Lightness Falling (Lightness Saga Book 2)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Look around you, Majesty. You are losing. All your people are dead or soon will be.” He waved around the night as the sounds of agony twisted in my heart. “Don’t you want to save them? I will stop right now. Let the rest live. All you have to do it say the word.” He inched to me, his height towering over me. “Step aside and save the exact people you claim you want to protect. Your refusal is just going to cause more death, more innocent lives lost. Everywhere.”

  “You think I will let you win? Bow down and give up so easily?”

  “I think you will do what’s best for all the people who will die under your rule.” His lids narrowed, the top lip hitching up. “Because this is just a warm-up to what I will do. The revolution has started. It will continue to grow. And it will only get bloodier.”

  “You actually hate Druids so much you will slaughter people, fae, simply to bring me down?” The bones in my hand ached, but I clutched the handle harder, my palm sweaty.

  “Druids aren’t natural,” he spit out. “You aren’t meant for this world.”

  “Your gods thought we were even better than you.”

  His nose wrinkled up, hate blazing from his gaze. “Mistake. You little human witches should never have been given the gifts of magic and life from the gods. An embarrassing time in our history. But I’m here to set it right.”

  “You think yourself a god? Egotistical enough to believe you have the right to judge? To question the gods?” I moved closer, my neck aching, but I would not back down. “You who are magicless…oh…” I nodded, realization smacking into me. “That’s it, isn’t it?”

  “Shut up, you stupid bitch.” He bared his teeth, looming over me.

  “It is.” I held my chin high, calm. “You resent that you, a fae, were born with no magic. And here I am, someone who shouldn’t have magic, and I am far more powerful than you will ever be.”

  “I said shut up!” Before I could react he struck. My eye socket burst with fire as I was knocked off my feet. My back smacked into the ground with a thud, ripping the air from my lungs.

  He had punched me and pounced the moment I hit the earth, straddling me, his expression like a rabid dog. Crazed eyes looked down at me, the composure I had seen on the video gone. “You fucking witch!” He grabbed for my throat, pushing down on my esophagus. My voice was my Achilles’s heel. Even if my magic didn’t affect him, the pressure from the spell would still push him back. I had seen him stumble against it earlier. But he blocked my weapon.

  I gurgled out a scream, kicking and scratching the skin at his wrists. I scraped till I felt blood, but he did not seem to notice.

  “I want every one of you dead. You should not exist!” His thumbs sank in deeper, blurring my eyesight. “And to be our Queen? What a fucking insult! I should be the one with magic. Not you. Like being a fucking albino wasn’t hard enough, I had to be a total outcast and freak. Aneira saw my potential, but even she turned on me in the end. Sent me back to obscurity in Estonia.”

  He lifted my head off the ground, slamming it back down, till the world spun around me. I tried to fight, but my arms grew heavier, not able to shove against him.

  Lorcan, my mind said his name. I’m so sorry for wasting so much time we could have been together. I love you. My lids drifted closed, lungs burning for want of air. Everything hurt except the blackness creeping over me. It promised peace and relief. Yes, I wanted that.

  Then a guttural scream sounded from far away.

  Hands dropped from my throat, allowing air back in. I gasped, inhaling oxygen as it unfolded down my throat, filling my lungs. Hacking coughs tore through me, fighting with the air pouring in. My eyes popped open, my mind hazy.

  Still sitting on me, Luuk’s head was tilted, his lips parted in a silent scream. The end of a blade poked out the side of his neck, blood gushing down his torso and splattering on me.

  Beside him stood Fionna, the moonlight glinting off the fury in her bright eyes, holding on to the handle of the blade. She was caked in dirt, blood, and cuts, but she looked like a fierce warrior striking down with revenge.

  “That’s for touching my little sister.” Her foot came up and shoved him off me. “We might be small, but I promise you, you will regret ever picking a fight with us.”

  Luuk tried to gasp around the knife in his throat, red saliva bubbling from his lips, hate twisting his face into a wrinkled dog.

