Rise From the Embers (Lightness Saga #4)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  With a gasping cry, the stone rose from the pavement. His hand pressed to his chest as he sucked in gulps of air. His back was to me, but I didn’t need to see his eyes to know they were green. In an instant, a strange buzz vibrated in my chest and heart because we went through the same thing together, created a link no one else could understand.

  Lars was alive.

  I fought back tears of joy. I had no idea how he survived outside his body, but I didn’t care. Knowing he was back gave me hope. Strength. Maybe we could actually fight this and win.

  “Bhean?” Sprig’s fur brushed my hand and I turned to my best friend. His soft brown eyes stared up at me. “It’s you.”

  Opening my mouth to speak, no words came out, only a hiccupped sob. I scooped him up, cradling him against me. He snuggled in, releasing a heavy sigh of.

  “I am so sorry,” I whispered, rocking and stroking his back. This tiny thing took up so much of my heart. The love I felt for him was immeasurable. But then I remembered, as if a dagger were twisting in my heart at the thought of the man lying a few feet away from me, I shut my lids in agony.

  No. Zoey, don’t let yourself think of it now. If I let myself even breathe in Ryker’s direction, I would curl next to him and never move again. Wyatt, Lexie, Annabeth, Sprig, Croygen—they were all reasons to get up, keep fighting. But I relived the horror at what I had done. No matter if the stone had control of me, I had felt his throat under my fingers. In the end I wasn’t strong enough. I didn’t fight hard enough.

  “Zoey?” Lexie’s voice cried out. I turned to see her inching toward me, her eyes wide with hope.

  “Lexie…” I croaked, another wave of emotion obstructing any other declarations.

  “Oh my god, Zoey!” She ran, her mechanical legs pinging against the ground as she fell down next to me and wrapped her arms around me.

  A sob caught in my throat, hugging her, her loose curls tickling my nose. Squashing Sprig between us, she clasped me tighter.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” she blubbered into my ear, her sobs drenching my chest. I held her, stroking her hair as she wept. “I was so scared…that we lost you.”

  “Me too,” I whispered, struggling to find the right words.

  “I love you, Zoey.” She gulped, pulling back to wipe her eyes. “I don’t say it enough. You have always been so amazing to me. Even when I was being bratty and hateful, you stayed. You could have left Jo’s, but you stayed for me.”

  “Lexie.” I cupped her face. “You are my sister. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I love you so much.” I brought her to me again, kissing her temple.

  “Unless you both become honey bread, I’m not lovin’ this sandwich right now.” Sprig wiggled against my hand, but I heard no seriousness in his voice.

  “You love it, furball.” Lexie rubbed his head, sitting back.

  “Only if her bra was producing those honey packets.” He pointed at my chest. “But they are dry. Why would they do that to me? Do the honey gods want me to suffer?”

  I grinned as he sighed dramatically.

  My family. My world.

  “Mother.” Hate hissed over my shoulder, making me stiffen. With one word my whole world came to a stop. A jolt of fear raced down my spine. I scrambled to my feet, Sprig clasped to my chest. I shoved Lexie behind me. Zeke stood a few feet away, his sharp javelin poised in his hand aimed for me. Green eyes glared back into mine, full of hate and revulsion. “Finally.” His lip hitched in a snarl. “We’re alone.”

  I shoved Sprig into Lexie’s arms, my eyes locked on the strighoul hybrid, my hand grabbing for the small blade on the ground.

  Zeke took a step toward me, ignoring the commotion his master and the cauldron made a short distance away. Magic pounded down on us like a hammer, the wind whirling furiously, threatening to absorb us all in a final bite. But in that moment all I saw was the threat standing before me. The fighter stepping into the ring with me.

  “I have been dreaming about this for years.” A tongue slid over his jagged teeth, hate stamped across his face. “I longed for your death since the moment you left us all to die, your own flesh and blood, abused and forgotten.” Zeke’s fingers rubbed at his spear handle. “What kind of mother deserts her children without even a thought? You only saw us as mistakes. Abominations.” The javelin twirled in his hand as he inched closer. I had seen him train; I knew how good he was.

