Page 120 of In the Ravenous Dark
“Indeed,” Lydea says. “That’s why I left the battle to find you, Rovan. I fulfilled my promise to keep Japha safe. At that point we were still a normal ward and guardian, but then I tore that bastard Kadreus’s heart out and made him angry, to say the least. As he was strangling me, Japha tried to help.”
Japha cringes sheepishly. “I guess I helped too much, even if it didn’t amount to much at all. Still, I gave her everything I had. And here we are. She died—mostly—and we both came back.”
I stare at them, agape. Japha waves in greeting at Ivrilos. Ivrilos slowly lifts a hand in return, nearly as shocked as I am.
Lydea smiles at him—of course, she can see him now, too, as a revenant—but then drops her red eyes and stares down at her twining fingers. “I know this is weird, but we woke up here in the necropolis next to your staked body—”
She might be shy about her eyes, or about how she looks otherwise, but to me she’s more gorgeous than ever.
“It’s amazing,” I interrupt, choking, my throat almost too tight to speak. I take in all of them slowly, standing awkwardly together. Myfamily. “It’s the most beautiful, wonderful thing anyone could come back to.” I glance at the black walls, which remind me uncomfortably of the dark city. “Despite the decor.”
“You thinkwe’rebeautiful?” Lydea takes my shoulders and steers me over to a narrow window. “Look at this.” I try to focus on what she’s showing me instead of the feel of her hands on me. We’re high up in the necropolis, peering out from its vulturelike perch on the edge of the plateau that holds Thanopolis. We have an unobstructed view of the blight.
Except… there’s golden sunlight now on the icy peaks in the distant north, with no endless, wintery white billowing off them. Snow has even melted away from the craggy rocks and old ruins in some places. And toward the south, where barren desert once was, I see streaking rain clouds on the horizon, and already the faintest hues of green beginning to dapple the brown stretches of cracked dirt and sand. I can evensmellthe moisture on a warm breeze.
“The blight,” I gasp. “It’s fading.”
“It is,” Lydea says, squeezing my shoulder.
I lean into her touch, running my cheek over the back of her knuckles. But then I can’t help glancing at Ivrilos in sudden concern. He only gives me a beautifully crooked grin.
“Yes, dears, the view is amazing, but let’s get the hell out of here,” Japha says, shuddering. “I hate this place. We were just waiting for you to wake up.”
Feeling overwhelmed, I back away from the window, but I hesitate before going straight for the skull-lined door. “Can we? I thought they might decide to leave the stake in and burn my body for good measure. And now that there are two of us, the Skylleans might decide that’s two too many.”
“Pshaw!” Japha sweeps a hand as though brushing away the thought. “I took care of that. The queen owed me a favor. Remember, she promised me whatever I wanted if I brought my father to Skyllea’s side. Idiedfor that damned promise, so she’d better keep it. With Lydea’s help I could appear to her, and I asked her to never kill, imprison, or otherwise subjugate anyone I care about—which includes you two, revenants or not. Also future Queen Delphia, and, as a happy coincidence, the rest of Thanopolis.”
It seems much has happened since I staked myself; it’s dizzying. “How is Delphia?”
“Only so blissful she might float away, with Alldan at her side,” Lydea says with a soft smile. And then it flattens. “I’ve never seenhimso happy, either. He certainly never looked at me like that.”
“Nor you, him,” Japha says, barking a laugh. “For now, both my father and Penelope are helping Delphia to rule. They’ve refused to allow any advisers from Skyllea—other than Alldan, of course—to join them in that task, but that doesn’t keep the Skyllean queen from asking.”
It’s really not a bad arrangement. Delphia is truly sweet and kind and the least likely to want to rule, which is why she’s perfect for it. Tumarq and Penelope are more than capable advisers. Even Alldan, clever and noble, won’t be terrible at her side as her consort, even if he can be a self-righteous, pompous ass.
“As long as the queen doesn’t make threats to get what she wants,” I say.
“If she does…” Lydea makes a fist.
“She won’t,” Japha says.
“You’re brilliant,” I say, grinning at them. I still can’t believe they’re here, even after dying. That I’m awake. That I have everything I could ever need, despite what I’ve lost. My grin falters a bit. “How are Crisea… and Bethea?”
“Crisea and Bethea have officially left the necropolis, along with a lot of other acolytes. Only the old die-hard priests remain. Or should I saydie-easy?” Japha smirks.
Ivrilos groans, which makes Lydea laugh in delight.
“Anyway, Bethea and Crisea are together,” Japha continues. “Death magic, as you know too well, is poison for the living. They need to stop using it, get it out of their systems. It’s hard, but Penelope is training with Crisea again, helping her, and Crisea and Bethea are helping each other.”
“They’re actually rather adorable together,” Lydea says grudgingly.
I’m glad to hear it, truly. “So that just leaves you two,” I say. “Are you… okay… aside from being dead? Being a revenant is an adjustment, as I also know too well.”
Lydea shrugs. “I’ll get used to the eyes… and everything else. It’s worth it.” Her lingering look warms my cheeks.You’re worth it, she seems to say.
“And being a shade…?” I grimace at Japha.
Their lips quirk. “I get to see my father and you all again. I’d say that’s worth it. I can’t marry Helena, obviously, but I’d rather not. I mean, I didn’tintendto sacrifice myself. I was fighting for the freedom to beme, and in a strange way I got it. Thank the goddess I don’t mind Lydea’s company,” they add, smiling at her. “She’s my anchor. A new ground beneath my feet. I’m happy to be here, even if I’m bound to my dear cousin more than I ever thought I would be.” Lydea gives Japha a worried frown, and they take her hand. “I don’t mind, I promise. I know where I belong. And it’s right here with you and Rovan.”
