Page 61 of Love & Monsters
My body froze. All I could feel was the baby against my chest and the pebble of heat buried in my heart. It was time to admit that I was in love with Vadric Ascian, and he was indeed my mate. However, that brought a fresh wave of agony with it.
Because now I might be pregnant, but he was on the brink of a battle to the death. It all seemed impossible, and I’m not sure how I got here.
When I felt the tears slipping free and spilling down my cheeks, Ilya rose from the chaise. Before I knew it, she crouched next to the desk and wrapped her arms around me and Minak as I sobbed.
“It’ll be alright, Mina. We’ll have the physician check on you and see if it’s true. Then we’ll sit tight and pray to the old gods that the battle is on our side.” I heard Ilya’s words, but I couldn’t respond over my crying.
I prayed to every god I knew the name of, on Earth and on Nadirn. No matter what was true, or what happened, I knew deep in my soul that I needed Vadric to win and stay alive. Even if he had to kill his brother to accomplish it. He had to come back to me.
Thirty-Four
|VADRIC|
We drenched the valley in blood. Soaked was the ground with the traces of crimson. The evidence of the battle fought. Visceral bits of gore and bone lay scattered as far as I could see. I heard the crunch of rocks and bones under my boots with every step I took.
My sword dripped the thick viscous life’s blood of my enemies. It was both an unfortunate and glorious day under a bright red sky. While I vanquished my enemy, my brother was dead. I needed to celebrate my victory and balance the sorrow of what I’d needed to do. Both weighed heavily on my shoulders as I scanned the disturbing sight of death on the battlefield.
Now the Bone Valley truly earned its name. The bones of dead Nefellim would haunt this place for the rest of history. Traitors and unfortunate warriors of circumstance all sharing their ultimate resting place because one bastard mistakenly assumed he could rule.
Briefly stopping in my tracks, my weary legs thanked me for pausing. I turned, slightly looking over my shoulder one last time at the mound of dirt where I buried Ryken with my hands, soaked with his blood. I could feel the slick blood on my palms and the gritty dirt between my fingers.
I thought perhaps I would feel more at that last glance. Yet there was no more rage, fury or determination to decimate and destroy within me. The flames of war petered out and left me cold and empty. Nothing more than a dark void remained in my chest at this moment.
Where was the thrill of a successful kill? Or the elation that we won the war? Too fatigued to feel at all.
The two moons leered overhead in the sky like the mismatched, watchful eyes of a judgmental god. I’d kill the old gods too, if that’s what I needed to do. Despite the unthinking, emotionless state of me, I knew why I’d done what I had this day. It was the only driving thought remaining in my over exhausted mind.
I must protect my mate. I must keep my little human safe. I must do whatever means necessary to ensure Mina not only survives but has a place to thrive for the rest of her life.
Out of the shadows and dust, I watched Anakis trudge forward. Her blood-stained spear dragging behind her, and a limp in her left leg. All four of her eyes widened when she caught sight of me.
“Isss he in the grave, then?” She hissed through her teeth.
“Yes. I’ve buried Ryken.” I inhaled deeply, smelling the putrid smell of death commingled with blood, piss, shit, and sweat. “Have you seen Knox?”
“He isss injured, but alive. Taken to the healersss tent while you dug the grave.” Anakis turned her head toward the direction our army marched from, where the healers and supplies waited.
“Good. We must note survivors, heal our wounded, then head back to the heart of Nadirn.” I summoned the strength to sheath my sword, fighting to remain upright as my energy dissipated after the high of battle vanished from my system.
“Yesss.” She nodded her head in agreement with my orders. “You mussst reclaim the throne asss sssoon asss possssible.”
“I will.” My fist clenched at my side, claws digging painfully into my palms to keep myself awake and alert. “But first, have someone send a message to the fortress that the war is finally over. After six long months, we’ve won.”
“I will. And an essscort to guide them home?” Anakis not only referred to the refugees in the fortress, but Mina and Ilya. My human mate and my sister. The remaining family I still had.
“Of course. If we send the fastest messenger to the fortress, I imagine they’ll arrive in the city two weeks after us. That’ll have to be enough time to reclaim my home and clean the city from Ryken’s influence.” Naturally, it wouldn’t be as easy as that.
“I’ll go now,” Anakis inclined her head before turning to leave.
“Anakis,” I stopped her, “don’t forget to rest. It was a hard battle, not easily won. You deserve a break after fighting so valiantly. If you need me again, I’ll be speaking with Knox.”
“Yesss. Thank you.” Her voice faded in my ears, still hearing the clang of metal on metal, and dying groans of soldiers.
How had six months passed in the blink of an eye? One night I’m with Mina, touching her supple skin with words on the tip of my tongue that I should have told her. Now I’m far away, struggling to remember the sound of her voice when all I can hear is the song of death.
After commanding my generals to organize the resolution of the battlefield, I dragged my weary body toward the healer’s tent. With each step, my legs felt made of stone. It was a struggle to push my body to move. I felt the aches in my bones and pains from every minor injury on my persons. Some still bleeding even hours after the blow was delt.
My step faltered, and I placed my hand to my face, hoping to wipe away the moments haunting me. The sound of my sword rendering my brother’s flesh, and the light fading from his eyes, would stay with me forever. He’d had no last words in that last moment. Nothing more than a choked gurgle as blood clogged his airways.
