When incoherent soldiers returned home to their families, they noticed the missing loved ones. They watched as I lowered each one into their grave. The battle cries shifted into sobs of grief. War drums turned into silent, still hearts. Metal weapons clashing faded into pleas and prayers to me—the Shepherd of Souls—to deliver the fallen to peace.
Although my body begged for respite, I allowed the families to let me know when they were ready for goodbyes.I waited while the final group stood crowded around a woman's body, sobs wracking the three young children. HER children.Their father stood behind them, resting a hand around their shoulders, whether in comfort or protection I couldn't be sure.
He gave me a nod, and I lowered her gently into the soil with my powers. Dirt was piled atop her form with my hands and arms, and only when the land had returned to some illusionof peace, did I stand.
Hundreds of lives lost. Thousands of lives changed forever.
I hated myself for not being faster. For not saving more people. For not beingcapableof saving them. Even more than that, I hated myself for wanting to run. The adrenaline coursing through my blood, begging me to return toher. My love. My Blood Tie. My Caelyn.
To feel her lips against mine again, her skin rubbing along my own…
Images of my encaged father flashed through my mind, and dread settled deep in my gut at the thought of facing him once again. I would never forgive the godsire—not only for the childhood I’d barely survived at his hands, but for the death of my mother and Zahara. It was like losing two mothers in one lifetime.
I’d also never forgive the titan—who ran off after the Ocean Mother perished at the hands of Caelyn—for attacking me and forcing Caelyn to fight alone.
A dragon landed with ease at my side, shuffling its massive claws in irritation. Finnegan dismounted, but I kept my attention on the mourning family. Yet another mother lost to the cruelty of the gods. A part of me ached for the poison the Ocean Mother fed Caelyn to rid my own memories. Maybe then I wouldn’t see my mother’s lifeless body every time I closed my eyes. Maybe then the guilt of not fighting back wouldn’t eat me alive every damn day. But then I wouldn’t remember Caelyn, and that would have been a punishment all on its own.
“I’m not coming back, Finn,” I murmured to my friend as he joined my side.
“We know.” It was definite yet understanding, and I sighed. Finnegan fought with me in the last war we faced, and although he was one of my greatest acquaintances, I was precisely where I needed to be.
Finnegan continued. “We brought your belongings down with Azrakel.” He gestured toward my opaline dragon.
Azrakel snuffed in annoyance, and admittedly, I deserved it. My dragon was left in Aetherkin Bound when I vanished in search of Caelyn. It wasn’t my intention to hurt my beloved beast, but when I heard her cry, Azrakel was in the stables asleep. I couldn’t wait to saddle and mount, instead opting to jump from the cliff that dropped me into the Terraguard Bound. I’d hoped one day the dragon would forgive me, but I also knew it’d come with actions, not words.
I shifted my attention to Azrakel, who only turned slightly and crooked his neck.
