Vardaesia

by Lynette Noni

  Immobile with uncertainty, Alex just sat there, waiting for a verbal blow she couldn’t guard against.

  She didn’t say anything, but neither did he.

  Instead, he slowly approached her, sliding down to sit at her side.

  Tentatively, as if fearing she would flinch away as she had earlier on the dais, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.

  Until that moment, she had been as tense as a block of ice, but the instant his warmth touched her, she melted, her body slumping with relief.

  Only then, with the two of them looking out over the night-time cityscape while she was tucked deep into his side, did she speak.

  “Are you mad at me?”

  Her voice was barely a breath of sound, but it was all she could manage.

  With his cheek pressed against the top of her head, just as quietly, he replied, “I’d already seen most of the future vision. The only parts that were new were seeing me in it with you.”

  After everything they’d been through, Alex didn’t have it in her to feel embarrassed that her own subconscious had considered him the person she felt safest with to guide her through the horrors of the future. Even back then—long before they were close to being together.

  “Not that part,” she whispered. “I meant, are you mad about Aven?” She swallowed and added, “Back in the Library cavern—after you gave me Niyx’s letter—I know I told you that it was my fault Aven became a monster, but I never went into detail. I never said anything about how he… you know…” She couldn’t even bring herself to say the words.

  Kaiden’s fingers traced a soothing pattern on her shoulder as he considered her question. But he didn’t consider for long before his body started shaking with suppressed amusement.

  “Are you laughing?”

  “Not at all,” he fibbed, humour clear in his tone. “It’s just— I’d be a hypocrite if I blamed the guy for falling in love with you.” He dropped a kiss onto the top of Alex’s head. “Truthfully, I can’t fault his taste.”

  Pushing back so she could look him in the eyes, she was startled to see they were bright with mirth. There wasn’t a trace of accusation or condemnation in them.

  Reading the confusion—and the fear—in her own eyes, Kaiden cupped her face and whispered, “That wasn’t us, Alex. You know it wasn’t.”

  Overcome by the gentle understanding in his tone, a tear leaked out of her eye, and he leaned forward and kissed it away, before pulling her close again so she could rest against him once more.

  “No one blames you for what happened—not in the past, not in the present,” Kaiden said, much more firmly this time. “Just as no one believes for a second that you’re responsible for the death of anyone. The fault lies with Aven alone. And everyone—every single one of our friends—knows that to be true.”

  Another tear leaked from Alex’s eye until she was able to get it together enough to keep the rest from flowing.

  Understanding that his words had taken root and he didn’t need to say any more, Kaiden turned silent, just watching the view with her.

  Quietly, oh so quietly, she began to share with him—telling him how everything had happened with Aven from beginning to end. How she’d begun to recognise his feelings and had enlisted Niyx for advice, not wanting to lead Aven on. How it had been useless, because Aven had continued to fall for her. She shared how he had sought out and found the humans as a gift for her— at which time Kaiden drew her into his lap, holding her even closer as she confessed how their deaths were on her hands, even if she accepted that Aven was to blame. Finally, she brought everything back to the present, explaining how with Lady Mystique dead and her memory-repressing enchantment—a result of her mental gift as a Tia Auran, Alex now realised— having dissolved with her passing, Aven, along with all the other Meyarins who had known her in the past, would now know that she had been with them as Aeylia once upon a time.

  When she was done, she quietly got the rest out—firstly about the prophecy she’d heard the previous night and how it was the reason for her needing to escape with Xira until morning, and then about everything she’d learned from Zaylin that day. Kaiden’s body stilled beside her at certain points— particularly at the mention of the eaten hearts and what they might mean—but all the while, he continued tracing light, comforting patterns onto her skin, his touch soothing away her tension. Or perhaps it was merely his presence. But whatever it was, she was nearly asleep in his arms when he spoke, his words tentative but also certain.

  “There’s something I need you to do, Alex.”