  I tried to summon my magic but it was like finding an empty well. Come on magic. Where are you when I needed you? “Zeke.” I held up my knife, backing my sister and me away from him. “You don—”

  “Don’t want to do this?” He snapped his teeth. “This is the only thing I want to do. I have been patient, pretending you were our queen. But I knew if I stayed quiet, endured every wretched moment I had to bow to you, I would get my chance. Sometimes he would leave you unguarded,” he snarled back at the stone.

  My heart pattered wildly against my ribs. I didn’t know if Zeke was alone in his hatred or if they all felt this way. Either way, this was not good for me.

  I could fight the best of them, but Zeke was designed to be better, faster, and stronger than both human and fae. That was why Rapava had created them—to challenge fae and destroy them.

  My mind raced with different scenarios, slowly slinking us backward with every move he made forward. Out of the corner of my eye, I realized I was near Ryker’s body and my chest compressed with grief.

  “You’re going to die, Mother. And so is the girl you consider your family more than your own blood. You think we don’t feel? That we didn’t understand your rejection? We were kids… I cried out for you, watched my own mother desert me, because you wanted me to die.”

  I had. I still did, but now I felt a shred of remorse. What kind of person was I not to feel anything for them? It wasn’t their fault they were born the way they were, but I had been violated too. Rapava had stolen my eggs from me when I was unconscious. They were a result of his horrible deeds, and they weren’t supposed to exist.

  But neither was Sprig. Neither was I.

  “Zeke, I am sorry.”

  “Don’t,” he snarled. “It’s too late. I feel nothing but revulsion for you. I want you to die.” Zeke lunged for me, his lance whirling in his hand, pointing for my heart. It moved so fast I had no time to react, but my brain registered I was going to die.

  “No!” Lexie’s scream tore through the air, her hands shoving me to the side, my body tumbling to the ground beside Ryker.

  All I could do was watch the javelin continue its journey, Zeke ramming all his strength into it.

  Straight into Lexie.

  A guttural scream tore from my mouth as the slurping sound of skin and bone being shredded against metal banged in my ears. With a pop, the pointed dagger burst out her back, her body stiffening, a silent scream froze on her mouth.

  “Guess you’re first, little sister,” Zeke growled with elation, twisting the javelin in deeper. Then he jerked it out, her body collapsing to the ground.

  I knew I was still screaming, but nothing made sense anymore. I scrambled over to her, a wail rising from my lips.

  “Lexie?” I gripped her face. Her eyes darted in fear, her hand covered mine. Then she went still, her hand falling from mine to the ground. “Lexie! No! Lexie, don’t leave me. Please!” I gripped her harder, shaking her. “No… Please. No!” I screamed, desperation screeching in my voice.

  But it was too late.

  Her eyes stared lifelessly at the sky, her body twisted in the position she fell in, blood pooling around her. A cry hiccupped in my throat as I bent over, my forehead taking in the warmth evaporating from her body.

  She was dead. Because she tried to save me.

  “Now you know how I felt when I saw many of my brothers and sisters die because of you,” Zeke jeered over his shoulder.

  Anguish rotted in my chest, in my soul. Ryker. Lexie.

  The loss was too much. Violence shook my limbs, grief mixing with unfathoma
ble wrath. And I felt the switch.

  Zoey was no longer. The Avenging Angel rose in her stead.

  My eyes locked on the creature. No human words crossed my lips. A feral wail belted from me as I leaped for the monster with only a small blade in my hand.

  He jumped back, turning to face me, tossing down his stick. “I want to kill you with my bare hands and tear into your flesh with the teeth. The ones that make you cringe every time you look upon me.”

  Magic whirled thickly in the air, shouts and lightning dancing in the sky, but nothing else mattered except killing Zeke.

  Neither one of us danced or bounced around each other. We went straight in for the kill.

  My blade nicked a long trail along his arm as he spun, a snarl hitching up his mouth. He curved around me, his teeth snapping at my neck. I dropped, swinging my knife for his gut. He jumped out of the way, smirking at my failed attempt. This only drove the anger deeper into me, enraged me more, tunneling my vision and thoughts.

