by Megan Cutler
He grinned when she stopped beside him. He should have kept Moril long enough to witness this ceremony. He could have paralyzed and gagged him before placing him in the front row. How he would have savored every expression that flitted across the doomed soul's face from despair to anger to desperation. There would be no moment to offer objection. As soon as Kaylie spoke her vows, their bond would be forged.
Lucifer cleared his throat to summon silence. “Today you will witness a momentous occasion; My union with the mortal woman who shall serve as your queen. Bask in this glory, My servants, for there shall not come another day like today. We mark now the first step toward our greatest victory, the day when balance shall finally be struck within the universe, when I, Lucifer Helel, wisest of all the gods shall rule the three realms.”
He paused, allowing the demons a moment to shower him in adoration. It had been too long since he addressed such a throng. This action was well past due.
“Speak now the vows which bind you to Me,” he commanded, “and become My everlasting servant.”
Kaylie drew a deep, shuddering breath, but did not speak. He reached for her, intending to force the words from her throat if she wouldn't answer willingly.
His claws closed on empty air.
Kaylie's empty dress fluttered to the ground. The silk swayed like a leaf caught in a stray breeze. The light glinted off the gems of the tiara, which landed with a soft thunk.
Lucifer clenched his fists and swallowed a growl. Where did she think she could hide? He could locate any damned soul in his realm at will, though he was tempted to wait a few minutes to build her hope of success. He would enjoy crushing this last remnant of her resistance. How had she even managed to leverage her power without his detecting it?
It didn't matter. She would never cross him again. He was impatient; he had waited long for this moment and she had already marred it. As easily as breathing, he flicked a thought the length of his realm, searching for her.
He sensed nothing. She was gone.
Impossible! Her power had manifested stronger than he expected when he tested her yesterday. She could have challenged him in trivial ways. But she should not be able to mask herself from his discovery.
He tried again, compensating for Angelic interference. Still, he detected nothing. His siblings may have been able to send their minions to wreak havoc in his lands, but they could not reach across his borders and pluck a soul from his influence without detection.
That left only one explanation. But how could he have missed it? Aside from the fact that Kaylie's power answered so readily, it should have been easy to identify. Unless her terror had not been part of the deception. She had been his, had been subject to his whims, however briefly.
Savagely, he plucked her dress from the ground. It slid from Dwenba's numb fingers as she scurried to find shelter next to his altar. He tore the gown to shreds, growling angry curses she couldn't hope to identify. When the fine fabric littered the floor like ashes, he threw his head back and unleashed an inhuman howl.
His rage reverberated outward, shaking the ground throughout his realm.
Chapter Thirty-Two: The Dream's End
“Thank the gods!”
The acrid stench of antiseptic filled Kaylie's nose. The lingering static of recently cast magic made the tiny hairs on her arms and neck stand on end. Voices blended together in a meaningless background buzz.
Her arms ached. Her head swam. Her throat was dry and her mouth was sticky. She rested on a downy-soft mattress, surrounded by the scents of fresh grass and lavender. Someone pulled a blanket up to her chin and tucked it around her.
Kaylie cracked her eyes open and peered through the slits. Figures moved around her bed dressed in the pale green robes of Healers. Everything had a lethargic, hazy sense to it, as if viewed from a great distance. Sunlight poured through a window. Her window. And this was her room, warm from the crackling fire in the hearth and the press of bodies surrounding her bed.
“We have her back. Her heartbeat is strong, and her wounds have closed enough to prevent further blood loss.” Kaylie recognized the voice of the Master Healer. “But she needs to rest and regain her strength.”
A giddy wash of relief swept over her. This time, her ascent had been gentle, like waking from a dream rather than drowning. There had been no uncertainty, just sheer, unadulterated joy. She hadn't imagined those footsteps as the life faded from her. Someone had found the note she left on the Master Healer's desk, tucked to one side, noticeable but not obvious.
It had been the most critical component of her plan. The Healers had to find her while there was still life left in her body to preserve. She hadn't wasted time waxing eloquent about reasons; she had simply warned them to converge on her room as quickly as they were able.
She had counted on the short span of hours required to restore her health providing ample opportunity to act in Hell. Arriving in the wrong location had shaken her badly. But calling her power in Lucifer's hall had restored her hope.
It had almost taken too long.
How many opportunities had she left open for failure? If she had hidden her note a little better, toppled one extra piece of furniture in front of the door, or failed to hesitate those few extra moments before she put her wrists to the blade, what might have happened? If Dwenba hadn't come up with the idea for that statue, I'd have had to speak those vows. She shuddered. Escaping Hell wouldn't have mattered if she and Lucifer were already bound. It might have made matters worse.
But she had come home. Moril's soul was free. And her reckless behavior would not shroud the world in darkness. It was a victory, no matter how bittersweet.
“We'll keep a close watch over her, my lord,” one of Kaylie's maids promised. “Won't leave her alone for a moment if that's what it takes.”
“That won't be necessary.” Kaylie's tongue was too numb to form the words properly and her voice sounded strange to her ears.
A figure shouldered his way through the rest. His wild beard brushed her face as he knelt and pressed his lips to her cheek. “My dear child…” her father sobbed. “I thought I'd lost you.”
“I never meant to leave. Not really. There was something I had to do.”
The king lifted the thick coverlet and took her hand in his. “I was only trying to protect you and our people. I never dreamed how much you loved him.”
“I don't think he did either.” Kaylie smiled. “I should have listened, Father. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Only if you can forgive me.” He squeezed her hand.
The crowd cleared as people streamed steadily out the door, maids helping mages, Healers carrying baskets of supplies.