  Despite the two doses of laendra she had ingested that day, the lack of sleep from the previous night had now fully caught up to her, so around a yawn, she mumbled a questioning, “Mmm?”

  After hearing Kaiden’s request, all traces of fatigue vanished.

  “Are you out of your mind?” she all but screeched at him, jumping to her feet just so she could pace along the edge of the balcony.

  “You know it makes sense,” Kaiden said, rising as well. “You know, Alex.”

  The insane thing was, she did know. She knew more than anyone. But that didn’t stop her from shooting off a string of mental curse words and questions to Xira, asking him to back her up.

  Unfortunately, he was on Kaiden’s side. And worse, Kaiden seemed to know what she had done.

  “What does Xira think?”

  Trying to avoid the question, Alex answered, “He’s a draekon. What would he know?”

  The look Kaiden sent her was both comical and knowing.

  With a sigh, Alex admitted, “He thinks it’s wise.”

  Kaiden didn’t rub it in. He just nodded, waiting, it seemed, for Alex to realise the same. And because of that, it didn’t take much more convincing from him—and from Xira—before she reluctantly agreed.

  “Thank you,” Kaiden whispered, moving closer.

  “You can thank me later, presuming this doesn’t backfire spectacularly,” Alex grumbled, but she still melted into him when he ignored her sour mood and drew her into his arms again, enveloping her in a hug that was almost—almost—as good as his kisses.

  They stood like that for a long time before reclaiming their seats, with Alex curling up in Kaiden’s lap once more. Together they watched the city in silence, knowing this would be their last opportunity to do anything so peaceful for some time. One way or another, after they finished their final Gate the next day, they were headed home. This would be their last night in Tia Auras—and, as ostentatious as Vardaesia was, Alex realised she would miss it.

  But she was also ready to return to Medora and face the future, knowing that it couldn’t be put off any longer.

  It was time for Aven to be stopped, once and for all.

  Twenty-Four

  Alex must have fallen asleep on the balcony, because the next thing she knew, she was waking up to the light touch of fingers trailing along her hairline and down her cheek.

  She regained consciousness slowly, feeling warm and cosy snuggled in her bed—but more, from knowing Kaiden must have carried her there after she’d fallen asleep in his arms. That, however, didn’t explain why he was now seated on the edge beside her, dressed and ready for the day, looking down at her with a tender expression.

  In a sleep-hoarse voice, Alex squinted up at him and said, “We already talked about you not watching me sleep like a creeper.”

  A quiet laugh left him before he assured her, “I’ve only been here long enough to wake you.”

  Alex’s eyes narrowed with disbelief.

  He grinned and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Truly. I was the perfect gentleman last night. Tucked you in safe and sound then left you to your beauty sleep.”

  Softening, Alex said, “Thank you for that.” She paused. “And thanks for not watching me like a stalker.”

  A strange light hit Kaiden’s eyes and his mouth twitched as he said, “I may not have been here long this morning, but as for last night, I didn’t want to disturb
you until I was sure you were out of it enough to be moved without waking.”

  Alex wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but her stomach tightened as she took in his expression. “And?”

  He moved his thumb from her cheek until it brushed over her lips. “And,” he said, “during that time, I discovered something.”

  Feeling tingles in the wake of his touch, Alex whispered, his thumb still trailing over her lips as they formed the words, “What’s that?”

  His eyes moved from watching her mouth to holding her gaze, and it was impossible to miss the spark of delight in them. “That you talk in your sleep.”

  Alex stilled. Jordan had once said something similar, but that didn’t lessen her dread. “What did I say?”

  The look on Kaiden’s face made her wish she hadn’t asked.

  “Nothing I didn’t already know,” he said quietly, his thumb moving to sweep her cheek one final time before he withdrew his hand. “But it was still nice to hear it all the same.”

  Groaning, Alex threw her arm over her eyes, as if not seeing the world meant it no longer existed. “Feel free to kill me now.”

