Page 2 of Between Despair and Hope

“Shit, Thyra! Help!” I went to work cutting him free. He had a branch thrust through his shoulder and another through his leg. It took us a long time, and a surprising amount of stoicism from Cyran, before we could get him out. I was relieved he’d survived whatever they had faced from Dryul. I knew Emma suspected the prince held love for her daughter, and as long as Mairin found a way to help Elora, both children were safe and whole. Thyra had found the Bone King—properly dead—so when I finally cut Cyran free, I hoisted him into my arms as Thyra dragged the king’s body.

It was when I was walking back through the rift that Emma surprised me more than anything.

“No, don’t bring him a step closer. Cut his head off, and bring it to me.”

The little prince was in a cell—only alive because Mairin convinced Emma to keep him for questioning and torture, unknowingly volunteering me for the job. I was fine with it though; he deserved it well enough. Mairin and Ven had cleaned Elora of blood, carefully replacing her clothing with something Raj’s daughter supplied. I avoided looking at her for too long, her position and slack expression unsettling. Emma hadn’t left the girl’s side as she slept.

To make matters worse, none of our scouts found any information about Rainier. A whole day had passed without a single whisper. I knew something was very wrong, but I held out hope. We would know if Declan had killed him—he wouldn’t have been able to keep quiet about it. And Emma hadn’t felt the crippling pain which occurred after a bond was broken by death, but instead, she couldn’t feel him on the other end of it. She still had access to his gifts, could feel the bond itself, just not him. I had the distinct notion he’d been captured, but I couldn’t bring myself to discuss it with her. Not yet.

I was keeping myself busy, making right the ruined fort so many called home, when Shivani arrived—a shock, considering she would have needed to find someone who could rift her ass this far, and they’d have to be familiar with the rift points. Thoughts of her travel here left me as she thundered toward the fortress itself, moving past me through the courtyard, a look on her face which spoke of destruction.

Shit.

I followed behind her as she slammed into the dining hall, full of the wounded and dying, screeching about Rainier. Raj handled her, fully healed thanks to Emma, and pulled her off to his quarters within the fortress. I figured I should let Emma know sooner rather than later what hell we were about to contend with and made my way to the set of private quarters where we’d settled her and her daughter. Mairin and Lavenia were already there when I arrived. Elora was in the bed, still sleeping, Emma’s body curled around her. She rolled over, blue depths still bloodshot, and I could tell she hadn’t had a single moment of sleep. Mairin and Lavenia sat on a sofa together, the merrow leaning against Ven’s shoulder and snoring softly. She’d barely gotten any rest either.

I spoke quietly, not eager to upset anyone more than I had to. “Shivani is here, and she is out for blood.”

Emma slowly lifted her head, careful not to disturb the daughter she lay with. “I think I know what it’s about. Wake up Mairin. She should hear this too.” Emma pulled herself up, moving to the edge of the bed, arms braced on either side of her, shoulders high. She looked small and exhausted. Frail and without emotion. It was abnormal for her, and, while I knew the circumstances were also abnormal, it was worrisome. When Mairin leaned forward, rubbing her face as she woke, Emma began.

“Before the battle yesterday, Rain sent a message to his mother. In case—” She took a deep, shaky breath, and I saw her hands clench in the sheets. “In the event of Rain’s death, he wanted his mother to know his proper heir.” Mairin and I both glanced at Lavenia before looking back to Emma, who remained expressionless. “Elora is Rain’s daughter. By blood.”

I heard Ven gasp as my eyes shot to the small form in the bed. It would explain the complexion and curly hair, and she was around the right age. But that would have meant Rainier had a daughter and didn’t know it.

“Did you keep her from him?” The accusation left my mouth before I could stop it.

“Dewalt, I will say this only once. I did not know. I am goddess-blessed, and Elora was Rhia’s gift to me. Her conception was unlikely, and yet it happened all the same. We planned to tell you three once we told Elora, but—” She gestured to her daughter and hung her head. I’d never seen her look more defeated.

“You’re sure, Emma?” Quiet, Lavenia’s voice was soft—kind. She sounded hopeful.

Emma’s head dipped. “Yes, I’m sure. That was why Faxon sold her—to punish me.” She paused and looked at the girl on the bed, her eyes soft. “She has Rain’s smile.” Emma gave us a small one of her own before exhaling harshly. “I suppose Shivani is here to, I don’t know, call me a whore, probably. And I just cannot—”

The door burst open, and the bitch in question stood on the threshold.

“There you are.” Her hawkish gaze rested on Emma, who barely lifted her chin in response. The woman was broken. “Explain. Explain why Rainier is not here, and explain this foolishness about your daughter being his blood.”

Emma took a deep breath, but I cut her off.

“Rainier rifted away with Prince Declan—well, I suppose King Declan, now—and we haven’t seen him since. Our scouts have found nothing. Your guess is as good as ours. And as for Elora being his blood, well, Shivani, when two people love each other, sometimes—”

Emma cut me off at the sight of the queen mother’s face. Probably a good idea.

“Shivani, I am the Beloved, not Elora. I am blessed by all four of the gods. Rhia, as her blessing, saw to it I had a child. Elora is his, surely as she is mine.”

“What do you mean ‘saw to it’?” The sneer she wore was so much like the ones she reserved for me. It was strange to see her look upon someone else with the same disdain.

“Do you really want the details, Mama?” Lavenia’s attempt at deterring Shivani was sound, but the woman was not one to shy away. She turned towards Emma, squaring her shoulders, and raised a single brow. Emma sighed, but didn’t back down either.

“We had sex the night Lucia died, and Elora was born nine months later.”

“And you conveniently didn’t tell him about her until now? Until it suited you because you needed his help?” Shivani’s stare darted toward Lavenia first, and then, to my surprise, her eyes met mine. “You don’t seriously believe her, do you? Why keep this a secret for so long?” Hostile tension filled the room, and when Emma didn’t bite back, merely shaking her head, I further realized just how bad-off my friend was. I felt a bit selfish, realizing I’d been hoping for Emma to tear Shivani apart. She would have deserved it.

“I didn’t tell him because I didn’t know. I didn’t think it was possible for her to be his.” Emma looked down at her hands.

“Why wouldn’t you think it was possible?” Shivani’s eyes narrowed. “We’re all adults here. Explain. If he didn’t finish, then the girl isn’t his.” Straight to the point, Shivani crossed her arms as she glowered down at Emma. The queen mother dominated the room, and I remembered she was who Rainier learned it from. I wasn’t sure if I should intervene, but Lavenia caught my eye and shook her head—so I maintained my silence. Emma heaved a sigh as she slid over on the bed, turning toward her daughter and brushing her hair off her face. I averted my eyes. I still wasn’t used to it.

“He didn’t finish, no, but Rhia does as Rhia wants. She was born on the Spring Equinox. Would you like to—”

“But you married right after your sister died, did you not? The babe would be his, especially if—”

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