Page 19 of Vengeance and Fire

Everyone I care about is safe. For how long, I don’t know. I open my eyes and am standing in front of the cave that leads to the Waters of Elysium. I can almost hear the seers whispering on the wind, beckoning me forward. I put one foot in front of the other, noticing the symbols on the outside of the cave begin to light up to welcome us. I wonder then if that is how they know who’s approaching, their own magically alert security system.

“Baby . . . Cordelia, baby, your clothes,” Adrian calls out behind me, and it is like a spell has been broken. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t even stop to think about dressing myself. I don’t remember getting out of them. My mind is on one thing and one thing only. I need to see Dain for myself. I need to see my father with my own eyes.

“Yes, clothes.” I turn and walk back towards them. Gale holds my clothes out in front of him. Adrian watches me closely as if he’s waiting for something to happen. This is not the time to fall apart, I am done falling apart. I’ve had plenty of time to do that days ago. The time for tears is over.

“I’m fine,” I say as I begin to dress. Sliding on my tight-fitting workout/training gear over sweaty skin presents a challenge. Twisting my body, and shimmying into my yoga pants makes me groan in frustration. I jump from foot to foot, and my mates watch on with amusement. Assholes could help but they don’t offer. They both remain silent as I get tangled in my sports bra, and when I turn to seek help, they both lose it. My arms are up over my head, breasts pushed out, completely exposed, and they laugh. When I don’t laugh with them, Adrian rushes over and gently rolls the tight fabric over my body. I think I may need to invest in razorback tops for the rest of my life so that I will always have access to my wings. They make life so much easier. Once I’m covered up, he steps back and drops to his knees and helps me with my shoes. The act in itself is enough to send my heart fluttering. I love these men so much, and they reciprocate the love with simple actions, like tying my shoes. I lean down and grab his chin, lifting his head to look at me. My grumpy mate hasn’t been as grumpy lately, that hasn’t gone unnoticed, and I know it’s because he feels at peace. The raging storm inside him has calmed, and I’m sure that it has something to do with me. I feel the same peace because of him, because of all of them.

“Thank you.” I close the short distance between our lips and kiss him quickly. Pulling away I stand, reaching out my hand I help him to his feet.

“Don’t I get a kiss too?” Gale pouts over Adrian’s shoulder, those dimples are my kryptonite. I make quick work of running towards him and he catches me in his arms. The smile he gives me takes my breath away. I kiss him first on that delicious dimple, and then quickly on the lips, and jump down.

“Thank you,” I say as I turn and practically run towards the cave with them right behind me. “I’m not fine. I was on automatic pilot back there. I’m sorry. I’m just shocked.” I sigh, and although we had shared a sweet moment just seconds ago, I can feel them both relax through our bond.

“We weren’t going to pressure you to talk to us,” Gale says as we approach the mouth of the cave.

“But we understand. Hell, I’m shocked too. Does Dravyn have power to resurrect dead people now?” Adrian asks.

“Honestly, I don’t know anything anymore. Let’s hope the seers are forthcoming today and are not about to speak to us in rhyme and riddles.” I pick up the pace, my skin is breaking out in goosebumps over the sudden temperature change.

The last time I was here felt like a thousand lifetimes ago. The mental image of Dravyn hanging limp from Torrin’s arms is another traumatic vision I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Adrian and Gale box me in, standing on either side of me as we weave in and out of the tunnels that lead us to the waters. I am not sure where I am going, considering I was only here once, but I pull on the bond that ties me to my men and I let their presence guide me. The walls of the caves seem brighter, multi-colored jewels sparkle, casting a colorful prism on the ground in front of us.

“The jewels have the power of ourRealmin them,” Gale says reverently as he walks closer to the wall to get a better look. “Apparently this cave and the Waters of Elysium are the only thing that crossed over from Earth when the Realms were created. It used to serve all the Supernaturals: Fae, Shifters, Druids, Mages and Dragons.” I let his words sink in while we continue through the cave. It all makes sense, but why then did they choose to separate themselves from each other?

“Because the portals were open doors my queen. They were never meant to be monitored and restricted in any way,” the seers’ voices ring out through the cave, answering a question I hadn’t asked out loud.