  Fionna stepped over him, again gripping the blade handle. “This is for all the lives and families you destroyed.” Fionna twisted the knife deeper into Luuk’s neck, his eyes bugging as gurgling noises lobbied up his throat in strangled coughs. “You slaughtered my mother and father thinking you ended the Cathbad line.” Fionna leaned over, clutching his chin with one hand. “Well, guess what? Cathbad’s line is stronger than ever. Die knowing you failed everything you’ve ever strived for.” Putting the force of her entire body into it, she drove the knife all the way through Luuk’s esophagus, chanting a spell. Oily thick magic descended down on us, crawling over my skin. Saliva spit from Fionna’s mouth, hate raging her face.

  “Fionna, stop! Magic doesn’t work on him.” My voice broke and stumbled painfully over each syllable.

  “Magic has energy. Density,” she seethed, getting closer to his face, speaking to him, turning as feral as he had. “Especially black magic. The spell may not kill you, but what do you think the residual of my spell will do when it goes off?”

  I froze and stared at them, my horror dancing between the two. Whatever spell she was talking about wasn’t a fluffy one.

  Luuk snarled, lunging from the ground for Fionna. Latin curled angrily from her mouth, her body shaking. With a pop, his eyes widened, his body going still, red liquid spurted from his mouth, eyes, and neck, spraying over my face. Blood oozed from his lips, painting the white canvas of his face with the sharp contrasting color. It was horrific and creepily striking in some twisted way.

  Fionna fell back, a cry erupting from her mouth, her head hitting the gravel.

  “Fionna!” I crawled for her, leaning over her limp body. Black blood leaked from her nose, her eyes. She blinked, dazed. Grabbing my hand, she tried to sit but bounced back on the concrete, coughing up thick inky blood.

  Nothing came without a price.

  A fierce protectiveness came over me, my hands skimming from her head to her stomach, healing her with my words. She stilled under my spell, her pupils clearing, the hacking subsiding. I sat back when I felt she was healed, bowing my head. I could hear people still fighting around us, but the revolutionaries had just lost their leader. Soon the tables would turn.

  Fionna curled herself up, mumbling something like a thank you. Silence stretched between us, both staring at the almost decapitated man at our feet.

  “We should make sure it’s completely separated,” I said numbly. Sadly, decapitating fae was not new to me. It was how I won my place as Queen. Aneira’s head had been the price.

  Fionna only let one sob break through, reeling in whatever emotion wanted to leak through her tough exterior. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Yeah, but I doubt he will be returning anyway. I basically exploded his brain.”

  I jerked to look at Fionna, my mouth agape. She craned her neck slowly to me, her face emotionless.

  She knew how to burst people’s brains like a watermelon?

  “Shit squared…” I muttered. Fionna was not solely a dominant Druid, but extremely formidable in black magic, a frightening combination.

  While she finished the job, I stood searching for Lorcan. Seeing the fight was shifting, I felt a haze come over me, my control of my mouth lost.

  “Your leader has fallen. You shall fall too. Depart. The Queen has spoken; her words as strong as her will,” I boomed, my voice carrying through the throng of people, eclipsing the night.

  Everyone halted around me as though someone pushed a pause button. Luuk’s militia peered around, finally noticing their chief was dead.

  “Leave now if you want your life spare
d,” I yelled out.

  “They will only come back. We must end them all here,” Fionna said behind me.

  “No.” I turned my head, staring her down. “We will not kill freely like Luuk did. I will not be that Queen.” I faced the group again. “But hear my words, if you ever come for me again or try to rise against me or my kingdom, I will not hesitate. Go. Now.”

  After a short pause, the dozens remaining took off, running for their lives.

  “That was a mistake,” Fionna said

  “Maybe,” I responded. “But I will not rule with fear and hate.”

  “Shite,” Fionna snorted. “Guess who the good one is in our family?”

  “I have to be.” I rubbed my temples, feeling the tension starting. “I feel the darkness inside. It is there, wanting to be used, but that’s why every other monarch has fallen. It has to be countered with empathy and kindness.”

  “You’re going to be annoying.” Fionna shook her head, but a small smile hinted at her lips.

  “Aren’t little sisters supposed to be?” I flashed a look at her.