  A deep, warm chuckle came from Kaiden. “Not before breakfast.” He gently pried her arm from her face, his lips smiling as he leaned down and touched them to hers softly before edging back just enough to whisper, “Most important meal of the day.”

  Without allowing her the chance to drown in her mortification, he snaked his arms around her and pulled her to her feet, all but forcing her from her room and out to join the others who had already assembled and begun to eat.

  Lost in her embarrassment, Alex had forgotten that she’d completely avoided her friends the previous day after the episode at the Gate. But now the confrontation was unavoidable, because all of them paused in what they were doing—food half-raised in some cases—the moment Kaiden dragged her tense, pyjamafied self to the table.

  Standing uncomfortably before them, Alex had no idea what to say. Should she beg their forgiveness? Should she try to explain? Should she act like nothing had happened?

  When Kaiden deliberately threaded his fingers through hers and leaned in to kiss her temple, Alex found that she didn’t have to do anything, because Jordan acted before she could.

  Looking from Alex to Kaiden, taking in their joined hands and having witnessed the sweet kiss, he dryly said, “I bet lover boy Aven would kill to be in your shoes right now, Kaid.”

  His wording couldn’t have been more atrocious, both the irreverent title and the killing remark, which was perversely apt. But because of that, his statement cut the tension surrounding them, and as one, the group broke into startled laughter.

  As for Alex, the first breath from her mouth was a shocked burst of humour, but her second exhale came out choked, her relief over Jordan’s light-hearted comment tightening her chest and causing her eyes to burn.

  Sensing she was struggling to keep a grip on her emotions, Kaiden pulled her close, but he wasn’t the only one. Because then Jordan was up, his arms circling the both of them. Bear, too, leapt over to join the embrace. D.C. and Declan were right behind them, until all five of Alex’s friends were holding her close—or as close as any group hug could be, given all the limbs that no one knew where to wedge.

  From their irrefutable show of support, just as swiftly as Alex’s humour had begun to crumble, it turned back into elation. Were it not for her being squished in a mess of arms, legs and angled heads, she would have crumbled to the ground, her knees weak from their acceptance, from their love.

  With the ice well and truly broken, they untangled from each other and reclaimed their seats at the table. Over breakfast, Alex answered any questions they had about what had transpired with Aven in the past, giving a much briefer recount than she had to Kaiden last night, but still enough for them to learn about his unrequited love and consequential feelings of betrayal. When she was done, just as Kaiden and Xira had promised, no one blamed her—not in the slightest. While they were disappointed that she hadn’t felt like she could share her burden, they also understood, having had time overnight to consider things from her perspective and acknowledge the pressure she’d been under, especially knowing the potential future they might all face.

  Their support left Alex blinking against a renewed burning in her eyes, but she managed to push back the feeling and smile at them all as she professed her gratitude, to which they just waved her off and reminded her that they were family—and that’s what family was for.

  When Zaylin arrived and gestured for Alex to return to her room and get ready for the day, she did so with a weight lifted from her shoulders, practically floating after the Tia Auran.

  “I take it things went well?” Zaylin asked as she handed Alex her clothes—the leathery pants and top ensemble again, with the Amazonian princess outfit having disappeared after the first two days. In hindsight, Alex wondered just how much of that had simply been Zaylin being cruel with her clothing choices.

  As Alex dressed, she shared how her night had unfolded and admitted to not having confronted her friends until that morning. Surprisingly, Zaylin didn’t judge her for her cowardice, but merely nodded with acceptance.

  “You seem distracted,” Alex commented, having expected more of a stinging remark. “Is everything all right?”

  Zaylin appeared surprised by Alex’s concern. At first, it seemed as if she wasn’t going to answer, but then, with a heavy exhale, she said, “Today is your last test.”

  Nerves bounced around in Alex’s stomach at the reminder, but when the Tia Auran said no more, she prompted, “And?”

  “And,” Zaylin said, “one way or another, today you—and I—will learn whether my people are to join you in battle.”