  Primal. Feral.

  My bones cracked as I rolled over the pavement and jumped back on my feet. With a shriek of hate, he sprang for me, long nails protruding from his buff human arms scraped my skin. My nose flared with the smell of blood and pain, but I only fought fiercer. Twisting around, I kicked my boot into the side of his knee, going for a tendon. A scream belted from his mouth as his leg dropped to the ground. I rammed a fist into his temple, barely feeling the pain that speared down my arm. Zeke pitched toward me, his mouth clamping on my arm.

  It felt like a thousand needles embedded into the bone of my arm. I cried out. Blood gushed around his teeth. I managed to ram my foot right into his crotch; he opened his mouth in a scream, letting me tear away from his hold.

  “I enjoyed killing her. I wish I’d done it slower. I’ll make sure I take my time with you.” He dove forward, his nails scraping my stomach. “And I’m going to love eating all of you for lunch. I’ll use that monkey as a toothpick to dig your guts out of my teeth.”

  He already destroyed my world, if he even touched another…

  An animal sound broke from my throat. Ignoring the ache pounding in my arm and gut, I jumped on him, the force of my fury driving us both to the ground with a crunch. My fists pounded into his face, cracking his teeth and cutting up his face. And my hands. Blood poured from both of us, streaking down his face.

  His green eyes bore into me with fury. Roaring, he shoved me off him, my body flying back, landing roughly on a car. I heard the sounds of bones snapping, as a piece of glass stabbed through my spine. I tried to rise, but my body failed to respond. Coughing up blood, I felt every broken rib, my lungs rattling.

  I would fight until my body gave out, for my son, my family, but I couldn’t deny the part of me that wanted to let go now. To follow my sister and Ryker to another place. To feel peace. No more heartache and pain.

  Zeke rose up, grabbing his spear. “I think it’s time to say goodbye, Mother.” He slurred through broken teeth. Limping over to me, he lifted his spear, aiming it at chest. “And yes, I will take great pleasure in your death. Sweet justice.” His arm went back.

  Move, Zoey! But my muscles didn’t respond. Hell. This was it. And maybe I deserved it.

  A glint of a blade whizzed through the air behind Zeke and embedded itself into the hybrid’s neck. Zeke made a strange gurgling shriek, the spear falling from his hands, as his head detached from his body, flying several feet before splattering onto the ground. His body took a few seconds to respond, then it crumpled to the ground.

  I blinked through the blood and sweat at my savior standing over me.

  “Human.” White eyes glinted at me. My sword was propped on his shoulder, dripping with fresh blood. On his other shoulder sat Sprig, a happy smile curving his mouth.

  “Ryker?” I gasped, afraid if I blinked I’d find this a hallucination. Or maybe I had died. I didn’t care. He was here. “Oh my gods…” I found the strength to rise, ignoring the dizzying pain tears flooding my eyes.

  Ryker dropped his weapon, which clanged loudly to the ground as he grabbed for me, his large arms wrapping around me. At his touch, a whimper rose from me, my body falling into his.

  “How are you alive?” I sobbed, touching him over and over. “I-I am so sorry…”

  “Shhh,” he muttered against my ear. “It’s not your fault. And as you see, I am a lot harder to kill than even the stone thought. And it never decided to check to make sure. Had a good nap though. Woke up to a monkey farting on my face.”

  I gave the ghost of a laugh as an agonizing cough rattled my lungs. “If I’m going to die, I want to be in your arms.”

  “You are going nowhere, human. You belong here with me.” He folded himself over me. “You know I will hunt you down for eternity.”

  I blinked, willing my body to heal. But I thought of Lexie’s last moments, that awful sickening sound of the spear slicing through her. As though sensing my heartbreak, Ryker’s lips brushed my head, my cheek, and found my lips softly. The feeling of his mouth against mine made tears flood my cheeks. I had thought I would never feel them again. That I’d lost him forever.

  “She’d want you to fight. Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain.” He broke away, the love in his eyes burning into mine. He was right; she would want me to fight. She’d be furious if I gave up.

