by K. M. Raya
Reaching up, he leans into me and I lay both of my shaking hands on either side of his achingly familiar face. He looks so startlingly like me—unlike our brother Forrest who favored Lorena’s looks down to his mud brown hair and stone-cold heart. I can’t help but wonder what Moran’s daughter must have looked like. Did she have emerald eyes like Gav? Was she so beautiful that my father couldn’t help but be bewitched? Or was her mancer bloodline the only thing he was after…
I push back Gavriel’s red locks and squeeze his cheeks between my palms. To him it would seem like a loving, reverent gesture, but for me it’s the hardest goodbye I’ve ever had to say. I can feel the power building inside of me, the spark of my magic funneling through my limbs and threatening to burst through my skin.
“There are so many things we can accomplish together,” he whispers. “I can show you how. Father didn’t understand what he had, Sera...he couldn’t see it.” His eyes widen maniacally, and a smile stretches his face thin. “He thought he’d conquered death, but what he never realized was that to conquer death...you have to become it.” Black tendrils of smoke whisper around us, latching onto his skin and slithering over the surface. I can feel its icy caress all around me. Once again, it feels like all of the happiness and sunlight has been sucked from the world.
Somewhere far away, I can hear voices shouting my name. I can’t see past the smoke that pours from Gavriel, cloaking us behind a wall of nothingness. I force myself to stretch my lips into a smile and when I do, Gavriel drops his dagger to the ground, letting it sink into the mud beneath us. The rain still falls, but I barely notice. All I can do is focus on this moment.
“You know I would follow you anywhere, brother,” I whisper. He brings his hand up and lays it over mine. The burning under my skin is almost too much to withstand. It needs to release before I shatter into pieces. While Gavriel stares into my eyes, devoid of any sign of suspicion, I let my magic flow from my fingers freely. Fire rips from my fingertips and rushes up the length of my arms, covering me from head to toe in the blink of an eye. My hair is flame, my eyes are embers as his cheeks begin to melt beneath my palms. He screams as he tries to pull back, but my hands have molded themselves to his skin. He thrashes, but it’s no use. The light that sprays from my palms glows so bright that Gavriel is forced to shut his eyes against it after being in the shadows for so long. Tiny little fissures of orange and white begin to crack his skin open like a parched desert.
His body begins to shake, and I scream. My magic flows from my body, pouring into him with everything I have. My screams echo through the woods, silencing everything save for the rush of the inferno that now burns around us. His shadows melt away and the wall of black smoke recedes until the forest and all its trees surround me once more. My fire lights up the night and scorches the ground black. Gavriel screams and he screams as his face starts to break. His hand falls from my wrist and he crumbles.
His eyes fly open one last time before he’s gone. I expected to be met with a look of hatred and betrayal...but it’s worse than that. The black that had filled his eyes before is long gone, and in its place is my brother’s bright emerald green. They shine with tears, but it only lasts a moment before my magic lights them up with a bright white light that funnels from his mouth which opens in a silent scream. The rest of my brother turns to ash between my fingers, falling to the ground and coating my clothing which is slick with rain, mud and blood. I scream and I scream some more as I let myself fall forward, curling in on myself as I’m wracked with sobs.
I can feel others all around me—can hear shouts and orders, but I am deaf to them. I lay there with the rain pelting my face, blending in with my tears while familiar hands rush to grip my face. Words are whispered gently into my ear, but I can’t hear a thing. I just let my eyes fall closed before letting darkness take me.
Epilogue
The pyre burns for seven days and seven nights, until the remains of our fallen are reduced to ashes. Several of their kin remain pyreside during this time, keeping watch for scavengers and anything that might disturb their loved one’s rest. Four hundred souls were lost, and I feel the emptiness of every single one of them individually. The loss of Gavriel tears at my heart, but there was nothing left to bury or burn.
As I stand next to Thallan on the training platform just beneath the barracks, I search the crowd of Veil guard before me—seeking out a pair of familiar yellow eyes. Finding him, I focus of Shayde, letting his presence ground me and still my racing heart. He smiles softly and a warm feeling surrounds me. Wesley stands next to him, watching the ceremony solemnly. Ranks are being changed today as the General’s death brought into question succession.
