The Coming Dawn Trilogy

by Austen Knowles

  In this city of lights, it’s unity.

  We are in accord, and we all agree.

  We have the greatest king, from sea to sea.

  And Tyrus is the unshakable tree.

  I heard he is a healer with mercy.

  They brought us all here to set us all free.

  A promise of light that I’m sure we’ll see.

  Despite that the kings are holding the key.

  Hold steadfast, I’m sure it’s a guarantee.

  Come one and come all, on your bended knee.

  Show reverence to our protectors with glee.”

  Instead of bowing to Tyrus, the warriors rushed their new chief, throwing him onto their shoulders, and bounced him around as they took turns carrying him. Tyrus stretched out his hand for Ambrosia, and the warriors hoisted her up next to Tyrus after passing her hand-to-hand. When Tyrus and Ambrosia reached one another, Tyrus kissed her, and the warriors whistled.

  The female singer chanted, “We all cry mercy. We all cry mercy.” The warriors cachinnated, as the chanting drowned out music.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Ky leaned against the warm crystal wall, pressing her back to the stone, and breathed in the scent of citrus. The aroma was calming, and exactly what she needed. She expected Noxis to walk around the corner any moment. She asked him to meet her by the sparring room. Her gut was churning. Maybe she made a mistake to take fate into her hands. She hadn’t dreamed of the outcome since Noxis was put under the love spell.

  Ky supposed it didn’t matter anymore. She already passed the note. Soon this would be over, and hopefully she did the right thing.

  Not knowing was actually peace of mind. Ky could pretend Noxis was completely changed under the spell and didn’t intend to fatally stab her. The woman who was a spirit would be able to help. Ky didn’t know, but at least she wasn’t waiting for certain death to surprise her. It would have been much more difficult to act brave if she knew she was about to be brutally murdered.

  Ky inhaled sharply when she heard the sound of footsteps. She swallowed and told herself to follow the plan.

  Noxis walked around the corner, her note in his hand, and in the other was a short sword of solid gold. Noxis stared at Ky as he casually walked up to her. She wished she could read his expression, but she was so nervous she could hardly think.

  “You asked me to meet you here in the dead of night.”

  “I did,” Ky said, her voice as shaky as her hands. Her eyes remained on the gold sword. He obviously chose a beautiful weapon, as if he wanted a keepsake if he was successful.

  “Why did you ask me to bring the sword? Do you want me to stab you to prove to Cobaaron that all this time his suspicions were correct? I’ll warn you, he doesn’t protect you with your blood safely in him. He shed it without either one of you being aware.”

  “While sparring?”

  “No, when you two signed the book becoming king and queen. You both took a blood oath. The amount was so small it went unnoticed except by me. I may not have noticed it either, but at the time I was eager to see you taken from him, and my mind was focused on how to get him to shed your blood.”

  “Actually, that isn’t how it works. When we share blood, we save each other. Our blood never protected us. That is why Cobaaron died twice, and how I saved him. But I guess that doesn’t matter. You’re here. I didn’t come to ask you to do anything, Noxis. I came here to be honest. I’ve never lied to you.”

  “You want to be honest? Then tell me you did something. You put me under a witch’s spell to make me fall in love with you, didn’t you? Be honest about that, at least.” Noxis took another step toward her until he was only a foot away. His closeness encroached on her space. She needed air, but her lungs were tight with fear. There was no bravery left, and she trembled.

  “I did make a potion to put you under a love spell, because you would have murdered my child and me. But I’m not a witch.”

  “Since you confessed about the spell I will tell you what I have kept from you. I’ve suspected you to be a witch for some time. At first I thought you put yourself under a spell to look like a Star, but I gave you a stone while we crossed the sea in the ships of Tigrinia. The crystal was supposed to draw out magical light. If you were a witch it would have trapped your artificial light, and it would have killed you. I didn’t think you would have survived, but then I realized you’re a witch and a Star.

