Eryanth burst through the door. He nodded to Lyana at the same time he snaked his hand around Diamond’s waist. He yanked her to him, his lips descending upon hers in a demanding kiss that stole her breath. “My queen,” he whispered against her mouth. He pulled away and grinned.
“My king,” she replied, smiling like a fool.
Lyana rolled her eyes but she was smiling too, a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
“How does Catava fair?” Diamond asked Eryanth.
The gateway itself and most of the city had survived the battle. Diamond had issued a directive, sealed in her own blood, that both would forever be guarded and protected by her First Legion soldiers. It was an order Elexon was only too happy to carry out.
Diamond smiled as she thought of her friend. He had reported his adventures in the Icelands and Diamond would forever be grateful to him for securing the help of the Ice Witch clans, but most of all she was happy he and Rose had announced their betrothal.
Valentia, on the other hand, had been destroyed by the fighting. The city was not yet completely safe either. Soldiers and warriors from all nations patrolled the streets and the caverns beneath to rid them of the remnants of the dark army. But there were fewer and fewer daily reports of skirmishes.
“Catava is repairing itself, thanks to Elexon’s rule. He has promoted Havron to commander of the First Legion.”
Diamond nodded, glad to know Elexon had listened to her suggestion. He needed to step back from that role if he were to be a lord and lead her armies. She turned to contemplate Jack.
From his mid-forearm downwards, Jack’s right hand had been ripped clean off by Sulphurious, and he had lost a dangerous amount of blood from his wounds. No one knew how he had survived such injuries—only that he had. His people were calling him the Blessed King.
Diamond breathed a sigh, wondering if Jack would ever see it that way. Her gaze fell upon Dragonsblood. She wondered if he would ever pick up that sword again and learn to fight with his other hand.
Arades had supervised the organisation of the Rhodainian people, Tom acting as his counsel. Tom had become invaluable, having such a flare for diplomacy and organisation. The Rhodainian people and their king were due to sail home in the armada formed by Gar Anon and the Southern Hotlands. Roin and his men were responsible for protecting their emancipated king. Karl often stayed around to help support Lyana, even after his shift, and Diamond couldn’t help but wonder at their relationship. The young princess never brought up her feelings—for Jack or Karl.
Diamond looked at Lyana from within the warmth and strength of Eryanth’s embrace and hoped that one day the other woman would find happiness.
“Come on, my love. We have a treaty to sign,” Eryanth pointed out as she stared at Jack’s peaceful face.
She willed him to awaken. Clarissa had left him to the care of the Rhodainian healers, stating his body was healing well, but it was as if he did not want to comeback. Tears pricked her eyes as she looked at the dressings swathing his broken body. No one would blame him for staying in that place between mortality and Eternity. Its peace was like nothing this world could offer—or could it?
She pushed away from Eryanth. He raised his brows but said nothing, content to let her do as she willed.
Lyana moved back from Jack’s bed and stood next to Eryanth, whose bulk barely fit in the cabin. He leaned down to talk quietly with the Hourian princess.
Diamond leaned in to kiss Jack’s cheek as she always did, but this time whispered in his ear and sent a tendril of magic into his heart and mind, searching.
She found him curled in a corner of his mind, not even fighting to break through the dark stain of despair that Sulphurious seemed to have imprisoned him in.
Jack? Her voice was soft, and she deliberately let none of her sadness be reflected in her voice.
His brown eyes did not even flicker, just remained vacant.
Jack, I know you are hurting, that you have been through so much heartache already in your life, but please don’t give up. I know life will be tough for you back here, but you can do everything you need to for your people regardless of your injury. This is not you, Jack. You have never been a coward. By the goddess, you slayed a gods damned dragon! You are strong enough to fight this despair Sulphurious has infected you with. You are brave and smart and strong, so don’t you dare take the easy road and leave us—leave her. I have seen the way you look at Lyana and that kind of love is precious. So fight for her, fight for everything you believe in before someone else takes it all again. Your people deserve someone to care about them and to make their lives better—and so do you. My father can only do so much, so get your arse back here and fight. You hear me? she hissed, pushing her light against the dark emotions that walled Jack inside his own mind. You fight for the ones you love and the love you deserve, because you do deserve it, Jack, even though you think you don’t.