A black-haired elf by the name of Eladore comes to stand before a stoic Thallan. The tall, slender man produces a dagger from behind him, bowing his head slightly as he presents it to my elf. Thallan accepts the dagger—pulling it from its ornate sheath and holding it up in front of his face. Looking back to the crowd of Kindred—some of them are civilians who’ve come to watch. I see them peeking over bridges and shuffling shoulder to shoulder to catch a glimpse. Many look on with pride as he accepts the rank of General. No longer is he the second in command, he’s now our military leader—someone who has proven time and time again that he’s ready and willing to fight and die for the Veil.
Eladore bows one last time to Thallan before briefly turning his head to me. He nods respectfully and I return the gesture. I’d been approached about the position of Commander, after I found out about Thallan’s impending promotion, but I quickly turned it down. After the fall of my brother and the decimation of the rebellion, I have no desire to be placed in any sort of position of power. I never wanted to be a princess, and not a single part of me wishes to command an army. I'll fight for and defend the Veil until my last breath, but I need to move on from royalty.
Eladore takes his place once more in the lineup. A little over five hundred elves remain, sixteen shadow dracs and around seven hundred mages and humans. Some of our people have chosen to leave the Darklands and head back towards Karn and the surrounding villages to make a life for themselves again. After Sephrian’s death, his brothers disappeared—no doubt abandoning the ones they’d convinced to fight for them. The cowards left them all behind to die and rebuild from the ashes as they are forced to face the ones they betrayed. When the shadow fell too—it was over for what remained of the rebellion. My stomach clenches as I picture Gavriel’s vacant eyes for the hundredth time. His death will haunt me the most, I think. I've already had five years to mourn him, but now he’s tarnished my memories and replaced them with a betrayal that hurts just as deeply now as it had when he’d revealed himself to me.
I can still feel the coolness of his skin on my palms as I’d clutched his face in my hands and burned his life away. I shudder at the memory and notice Wesley frowning at me as a tremor wracks my body. His look of worry is cut short when suddenly, Thallan steps forward, calling Wesley's name as the crowd hushes down. I watch Wes’ eyes go wide, but he steps through the sea of people until he stands before Thallan with his chest out and shoulders back. His face is severe, but there’s a slight twinkle in his brown eyes that wasn’t there a moment ago. Eladore steps up behind Thallan, handing him a dagger—it’s smaller and less ornate than the one Thallan had been presented with. My eyes fill with astonished tears as I watch Thallan offer Wesley a position in the Veil guard to which he accepts without hesitation. His eyes flicker to mine as I smile with pride and he takes his place in line. There are a few more positions to be filled, but I soon let it fade to the back of my mind. I need this ceremony to be over. I need to spend a few solid days in my chambers with my thoughts.
~~~
Hot water sloshes over the sides of my basin as I lean back—letting my sore muscles rest and luxuriate. Anya stopped by and supplied me with some of her scented soaps and healing tonics to help me heal.
My long red hair hangs over the edge of the basin and I occupy my time with starin
g at the thatched roof above me. My mind flickers with images of the battle until I’m forced to shake it from my mind. Outside my window, the Veil is quiet and dark. Families are huddled together in their homes, either mourning the loss of their loved ones, or celebrating the victory with wine and laughter. The bright moon shines into my chambers, lit with only a few candles situated here and there—their light flickers over my bruised skin as I run my fingers along my arms, spreading jasmine scented tonic on heavily. I sigh as it seeps into my skin, creating a tingling sensation that dulls the pain significantly.
My door creaks open, but I don’t startle. The overwhelming presence of three of the most trusted people in my life washes over me. I hear my wooden door click shit and bootsteps grow closer. Still, I keep my eyes closed as my head remains tilted backwards. Rough hands snake over the bare skin of my shoulders, clamping down tightly, enough to elicit a moan as his fingers knead the sore flesh.
Cool lips touch mine and without opening my eyes, I kiss Thallan right back. His tongue invades my mouth and I drink him in greedily. At the same time, another set of fingers crawl up my slick legs beneath the warm water. I let my thighs fall apart as those fingers drift further upwards. The calluses I feel on his fingertips tell me that Wesley sits near my feet while Shayde massages my shoulders. Another moan leaves my lips. I could really get used to this sort of treatment. The room grows warmer and the hands at my thighs grow bolder. I don’t bother to resist as those fingers reach my core, rubbing me just right as I sink down lower into the water. The sound of masculine chuckles makes me blush. Thallan deepens his kiss before removing his lips from mine and letting his mouth drift down over my neck, down to my shoulder blades and further before latching onto the puckered flesh of my breast.