  “Spaci didn’t get the dagger he used to stab you from Oella, but from me. I asked Oella for the poisonous dagger. The minute I heard you united with my brother again, I knew what you were. No mere woman or Star could have captured his attention. I find the union magic weak, considering I tried my best to last as long as you and Cobaaron had before making it complete. I love Onya in a way, but I can never forget her other lovers. Uniting with her proved it wasn’t the blood Cobaaron and you share that keeps you together. You are a witch.

  “At first, I hid my worry, because Cobaaron liked his new strength. Now that we have come all this way, to the City of Lights, I’ll admit once again I’m more intrigued by you than I thought.

  “The truth is, Ky, I don’t care that you’re a witch anymore. I’ve fallen in love with a witch, when I despised them after what happened to my brother, Onor. Discovering feelings for you has been liberating. I can now understand Onor. Vi had a grip on him I couldn’t fathom. I used to despise him for falling for a witch, and dying with no honor because of her. But now I can let him rest in peace. He loved a witch, as I do, and there is nothing wrong with that.

  “I won’t lie and say that before your potion I didn’t find you beautiful and attractive. My brother’s tastes aren’t far from my own. Have you never wondered why I changed Onya to look like you? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You smell like honey, which I find intoxicating.”

  Noxis tilted his head, and gazed down her body taking his time as if he was memorizing her curves. He leaned in, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. “The only thing keeping me from you is the fact that I love my brother. I could never and would never touch you because of him.”

  “It would kill me if you did.”

  “It would kill him,” Noxis asserted, and his unshakable loyalty to Cobaaron was never more evident. “I would do anything for one night with you, but it would kill him. If it weren’t for him, I’d leave my partner and ask you to never lift this spell, because I don’t just love you but I love being in love with you. I have no desire to be released. I never want to stop feeling about you the way I do.”

  “So, you’re not going to stab me?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Noxis turned the note and revealed a bottle of clear liquid. Ky’s eyes widened. He somehow obtained a bottle of potion. She swallowed, wondering if it would kill her. “Relax. This is truth serum. I’m going to bond you to me, and when you’re weak, I’ll make you drink this. I’ll ask your true intention for my brother. If you seek his death, I will have no choice but to walk away from our love and kill you for his sake. If you love him and will let him die of old age with you by his side, I’ll try to heal you. If that doesn’t work, I’ll rush for Cobaaron; if his blood truly saves you.”

  “You’ll bond to me? Why?” Ky asked, mortified.

  “I want you to love me, too. Keep me under your spell. I will cherish each day while enjoying this love I have for you. I’m convinced even if you lift the spell I will remember how I feel about you now, and easily continue to love you. I don’t mind being second to my brother. In fact, that is my hope. He’s a better man than me. I simply want you to know you love me, and help you love me if you don’t. I’ve thought this through. As long as I never lay with you, or make you feel as if you’ve cheated because of our love for each other, it will never kill you. It would be agony to exchange looks, but at least we share our love. I need your love in return. It kills me that you feel nothing for me.” He reached down and clutched her hand, and when she tried to pull away from his grasp, he squeezed tighter. “I wi
sh I never gave you a reason to hate me. I hope to make amends by bonding with you.”

  “Noxis, I want to release you from this love potion. I brought you here because I can’t let this go on another day. I feel guilty that Onya feels you don’t love her anymore, because you have stopped being intimate with her. You don’t love me! Once the spell is lifted, you will see that. I don’t want to hurt you, or Onya, or Cobaaron.”

  “I’ll do what you want me to. I’ll think of you while I sleep with her if that is what you want. I did before, and that is why I stopped touching her. I felt guilty. But say the word and I’ll pretend nothing is wrong. Onya has some of your features, so I could easily envision you under me instead of her. I want to sleep with you desperately, but Cobaaron...”

  “That is wrong.” She wrenched her hand free. “There is no way I’d ever ask you to sleep with your partner and picture…another woman. Listen to yourself, Noxis. This spell is truly dark magic. Asking Ebony to help me was a mistake. You are not yourself. I’m not a witch. Don’t witches have pride and would always claim to be one? I’m not a witch!”

  “I want you to keep up with the potion! You have to. You have made my life better—complete. You can’t ask me to stop loving you. I swear if you stop I will continue to love you, even without the potion.”