The darkness seemed to falter but Jack’s mind remained quiet and closed off.
Instead of slapping him out of sheer frustration like she wanted to, Diamond pulled her magic away and kissed his cheek. “Please. Come back. Remember we love you—all of us, especially Lyana,” she whispered before she straightened.
Eryanth and Lyana were looking at her strangely.
She shrugged. “I was just reminding him he has lots to do and, even though he is a king, he can’t lay around in bed forever,” she told them, knowing Lyana could not have heard her words.
Eryanth raised a brow. It was clear he had listened in but he merely held out his hand. “Are you ready to leave?” he asked.
Diamond smiled up at him. “Yes. Is Meredith bringing Avienne? I only saw her for a few minutes this morning and I miss her little smile.”
Diamond slipped her hand into his, rejoicing at the warmth of his touch.
Rayan had informed them Avienne was Griana’s child. Both he and Zane had told them of the circumstances of her birth, of Jack’s actions that had saved her life. Avienne was a child begotten by darkness but she was also an innocent soul, one both Eryanth and Diamond had agreed should be brought up by them, if only because Eryanth’s physical body had sired her. It was true Erebos had possessed his body when conception occurred, but Avienne’s eyes were so like Eryanth’s and as such marked her as part of the original royal line of Arjuno. Very few people knew of her true lineage and those who did were sworn to secrecy.
Diamond’s lips pressed into a straight line. If she had anything to do with it, Avienne would never know who her true blood sire and mother were. Instinctively her hand rested on her lower belly and she smiled. No one would ever hurt her children. She would fight until time ended to protect them.
“Yes, Meredith is bringing her, so you can see her before we have to spend hours keeping the peace between Rayan and Teya.” Eryanth rolled his eyes dramatically. “How they’re ever going to remain married without killing each other, I’ll never know.”
Diamond giggled, it was true. Rayan and Teya were both so used to getting their own way, their relationship was continually stormy and fraught with conflict. Talib had agreed to take over mantle of High Wizard. In a few weeks, Rayan was to return to Gar Anon with his betrothed and his army of wizard warriors. They had both offered passage to as many Rhodainians as their ships could carry, including Jack and his guard. Many more would follow on foot.
“Come on, my king, let’s get this treaty written and signed. I know Fetu and Syhira wish to leave for Houria tomorrow.”
Lyana smiled. “Yes, they do. I have said I will re-join them when Jack is well.” She looked down at the sleeping king and her face fell. “Once he awakens and is strong again, he will not need a personal nurse.”
Diamond left Eryanth’s side and hugged her friend. “Perhaps you need to change his mind about that,” she suggested gently. “Remember, other than my king, Jack is the most stubborn person I know.”
Eryanth huffed behind them.
Lyana smiled. “That’s very true. Go on, Queen Ar
juno, before your mate drags you away. I’ll stay for a while longer, then I will join you in Catava to say farewell to my brother and sister.”
Diamond nodded and, taking Eryanth’s hand, left Lyana sitting by Jack’s side. The queen allowed Eryanth to scoop her up in his arms. Within seconds they were airborne. The warm saline-laced wind bathed her skin, whipping her silver hair into a frenzy.
Eryanth laughed and caught it in his hand. “You know the first time I held you in my arms, I would gladly have cut off this gorgeous hair.” He lifted it to his face and inhaled deeply. When he looked back at her, his eyes were heavy with love and lust.
“And now?” she asked, letting her arms wind evermore tightly around his neck.
“Now, I would gladly end anyone who would harm a single strand of it,” he replied, his voice deep with meaning.
