Adramelech called for the angel Anael who’d endowed Eloise and her ancestors with their gift.
‘I’m ready Anael, I accept my punishment… send me back to hell!’
Ellanor lowered her head into her hands and cried. She remained on the floor, unable to move and only when Jace and Caster aided her, was she able to stand.
Eloise took a deep breath and watched the storm clouds disperse. The air warmed and everywhere that was covered with frost steamed as the ice melted beneath the heat of the sun’s rays. Her body started to shake uncontrollably and the pendant around her neck vibrated. Whipping her head towards Kai in a moment of panic, she reached out her hand with a frantic cry.
‘Kai!’
He rolled onto his side, grimacing at the pain; he wanted to go to Eloise but could barely move for his injuries.
Eloise began to cry, she wanted to touch him, feel him and look at his beautiful face, but fixed to the ground, unable to move she trembled in fear. Her body burned with a bright, white heat and everyone gasped when she shattered like glass into millions of shimmering particles and glittering dust, taking Adramelech with her.
‘NO!! ELOISE!’
Kai’s hand fisted and beat the floor in frustration.
She was gone.
‘YOU PROMISED!’ His voice boomed across the yard and tears flowed across his scorched skin.
‘YOU PROMISED YOU’D NEVER LEAVE ME!
Stunned and in shock, everyone stood in silence and stared at the place where Eloise had stood. She’d disappeared, no clothing or even the gold arm bands that she’d been given as a wedding gift from Kai, remained.
Tears streamed down Kiera’s cheeks and she raced over and knelt with her brother to comfort him, but it was useless.
His cries of pain, physical and emotional, echoed around the courtyard. No one could believe they’d been spared. It was only Eloise who’d not survived. In a twist of fate, her gift had saved them, but she was unable to save herself. Seemingly too much power, amplified by the pendant, overwhelmed her, taking her life.
Kai coughed and spluttering blood out of his mouth, he lay back and closed his eyes, his breaths were shallow and his sobbing quieted.
‘Kai?’ Kiera touched her finger to his cheek.
‘Sabe…do something.’ Kiera panicked as she watched Kai drift into unconsciousness.
‘There’s nothing I can do, I’m sorry sister. He’s dying. He’s too badly injured.’
‘No! Please NO!’ Ellanor cried. Her legs gave way, only Caster catching his wife, stopped her from falling to the cobbles.
‘This isn’t right, it’s not fair!’ Kiera screamed at her brother.
‘He doesn’t deserve to die, he’s suffered enough!’
‘I know… I’d take his place if I could.’
Sabe lowered his head; even he couldn’t fight back the tears as he watched his friend struggle to breathe.
Teila called out. ‘The pendant… look!’
She pointed to the shimmering gold disc on the floor; no one had noticed it on the ground amongst the rubble and debris. It jumped around as if fastened to a piece of invisible thread and a high pitch ringing started to fill everyone’s ears. An intense brightness erupted from the pendant and formed into a body that glided across the courtyard. No face was visible, the glowing light moved around the form, transforming into an angel. Huge illuminated wings reached out, extending wide as it started to move. It had no distinguishable features, just an orb of glowing light for a head with no face to be seen.
Gliding towards Sabe and Kiera it hovered above Kai’s limp body. The air around Kai crackled and vibrated.
The form spoke in an androgynous soft voice.
‘Let me hold him.’
Both Kiera and Sabe moved to stand in front of Kai's badly broken body, shielding him from the ethereal form. ‘Leave him alone! You’ve done enough damage already!’
‘Your loyalty to Kai is to be commended, but I assure you I bring no more harm to him.’
Kiera and Sabe moved aside as the being spoke to them in soft tones that held nothing but truth.
Embracing Kai, the angel smothered him completely. Shimmering rays of light, different colors and hues, silver and gold brightened around them. It was brief and everyone watched in awe at the spectacle.
When the ethereal being started to take a human form, the glowing wings disintegrated. Kiera and Sabe gasped when the face and body of Eloise appeared in its place.
Kai‘s eyes slowly opened. ‘I thought you’d left me.’ Kai’s voice was broken as he could barely form words.
‘I made a promise and I had to keep it.’