Suddenly, I’m being lifted from the basin of water and scooped into a massive pair of arms. Shayde carries me over to the bed and lays me out gently. I expect him to cover me with his body, but instead be backs away with mischief glinting in his golden eyes. I part my lips to object, but I soon stifle my protest as Wesley appears at the foot of the bed. His brown eyes flare with a heat I’ve never seen in him before. His gaze roams my naked body hungrily as his fingers reach up to untie the top of his tunic. He pulls it over his head and my eyes widen while my mouth dries up. His body, though laced with old silvery scars, is built magnificently. His muscles ripple beneath suntanned skin and I practically pant as I drink him in.
His trousers are unbuckled next as he approaches slowly. Heat pools in my stomach as his knees glide onto the bed. Anticipation and nervousness fill me. Anticipation because the way he watches me makes me feel like the most beautiful and cherished creature in the world, but nervousness because this is a step we’ll never be able to come back from. Our lifelong friendship will change forever after this moment, but in my heart, I already know I’m too far gone.
When his body lowers and his lips touch mine for the first time, I feel complete in a way I never knew existed. His mouth devours mine greedily as I bring my hands to his back—latching on and dragging my nails down the length of his muscled torso. He growls against my mouth and it only makes me crave more of him. His hands roam my body, drifting over my still damp flesh until once again his fingers graze my core. He rubs me in small circles until I feel like I can’t catch my breath. My head tilts back as he moves down my body, kissing his way to my stomach and leaving a fiery trail in his wake.
Before I can take a proper breath, Thallan’s lips touch mine as he bends over my body. He kneels over the side of my bed and grips my face between his palms. Drawing back, his eyes bore into mine with heat, intensity and longing. “I could have lost you,” he whispers, but his lips capture mine again. “I could have lost this forever. I’ve never been so scared, Sera—” his kisses are becoming frantic. I have no words for him. No way to comfort him because he did almost lose me. I had no idea what toll that amount of magic would take on my body. I took a risk and was beyond lucky to make it out alive.
Glancing to the side, I lock eyes with my glowing eyed drac. His otherworldly face is intense. His jaw clenches and his big hands are fisted at his sides. He isn’t angry though, he’s excited. Looking down, I see that his claws are partially shifted, and it ignites something within me. Sitting up, the other two back up as I bring myself up onto my knees. Shayde steps closer, bending down slightly so that his lips meet mine softer than I would have thought possible. I kiss him deeply, causing him to moan. His rumble reverberates around the room, making my whole body shiver.
Hands snake over my rounded hips, pulling me slightly backwards until I feel the press of warm skin against my backside. Kisses rain down over the exposed skin of my bare back. Still kissing Shayde deeply, I spread my knelt legs apart as Wesley slides between them and thrusts upwards until he’s filling me completely. I gasp into Shayde’s mouth and he stifles my moan by biting my lip. His hands caress my arms, dragging his claws lightly over my skin, but not enough to mark me. Pleasure rolls over me in waves as Wesley rocks into me. His breathing is growing louder as he moves faster and faster. Breaking away from Shayde’s mouth, I tilt my head backwards and close my eyes as ecstasy overcomes me.
Wesley moans one final time as his thrusts still. His hands squeeze my skin and he burrows his face in between my shoulder blades as his chest rises and falls heavily. I crack my eyes open, cheeks heating as I look up into the faces of my drac and my elf as they stare down at me in rapture. Their eyes burn bright and their chests puff up. I’m utterly complete—surrounded by the three souls who will love me no matter what we face. I know in my heart that they’ll never leave me.
Wesley pulls from me before wrapping my thin bedding around my shoulders. I blush again, not sure why I’ve suddenly become so demure. Each of these men has seen every part of me and loves me for all of it. Wesley takes his place next to the others and all three of my men stare down at me in reverence. I take a moment to look each of them over one by one. The elf who's been so many things to me; a stranger, a foe, a trainer, a friend and a lover. The drac, who’s watched me, protected me and loved me from afar, and the friend who grew to mean so much more than that. The man who overcame impossible odds and made his way back to me. The three men who would cross mountains and tame seas for me.
The three men who I’ll worship for the rest of my days and more.
The End
