Eryanth prowled to the door and pulled it open. He walked through their apartments and stepped into the hallway beyond.
Torches of Eternal Flame flickered, casting light over Attion’s face. “Guard them with your life, my friend.”
“Always,” promised Attion, his emerald eyes glinting with a hint of steel. He clasped Eryanth’s forearm.
“I will avenge him, just as I promised,” Eryanth avowed.
“I know you will, shadow demon,” Attion replied and stood in front of the doors.
Eryanth turned and strode down the corridor. A huge grey and white wolf rounded the corner and stalked towards him. Nodding to Tawne, he ran a hand over his friend’s back as they passed. The thick fur was soft under his touch.
Tawne rumbled low in his throat, his eyes glowing. He bowed his head low and stalked to stand next to Attion. With a grumble, he lay in front of the doors and cocked his head before he snarled, letting Eryanth know he was not moving until his king’s return.
Eryanth smiled grimly and nodded his thanks.
Summoning the shadow that lingered in his magic was easier than he remembered. It brought him no joy but he had made a promise and he intended to keep it.
The palace was quiet, the only movement from the palace guards, who did not turn their heads or acknowledge his presence. His shadowy form moved over the stone-flagged floor, invisible to their eyes. It was unnecessary to bother opening the door to the outside. Eryanth glided through it as though it were not there.
In the stables next to the barracks, a cloaked figure awaited. Midnight Fire snorted and dragged his front hoof impatiently at the ground. The figure held his bridle as the stallion threw his head around, sensing Eryanth’s presence.
Elexon swore as Eryanth appeared from the darkness, taking a corporeal form once again. “Shit!” he cursed as his red eyes sparking in surprise. “Since when have you been able to do that?” he hissed.
Eryanth grinned and slapped his friend’s shoulder. “It has always been a gift, but I do not use it often. My guardian and my magic are normally enough.” His face fell. Erebos had bested him, even with his shadow. He brushed off those thoughts; the dark god was gone. The leather bridle creaked as he swung his weight into the saddle.
“Attion and Tawne are in place and will not leave my family until I return,” he informed Elexon.
Elexon nodded. “That is as it should be for tonight. Come, my king, let us bring closure for our friend, my mother and my mate.”
Together they rode into the night, their wings and heads covered by dark cloaks.
They headed down through the city streets. Eryanth muffled the sound of their horses’ hooves with his magic, not paying the slightest bit of attention to those souls lurking in the darkness of the alleyways.
Like two ghosts, they made their way through the dark, snow-laced streets of Valentia. The winter storms were in full force and salt laced the bitter winds. It coated Eryanth’s lips and skin, bringing the boom of angry waves to his ears.
Thirty minutes later they arrived at their destination. Few lights glowed in the tiny cottages that remained habitable. Most of this small fishing dock had been devastated by the battle.
Eryanth reined Midnight in and vaulted elegantly to the cobbled, icy ground. “Wait here. I will not be long.”
Elexon snarled, hate burning in his eyes. “For what he did to Rose, my king, take your time. I’m sure you will find a way to silence his screams enough they don’t disturb this quiet neighbourhood.”
Eryanth nodded once and turned away from the scorching anger in Elexon’s gaze. Perhaps, he reflected, it should be Elexon who exacts revenge.
He looked over his shoulder, about to ask but Elexon merely looked at him. “No. Tallo was your friend, as was my father. You made a promise of vengeance to them both and you must keep it.”
Eryanth turned away. Without another word he stalked towards the ruined cottage, letting the shadows swallow him.
The frigid ocean winds blew through the crumbling walls. Other than its haunting song, the cottage was deathly quiet. For a moment, Eryanth lingered outside its intact bedchamber door. He wished Tallo was by his side. Perhaps, he reflected, he will see me from his place in Eternity.
Gliding through the door, he drifted towards the shape who was huddled under an old cloak on the floor.
