Page 17 of Risen (Love and Revenge #6)

And in that joining, other memories surfaced, some I hadn’t even known I possessed—unbidden, sharp but bracing.

Moments that had made me who I was. My birth mother’s voice when I was small.

The taste of blood and iron the first time someone in the cult struck me for asking too many questions.

The moment I realized that my whole life up until the rebel court had been a lie.

Sanaka’s solid, unwavering protection and affection when I knew nothing of the world, Martina quietly guarding my free will, Yuki feeding me like it was his mission to make me forget I’d ever been starving, Dusek’s caution, Robin’s utter faith in an inner strength I didn’t even know I possessed.

Cicely, and Sadavir, and Josh putting their trust in me, tying their lives to mine without a single moment’s hesitation.

The power in me, even now still undeveloped, strong and wise and just waiting for me to step into the beauty of who I was.

Something shifted. I opened my eyes, but of course I couldn’t see anything but darkness and soft, blurry lights. Cicely gently nudged my mind, sending me an image of the carved serpents, their eyes glowing gold, the moon-shapes pulsing with the beat of my heart.

The air around me changed. I heard Sadavir let out a long breath, and realized his hands were squeezing mine so hard it felt as though we might fuse together—no doubt taking his own journey through what made him who he was.

A voice echoed through my mind, and it wasn’t Cicely’s. There was a sense of awe in me, as if I was hearing the voice of something so ancient it was beyond comprehension. You bring her here, child of earth, she said, her voice like the echo of water in stone.

“I do,” Sadavir answered, clearly hearing the voice in his own head as well.

You are not of the naga, the ancient voice said in my head. But you have the fierce heart of their creator. You will protect and treasure this man you claim.

I swallowed, feeling the weight of the request. “I will do my best.” The words felt inadequate, silly. But I was suddenly so afraid that I wasn’t enough to live up to the responsibility in the face of this ancient presence.

She paused, as if hearing something I couldn’t. Then she nodded once . The temple accepts you. You are one of us, child of life and death, and now you are naga as well. Do not waste the gift.

Then she was gone, her presence fading from my mind in soft ripples as the cave around us slowly became nothing more than a cave once more.

A sense of fierce certainty and pride flowed through the bond from Sadavir. “It is done.”

When we stepped out of the pool, my skin tingled as though every nerve had been rewired.

The air tasted cleaner. The weight I had carried between my ribs for months wasn’t gone, but it had shifted—no longer pressing one me, restricting my ability to breathe.

I felt… reborn. And all of my senses seemed stronger, sharper, as if I had been expanded.

I probably couldn’t explain it to anyone if I tried, but I knew, somehow, that I was connected to the naga now, bolstered, propped up by their honor and strength.

I had no idea how it worked, or what the effects would be, but I felt more…

alive. And I knew with every fiber of my being that it was a gift to be treasured, rather than an unknown to be feared.

My magic felt altered within me. Bigger somehow.

I felt more capable to take on every challenge that was waiting for me.

That was amazing , Cicely said through his mind speak. I don’t know what just happened but I felt… a presence in the cave with us. I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my life.

Sadavir huffed a soft laugh. “Manasa.”

When neither Cicely or myself seemed to recognize the name, Sadavir sighed. “I will teach you. Or—Josh. He was always fascinated with the various pantheons and deities.”

Cicely hummed appreciatively and his mental voice was full of happy curiosity. I’d love that. And maybe your beta will be more likely to accept me if we have a common interest.

I shook my head. As far as I knew, no one had really talked to Josh about Cicely’s claiming Sadavir as his alpha… but Cicely was insane if he thought the other beta would reject the idea or need buttering up to accept him.

“For now,” Sadavir said aloud. “More important things. Come. I have more to show you. But you will want the rest of your court, I think.”

My curiosity was piqued, but I shook my head at his words. My court. As if I was an alpha lording my power over everyone around me.

Cicely picked up on my thoughts, his wry voice slipping into my mind in a whisper. Oh, Ruya, you cannot be that blind.

Sadavir chuckled.

I frowned as Sadavir led me out of the cave.

But even so, there was a small part of me that suspected I knew exactly what they meant.

I had been worrying over how to manage the new bonds with Sadavir, and now with his family, while still being devoted to the rebel court.

I was worried about the division my bond with him might cause when all was said and done.

But maybe I didn’t have to worry about that at all.