Page 39 of Celestial Shadows

“And she will rise as a goddess.” The elf leans against the door with a stricken look on his face. “Will it kill Silvanus?”

“It may kill us all or set us free, but it’s the price to pay and he’s willing to make the sacrifice.” I take my place beside Cambion. He flinches as I draw nearer, but doesn’t deny me his company. “When this is over... if we’re still alive, I mean, I don’t want to be a leader. I’m not ready, Cambion. I have no qualms about being Eilish’s consort, but I am no king.”

“But your father…”

“Was no better than your own before he died,” I confess. “There is no kingdom in the sky. No Earlann or Oronrel. Even the Dales of Arborel have fallen. All that remains are the refugees in the Delendren Glade and those who defend the keep we’ve built in the mortal realm. There is no place for me among them when I was the one who took everything they had. I’m better off serving our queen elsewhere.”

“If an undead vampire can find his place beside a human necromancer and a gargoyle can befriend a house brownie, there’s a place for you, Variant. I, myself, have come to cherish the friendship I share with Zir and the mages. Theren banters with Bombri and Flumph while playing with satyr children in the courtyard. Anything is possible.”

I feel warmth bloom in my chest. “Are you trying to comfort me?”

“I’m trying to give you hope for the future that Eilish envisioned for the realms. It’s her dream that we must keep alive. No matter what happens here and now,thatis our legacy.”

***

SILVANUS

The Tomb of The Gods

Her hands are stiff and frigid as I drape her across the throne. Though the gods themselves are long gone, their power still lingers here. It’s faint, but there may be enough to invoke the ancient oath of peace and balance once more. I pull her handagainst my chest and let my warmth seep into her. “Hold on, little one.”

My lips brush her temple and I allow the energies to flow through us. Eilish is the ultimate vessel, the one strong enough to bear the burden of birthing the new world. And if it should be my fate that I die here today, then…

“So be it,” I whisper against her skin. The divine grace of heavenly powers fill me. The rays of light flow into Eilish, forcing her to gasp and writhe as she lay on the throne. I hold her steady, but she releases a scream that shakes the walls of the crumbling temple. Dust and stone rain down from the ceiling. Columns fall like dominos, tumbling over, before crashing onto the ground. Debris kicks up and a shard of stone knicks my cheek. Warm blood drips on Eilish’s armor. Bright light envelopes her body and I claim her mouth with a kiss.

Light passes between us until the physical world begins to fade...

***

SILVANUS

Blessed Meadows

A radiant curtain of sunlight bathes my face in a warm glow. The scent of lavender tickles my nose. Of course. Ever since Eilish was a young child, she adored the purple fields of fragrant flowers. Though the Blessed Meadows appear to each soul differently, this isn’t where Eilish belongs. She needs to be with her people, leading them into a new era.

I hear the sound of wings flapping in the wind. A shadow falls over the field. Eilish lowers herself gracefully to the ground in front of me. A smile stretches wide across her face.

“Blue skies. I can hardly believe it,” she sighs as she walks closer to me. “Is it over? Is Abedon…”

“He’s dead.”

She nods but there’s no emotion on her face. “I killed him.”

“Yes,” I answer, using my thumb to touch one of the balls of her cheeks. I glance down at her and take in her person—she’s dressed as if she were a goddess. The long, ivory garment is very thin. Fashioned out of lace and nothing more, the dress allows teasing glimpses of her skin to shine in the sunlight. “But there is more to be done, Eilish. The dark army remains. If we can’t restore the balance, then all of this will have been for nothing. You can’t stay here.”

“My mother and sister are here.”

“This place… it isn’t real,” I say gently.

“How is that possible?”

“This is a place where those who are lost come to hide from the world. Your body is strong enough to hold amazing power, but your mind is fragile.”

“What will happen to me?”

I tuck a strand of black hair behind her ear and dip my head to kiss her. “Let me take care of you, Eilish.” My hands move down her shoulders and trail faint lines on her arms. She shivers with a little sigh that I capture with my lips. Her hands move to my chest to squeeze and knead the muscle that bulges beneath my armor. I grip her hips and bunch up the lace that covers her body.

“This time will be different,” I start as I look at her. “Then any other time we have melded our bodies.”

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