Eryanth loomed over Thorn’s sleeping form, listening to the fae’s regular breathing. A satisfied smile curled the King of Avalonia’s lips.
This male was as cruel as Ream ever had been, more so from what Rose had confided in Elexon.
Eryanth leaned in to whisper in Thorn’s ear. “Did you think you could hide from me?”
Thorn’s eyes snapped open but before he could scream, shadows consumed his every thought.
“Welcome to your nightmare,” Eryanth snarled and unleashed his power.
The End
Dearest reader, I hope you have enjoyed the final instalment of Diamond & Eryanth’s journey. Please leave a review here: http://mybook.to/swordsandsacrifice. They are so very important to visibility for a small author like me.
I cannot seem to leave this world alone so I am excitedly writing Jack’s story now, which is the first book in a series of stories set in the Eight Kingdoms. Each book or books will follow characters from The Goddess and the Guardians series. If you love the brown eyed prince Jack as much as I do, keep your eyes open for BLESSED KING. I have included a sneak peak of Chapter One. I hope you enjoy it.
If you’d like to find out more about my books just visit my website books page: https://karentomlinson.com/books/ or you can find me on Facebook, in my Facebook reader group, Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for my newsletter here & receive a free copy of A Bond of Destiny and Dragons which tells you Erzion and Prince Lexon’s story and how Griana became queen of Avalonia.
Blessed King
Chapter 1
King Jack Oden screamed. Agony ripped through him, spreading from his arm until his whole body burned with pain. It was always the same: blood, so much blood. It poured from his body, it saturated his skin, it filled his nostrils with its metallic stench. Jack screamed again, those razor-sharp, black teeth snapping his bone, the dragon’s red eyes flaying his soul.
Would this never end?
Yes. Yes, it will if I go back to my body—back to her…
Jack had been stuck in this nightmare too long, feeling his flesh tear and his bone break, over and over. Time was lost to him now.
He pushed against the wall of wretchedness that had infected his mind. Driving his blade through the dragon’s skull had somehow imprisoned him within the confines of his darkest thoughts. He hammered against that darkness, using every positive and joyous moment of his life as a weapon—until he broke through—and plummeted towards the light.
His consciousness slammed into his inert body. Throbbing pain saturated him, but he rejoiced. It was not that soul-deep agony of his mind that he felt, but a real and tangible pain he knew would heal.
A sudden wave of shadow clawed at his mind, fighting to pull him back under. Black teeth snapped. His flesh ripped and his bone cracked.
An anguished scream tore from his throat.
“Please, make it stop,” he tried to beg, suspended in that strange place between wakefulness and the darkness of his dreams.
Steady hands placed a cool cloth on his face and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Be still, Jack. It’s going to be alright—everything will,” said a calming, sweet voice.
“Lyana?” he croaked.
His mouth was so dry he couldn’t form intelligible words. Blood oozed as his lips split, the viscous liquid coating his dry tongue. A gag rippled up his throat at the familiar tang. He had seen—tasted—so much blood in recent battles, the very thought of it sickened him.
“Lyana?” he tried to say again but it came out as a mere mumble.
Desperate to see her beautiful face, Jack tried to open his sticky eyelids. It was hopeless.
/> Still, it filled his heart with joy to know this beautiful woman had stayed with him, despite him denying his love for her.
At first, he hadn’t believed Diamond’s words when she had all but ordered him to return to his body. His friend, the descendant of the goddess and rightful queen of the fae lands was alive. He didn’t understand how, not after the battle against the Lord of Chaos.
He had been unable to speak or even see Diamond when she had forced her way through that wall of despair in his mind, but he had heard her clearly enough. Her words had touched his very soul. They had given him reason to fight his torment. His beautiful, fierce friend had told him he deserved to be loved, that Lyana had stayed with him. That very knowledge had persuaded Jack to face the harshness of reality and return to his broken body.