“How do they do that?” I ask no one in particular as we approach the archway leading to the Waters of Elysium. The massive lake is shimmering bright white. The magic is so thick in the air that I can feel it in the back of my throat. It calls to me invitingly, as black shadows move around the center, where two of the seers float alongside my father. I find myself moving towards the edge automatically. I can hear my mates calling for me to stop, but the pull to the magical water is strong.

“Cordelia Drake, stop.” A strong firm hand wraps about my arm, halting my steps. I blink, realizing then my next steps would have been directly into the waters. My eyes zero in on the slender fingers wrapped tight around my upper arm and up into the pale white eyes of one of the seers.

“I don’t think your father wants his magic back. It was given to you, and only to you. You are now Queen of the Night Court. Step into that water and the shadows will seek its source.” She looks out into the water where her sisters are helping my father, and I shake my head trying to focus on anything else other than the magical call.

“He is ok.” I look at my father. His eyes are closed, but as I watch closely, I can see his chest rise and fall with ease.

“We are helping him heal further. The golden one did the rest.” I look over at Dravyn whose eyes are trained on me. I can tell he is just as interested in what the seer has to say. He and Torin make their way towards us until all my mates are standing around me.

“How?” I ask the seer. I reach out and take Dravyn’s hand, pulling him closer to me. He squeezes my hand gently. It’s my silent gesture of my love for him and what he’s done both for me and my dad. I push all of the emotion I feel down our bond. I can feel all four of them close in tighter around me in response. Turning my attention back to the seer, I find she is eyeing us all with a warm smile. Clearly she is pleased with what she sees and continues.

“The shadows sought its source. When Maurelle forcefully imbued your father’s magic into him, Dravyn became a replenishable store.” She gestures to Dravyn; his eyes are wide with shock and curiosity. The seer steps forward and holds out her hands to Dravyn. He hesitates, and then slowly releases my hand. The seer meets him halfway and he places his hands in hers as she closes her eyes.

I find my attention pulled back to where my father is still floating in the middle of the lake. The other two seers are speaking so quietly that I can’t hear what they are saying.

“I am sure the Mage that helped Maurelle do this to him didn’t realize what he was doing.” The seer says as she waves her hand in the air nonchalantly and steps back letting Dravyn’s other hand go.

“You are no longer held back by the shadows, golden one. Your Dragon has aided in cleansing you of magic that wasn’t yours to hold.” I look over at Dravyn and I can feel his mixed emotions at what she is saying. He has been in possession of Fae magic for so long, it was a part of him. I can completely understand his feeling of loss.

“I didn’t do anything.” He shrugs. “If I lost everything to help Dain, then it was worth it,” he says grabbing my hand again and holding on tight.

“My queen there is much to discuss. I promised your mother that when the time came, I would guide you through this.” The seer beckons me closer, but whatever she needs to say I think we all need to hear it, so I don’t move to join her. She nods her head in understanding, catching on to my thoughts. We are equal, what I know, they should know as well.

“I thought seers weren't supposed to interfere.” I turn around at Gale’s statement. Everything is still too new for me to really ask the right questions. I push down the feelings of inadequacy and embrace how grateful I am for my mates. They’ve helped me every step of the way, I can’t ask for more.

“When theRealms are in jeopardy. When this place is in jeopardy, it is our duty to intervene.” She nods at Gale, but I don’t look back to see his reaction. When he doesn’t ask anything else, she proceeds.

“You are alive today, my queen, because your mother knew she had to give her life for yours.” I gasp at her words, my hand covers my mouth, stifling my cry. My mind flashes back to the moment in the Council room where I watched her murder through my other mother’s eyes. I saw her resolve. How she looked over to Twyla in that moment, knowing she was there and allowed them to kill her. I know now how strong she was. I can feel it in my blood, the magic that flowed through her veins flows through mine. She could have defended herself. She could have killed them all.

“She made the ultimate sacrifice, so has your father and now the others who will follow them.” My eyes jump to meet hers, but she doesn’t elaborate further.

“Wait, what do you mean the others will follow?” I look over to my father and how he gave his life for Dravyn’s. I think of my mother. And even Ms. Banks. I turn around to my mates and my stomach churns at the thought of losing any of them. I almost lost one. If I can do anything to prevent anyone else from death or harm, I’ll do it.

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