Spring's Vampires. Blooms of Blood: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Soulmates of Seasons Book 4)

by Eva Brandt

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, all right?” Eranthe said as we reached the frigate. “You’re welcome to come at the palace at your convenience. We’ll speak about the details then. Have fun.”

  “You too, Eranthe.” Following a sudden impulse, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her close. “And thank you.”

  She held me back just as tightly, refraining from pointing out the excessive nature of my gesture. I wasn’t leaving for The Voievodat. I’d have plenty of time to display my gratitude. This was unnecessary.

  Except it wasn’t. Once, I’d decided to kiss her to make sure she wouldn’t hurt herself while she adjusted to the death magic. I’d tried everything in my power to make sure the power of the Grand Lich would find a home inside my younger self when I was gone.

  There was no need for that any longer. I was no longer bound to her, not through the link that had originally sealed my fate.

  But even so, even if we’d earned my freedom, a connection would always exist between us, one that I’d treasure. “Sisters?”

  “Sisters,” Eranthe repeated. “But just so you know, there’s no season left for you to take.”

  I broke away from our embrace and arched a brow at her. “Oh, don’t worry, I don’t need a throne of the seasons. I have another land to worry about.”

  I’d never set out to be a queen of The Immortuos Voievodat, but why not? I had my whole life ahead of me now. A long-term goal wouldn’t hurt.

  Fourteen

  Epilogue

  Baltasar

  “Are you sure about this, Baltasar? You can still come home, come with us. You don’t need to stay here.”

  I met Mormo’s desperate eyes and wished not for the first time that I hadn’t decided to talk to her. She was my mother and I owed her that much, but still, it was difficult.

  “I am home,” I told her, for the tenth time that day. “I belong with Eranthe. She’s my soulmate. You know that very well. Why are you trying to change something unchangeable?”

  “Nothing is unchangeable and I still believe you belong in Aeternum, with us,” she insisted.

  I would’ve probably lost my patience with her altogether had the familiar feeling of my soulmate’s magic not flowed over me, interrupting my conversation. I turned, only to see Eranthe walking up to us, as beautiful and perfect as a blood-red rose.

  “That’s a very presumptuous comment to make, Mormo,” she said without preamble. “You’re assuming there will actually be a place for you in The Voievodat to return to.”

  “What do you mean?” my mother asked. “The Voievodat is my home.”

  “I’m sure it is,” Eranthe replied, with a bland, meaningless smile. “It was just something I thought I should mention, as a possibility and a warning. You helped us, in your own way. For that reason, you’ll have your freedom. But make no mistake. If you push us, you won’t like the results.”

  At this point, even Mormo knew better than to protest or argue with Eranthe. Rumor had already spread about Eranthe’s confrontation with Fufluns. While most people weren’t sure exactly what had occurred, the general belief was that my soulmate had successfully taken on a god and won.

  My mother was more well-informed than most, but she also hadn’t forgotten about the episode in the forest. “I believe you, Lady of Spring,” she said. “But I urge you to be careful in the future. The magic of Chronikos might not always be there to support you.”

  “Perhaps, but my soulmates will be.”

  As Eranthe spoke, a contingent of skeletons showed up and guided Mormo away. I watched her go with mixed feelings. “What is going to happen to her and my aunts?”

  “Eiar tells me Emperor Octavian is considering sending her back to Ton Daímon. She’s helped us, but still, she’s shown hostility to Eiar in the past. There’s going to be some political volatility in The Voievodat in the near future. They can’t take any chances.”

  Volatility was putting it lightly. If Eiar did end up clashing with Queen Elodie, it wouldn’t end without blood being shed. I wasn’t too worried, though. Vampire marriages fell apart all the time, especially those that had been political arrangements. Octavian would make it work somehow.

  I was more concerned about my father. If my mother’s nest was moved to Ton Daímon, that might be the end of their relationship.

  Then again, maybe not. They’d already lived apart for centuries and they were resourceful. They’d be able to figure it out.

  “Thank you for letting her go,” I told Eranthe. “I know it was in part because she helped you, but I still appreciate it.”

  “It was the right thing to do,” she said. “The war with The Voievodat was destructive, but not as much as it could’ve been. There were casualties on both sides. Now is not the time to hold a grudge over it, especially not since your mother is only a small piece of a larger puzzle.

  “Right now, our priority has to be making sure Chronikos is safe from further backlash from the gods, and that takes precedence over the past.

  “Maybe one day, we’ll all have to pay the price for everything we’ve done, but in the meantime, we’ll have to make the best of all the resources we have at our disposal.”

  Her words humbled me. I trusted her strength and determination, but even so, she still managed to surprise me every single time we spoke. “You’re amazing, you know that? Tis Ánoixis is very lucky to have you as its queen.”

  Eranthe shook her head, her lips twisting into a small, bitter smile. “I’m not that great of a queen. If I had been, I would’ve found a solution to Eiar’s problem that wouldn’t have involved pissing off several pantheons.” She shrugged and her self-deprecating demeanor vanished like smoke in the wind. “But it is what it is. We do what we must, and we make our own fate.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself, love,” I offered.