Jack had lost his kingdom and his home through inexperience. He had been lied to and manipulated, purely because he had been too young and too arrogant to see it. But no matter what trials he had faced, Jack had never been a coward.
The girl sitting by his side was worth fighting for. Perhaps she would not want him, but he would do his utmost to deserve her. Plus he had made a promise to his people—to rebuild his kingdom. Fear gripped his heart at the enormity of the task awaiting him and, no matter his intentions, he could not stop the dread which settled in his soul. He had failed at ruling his kingdom before.
He swallowed hard.
Jack needed to earn the trust of his people. And he needed to have faith he could succeed this time—no matter his injuries.
“Yes, it’s me, Jack,” the Hourian princess whispered, breaking through his tumultuous thoughts. Her voice cracked as she uttered his name.
He groaned, trying to speak but his mouth was too dry, his vocal cords unused to speech.
“Hush,” Lyana soothed.
There was a rustle of fabric and the weight on his mattress shifted as she stood. It sent pain coursing through him as his body moved.
He cried out.
“I’m so sorry, Jack.” There was a pause before she returned. “Here. Please drink,” Lyana encouraged, her voice shaking.
Icy, sweet liquid dripped onto his lips. Jack greedily licked the cold drops away, though it hurt to swallow.
“That’s it. Here, let me help.” A gentle hand supported his head and the cool metal rim of a cup was pressed against his lips. As soon as the liquid hit his tongue, Jack swallowed and swallowed, until he was gulping down the glorious nectar.
“Slow down,” Lyana chastised just as Jack inhaled at the wrong moment.
His lungs spasmed. He coughed and choked and gasped for air as his ribs and chest burned.
Gods, he was so weak. He had no idea how long he had been without food or water, but it was long enough to make him feeble.
A moan escaped him as a fresh wave of pain travelled from his arm through his body.
Lyana held his head forward. Wiping a soft cloth over his mouth, she dried the tears from his eyes then gently rested his head back against the soft pillow.
“More,” Jack croaked.
Unseen by Jack, Lyana smiled with utter relief. Briefly she closed her large eyes as she sent silent thanks to the new Queen of Avalonia for bringing Jack back from the prison of his mind.
“Of course—but slowly, majesty, or your guards will think me trying to drown you. And who knows what they might do,” she jested.
Jack gave a weak smiled. He forced his eyelids apart, only to squeeze them back together when the light hurt his eyes.
This time he drank slowly.
Lyana held the cup until his thirst was sated.
“Sleep now,” she encouraged. “Everything is going to be fine. You are going home.”
Home? To Stormguaard? How? he wanted to ask, though he felt too exhausted to try.
The enormity of her words hit his heart. He squeezed his eyelids together in an effort to stop his tears. The joy of knowing he was to return home overwhelmed him. He had dreamed of such a thing for so long. To begin rebuilding his kingdom for his people was all he had thought about for the past three years. A dream that felt so delicate, he feared it would remain intangible, something he could never achieve. It was almost too good to be true. He silently sent his thanks to Diamond and Eryanth, her mate and now King of Avalonia, for whatever they had done to triumph over the Lord of Chaos and make this possible.
The delicate scent of roses drifted up his nose and soft lips brushed his forehead in a gentle kiss.
Jack’s instinct was to freeze under Lyana’s touch, to push her away from his weak and broken body—until he remembered Diamond’s words—you deserve to be loved.
If he was to restore his kingdom and become a better—wiser—ruler, he had to learn to change, to trust that Lyana would not leave him if he gave her his heart. And that started now. Smiling a little, he relaxed.
The warmth and scent of her receded as Lyana left his side.
He immediately wanted her to return.
“Why is he in such pain when his wounds are healed?” Lyana asked quietly.
Jack tensed. He hadn’t realised someone else was nearby.
“His mind will always remember the pain of what Sulphurious did. Clarissa and Rayan have healed his body with their wizardry and potions, but the mind is far trickier. That is something only Jack can do.”