‘What just happened?’ Sabe’s brows rose.
Voices carried around the yard, chattering then cheers, it grew louder and Eloise looked around to see everyone smiling and cheering.
‘I don’t know, but I think Anael was the cause of my disappearance and return.’ Eloise paused and traced her finger across Kai’s brow, where a scar once marred his skin. It was gone, together with all the others from his face. ‘And you’re healing too.’ She examined his face closely, searching for any hint of a scar, but found none.’
‘Your back… it’s clear Kai!’ Sabe hadn’t noticed until Kai sat up and removed what was left of his burned shirt. Reaching his hand over his shoulder and finding smooth skin, he grinned.
‘They’re all gone!’ Frowning as he touched unblemished skin with his fingertips, Kai closed his eyes and drew in a long breath. He felt different; there was no frustration or anger inside anymore. The demon was gone.
Kai rose, bringing Eloise with him. He wrapped muscular arms around her waist, pinning her against him. He nestled his face against hers and cried tears of joy at her return. Leading her by the hand into the center of the courtyard, they looked around at the devastation. Frowning at the bodies strewn amidst the rubble, Kai lowered his head and sighed. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Kai pulled Eloise into his side, drawing on her strength as he addressed everyone.
‘My friends, we’ve suffered losses today. Our friends and family have been taken from us, but we are still here to remember them for their bravery.’
Pulling Eloise against him, he slid his arm around her shoulder.
‘We will rebuild our town and raise monuments to the fallen, and a celebration shall be held in honor of our friends.’
Applause and cheering echoed around. Kai raised his hand in salute to everyone and made his way towards the terrace. Shaking Leon and Jace’s hands, then Casters, he thanked Teila for her wisdom and guidance.
Turning to Ellanor, ‘It was never your fault; don’t ever blame yourself, mother.’ He kissed the top of her head. Turning to find Sabe and Kiera waiting at his sides, they all hugged for a moment before Sabe pulled away and frowned.
‘You’re not going to kiss me are you?’
‘You should be so lucky.’ Kai laughed.
Eloise looked towards the half demolished terrace. She couldn’t see her father or Roulan. Quickly running towards the area where they were last seen, she called out.
‘Father… Father! Roulan!’
Kai scanned the area quickly but couldn’t see either of them. It was Nissa who called out, her faint voice barely audible.
‘Help!’
‘There!’ Sabe pointed towards a mass of rubble.
He hurried over to fallen wooden beams from the terrace. Buried beneath stones and wood, Nissa was trapped. Sabe and Jace quickly started moving the debris, and then they saw Garlan huddled next to her; he was gibbering and ranting quietly, not making any sense.
‘Where’s Roulan?’ Eloise rushed to help and when Nissa was pulled free she hugged her close.
‘Are you alright? Are you injured?’
‘No, I’m fine, just a few scratches.’
Nissa smiled and squeezed Eloise, but quickly released her when Sabe waited by her side to take his turn.
‘Come here!’ He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her repeatedly the
n finally released her.
‘I’m glad you’re alright.’
‘Me too!’
Eloise was pleased her father and friend were alive but worried why they hadn’t found Roulan.
People started to clear away the debris and rubble; the injured were taken away to have their wounds tended while the bodies of the less fortunate were taken away.
Leon stepped towards Caster and while he didn’t want to pressure him, they needed to return to Brightstone within the next few days.
‘My lord, given Garlan’s infirm state, it would make sense for you to take your place as rightful King of Brightstone.’
Holding Ellanor close, Caster blew out a long breath. ‘I’m sorry Leon, but I’ve made my decision. I’m not going to Brightstone. Ellanor and I are returning to Stonegarth.’
Ellanor smiled and nestled against Caster’s chest.
‘Then, I take it Jace will be taking your position? He is your son, and therefore next in line.’
He looked over to Jace, who stood behind Kiera with his arms draped around her shoulders and smiling wide, Leon frowned. ‘My lord?’
‘Jace is staying here.’ Caster looked to Kai. ‘If that’s alright with you?’
Shrugging his shoulders, Kai didn’t have a problem with that, if it’s what he wanted. And seeing how he and Kiera seemed to be wrapped up in each other, he liked the thought of Kiera finally finding someone.