  She opened her mouth, presumably intending to reply. Her words died on her lips and she let out a low gasp.

  It was a tiny, almost inaudible sound, but it still made alarm explode over me. “Eranthe? What is it?”

  “I-I’m not sure,” she stammered. “I just... Something’s not right.”

  She shook her head, as if physically trying to dispel the feeling that had assaulted her. “Let’s go find Cezar and Adrian. I don’t know what’s going on, but whatever it is, I want us to be together when we face it.”

  I complied, but in my heart, I wondered if that would be enough. What had gone wrong now and how were we going to fix it?

  * * *

  Adrian

  “Are you sure this is going to work? It won’t make the situation in the forest worse?”

  Eiar arched a brow at me. It was a little disconcerting, since it was similar to Eranthe’s skeptical looks, yet somehow, still different. “Who is the Grand Lich here, me or you? I know what I’m doing.”

  By my side, Cezar eyed her with some trepidation. “We’re aware. We just don’t want—”

  “Things to become even more difficult for Eranthe than they already are. Yes, I know. Relax. That’s why I’m doing this.”

  Eiar knelt in the grass, in front of the quiet, clear lake. I hadn’t been here since the argument with Eranthe, but for unknown reasons, Eiar had asked me and Cezar to join her.

  “And what is this exactly?” I asked.

  “Octavian might’ve said that we can’t bring everyone back, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try at least in some cases.”

  She didn’t elaborate on what she had in mind. She didn’t even explain why she’d called us here. Instead, she just summoned her power, reaching into the core of Chronikos just like Eranthe usually did.

  There was a significant difference, though, as Eiar’s necromantic magic was harsher and sharper than the powers Eranthe wielded. I watched the process in fascination. I’d seen the Grand Lich create undead beings many times before, but today, she crafted something unique, unlike anything I’d considered possible.

  The ground opened under our feet and several equines fi
gures emerged from the cracks. “Undead unicorns, huh?” Cezar asked as he watched them climb to the surface with striking ease. “I didn’t see this one coming.”

  Eiar shrugged. “They might come in handy. They probably won’t feel at home in this forest any longer, but they’ll be able to stay in Eranthe’s stables. Besides, when it comes to things like hostile gods, every little bit counts.”

  One of the horses made its way to her side and nuzzled her cheek. She laughed lightly and passed her hand through its black mane. “Do you doubt me?” she inquired, glancing toward me.

  I shook my head. “Not really, Grand Lich. I’m sure you do want to help. But why did you summon us here? We’re of no use to you.”

  “To tell you the truth, Adrian, I just wanted to apologize.”

  I gaped at her in disbelief. I certainly hadn’t expected that. “Apologize?” I repeated. “For what?”

  “Attacking you at Eranthe’s palace, of course,” Eiar answered. “Or have you forgotten?”

  Of course I hadn’t forgotten, but it was just something I had set aside. “I was rude to you, so you were right to be offended.”

  “Maybe. Still, you’re my sister’s soulmate and I respect that. We’ll have to do better in the future.

  “Also, after I’m gone, you’ll be the one best equipped to make sure Eranthe doesn’t blow her head off by delving too deeply into necromancy. She claims that she’ll be careful, but we all know that’s pretty unlikely.”

  “Well, I can’t argue with that.”

  “As for you, Cezar, I have another request. If you’re going to lead the embassy of The Voievodat, you’ll have to take...”

  Eiar never finished explaining her train of thought to us. She trailed off, all color draining from her face. She swayed, but we managed to catch her before she could fall and hurt herself. “Eiar, what’s wrong?”

  Eiar didn’t reply. She seemed to be staring at nothing, no longer able to see us at all.

  “This is bad,” Cezar said. “What is going on? Is this a side-effect of the ritual?”

  “I haven’t sensed any anomalous magic,” I told him, “but the type of soul magic Eranthe used isn’t my area of expertise. It’s possible.”

  “We need to get her back to the palace, at once.”

  He picked her up in his arms, determined to do exactly that. Before we could go through with his idea, Eranthe and Baltasar arrived, carried by a strikingly cold spring breeze.

  “Set her down,” Eranthe said as she descended from the sky. “It’s not a good idea to move her now.”

  She must have sensed the same thing Eiar had. Although she was cognizant and moving around on her own, her restless magic made the ground beneath our feet vibrate. My powers responded to it, and the undead unicorns neighed in agitation.

  Eranthe took a deep breath and leashed her magic. It calmed down the animals, but it only agitated me further. “What’s going on, Eranthe? Is it your father? Hades?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I might be able to find out with Eiar’s help. Keep an eye out, will you?”

  She was obviously expecting an attack, perhaps something similar to what had happened during our meeting on the iceberg. Thankfully, her fears were proven wrong. She didn’t have to use any drastic methods to help Eiar either. She just took Eiar’s hand, and just like that, the two of them regained their color and composure.

  But that was where the good news stopped. Eiar stirred from her trance, blinking several times in an attempt to clear her vision. “Shit,” she said. “We’re fucked.”

