Everlasting Kingdom (The Winter Court Chronicles Book 3)

by Stephany Wallace

  Every muscle in my being tensed wildly, and my eyes stung at the true sight of her. Resolve and promise engulfed me. “He will pay for this,” I ground out, fists slightly trembling while the pain and anger rushing through me fueled my purpose. Laeroth would die, even if I had to burn with him to accomplish it.

  My wife’s hand squeezed mine in support, and her soothing energy flowed into me, but my mind was made up. I would end this, once and for all.

  “Are you all right with this decision, darling? I can understand it might not be an easy one to support.” Grandmother’s question was directed at Avrielle. When my eyes sought hers, they brimmed with tears.

  “Regardless of the lie they told, Alannah and Cyrrus were my parents. They loved me and raised me with honor, strength and compassion. Cyrrus was loving and kind to me. To him, I was his daughter, and he will always be my father. I love them both, and although I became accustomed to excuse Laeroth’s actions, I have never seen him for anything other than what he truly is. A monster. I normally wouldn’t condone of ending a life, but the Dark King needs to be stopped, by whatever means necessary.”

  The tears fell from her star shaped lashes and I pulled her to me, claiming her lips and kissing her ache away. Her words rang true in my heart and I knew how much this hurt her… her pain became my pain… but this had to be done.

  “What your parents did was a sacrifice, but I know they love you with all of their beings. You are their daughter, no matter what.” Mother’s words pulled Avrielle’s gaze to hers.

  “I have meant to say this before, but I couldn’t find the words, or the courage, my queen. I’m truly sorry about my parent’s betrayal, and my mother’s betrayal to your friendship. I can only imagine how much that must have hurt, and I’m so sorry.”

  This time, it was my mother’s arms that embraced her. “There is nothing for you to apologize about, my sweet child. Regardless of what Laeroth told you, your parents were never given a choice. If she hadn’t agreed to bear his child, he would have killed Alannah.”

  Mother pulled away, caressing Avrielle’s hair as she looked into her eyes.

  “Your mother would have taken death, but Cyrrus and I begged her to please agree. We couldn’t bear to see her die. It was selfish of us to ask that of her, but the seer eased her mind, telling her that the child she would bear would have an important destiny. So it was settled.”

  “You knew? All that time, you knew?” my wife whispered, shocked, and I reached for her hand, kissing it.

  “Yes, I’m sorry we put you through this. There was no other choice.”

  They hugged again and Avrielle kissed my mother’s cheek. “I understand.”

  Avrielle loved her parents and I was certain she would not change a moment of her life with them. Kah and I made sure that Alannah and Cyrrus, as well as Estharis, were out of Laeroth’s reach. Safely hidden from him within the kingdom, in one of the villages where no one would recognize them. Once all of this was over, they’d be able to start again.

  “Well, enough sadness,” Grandmother offered, and the illusion returned to hide her scars and her past. “Tonight is a night for celebration. We are together once again, and love flourishes in us.”

  Mother’s gaze went to my father and he gently wiped the tears off her skin. Selenia smiled and turned towards Avrielle. “It is a pleasure to finally be in your presence. We are well met.” Avrielle tried to curtsy, but my grandmother stopped her. “A queen bows to no one, except the Dragon Lord of course,” Father chuckled as they hugged.

  “If I can be half the ruler you were, I know I will serve our people well,” my wife pledged with a head bow, and love, pride and purpose rushed through me. That was my queen.

  Selenia cupped her cheek. “You will be much better than I ever was.” She smiled and turned towards Gaby. “And you, my darling, I can see now why Ash was so smitten with you, you are strong, feisty, and oh so beautiful.”

  Gaby grinned. “That’s what I’ve been telling him all this time!” We laughed as they hugged. “It is truly a pleasure to meet you. Any family of Ash is my family, if you ever need anything—even though I have no powers because, you know, I’m just an itty bitty human—all you have to do is ask.” She winked.

  “You are far more special than you realize.” Our grandmother’s gaze twinkled.