  “You don’t love me! I’m a pretty girl you used to hate.” Ky dismissed his confession with a careless wave. She no longer cared if she was cruel. “I love your brother, and I don’t want to be bonded to you. I’d rather be dead than share my love or myself with another man. I don’t want to love you beyond a sister caring for a brother. That is how I see you. You’re family and nothing more.”

  “That is cruel and heartless. How could you make me fall in love, and never want to return it? That is the true wickedness! You brought me here to break me as a man?”

  “No, I want to release you and end this tonight. I want to do the right thing by you and Onya.”

  “I don’t want released!” Noxis growled. “I want you to love me!”

  Ky flinched. He had the same foul temper Cobaaron used to have. Noxis stepped back when he saw her fear. “I want to bond with you, my love! I love you.” He took a moment to contemplate, and Ky hoped rational thought would return. He slit his palm with the blade.

  “Noxis!” Ky screeched, and moved away. “You’re not yourself. Don’t do this. I don’t want to bond!”

  “The bond will not be like the one you have with Cobaaron. It’s much weaker the second time. You will feel empathy, or hopefully subtle love. But my name will not show up.” Noxis reached for her, but she withdrew. He forcefully embraced her. “Don’t make this hard. This is difficult enough for me to hurt you, but I need to know if you mean well for my brother. As I do, we will bond, and you will see our relationship can be quite beautiful. It will be a bittersweet love. Years from now you will be as in love with me as I am you. It will be a silent love affair. And when you tell me that you love me, it will energize my feelings. I will make love to Onya with my eyes closed, thinking of you.”

  Ky wanted to struggle, but the moment the tip of the blade pointed to her belly, she knew she had to turn into the weapon. Noxis pressed her against the wall with his weight, and his nose fell to her neck. He took in a deep breath, and as he did, Ky felt the cold gold dig into her side.

  She screamed, but Noxis muffled her shriek with his hand. She felt her blood flow. Noxis kissed his hand that hushed her. She saw the obsession in his eyes. He was thrilled to come so close to kiss her.

  Then he slid the blade from her wound. He cringed and growled loudly as their blood mixed. The blistering heat burnt them. His bloody hand glowed from her silver light pouring from her.

  The wound was deep, and as Noxis wanted, Ky’s vision blurred, her light dimmed, and she was close to death. “You’re losing a lot of blood,” Noxis said fearfully. He let her sink to the floor. He bit the truth serum’s stopper and spit it out.

  The walls of the castle darkened, and the glitter turned scarlet. As if the castle was screaming, the walls hummed as the rock cried out. He carefully pried her mouth open, poured the few drops from the vial between her lips, clamped her jaw tight, and forced her to swallow. Ky gagged, as she tasted bitter salt.

  “Do you mean harm to my brother?”

  “No,” she said weakly.

  Noxis’s hands shook. He was obviously worried because she was bleeding profusely. In her dreams, the pain never compared to what she was now experiencing. Ky was in so much agony she slipped into a strange unconscious state. She gritted her teeth, and then gasped when her blood spilled, because Noxis momentarily let go of her wound.

  “I think your blood is killing me,” Noxis said with increased anxiety. “I’m hot! I’m boiling!”

  Noxis did his best to hold his hand against her, but there was too much blood. Again, he stopped adding pressure. Ky felt the searing pulsate with each heartbeat. She started to lose her hearing. Noxis said something that she couldn’t understand.

  Noxis glanced at Ky with panicked eyes. A moment later, her silver blood brightened inside his body, and he burst into a brilliant, white light. His body blazed with such intensity that light engulfed him. For a second, Noxis was solid light, and the next he disappeared as if he became small particles and Ky assumed the light carried him away.

  Ky closed her eyes. The pain was fading with her light. Then all went dark.

  Ky was back in the apartment she’d seen several times while watching her dream of Kylie and Aaron. She was Kylie. Ky noticed her stomach, and was relieved to see no blood.