Diamond pulled herself higher into his embrace and kissed his warm lips before closing her eyes and resting her cheek against his, inhaling the smoky scent of him. His guardian growled and pushed out from his armour. She rested a hand upon its scaled forehead and it calmed, settling at her touch.
As Eryanth flew over the ruins of Valentia, Diamond glanced below. Her heart soared as she saw teams of people from all realms working together to rebuild the city. The fires to burn the dead had long since been extinguished, but it would take far longer to establish a new and thriving city.
Rayan had offered to rebuild the palace with his wizardry but Diamond had declined. She wanted no tower and no reminders of Griana; instead, his team of wizards had worked to shift the tower rubble and now a small army of gold-winged fae worked with them. Together they were creating a palace that shone with Silverbore metal and gold, all gifted by the Ice Witches as a token of good faith. Such an ostentatious building made Diamond a little uncomfortable but both Eryanth and her father had pointed out that refusing their gift would not be in the interests of peace.
A frown furrowed her brow. Their treaty was so new, Diamond did not fully trust the empress of the witch clans. Still, the empress seemed content with the return of the errant Ice Witch Jack had caught, and had stayed specifically for the peace treaty talks.
Behind them, Attion followed at a respectable distance. Since the battle, he refused to leave her safety to the First Legion, ensuring either he or Tawne were there to guard her. It caused tension between him and Elexon, who also saw the safety of his king and queen as his responsibility, not Attion’s.
Diamond’s eyes drifted to the way Attion’s stunning emerald green wings glinted in the sun. She smiled at him over Eryanth’s shoulder as she kissed her lover’s neck.
Attion rolled his eyes in response but even from this distance could see the smile that curled his lips. He wasn’t as emotionless as he would have everyone else believe, which was one of the reasons she planned for Attion to work with the acolytes and the healers from Catava. He could learn more about his abilities as a green fae, and they could learn the healing techniques he had picked up from Clarissa. Diamond knew he would not take such change well; he had always been a warrior and she would be asking him to change his purpose in life. She swallowed hard. No matter his reluctance, he deserved the chance to see what a different life felt like. Once he had done as she asked, she would allow him to choose his own path, warrior or healer.
Red-winged guards encircled them all, far enough away to give them privacy but near enough to protect them if necessary. Diamond did not mind; she accepted that as a monarch there would always be those who wanted to create anarchy and unrest by ending the new king and queen, even with the upcoming peace treaty in place.
They headed towards the pinnacle of Valentia’s island. The grounds of the palace were devastated, though she couldn’t help but smile as the barracks passed beneath their feet.
“Hmm, do you think that dress and beautiful comb are still there?” Eryanth mused.
Diamond snorted a small laugh. “Why? I have other dresses and outfits now.”
He cocked his head and affected a pained expression. “Yes, but that outfit cost me a lot of money. It holds a special place in my heart,” he crooned.
Diamond lifted a brow. “Really?”
“Yes, the night you wore that dress was the night I truly lost my heart to you. The way you looked, the way you felt when I held you close,” he took a deep, deliberately shaking breath. “And when you begged me to undress you—” he grinned rakishly when she blushed at that memory. “Well, that was it. I was done for.”
“Good,” she said contritely before a smile stretched her lips.
Still grinning, Eryanth dropped down closer to the deep blue ocean where cool eddies of air swirled by them. Ahead stretched the devastated Rift Valley.
Diamond gazed down, impatient for the day these fields and the forest beyond would be green and lush with life again. It hurt her heart to see so much destruction, to know so many lives had been lost to protect their amazing and precious world.
Our home will recover, my love. We have already started to build a new future for the people of our kingdom. A tolerant society where no one need fear because of who they are. There will be no more slavery, no more inequality or fear because of birthright and definitely no children stolen from their families to swell our army. With the help of our people and the other kingdoms, we will build a new and better world, my queen.