A voice he recognised. Firan, the immortal merlord of the Wetlands. The blue-skinned lord was Eryanth’s father.
“I can quiet the agony of his memories whilst we travel, but when you get him to Stormguaard, you will need to encourage him to face them.”
Silence fell. Soft footfalls and the sweet scent of roses signalled Lyana’s return.
Jack held his breath as she paused by his bedside. The knowledge she was so close soothed the worry in his heart, but he wanted to feel her touch again.
Her weight dipped the mattress and her hand gripped Jack’s tightly.
Jack released a relieved breath at her touch.
“I will, Lord Firan.”
Jack’s weight dipped towards Lyana as she leaned into him. Instinctively, his head tilted her way. Her warm breath fanned his ear, sending goosebumps cascading over his skin as she whispered, “Don’t worry, Jack, you will recover and you will become the king you have always wanted to be. We can do this together,” she told him with such conviction he believed her with all his heart.
Gentle magic enveloped Jack, both cooling his skin and settling his mind. He sighed and let his pain ebb away, though he knew this peace would not last and that he would have to awaken eventually.
He curled his fingers around Lyana’s. He could not speak but he could give her hope, just as she had given him. The edges of his dry lips curled upward as she gasped at his response.
No matter his body’s limitations, Jack would not give up; he would fight for the chance of a life filled with possibilities—with love. For the first time in weeks he fell into a deep healing sleep.
Two weeks later near the shores of his homeland, the King of Rhodainia steeled his courage, opened his eyes and smiled at the girl by his side.
To be continued…
Acknowledgments
What can I say? I am so happy and so sad to have reached the end of this series. Diamond and Hugo/Eryanth have been with me for so many years now, I am missing them terribly. That said, I have so many other characters fighting to get out of my head. I am also really excited to be writing a series of stand alone and duology stories based in the Eight Kingdoms for some of the other characters, including Diamond and Eryanth’s children.
I just want to thank everyone who has read this series and stuck with me from the beginning. You are all AMAZING! I am blown away by your support and encouragement.
To all of the active members of my Silver Guardians Facebook Group, I am always in debt to you for your continued support. To Lauren Rebecca Hassan who has generously supported me with beta reading, proofreading and helping me whenever she can, ‘Thank you!’
To my won
derful parents, thank you for fostering my love of books by leaving your read ones around the house for me to find. To my sister, Zanny, thank you for helping me by reading and giving me fabulous feedback and encouragement. Vivvy, you are amazingly strong and everything will work out.
To Jenny Baker, thanks my lovely friend for your constant support and encouragement.
And to you dear reader, I send my heart-felt thanks for following this series to its conclusion. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it, and I I hope you will enjoy my future stories too.
Lastly, I’d like to thank Aaron, Annie and Abbie for your patience and putting up with my need to write all the stories that take root in my mind and have to get out. YOU GUYS ROCK! I LOVE YOU.
Also by Karen Tomlinson
The Goddess and the Guardians
A Bond of Destiny and Dragons
A Bond of Venom and Magic
A Bond of Blood and Fire
A Bond of Sovereigns and Souls
A Bond of Swords and Sacrifice
The Eight Kingdoms
Blessed King
Wiccan Queen
About the Author
Karen Tomlinson is the USA Today Bestselling author of The Goddess and the Guardians YA fantasy books.
Karen adores books and will read any genre that catches her eye. She was whisked away by fairies as a child, has been a dragon rider and grew up learning to fight. (This bit’s true!) She likes nothing better than an epic fantasy full of hot warriors and romance especially when it is set in a magical and dangerous world.
Karen lives in Derbyshire, England, (think Mr Darcy territory) with her husband, twin girls and her dalmatian, Poppy. When she is not busy writing, reading (or eating cake and drinking coffee) Karen likes to keep active. She has been practicing Shotokan karate since being thirteen, loves running, mountain biking and walking in the hills with her family.
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 135