  The uncharacteristic profanity startled me almost as much as the revelation of her true identity had. “What is it now?”

  “It looks like we were too hasty to believe the gods were our only problem,” Eranthe replied. “We might have just started something new, but... It’s not here.”

  “Where, then?” Cezar asked.

  “In The Realm of Eternal Sunlight. We need to speak to Tarasia, at once.”

  * * *

  Tarasia

  Meanwhile, Tou Kalokairioú, The Realm of Eternal Sunlight

  Two months after my departure from my realm, I arrived at The Palace of Boundless Light, feeling drained of strength and still uncertain.

  My lieutenants met me in the courtyard of the palace, bowing so lowly their foreheads touched the ground. It was a stance they’d gotten used to during their time under Queen Bast, and I’d never quite managed to change the custom.

  “Greetings, Queen Theros,” June said. “Your humble servants welcome you home.”

  My manticore, Ashkan, was more affectionate than ever and he would’ve probably knocked me over in his enthusiasm if July hadn’t held him back. Even the sphinxes were smiling a little, relieved at my return.

  “Thank you. It’s good to be back. I missed Tou Kalokairioú as well.

  “So everything has been going well in my absence? No anomalies?”

  “Nothing of gravity, Your Majesty,” July reported. “The crops are flourishing and we’ve successfully held the undead plague in check.”

  “Thank the gods for small mercies.” Or no, not the gods, not after everything I’d learned, everything they’d done to my little sister.

  I shook my head, reminding myself that Eranthe was all right, and so was her future self. I still needed some time to process that properly, but the sphinxes were good listeners and could provide me with insight. Maybe they could help.

  For the moment, rest and relaxation would have to wait. I got the distinctive feeling that my beloved minions were holding something back.

  But the courtyard was not the best place for them to give me the most delicate reports. “Come. I believe we still have much to discuss.”

  We left the sphinxes to guard the entrance to the palace and headed to my office. Ashkan refused to leave my side, and his ongoing displays of affection were beginning to alarm me.

  “All right,” I told my lieutenants. “Now that we’re alone, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “There have been some sightings of death worms,” August admitted, “but so far, their activity has been within acceptable limits.”

  I groaned. Death worms always appeared in the desert as a result of some kind of magical anomaly. Usually, my army did a good job at keeping the pests under control, but between Snegurka’s escape and the attack of the army of undead, it stood to reason that they’d become a problem again.

  But death worms were pretty much routine in Tou Kalokairioú. My lieutenants wouldn’t consider them such a big issue. Something else was going on, something so big they were hesitant to bring it up.

  “We’ll discuss the death worms later. I think we all know that’s not what makes you so wary.”

  June straightened his back, as if bracing himself for something very difficult. Upon hearing his following report, I didn’t blame him for his wariness.

  “We’ve received a message from Atlantis, Your Majesty. It’s the merfolk. They want to talk to you, and they’re not happy.”

  THE END

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  Now available, free for download - the interlude/prequel to my Soulmates of Seasons series Winter’s Dragons. Draconic Affairs.

  Once upon a time, a firedrake, a ryu and a wyvern melted a snow queen’s heart and learned to love and be loved in the process. But before they were her soulmates, they were bitter rivals. What secrets does their past hold?

  Soulmates of Seasons Index

  Chronikos (The Land of Time)

  Tou Cheimóna, The Realm of Eternal Ice

  Ruler: Cheimon (Cassia), Lady of Winter.

  Preceded by: Snegurka – a character originated from Russian fairytales, depicted as the granddaughter and helper of Ded Moroz; here, adapted as his daughter

  Lieutenants:

  First Lieutenant: December

  Second Lieutenant: January

&n
bsp; Third Lieutenant, Ambassador Winter-Spring: February

  Other inhabitants:

  Yeti – ape-like creature originating from the culture of Nepal

  Ded Moroz - East Slavic figure very similar to Santa Claus. Literal translation of name is Grandfather Frost.

  Nisse – in Scandinavian folklore, a type of friendly brownie that inhabits farmsteads

  Barbegazi – a type of gnome heralding from French/Swiss mythology, resembling a small white-furred man with enormous feet

  Yuki-Onna – a type of spirit from Japanese mythology that shows up during snow storms as an inhumanly beautiful woman and may prey on lost travelers

  Amarok – in Inuit mythology, a gigantic wolf that stalks and devours anyone who hunts alone at night

  Jack Frost – In several cultures, many of them Anglo-Saxon, the embodiment of winter, ice and snow

  Wendigo – man-eating monster that originates from the consumption of human flesh during a harsh winter; originates from Algonquian folklore

  Akhlut – a wolf-orca hybrid creature originating from Inuit mythology

  Tis Ánoixis, The Realm of Eternal Youth

  Ruler: Eiar (Eranthe), Lady of Spring

  Preceded by King Jarylo – Slavic god of vegetation, fertility and springtime

  Interim ruler: Fufluns – Etruscan god of plant life, happiness and growth, sometimes seen as associated with the underworld

  Inhabitants:

  Nymphs – in Greek mythology, minor nature deities associated with particular locations or geographical formations; can be of different types