  “Good job so far.” She patted my arm. The humor left us as we looked around, seeing the loss. My hand went to my mouth when I saw Kenya, Fox, and Poppy lying dead, painting the icy ground red, their twisted bodies like abstract art.

  I felt dizzy. Guilt battled up my throat, making me gag. How many others were there? All the lives lost in my company, or for my cause, weighed heavily on my soul, pulling me down into trenches.

  Franklin hobbled over to Kenya, silent and stricken as he stared down at her. He let out a chilling yowl, bending over her he placed his head on hers. Major joined him, agony twisting his face at the sight of his mother. Ophelia wailed next to him, crumpled over Poppy’s dead form, her hand over her heart, like it was going to fall out. Major grabbed her, pulling her into his body, rocking. She fell into his embrace like she was boneless. Sobbing. The two held on to each other for dear life, lost in their pain.

  I scanned the crowd…what was left. Some I recognized but didn’t know their names, until my regard fell on Cali, her sobs echoing off the buildings around us, still next to Wolf’s form. My heart wrenched, feeling her despair. But then I saw Wolf’s hand reach for her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks, his arms wrapping around her. They were happy tears. Relieved.

  In the horrors of tonight, my shoulders dropped, letting their love have a happy ending, appeasing a piece of my heart. Wizard, Kenya, Poppy, Fox. I would carry their ghosts for life, along with the others who already haunted me.

  “Kennedy!” Lorcan parted the group, running to me, covered in gore and wounds, dressed once again in his sweatpants. A light in the dark. My anchor. My heart twisted with happiness at seeing him. Our bodies collided as I jumped into his arms, his fingers digging into the back of my head and lower spine, gripping me to him. He hugged me briefly before his mouth found mine, hungrily kissing me. I didn’t care who was watching, or what they thought, or the fact dead bodies lay at our feet. I returned his demand with even more of mine, deepening our kiss till nothing was left in the world except us.

  He growled, setting me back down on my feet as his irises smeared with fire. We need to stop or everyone is going to watch me fuck you against this car, his eyes said, producing a deep blush to flood my cheeks.

  I licked my bottom lip, shrugging my shoulders slightly. Lorcan’s eyes went crimson, his hands clutching at his side. I played with a live bomb, knew it could explode, and yet I still batted it around. He did this to me. Created this need to push my limits, to test him and myself.

  Not nice, li’l bird.

  Spank me later.

  Lorcan groaned, bowing his head, he scoured fiercely at the back of his neck. “Don’t worry, I plan on it.”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  “Majesty?” A voice came out of the darkness, spinning me around, my stomach hurtling to the ground. I knew that voice. It couldn’t be…

  A figure ran out of the shadows, his face twisted with worry, but his clothes and face looked perfect, as if he stepped out of the pages of GQ.

  “Torin?” I gaped, not ready to believe my eyes. My First Knight reached me, wrapping me in his arms, lifting me off my feet.

  “Oh thank the gods, my lady. You are all right,” he mumbled into my hair. His grip squeezed the breath from me. My head was so confused. Torin looked out of place in the scene around me.

  A warning growl vibrated from behind. I could feel Lorcan’s entire body going rigid, wrath smoldering underneath.

  “Torin, what are you doing here?” I dropped away from him, taking a slight step back. The moment I did, Lorcan was on him, grabbing him by the collar, tossing him against the van hood.

  The few dozen of DLR who remained turned toward the ruckus, their eyes wide.

  “How dare you show your face, you traitor.”

  “What?” Torin’s eyes widened, glancing around with confusion. “What the hell are you talking about, dweller? You guys were the ones to call us here.”

  Ah. West’s “last-minute” errand.

  “We just learned… The necklace…” Lorcan banged Torin’s head against the metal, claws growing from his hands. “Leading the enemy right to the Queen you swore to protect?”

  At first I didn’t stop Lorcan. The betrayal I had felt after Luuk’s claim surged anew, but with one stunned expression I could sense Torin’s confusion, his intention... his innocence.

  “Lorcan, stop.” I tried to tug on his arm, but it didn’t budge. “He didn’t do it.” But neither one seemed to hear me.