Diamond blinked. Hope soared in her heart that their vision for Avalonia would come true. She tilted her chin, her eyes flashing a deep violet as determination filled her soul.
Yes, we will. She took a deep breath and let her joy fill the magic that bound them.
Below, a small boy played with his dog in the ash and mud of a burned out field. He lifted his head and waved frantically whilst he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, following until he fell to his knees.
Diamond laughed and waved back, sending a ribbon of magic to dance around the boy, who squealed with happiness as she lifted him to his feet.
Eryanth smiled and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
“What was that for?” she asked, smiling up at him.
“Because you are beautiful, you are kind and you are mine,” he told her. “Which means I can kiss you whenever I choose. Oh, and you are going to be the most magnificent queen these lands have ever had,” he informed her whilst nibbling her earlobe.
“Don’t you need to concentrate whilst flying?” she admonished.
“Probably,” he agreed and continued to kiss and gently bite her skin.
“Eryanth, people are watching,” she breathed, pleasure shivering down her spine.
He chuckled and pulled away.
She tilted her chin up and looked at her love. He glanced down at her, a mischievous smile stretching his lips. His eyes twinkled, stars and flame dancing in a sea of midnight blue.
Her own lips stretched in a nervous smile and her heart banged against her ribs. This was the right time. Even so, she bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice taking on a growling quality as he sensed her nervousness.
Perhaps, when he is old enough, our son can help us build our new kingdom too.
Eryanth’s wings stuttered. He came to a halt, much to the surprise and anxiety of their guards. His wings glowed with fiery swirls and his guardian pushed through his armoured chest. He hovered in the air. “He’s coming back to us? Our son?” He breathed as tears lined his beautiful eyes. Holding her firmly with one arm, he placed a hand reverently on her stomach. “Thank you for this second chance,” he croaked.
Whether that thanks was to their son, the goddess or her, she never knew but the look of awe and happiness on Eryanth’s face was one Diamond would never forget throughout all their years together.
Epilogue
Eryanth kissed Diamond’s lips, his touch so gentle she did not even stir. He smiled into her sleeping face, his heart squeezing.
He wondered if this grip she had on his very soul, the love that burned through his gut every
time he looked at her, would ever lessen.
A snuffling noise came from the hand-carved crib at the side of their bed. A gift from Rayan, the protective spells woven into the wood glowed gently in the darkness.
He stroked the downy cheek of his son, feeling such love it stole his breath and tears came to his eyes. His throat hurt as he swallowed. It utterly astounded him that he and Diamond had made this tiny baby boy together.
Tiberion.
Eryanth leaned down and kissed their son, smiling when the baby gave a little yawn and a squeak. “Sleep, beautiful boy. Your mahaida will keep you safe. I must go. The shadows are calling me, and I have a promise to keep.”
An icy draft touched Eryanth’s skin. The fire in their room had burned low hours ago. He frowned, worried his family would become cold as they slept. His bare feet brushed against the soft rug before he dropped to his haunches. He stoked the embers and placed more wood upon the grate. Summoning his dragon, he blew sparks upon the fire. It soon popped and burned, signalling its growing strength.
Straightening, he used his magic to move the fire guard back into place.
His eyes drifted back to Diamond, who sat propped up against a stack of soft pillows. Waking her up was not an option; she was tired from caring for Tiberion and Avienne. Even with Meredith’s help, it was hard for her. She could not stop being a queen whilst she nursed their son. He had suggested she take a break and leave holding court and council to him and Elexon for a while.
A full grin stretched his lips. He had made that suggestion only once. Her negative response was enough that he knew not to ask a second time.
He pulled in his magic, careful to keep it from touching Diamond’s. It was not an easy thing to do. Their magic constantly searched for the other’s.
On demand, sapphire and silver scales folded over his hard-won muscle and his vision and hearing sharpened as his dragon awoke.
Not tonight, my friend, he instructed his guardian. The beast growled but submitted. It retreated back inside him, silent but watchful.
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 134