  “He fought for you, you know.” Gaby frowned, looking at Ash. “He demanded I open the portal so he could bring you here.”

  “He did?!” Gaby, Mother, Nyx, and I all asked in unison.

  Selenia grinned, facing our mother. “He recited to me the words your father used to ask me to marry him. How could I deny him after that?”

  “He did?” Mother repeated, shocked.

  “I did?” Ash frowned, scratching his head.

  I stared at them as perplexed as Nyx was, while two brilliant stars shone in Gaby’s eyes. She looked at our brother with great love. My lips stretched into a satisfied smile. She had brought out the man I knew my brother could be.

  Mother cupped Ash’s cheek. “I shared my father’s words with you during a dinner shortly before the Blooming Ceremony, I’m glad to know you were listening after all.”

  Ash smirked. “It took the right woman to make me understand.” He lowered his head to Gaby, taking her into his arms and kissing her lips.

  “Wait,” Nyx interrupted the emotional moment. “Why did our grandfather have to convince you to marry him? Wasn’t he your fated? If the Goddess paired you, the decision was already made.”

  Selenia’s lips stretched mischievously. “Let’s just say, I’ve never been too fond of others telling me what I should do. I was raised to be queen, powerful and strong-minded, just as my mother was, and I was certainly not going to submit to anyone’s will, other than my own.” She huffed. “Even the Goddess’.”

  Father’s lips twitched. “The original royal line—which my family was sworn to protect—was made of powerful queens, not kings.” He explained.

  “I was to be the next queen to rule,” our grandmother continued. “But I was also much the stubborn being my father was. So I did not marry my fated. Your grandfather wasn’t Fae. He was human. An Irish warrior to be exact, protector of the Druid Court of his time.”

  Shock rendered me speechless, as it did my brothers.

  “I guess your destinies have been to defy the order of things all along?” Gaby said in question.

  Selenia nodded. “Yes, my darling. And to claim our rights.” Her gaze suddenly went to Gaby’s ear. “What is that?” She gently turned her head to the left, and we noticed a diamond studded earring on her right side, it was long and it resembled our elongated ears.

  “It’s an honorary Fae ear,” Avrielle answered instead from my side. “Ora and I made it for her, with silver and the diamonds found here in the mountain.” The excitement was clear in her voice. “Now, she’s officially one of us.”

  I chuckled as Gaby grinned, happily.

  “My diamonds.” Father huffed.

  “Wow,” Gaby whispered. “So, it is true that dragons hoard things!”

  “I don’t hoard, it’s my collection. Mine!” Father growled.

  “Okay, love. Calm down.” Mother patted his hand, while rolling her eyes.

  Avra’s lips dropped into a pout. “But I don’t hoard anything. All the stones in this mountain are mine. They are mine.”

  “Yes, they are, love.” She soothed.

  We chuckled.

  “Well, let us begin,” Father reminded everyone, clearing his throat, and we all nodded, returning to our spots before the altar.

  Ora appeared then, pushing a rolling table taller than her, with three empty glasses on it and a dagger. I frowned wondering what else Father would have us drink, and what the purpose behind it was.

  “I’m not drinking any other strange potions,” Nyx complained. “I don’t care if she is our grandmother.”

  Father’s rumbling laughter danced around us, he stepped forwards. “I thought you wanted to k
now about the Bond of Three. Was I wrong?”

  That peaked my little brother’s interest. His eyes widened as he stepped closer to the table Ora had set before us. “But you said it wasn’t time yet?”

  “Now it is,” Father assured. “Please slice your palms and pour a little of your blood in all three glasses.”

  “Wait! We are going to drink each other’s blood?” Nix whisper-screamed and I repressed a laugh. His expression became queasy. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “I thought you wanted to be a vampire,” Gaby joked and he glowered at her. She laughed unapologetically, and I turned my laugh into a cough when he scowled at me.

  “You drank my blood before without protest,” Father reminded him.

  “Yeah, but you were the Dragon Lord, who says no to him?”

  Selenia chuckled. “These boys are adorable. I can’t believe I missed this for so many years.”