  Wiggling from his grip, I crawled to her, my body shaking with effort. Kneeling next to her corpse, fresh tears cascaded down my face. With trembling fingers, I gently shut her lids. “I hope you find endless adventures, Lex.” I gulped, my throat closing in. “I love you, little sis. Forever.” My soul shredded into pieces hearing myself say goodbye. It made it real. True.

  Ryker moved in next to me, pulling me into him. I watched Sprig climb down his arm, moving to Lexie’s face; he leaned into the side of her face, his hands running through her curly locks, his shoulders shaking the grief.

  “Leanbh,” he whispered softly, palming her cheek. “I will miss you.”

  She was so fearless and full of life. She had so much more to live and experience. I shook my head repeatedly, not ready to accept it after everything she had been through it had all been taken from her. She had lived through so much. It wasn’t fair. She deserved a beautiful life. And selfishly, I wanted her with me. I knew my time with Lexie and Annabeth would be shorter due to my extended fae life, but this was far too soon.

  “Lexie?” Croygen’s voice crashed into me, hearing his desperation. “LEXIE!” His scream tore the last bits of my soul, bending me farther into Ryker. I had never heard him scream that way. Croygen fell to the ground on the other side of her, wailing like an animal in pain.

  “No! Lexie... Nooooo!” He pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her, smearing himself with her blood. “No, you promised me. You promised me, li’l shark. You and I.” He cried as he dropped his head onto hers, rocking and holding on to her life as if she were his entire world. “Don’t go…please…stay here with me.”

  Ryker held me tighter. Croygen’s wails shook and wiggled Lexie’s lifeless body. I knew they liked each other, but until this moment, I didn’t realize how much. He was in love with her. Something he’d tried to deny, saying she was like a kid sister. She had always loved him, and along the way Croygen had fallen in love with her. Deeply. How could you not? She had been so full of life and love. Curious and smart. Ready for adventure and to take life by the horns.

  Now that light had been put out.

  And a part of me went out with her.

  Chapter 31

  Kennedy

  Lightning cracked and thunder bellowed overhead, answering to its mistress. Piper’s little hands trembled over the empty cauldron, her eyes squeezing tight with every bolt that rumbled near us. She bit back a whimper when the thunder vibrated the ground. She was being so brave.

  Ember’s magic scared the hell out of me too. It was raw and brutal with no awareness of good or bad. It just lashed out as nature did. She had gotten better at controlling it, but
it was still wild, exactly like her.

  “Piper.” I reached out, touching my niece’s face, her blue eyes flashing up to me. I couldn’t believe what I was asking of her. She was so young. She should be back in the castle, wrapped in a blanket, safe and comfortable, letting us adults take care of this, but unfortunately, she was a Cathbad. A powerful one. We needed her. “You and I have to do the chant all the way through. No matter what is happening around us. You understand? I know it’s scary, but we need to do this for your mummy. Okay?”

  She nodded, running her tongue of her lips nervously. “And Darz. I’ll help him too.”

  “Yes, of course.” My thumb rubbed her dirty cheek. “Are you ready?” Crapping nerf-herder. Was I ready?

  “Yes, Auntie Kennedy.”

  “Okay, wait on my word. And as I said, we can’t stop chanting until the end of the third time. Don’t stop.” I peered over at Ember. She stood, arms open, head back, her eyes shut. Magic crackled around her as she internally summoned her power.

  Crap a million times. This was a bad plan; not that I had a good one. Rules and plans had flown out the window the moment this battle started. Fear clasped my lungs, but the need to protect my unborn children and my kingdom roared inside me like a bear. If we were going to perish, I wanted us to go out fighting for a better world.

  Lightning bolts zigzagged through the sky and shook the ground. Booooom! White light blinded me as the power of Ember’s magic shot to the ground, slicing through the barrier the treasures wrapped around themselves.

  Bam! Energy and flames burst against their magic, ripping through it, blasting everything in a hundred-foot radius back like paper dolls. My bones popped as I rolled, heat burning my skin. The cauldron went flying, clanging as it hit the stone several feet away. The stone flew out, tumbling into the gutter.

  Crap!

  “Piper!” I screamed, scrambled to my knees.