  Torin shoved against Lorcan, fury sliding of his expression. “I would never harm her! She is my Queen! The one who saved my life... I am in love with her.”

  Oh. No.

  Every muscle locked in Lorcan’s body, his pupils elongating into slits. Tension pounded between us like a heartbeat. I could feel that moment, that second, before Lorcan would slip into his beast and shred Torin into cheese.

  “No!” I leaped forward, diving over Torin, looking up at Lorcan. “Do not hurt him,” I snarled, needing to protect Torin as much as protecting Lorcan from doing something I would hate him for. “He is innocent. I can see it.” I reached up, my hand cupping Lorcan’s face. He flinched but took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, inhaling, releasing his grip of Torin. This time when he looked up, his eyes were back to normal.

  “No,” Torin strangled out a whisper, and I twisted my head to see him taking in Lorcan and me. He stared at me, his eyes almost pleading. “Please. Tell me it’s not true. Not him.”

  “I’m sorry.” The suffering in his voice ensnared mine in a twisted knot. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  “Don’t.” Standing up, he looked at the ground, agony lining his forehead. “Please don’t say anything more, Majesty.”

  Once again I was the cause of someone’s pain. All because I couldn’t control who I fell in love with.

  Torin took a step away from me, and Lorcan countered his movement, like he was keeping him corralled.

  “Lorcan, stop. He’s blameless in this.”

  “Not that innocent,” Lorcan mumbled, his lip hitching up, but he took a step back.

  Torin snapped to Lorcan, fury lighting his eyes. “What the hell was that for? You have her…why attack me?”

  “It has nothing to do with that.” I waited to get his full attention. “The necklace you gave me. There’s a tracker in it. It was how Luuk kept finding me.”

  “What?” Torin’s mouth dropped open, his eyes bugging, head shaking in disbelief. “H-how is that possible?”

  “Was there anyone else who touched it besides you?”

  “No…” He quickly answered, but then horror flashed over his face. “Wait, yes. I wanted it cleaned before I gave it to you.”

  “Who?” Lorcan barked.

  Torin’s mouth opened to answer, but a wave of magic capsized the air, punching against my skin. I whirled around, knowing without seeing, who had just arrived. It could be only one person.r />
  Could he sincerely want me dead? How naïve. Of course he would; I was nothing but a pawn.

  “It looks like you handled things here, Ms. Johnson.” The Unseelie King strolled up in one of his gorgeously tailored suits, one hand in his pocket, his two guards flanking him. Thara and Castien stood behind them.

  My instinct was to run and hug Castien. Seeing him healed and back to normal was a cool salve to my bruised soul. My hand went to my heart, and he mimicked me, giving me a wink.

  “I assured your knight here you can handle yourself, but he insisted on coming. Actually, he ran far ahead of us, not able to wait.” Lars’s gaze revolved methodically over the scene.

  “You,” Fionna hissed at Lars, causing my head to snap to my sister. Her shoulders rolled back, and her frame twitched, going on defense. The few DLR members around her clutched their weapons tighter. Lars’s chartreuse gaze slid to her, like a snake tongue tasting the air, before returning to me.

  The energy in the air crackled with fumes, ready to ignite. I just wasn’t ready for the person who lit the match.

  “How could you?” Torin shouted, fury coating his tone, leaping at the newly arrived group. “I trusted you!”

  Lars’s men reacted in an instant, ready to defend their King, but Torin skated past them, hurtling himself at his comrade, his best friend, taking her to the ground with a thump.

  Holy shit!

  “You took an oath. Have you no honor?” He grabbed for her wrists, pinning them against the gravel.

  I stood dumfounded, watching Torin wrestle Thara, her expression turning defiant, almost angry. Her aura sparked with fury, hurt, and love.

  “Oh my god.” I clutched my stomach, the betrayal and hurt folding my stomach in on itself. “Thara, how could you?” I asked, even though I was fully aware of the answer.

  Torin.

  It was written all over her. Her absolute devotion and love for him was shaded heavily with jealousy and heartache. She clamped her lips together as Torin hauled her to her feet, his fingers strangling her wrists.