  “Excuse me,” Ash was the next to complain. “I am tall, dark and sexy, and anything else you want to add to that, but I am not adorable. Ouch!” he rubbed his side where Gaby’s elbow had just hit him.

  “In any case,” Avra continued. “It is different for us, and you must drink from each other to seal the bond you were born with.”

  I nodded, accepting the command and reached for the dagger.

  “But what if it tastes bad?” Nyx added, reluctant.

  “Did my blood taste bad?” Father rebutted, amused.

  “No. It was strange, as though it wasn’t blood at all. It revitalized every cell in my body and infused me with energy.” He reached for his face as though to fix his glasses, and then cursed under his breath. I chuckled.

  “Like an energy drink.” Gaby added. “That’s so cool. I mean super weird, but totally cool.”

  “And so, this shall feel the same.” Avra looked at me and nodded once.

  Slicing my hand, I fisted it over the first glass and a small gasp left me when the blue sparkling liquid poured out of me, and into the glass.

  “How?” Nyx whispered, stepping even closer.

  “You’ve already transformed into your dragons. That is Drayvok blood.”

  A slow smile tugged at my lips as I continued to pour my blue blood into the next two glasses. Once I was done, I handed the dagger to Ash. He lifted his hand and did the same, filling the glasses with the mystical blue liquid with swirling silver particles that seemed alive. Nyx was next.

  “Every five hundred thousand years, Drayvok are blessed with the Bond of Three.” Father explained, but paused.

  A claw extended from his fingertip, he sliced his palm and poured his blood into each of our glasses. He grasped the now fully filled glass in front of me, and took a small sip. His eyes glowed briefly as he swallowed.

  “If their lives are abruptly cut short—before the five hundred thousand year mark—then a new bond is formed. Three brothers, an unbreakable tie, a destiny greater than they can imagine.”

  He turned to face the altar and gestured to the thrones that rested in the back, covered by shadows. As his hands moved, the chandeliers above them came alive, lighting the four thrones. Three located in the front, and one in the next level behind them—as though watching over them.

  He faced us again. “The Dragons of the Temple.”

  I stared at him, taken aback, the truth crashed into me. My heart thundered in my chest with the implication, while my scales began to move rampant over my skin, except my dragon self wasn’t shocked by this, it was honored. The image of Zulzrass, Xionix, and Undry—the three blue dragons that fought alongside our Father during the Dragon Cataclysm—returned to me.

  “We are the next Holy Dragons…” Nyx whispered the words I was too stunned to utter.

  “Yes, you are. Now drink.”

  Father handed me the glass and I reclaimed my spot, as the responsibility once again fell on me. I was destined to rule the Everlasting Kingdom, I was a Holy Dragon, and the next Dragon Lord—once our father passed. I needed something stronger than blood. Scotch perhaps. Nevertheless, I wasn’t fazed by the knowledge of who I was, who I needed to become. I accepted it and welcomed the challenge.

  This was the reason I was born, why I had trained as hard as I did, and why our family had risked everything for me… for my brothers.

  I tipped the glass back with my brothers and we drank. The second the blood hit our throats, a rush of power stronger than I had ever felt burst inside us, our eyes glowed as our bodies trembled, adjusting to the change and receiving the energy we each offered to the other. Our hands fisted and our bodies began to partially transform. Scales erupted, ripping our shirts to threads while covering our arms like sleeves. They concealed every inch of our skin, our fists, and even our fingers as though they were armor gauntlets. Our mouths opened, and our dragons roared, the thunderous sound reverberating through the temple.

  When the power high dissipated, the scales began to pulse and retracted, resuming their normal caress over our bodies, matching the now soothing rhythms of our hearts. I stared at my brothers, while our eyes stopped glowing. A silent communication passed between us as they accepted their destiny, and we turned to face the others. Mother’s hands cupped her mouth as the tears fell from her eyes, awed.

  Father cleared his throat from emotion. “Welcome to your temple, my sons.”

  *

  “Are you ready?” I asked beside my brothers as we stood upon the altar, looking down on our parents.