  Aaron lifted her chin, and leaned forward to kiss her. Ky looked down to avoid his lips. She was amazed her stomach wasn’t bleeding and she wasn’t in pain, but she was petrified she was stuck here in this life.

  “What’s wrong?” Aaron asked, and tried lifting her chin again.

  “Nothing.”

  “It’s your favorite blouse. I washed it yesterday.”

  “Yes, it’s clean. Thank you. I...my stomach hurts.” A lie, but Ky couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “It’s so odd, Kylie. You act pregnant, but you’re not. I think you should see a different OB-GYN. Have an ultrasound and some tests. If nothing is wrong, maybe fate is telling us to elope and try for kids.” He grinned. “You could still be lead in your upcoming play if you were pregnant. It’s only running for three months.”

  His words sounded like he spoke through a tunnel, and everything melted away. The light in the hallway shone again, and hovering over her was the spirit that gave her Huntra.

  “You came.”

  “You have Lu Lu. I’d do anything for my daughter. She’s not mine, but you honor her with her name. I protect her as if she is my own.”

  “You’re Lu Lush’s mother, aren’t you?” Ky asked, as the spirit touched her stomach. The light touch felt like a body blow. Ky braced, and gasped when her blood returned to her body with a hot splash. Then the heat and pain were gone.

  “That was the king’s name for her. Her name is Lu Lu, not Lu Lush. And yes, she’s my daughter. I am Lola, though that name means nothing now. The only name that matters is Lu Lu. My daughter will ask her love to honor your daughter. I have already told her of your child. My daughter will see to it that your little one will have a blessed destiny. Fear nothing.”

  “Can you save Noxis?”

  “He wouldn’t have lived long anyway,” Lola said. She crooned her next word. “Sleep.” Ky’s eyes drooped. “You need to rest until you’re found. Let your body heal. You need rest to live for your child. I will make sure you sleep in peace.”

  With a touch to Ky’s forehead, she fell asleep.

  *****

  “I don’t understand why I can’t read her mind. I see nothing after she snuck out of our room last night,” Ky heard Cobaaron say.

  “I did the best I could,” Hyun’s voice replied. “I envisioned a spirit visitor, and I’m certain that there is a reason she took your partner’s mem
ory.”

  “Well, did your dream tell you where my brother is? Ky was close to death when she was found this morning. I’d like to speak with him about this note. I want answers.”

  Ky wanted to call out, but her body was too weak to make a sound. She couldn’t even open her eyes. She needed to tell them to stop talking, and let her sleep, or lower their voices.

  “It makes sense to me, now, why he sent her a gift with a note saying he would do anything she asked. I know he showed up. I want him found, Octavos.”

  “We searched everywhere, while trying to keep this as quiet as possible until we have answers. Onya insists she hasn’t seen him since before the tournament. She was worried he’s missing, and it was clear she was telling the truth.”

  “We have to take in account what we know, Cobaaron. He tried taking her life, and must have died, doing his best to save her,” Hyun said.

  “You’re saying he’s light now?” Cobaaron retorted. “No, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to take more blood than he was able. He’s not dead! I want him found! The moment he is, I’m sending him to Lake City with Onya. That was my plan; that’s been my wish all along.”

  “I think you’re denying the obvious, Cobaaron,” Octavos said gently.

  “Of course I am, because he’s my brother! He would never give up on me, and if there is the slightest chance he’s out there, even if he’s laying on the ground feeling as if his heart is giving out, I need to find him. Octavos, what did I do when your brother was captured by Arter after he foolishly slept with another man’s partner? I fought a war for you to get him back. I’m not asking for too much.”

  “He’s dead, my King,” Hyun murmured. “That much is clear. There was blood on the floor. He would have left a trail. Obviously, he cut himself to bond with her, and when her wound...”

  “My brother didn’t try bonding with her! He would never do that to me! He was loyal to me, as he always has been,” Cobaaron exclaimed.

  “He was fed a love potion. He may have done it if he thought you would never learn of it. A bond would have been harmless, if he didn’t die in the process,” Hyun said. “But a man under a love potion would put his life at risk for hope of reciprocated love.”