  Unable to hold her silver eyes, Alex looked down and said, “You don’t want us to succeed today, do you?”

  “I fear what will happen if you do,” Zaylin admitted quietly. But then, even quieter, she added, “I also fear what will happen if you don’t.”

  Alex looked up sharply at that, but Zaylin continued, “If I seem distracted, it’s because I find myself torn. I want my people to remain safe, yet I’m uncertain whether the best way for that to happen is if we fight with you or leave you to your fate.” She pulled in a breath. “Before learning of Vae’varka being in Aven’s possession and how he’s been practising Tu’eh Tendaran Orvas, I didn’t truly understand the threat of what you face. Now, however…”

  She trailed off, not needing to finish.

  Alex didn’t know what to say. She had come to Tia Auras to seek aid from the immortals in the hope that they would carry out the words of the prophecy, and everything she had so far done was in an effort to prove worthy of their help. But that didn’t mean she failed to empathise with Zaylin’s concerns.

  “Today will decide for us,” Alex said softly. “If we pass the final Gate, you said yourself that Saefii will honour our agreement.”

  Zaylin’s eyes flashed with an unreadable light, and Alex paused to see if she would say something. But the Tia Auran remained silent, so Alex continued, “And if we fail, then we’ll still have an answer.”

  And my whole world will be doomed, Alex added to herself.

  Not allowing that thought to take root, she finished, “Either way, we’ll know by the end of the day. So take your own advice from yesterday and don’t think ahead—just focus on the now.”

  Zaylin held Alex’s eyes for a long moment before she finally nodded. “You’re right.”

  With efficient strides, the Tia Auran moved to the bedside table and opened the drawer, pulling out Niyx’s letter and passing it to Alex.

  “For luck,” Zaylin said.

  Heartened by her consideration, Alex tucked it into the tight waistband of her leathery pants.

  “And I believe this is yours, too,” Zaylin said, withdrawing the Myrox necklace from her black robe, having apparently recovered it from the empress.

  Looking at the silvery metal forming the elegant archer’s
bow with its perfectly drawn arrow, Alex shook her head and raised her eyes to meet Zaylin’s. “You keep it.”

  Zaylin started. “You’re… giving this to me?”

  “That necklace ended up in my possession after I did something no one else had managed to do before,” Alex said, recalling how Hunter had claimed she was the first person to ever recover the target in his Stealth and Subterfuge class tryouts. It hadn’t mattered that Alex hadn’t actually wanted to try out, nor had she purposefully been searching for any kind of target. But nevertheless, she had succeeded where others had failed, accidentally or not.

  Continuing with her reasoning, she said, “Hopefully the same will be true today. And if it’s not,”—she shrugged, trying to make the gesture look casual despite the nerves scratching under her skin—“then at least you’ll have something to remember me by.”

  She couldn’t read the expression on Zaylin’s face, couldn’t tell if her offer was appreciated or despised.

  Suddenly recalling Saefii’s words about Myrox being the mark of the Tia Aurans’ sworn enemy, Alex quickly backpedalled, fearing she may have unintentionally offended Zaylin. “I mean, you don’t have to keep it if you don’t want. I just thought—”

  “Thank you, Alex,” Zaylin cut in softly, raising her hands to secure the chain around the back of her neck. The glow of the silver stood out starkly against the dark of her skin, making the Myrox seem more alive than usual. “I consider your gift a great honour and shall wear it with pride.”

  Alex swallowed at the emotion she heard in Zaylin’s voice, realising that what she had just offered the Tia Auran meant perhaps more than she understood.

  Just as she moved to leave her room and meet up with her friends to be parroned to the stadium one final time, Zaylin called out her name.

  Pausing at the threshold of the doorway, Alex looked back at the Tia Auran.

  “For what it’s worth,” Zaylin whispered, touching the charm at her neck, “I do hope you succeed today.”

  Swallowing again, Alex could only nod in response, before she continued out the door.