Page 85 of Realms of Shadow and Sun

The offer was tempting. The burden of what lay ahead weighed heavily on Renya's shoulders. But this was personal—Cressida had threatened the people she loved too many times. The prophecy dictated it must be her. With a deep breath, she squared her shoulders in resolve.

“Thanks, Father,” she said, the word feeling both foreign and right on her tongue, “but I should be the one to do it.”

Cyrus's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Renya felt her own eyes welling up in response. It was the first time she'd called him 'father,' and the significance of the moment wasn't lost on either of them. Here, in this nursery where she had once been loved and cared for as a baby, the wounds of abandonment began to heal.

Her father knelt before her, his gaze level with hers. “I've always loved you, my Renya,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Unable to contain herself, Renya slipped from the chair and into her father's waiting arms. His embrace was warm, solid—everything she had yearned for in her darkest moments.

“Shhh...it's okay, my daughter,” Cyrus murmured, stroking her hair. “We have a lot of time to make up for, but I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you.”

For a moment, Renya wanted nothing more than to disappear into that embrace, to hand over this burden to her father. He would do it, she knew, without hesitation. She longed to be a child again, protected and loved, safe in a nursery untouched by the ravages of war and betrayal.

But as she looked around the room—furniture splintered, rubble littering the floor—the harsh reality of their situation came rushing back. There was no true safety, no freedom, as long as Cressida lived. This destruction, this chaos, was the work of her own mother, hellbent on ending her daughter's life to keep and enhance her own magic.

Despite Cressida's occasional moments of softness towards her, Renya knew what had to be done. The stakes were too high, the consequences of failure too dire.

Are you in place, Little Fawn?Grayden's voice echoed in her mind, a soothing force against her frayed nerves.

Yes. How is Beauty behaving?

She knows you're in the tower. If I don't keep her focused, she tries to get to you, but other than that, she's been great.

“Are you talking to your mate?” Cyrus asked, helping Renya to her feet. His eyes held a mix of curiosity and something akin to wistfulness.

“How did you know?”

A sad smile played on his lips. “You get a peaceful look on your face. I could do that with your mother before I broke our bond.”

The mention of their broken bond stirred something in Renya. “Do you ever miss her?” The idea of breaking her bond with Grayden was unfathomable—it was as much a part of her as her arms or her face.

Cyrus sighed deeply, his eyes distant. “I miss what we had before she found that prophecy. We were happy—you, me, and your mother. But on her quest for power, she lost sight of the most important thing.”

She's here, Renya, Grayden's voice interrupted, laced with concern. Be careful, my love. I'll find you when it's all over.

“She's here,” Renya announced, moving to what remained of the window. In the distance, she could see Cressida astride Brutus, her dark figure a stark contrast against the bright sky. Behind her, an army, thousands strong, marched towards the city gates. Renya's throat tightened, fear gripping her heart as she thought of all the soldiers on their side—her family among them.

It'll be okay. Deep breath. A wave of calm washed over her, and she knew Grayden was trying to steady her nerves. Guilt gnawed at her; he was the one about to face a massive army, yet here he was, comforting her. She just had to kill her mother. The thought sent another painful knot twisting in her stomach.

Cyrus stood behind her, his fingers outstretched as his eyes scanned the horizon. They watched as Cressida landed before the city gate, unaware of the combined forces of the Twilight and Tidal Kingdoms, Snow and Spring Lands, waiting on the other side.

The Shadow Queen raised her hands, seeming to swipe through the air. “What's she doing?” Renya whispered, though she knew she couldn't be heard from their vantage point.

“She's looking for traces of my magic,” Cyrus explained. “Once she found the Snow Lands abandoned, she must have realized I'd cloaked it.”

“Can she break it?”

A hint of pride colored Cyrus's voice. “No. But I'm going to let her think she can.”

They waited, tense, as a burst of dark magic flew from Cressida's fingers. Cyrus shuddered, holding out his hands as waves of golden power radiated back into him. “She'll know where I am now,” he said, almost glowing as his power settled. “But if I was successful, she won't know she's walking into a trap. She must have expected something, bringing her army, but hopefully, we'll catch her off guard.”

Below, the Shadow Realm soldiers waited for their command. Cressida raised her right hand, and they fell into marching formation.

“It's begun,” Cyrus said, his eyes never leaving Cressida as she blasted through the gate with her magic. As the soldiers began to pour into the city, Renya felt bile rise in her throat.

“He'll be fine,” Cyrus assured her, correctly interpreting her worried expression. “I've watched your prince, observed him ever since I learned he was your mate. He's strong and capable, and more importantly, if he promises to come back to you, he will.” His eyes softened as he looked at her. “I never dreamed I'd meet a man who loves my daughter as much as I do, but I'm so thankful that I have.” A mischievous glint entered his eyes. “And I hope to have grandchildren someday. No pressure, though,” he added quickly. “You do things in your own time.”

Renya's hand went unconsciously to her stomach. She wasn't entirely certain, but she was beginning to suspect she might be carrying Grayden's child. Her cycles had been irregular before coming through the portal, which she'd attributed to stress. She'd also experienced bouts of nausea, but had chalked it up to fear and uncertainty. Now, however, she was noticing subtle changes in her body that left her wondering.

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