Page 31 of Their Crowned Mate
The others were unconscious, save for Joram, who was trying to sit up amid the rubble. "Lavinia," he choked out, looking like he was barely clinging to consciousness himself. The wound in his side was deep, and his cloak was nearly soaked through on that side.
My heart sank at the sight of him, and I felt the emperor preparing another strike, blue magic crackling in his hands. No matter how I tried, I couldn't call my own magic back to the surface. I was empty.
"His... amulet," Joram said, his voice raspy and his face ashen as he collapsed back into the rubble.
I turned back to the emperor, my eyes widening as I looked at the blue amulet, glowing in the center of his chest armor. It was the source of his power, and I knew that if I could just get it off him, we'd have a chance.
I lunged forward with a roar, shifting in midair, and clamped my jaws down around the amulet. The force of my bite was enough to break the stone, even though I was pretty sure I chipped a fang in the process, and as soon as it was free from his crumbling armor, magic poured into me like an avalanche.
The surge of energy sent me flying across the room but not before I felt something else enter me—a rage so powerful that all other thoughts seemed to vanish beneath its aura. Time stilled for a moment as power surged through me and then suddenly snapped back into focus as Aurelius took advantage of the emperor's vulnerability by lunging towards him with fangs bared. There was no mercy in his attack and no hesitation. He ripped through flesh and bone until nothing remained but a lifeless body on the ground.
It took me a moment to realize we'd done it.
We won.
The others slowly began to stir from their unconsciousness, and Alexander looked around the room with a mix of shock and awe. His mouth hung open as he watched Aurelius shift back into his humanoid form, covered in blood but also wearing a triumphant smile.
I didn't allow myself to linger in the glow of victory for long.
I shifted back and pulled my cloak around my trembling body as I stumbled over to Joram, my legs feeling like lead weights. He was still alive but barely conscious. Each breath seemed more labored than the last, and when I lifted his head into my lap, he groaned with pain—but there was also a hint of joy in his gaze, too.
"Joram?" I croaked. "Stay with me."
"Don't you worry," he said, placing his hand on top of mine. "This stubborn old man's not going anywhere."
"We did it," I said hoarsely, smiling through the tears.
"Youdid it," he corrected, looking around at the four men who were surrounding me. "You and your mates. I know that after all these years, I don't deserve for you to call me father, but I am so proud that you're my daughter."
My throat tightened at his words. Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. Tears of relief. Tears or joy. Tears of hope. "I guess maybe I take after you a little after all," I said with a dry laugh. "Dad."
His gaze softened, and he seemed about to say something else, but he broke off coughing.
"He's wounded badly," Marcus murmured, kneeling down next to Joram on his other side. He reached to touch the spot on his breached leather armor. "Probably a punctured lung. We should get him to a doctor."
I nodded shakily, letting Alexander help me back onto my feet. Now that the emperor's magic was starting to meld with my own, I was feeling a bit unsteady myself.
"Come on," Cole said, his voice firm but gentle. "Let's get you somewhere safe."
I glanced down at Joram as Alexander lifted the older fae into his arms. We were all exhausted from the battle and covered in sweat, blood, and dirt from head to toe. But despite it all, I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I wrapped my arm around Cole's waist for support.
I would never forget this day—the day where we overthrew the emperor's tyranny and won our freedom. And there was no telling what the future held now, but as long as I had them with me, I knew we would face it.
Together.
When I passed Aurelius in the doorway, having shifted back to his human form, I paused. "Aurelius," I murmured. "Thank you. You didn't have to show up here, but you did."
He frowned, seeming confused by my words. "Of course I did. I gave you my word, didn't I?"
"Still," I said. "You risked your life to help me."
A soft, sad smile spread across his face. "The only regret I have is that I didn't go with you back then. I wasn't going to pass up a chance to put things right. Even if it is too late."
I considered his words, feeling an ache in the pit of my stomach. The ache I still felt whenever I thought of him, no matter how much time had passed.
When it came to Jax and Damon, their abandonment had been easier to process. It hurt, but while I was still angry at their latest shenanigans, trying to kidnap me, I wasn't really hurt anymore. With Aurelius, the wound had always run deeper. And now that I had a little perspective—including how close I had come to losing him—I knew why.
I pulled away from Cole, and the knowing look in his eyes told me he knew what I was thinking. He knew me well, considering how little time we had spent together, relatively.