  “We have been for a long time,” Avra answered, kissing Mother’s hand as they faced each other. “You know what to do,” he whispered, and I nodded.

  Closing my eyes, I called for the words he had shared with Avrielle and I, when he performed our ceremony. “Today, you become one.”

  “Finally!” Our grandmother said from the pews where she sat with our women, and we all chuckled.

  “Your essences forever connected, your magic eternally intertwined.” My voice trembled at the same time it resounded around us with power. It was not lost on me that my first act as a Holy Dragon was to marry my parents. I smiled and connected with my essence, pushing it out of me, letting it bathe them. Pursing my lips, I felt the cool energy rush through me as my dragon self came forth. The next second, a white glimmering mist shot out, it whirled around my parents, engulfing them. Their eyes glowed and I knew they were feeling the same thing Avrielle and I felt in this moment.

  “I am Kyr, son of Avra, Drayvok and protector of this realm and all others, and with the Goddess as my witness, I untie the bond once intended between Serene and Laeroth, and end it here today, for no other woman deserves that fate.”

  Father nodded, confirming my decision and I closed my eyes, reaching for the Goddess’ light. Somehow, I knew she was with me. I could feel her inside my heart, and I was certain she was watching.

  “No two souls have ever been more deserving than the two now standing before you.” The Goddess’ melodic voice echoed in my mind, and my eyes watered at the overwhelming love that bathed my being. It came from her. “Your request is granted, my child. The bond is forever broken.”

  Mother gasped, and I opened my eyes to see her reach for her chest. Father stepped closer, his eyes intently gazing into hers. He could feel the fated bond ripped from her. Their bodies slightly trembled while the Goddess’ energy robbed me of breath, rushing through me and into them. They stepped closer, embracing each other, but their gazes never faltered to hold the other. I knew they were experiencing the true power in their love’s bond, now free of the magic that had held Laeroth to my mother.

  Taking a settling breath, I stepped closer. “You belong to no one but one another, you shall love no one but the other, and exist only for your bond.” I looked at my father. “Serene’s every pain and happiness is yours,” my gaze shifted to my mother. “And Avra’s purpose is your purpose. You will find strength in each other and be from now on, one in peace, one in power, one in love.”

  My eyes flew to the top of the temple as the Goddess’ power d
escended on us all.

  The light above us increased until it was almost blinding, my parents’ eyes closed, receiving her blessing until the energy disappeared. I smiled, unable to stop the emotion brimming in my eyes.

  “You are now tied to one another as our parents.” Everyone chuckled. “The Goddess and I have blessed this union. No one shall ever tear it apart.”

  Without another word, Avra pulled his wife into his arms, and claimed her lips in a binding kiss that had waited far too long to graze their lips. My brothers sniffed beside me as a tear spilled from my eye. Kings didn’t cry, but I didn’t bother to wipe it away as love, pride, and honor invaded my being at the sight of the miracle before me. They deserved this.

  “Not in front of the children, please,” Gaby said in a singing voice, and our parents broke the kiss, chuckling.

  “I’m not crying, you are crying!” Ash growled at our little brother, and everyone laughed.

  “Oh, the hell with them. They are grown men, they can handle it.” Mother gripped Avra’s suit and pulled him to her, their lips crashing against the other once again, as her arms wrapped around his neck, sealing their love.

  LAEROTH

  The Dark King

  *

  Sharp fiery pain traveled through my chest and gut, forcing me to my knees as something ripped inside me.

  “My king, are you all right?”

  “My king! What’s happened?”

  Voices became urgent around me as Khet-ui, Scyron, and the other guards in the throne room rushed to me.

  My eyes widened, yet I could not see, things blurred while the pain spread in me, all consuming, almost paralyzing. Pins and needles stabbed my suddenly sensitive skin, and my breath became ragged as I struggled to get the air into my lungs. My form shook. I held myself to the floor as best I could, waiting for it to pass. I didn’t have to wait long. As abruptly as it began, the attack on me disappeared, leaving me empty.