With effort, Kaylie shifted her hand beneath her father's and offered a tiny squeeze in return. “I'm not angry. And there's nothing to forgive. You acted as a ruler should. I understand that now.”
“My heart bursts with joy to have you restored to my side again. My despair over your loss would have been that of a father, not a king.”
“Moril's in Heaven now. That's what matters.”
“Rest, my dear. You've been through much in a short span of time. There will be ample opportunity to discuss it later.”
“Didn't you hear? I freed Moril's soul.”
The king's eyes widened as her words took root. “How?”
“I convinced the King of Hell I would marry him in exchange for Moril's release. I was counting on the Healers to wake me before the contract could be forged.”
Her father hesitated a moment before he said, “They almost couldn't. Wake you, I mean. For a minute or two, you died the true death. I don't know how I survived the shock.”
Kaylie's heart skipped a beat as a disorienting tingle passed through her head. It might be best not to contemplate the implications of that revelation.
”Does it matter?” she breathed, refusing to allow fear to dampen her triumph. “Moril's soul can find peace, and so can we.”
“Indeed.” He patted her hand.
“Sleep now, Daughter. Your ordeal is over. You need never see Hell again.”
Could it really be that simple? No doubt Lucifer was furious, and he wasn't known for swallowing his anger and allowing a slight to pass.
Dazzling sunlight filled the room, eradicating all sign of shadow and banishing the last of her doubts. Whatever came next, it could wait a little while.
It might be just past noon the day Moril died, though it was hard to tell. Exhaustion drained her. Sleep whispered a soothing lullaby in her ears. Only the day before she had been terrified to sleep, now she willingly let it sweep her away.
As her eyes drifted closed, Kaylie glanced out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the flowers in the garden. In the last moment before someone drew the curtains, she swore she saw a familiar face framed by auburn curls. Smile dancing in the sunlight, Moril's visage disappeared in a flutter of angelic wings.
Author's Notes
I can't express how excited I am to finally share this story with you. I started it somewhere back in 2008. I was still trying to get into the swing of writing full time. I dreamed about a princess and a demon on a burning boat and, suddenly, I knew what I wanted to write.
Back then I had big dreams about this being the one. My break out, my big debut. I thought this would be the story that finally won me an agent.
But when it came time to edit, I couldn't find much wrong with the story. I didn't really understand editing. Wasn't everything perfect the first time? I put Dreamers Do Lie on a shelf and started working on Symphony of the Stars, the space opera I hope to share with you next year.
Suddenly, I had my ah ha moment! Editing clicked and I finally knew how to improve my work after I set it all down. Of course, by then, I had become a much better writer and reading through the original draft of Dreamers Do Lie became terribly painful. I decided to start over, keep the story, but write the words fresh.
Back in 2008, the first version of Dreamers Do Lie was some 250,000 words long. This updated version rings in just shy of 100,000 and has half again as much plot as the first time around. It's amazing what a few years and a few extra novels can teach a writer!
Of course, by the time I finished Dreamers Do Lie, I had already decided to self-publish. I had already put out Island of Lost Forevers and started to pen the first draft of The Light of Eternity. There have been challenges since I first wrote this book. We moved to England and then back to Canada. We bought three different houses. It seemed like every time I tried to get this book into the wild, something else popped up.
But I persevered. I never gave up my determination to share this story with my readers. And I can honestly say, its final form has surpassed my every expectation. I hope you love reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I can't wait to share the second installment with you later this year!
If you'd like the most up to date information on my upcoming releases, please consider signing up for my mailing list (you get a free book out of the deal): megancutler.net/free-book/
If you'd like to leave feedback on your favorite parts of the story, or see sneak peeks of up-coming projects, consider joining me on Facebook (facebook.com/megancutlerauthor/) or Twitter (twitter.com/Megan__Cutler); I'd love to speak with you!
For more of me check out megancutler.net where I blog and release short fiction every other Monday. (The pattern is blog, freebie, blog and so on.)
Thank you so much for reading!
~Megan Cutler
Also by Megan Cutler…
The Light of Eternity
Book 1 of the Eternity’s Empire Saga
Purchase on Amazon
An ancient power is about to awaken.
And with it, five ancient goddesses.
Erica's life is in shambles. Her university has put her on conduct probation and her parents will disown her the second the school kicks her out. The special archaeological dig in Antarctica offers a path to redemption, a chance to hit the cosmic reset button.
It's there she meets Shima. Kind-hearted and tough as nails, Shima lights Erica's way through the darkness.
Especially after she breaks the expedition's most valuable artifact.
Now Erica, Shima and their friends are haunted by strange visions and hunted by mythological creatures. Worst of all, no ancient goddess chose to work through Erica. Her next misstep could be a death sentence and she's powerless to help her friends.
United by their plight, the girls struggle to make sense of the situation while preventing further catastrophe. Can Erica discover her hidden strength in time to solve the mystery?
Also by Megan Cutler…
Island of Lost Forevers
Book 1 of the Mystical Island Trilogy
Purchase on Amazon
Is the island paradise or does a nightmare lurk beneath the surface?
When a mysterious island appears off the coast of San Francisco, two intrepid academics risk everything to discover its secrets. Catilen Taylor has struggled all her life with the ability to sense others' emotions. Damian Cooke studies an ancient art he calls 'magic.'
The island boasts an idyllic retreat, ruled by the enigmatic Sentomoru, who invites them to share the wonders of his bathhouse. But as the travelers strive to unravel the island's secrets, Catilen senses danger stalking their steps.
Neither Catilen nor Damian know how long the island will remain on Earth. If they can't solve its riddles quickly, they may be trapped wherever it goes when it vanishes.