“Stand back? No, that’s not true. That’s not you. When was the last time you had a full night’s sleep? When’s the last time you sat down and ate with your family?”
“There’s no time for that,” I rasped.
“There needs to be. You have to put yourself first, even if for a moment.”
“Not until Lyric is back.”
“And what happens if she doesn’t come back?” Wyn asked, and I turned to her. Fire erupted from my fingers. She blocked it with her Water Wielding, even though I hadn’t sent it her way. I had that much control, at least. Still, I staggered back, my hand over my chest as I tried to shove my emotions down again.
“Easton. What are you going to do if she doesn’t come back?”
“If she doesn’t come back, if we lose the Spirit Priestess, then we will fight The Gray with our dying breaths. And we will piece our realm back together. We don’t have the crystals anymore. We don’t have our conduit anymore. Our realm can’t use its own power to push Wielding and health through the crystals to keep our people alive. We will find another way. I refuse to believe there’s nothing else we can do.”
“Then make sure the others see that. Know that. You’re doing an excellent job, but you’re starting to fray around the edges, and those who love you can see that.”
“Then don’t needle me,” I growled. “Let me be.”
“You know she’s never going to let you be,” Teagan said from behind Wyn, and I let out a sigh as my best friend walked into the room, Luken, the Air Wielder, right behind him.
“You know, I should take offense to that,” Wyn retorted. “But somebody needs to keep us on our toes. To keep us looking forward.”
“Maybe, dear Wyn. Or perhaps we could all just use a break. You asked when Easton slept last. When’s the last time you slept?”
“I’ll sleep when I need to,” Wyn said, rolling her shoulders back.
“Afraid Rhodes won’t come back?” Luken asked, and everyone looked at him. I knew there was surprise on my features, and saw the same on Teagan’s face. However, Wyn simply glared.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
Everyone just blinked and then looked away. Well, that was interesting.
“Either way, he’s going to come back. Same with Alura. Same with Lyric and Braelynn,” Luken said, and I met the man’s gaze then nodded quickly.
I had to believe that Lyric would be okay, and I had to tell myself that at least I was in a better position than Luken was.
Luken’s mate was now a Familiar. She was lost to him, and there was no coming back from that.
I was about to say something when my chest warmed. I rubbed it and felt the connection that had previously been dulled. My eyes widened, and I ran past the others, my feet slapping the floor. They quickly followed me.
“What is it, Easton? Do we need to sound the alarm?” my uncle, Justise, asked as he came around the corner, his husband by his side.
“No, no, I don’t think so.”
Suddenly, I was out in the courtyard, my eyes wide as a shadow blocked part of the moon.
A very large shadow.
“Is that a...is that a dragon?” Wyn asked.
The smile on my face widened, even as my heart raced. “I do believe our Familiar has found her second form.”
“My goddess,” Luken whispered. Teagan whispered something to Wyn, but I didn’t hear what was said.
I looked at the blond-haired woman riding atop the dragon, two others behind her holding tightly as well. Relief soared through my veins. It was almost too much, and I nearly fell to my knees. But I didn’t. Because others were watching. They saw the power of their Spirit Priestess.
They didn’t need to see me being weak.
When the dragon landed, Alura hopped off and moved to the side, that familiar odd breeze that wasn’t a breeze in her hair. But I didn’t pay much attention to her. Instead, I focused on Rhodes, who hopped down second, his hand outstretched. Lyric took the proffered palm, and I realized there wasn’t a single ounce of jealousy in me. I couldn’t feel that. Not when them being together meant she was here. I peered at her more closely. Blood coated her, and she looked exhausted. She was probably in pain, but she was here.
I ran towards her, not caring who saw. When my arms were finally around her, Rhodes stepped to the side, and Braelynn nuzzled both of us with her massive head. I cupped my mate’s face, then ran my hands down Lyric’s back.
“You’re here,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
I could feel her warmth against me, even as her knees shook. I held her up, knowing she would likely pass out soon.
“I’m back,” she whispered. She looked at me then, her eyes wide, gaze piercing.
“I knew you would come back,” I whispered.
“I had to. I had to come back to you.” She paused. “And everyone else.”
In a blink, my mouth was on hers, tasting her, needing her.
Her arms wrapped around me, and there were cheers and shouts as everyone moved around, welcoming Alura and Rhodes and Braelynn back home. I felt a rush of warmth beside me, and then a small cat jumped into Luken’s arms, purring as he ran his hands down her back, checking for injuries.
When Ridley came up, ready to heal, it was hard for me to let Lyric go, but I did.
Because Lyric was back, the Spirit Priestess of the realm had returned.
And now the war could truly begin.
And the battle within myself could finally calm.
I could breathe again.
Chapter Eight
Lyric
I wasn’t sure if my head rang because of the torture I had just endured, or the yelling in front of me. As Teagan’s and Wyn’s shouts increased, and the Lord of Fire’s voice boomed, I rubbed my temples..
I let out a sigh and sat back against Easton’s throne as I had during the last meeting we’d had in this room, when we’d tried to come up with a plan to save our realm—only to have it shatter around us, along with the crystals that held it together.
Our circumstances were far different now. We might be back in the Obscurité castle, but only because we needed a place to regroup. No wards protected us from the other kingdom. I didn’t think there ever would be again. There was no more Lumière Kingdom. No king or queen or even court to come at us with death in their eyes and revenge in their hearts.
The only people with a claim to the Lumière throne were in this room with us, and they weren’t taking up the mantle. Instead, they were by our sides, working to fight The Gray.
Lanya, the Lady of Air, leaned against the back of her seat, listening patiently as the people in front of her yelled and shouted at one another as they tried to devise a plan to protect our people. Her two grandchildren, the next in line to the throne, Rhodes and Rosamond, were in the middle of an argument, as well. They were trying to maneuver the chess pieces that were our armies, our Wielders.
Nobody had stepped up to take control of the Lumière Court, and I understood that. There wasn’t time for that, and it wasn’t necessary, not when we all needed to unite under one banner anyway.
However, that wasn’t going to happen. Nor were we going to decide on a king or a ruler or anything like that until we defeated The Gray.