Page 127 of A Kiss From Death
Hade rubs my back as I cry, mourning the mother I just got back. My body shakes, but as the vibrations become more intense, I realize it’s not me, but the air around me.
Magic… It’s back. I feel it all around me. The curse is broken at the price of my mother sacrificing herself. I hear shouts and commotion is the distance, but I pay them no heed as a tingling sensation buzzes over my body. It’s strange and unfamiliar.
Pulling my body off my mother’s, I’m met with two pairs of wide eyes. They look at me as if they’ve never seen me before. Hade is rendered speechless, and Hesti looks at me in awe.
Rushing to the closest mirror, I gasp when I see bright red flames licking over the roots of half my hair. I’m about to sprint to the nearest washroom to put it out, but I stop as I see the flame slowly travel down half my head, leaving bright red hair in its wake all the way to the tips.
My skin begins to sparkle and glow like Hesti’s, and when I lift my hands to examine it, a dark ball of magic appears in one hand while a bright ball of fire appears in the other.
Half black, half red.
Half night magic, half fire magic.
Half my father, half my mother.
All god.
This was what Airestol was afraid of. Each god is stronger than the last.
Two abilities is unheard of, but magic loves its balance. I spin around and almost lose my footing when Hade comes into view, down on his knees before me, bowing deeply. He’s looking at me like I’m his savior, his deity.
“You are the most majestic thing I’ve ever laid witness to, the only god I will worship every sunrise and sunset. Make no mistake, I am a greedy man, Nyxi. You are a rarity I intend to hide from the rest of the world.” He swears under his breath. “Mylungsonly breathe for you. Myheartonly beats for you. Myloveonly lives on in my heart for you.I am yours,” he growls.
“Same as I am yours,” I breathe. “You own every piece of me, Hade.” Choking on a sob, I grasp his hand. With a shaky hand, he pulls my knuckles to his lips and takes his time kissing each one, worshiping my skin.
“I have something I need to show you,” Hade says, and I’m afraid my world is about to spin once again.
Hade grabs my hand firmly, leaving Hesti behind with my mother while we barrel down the endless hallways. Pure chaos erupts around us, screams of fear, bewilderment, and excitement at their resurfaced memories.
It dawns on me that they will be looking for their queen to lead them, to answer their burning questions. They need someone to look to for guidance, and seeing as my mother is no longer with us, that role now falls on my shoulders. I feel the weight of it settle heavy over me, its roots wrapping around my legs and dragging me under.
I will need to gather them and explain everything, make them trust in me even if I don’t fully trust in myself for the job. I have to fuse the gap between Fallout and Lunaria and create a better society for us all. There’s also the issue of Aire, who, by now, has to be aware of my reappearance, magic buzzing back to life around us.
I follow dutifully behind Hade, making a mental note to address my people first thing after this little excursion. Dodging citizens left and right, we make it to the castle’s front doors and continue through them to gods knows where.
Especially not thisgod.
“Where we are going is a place I have kept hidden for years.” Hade’s deep timber pushes at the walls of my head through the bond.
“Four years, to be exact?”
“Smart girl.” His dominating personality reflects authentically in my head, and it’s an overwhelming experience to get used to again. “The queen—your mother, when she was first cursed, came to me, made me make her a promise. Ever since then, I have done everything in my power to uphold that promise for this very day. I did not know at the time what it was all for, but now, it all makes sense. She was preparing for war. She was preparing for you.”
We blend into the madness taking over the streets, walking for what seems like ages before making it almost to the very edge of Lunaria. I haven’t visited this area before, seeing as it mostly looks rundown and abandoned at the edge of civilization.
I’m about to question Hade if he’s feeling okay, to ask what the heck is going on, when he waves his hand in front of us. A ripple glitters in the air, and my eyes threaten to stay permanently wide when the glamour vanishes, revealing a small, makeshift camp.
“They’ve been waiting for you, dream.”
Hissing through my teeth, I try to keep the sob inching up my throat from spilling over. “Rayah?” My voice cracks. “Is it really you?”
“Flowers! Are you trying to steal my colored hair, Nyxi?” she teases.
I rush forward, scooping her into my arms and holding tight, afraid to let go, only to see her vanish again.
“How is this possible?” I whisper into her bright pink hair.
Do you trust me?Hade’s words from that day rush back to me. He kept telling me everything would be okay, to trust him. He kept her safe. Looking around and spotting Sierra and Yazi, I realize he’s saved themall.