‘You’re forgetting, Leon, I have another son.’
Leon turned to Caster. ‘You’re acknowledging Kai, as your son… officially?’
‘Of course! He’s my wife’s son.’
Eloise stared up to Kai and hugged him. ‘So, we’re moving to Brightstone then?’
‘What?’ It took a moment to sink in. He’d never had any notions of rising to regal status and hearing Sabe’s chuckle, he scowled. ‘I think you’re mistaken, and as much as I appreciate your acceptance, I’m no King.’
‘I disagree; I think you’ll be more deserving of the role than anyone else.’
Caster’s endorsement was confirmed from others as they nodded and voiced their appraisal.
‘King Kai?’ Sabe chuckled. ‘Doesn’t quite sound right does it?’
‘I didn’t call him Kai when he was born.’ Ellanor commented, ‘His name is Adram, after his father.’
Kai’s brows raised and Sabe’s mouth snapped shut.
‘Hmm…. I’ll stick with Kai, if that’s alright.’ He glared at Sabe. ‘You’ll just have to get used to addressing me as… my Lord.’ He grinned.
With a playful punch across Kai’s shoulder, Sabe left to help clear the rubble with Nissa by his side. The rest followed, ready to aid the rebuilding of Darkmide and the lives of the people; leaving Kai and Eloise alone amongst the rubble.
With a sudden movement, Eloise was swept into Kai’s arms as he walked them towards the doorway. Stepping over broken roof tiles and cobbles, Kai carried Eloise down the hall towards their bedroom.
‘Where are we going?’
‘I said when I got up this morning that I was going to spend the day with my wife. I’m going to do just that.’
####
Epilogue
The snow was finally melting after a long, hard winter at Brightstone. The fields, once hardened with snow began to show signs of green as the lush grass peeked through melted areas. The barren town square was beginning to fill up with colorful market stalls, as the people began to emerge from the warmth of their homes and back into everyday life. While a cold breeze still lay stagnant in the air, the sun’s rays made for enjoyable rides out into the countryside surrounding Castle Brightstone.
When Kai first arrived, he hadn’t expected it to be so grand. Brightstone was a thriving city and initially he’d worried how the people would take to him. But surprised at the welcome he received, he felt content. Kai soon gained respect and admiration as being a fair and just King, with Eloise by his side and with Leon as his aid, he soon became comfortable.
Snuggled by the fire in their bedroom, Eloise smiled as Kai smoothed his hand over her swollen belly. She had a few more months to go before the birth of their first child and under constant supervision from Kai; she couldn’t do anything without him. He was excited to be a father and worried for her safety, followed her around constantly, making sure she had enough to eat and drink.
They sat together, with Kais free hand lazily playing with her hair, his fingers caressing the silky locks that had always fascinated him. The love they shared had never faded, and throughout their time together ruling Brightstone, they had grown as a couple, and as lovers.
‘Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?’
She smiled at his question, knowing he would have asked her sooner or later.
‘A boy.
‘Really?’
‘I’m sure of it.’
Kai thought for a moment, his large hand moved from her belly up over her full breasts as he leaned towards her, nuzzling her neck.
‘Doesn’t matter if it’s not.’ She felt him smile into her skin. ‘We’ll just keep practicing.’
Eloise giggled and smoothed his hair from around his face, dragging his lips to hers in a warm kiss that flooded through her body more than the flames of the fireplace beside them ever did. She’d never been so happy. Seeing Kai at peace, his inner demons conquered, she only felt a pure burst of love for him and their new life here.
‘I don’t think I’ll mind, as they say… practice makes perfect.’
‘You’re already perfect’ He kissed her again, his tongue lazily mixing with hers in a familiar dance. ‘What shall we call him?’
Eloise already knew the answer. ‘Lorne.’
Kai’s wide eyes softened as he pulled away and looked into her eyes, he grazed his thumb over her cheek and sighed. ‘I like that.’
Thank you for reading by book. If you’ve enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?
Thanks
Julie Nicholls
About the author
Julie Nicholls is English and lives in Bulgaria. She has been writing Fan fiction and erotic stories for over four years. This is her first full novel.
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