Page 31 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

" C ome, come," Jar called towards us, leading us back into the grove. I felt the rush of a gentle wind pushing us forward, eager for us to follow. I breathed in Jar’s sweet haven, loving the smell of the fresh woods, sunshine, and the sweet honey smell still radiating from the dying kiss flower in my daughter's hair.

My heart still pounded fiercely seeing the ancient healer standing before me, whole and well.

I had to blink several times to escape the vision of him from before, his face had been so contorted in pain, his eyes begging me for death.

Now those same crystal blue eyes sparkled at me with warmth and clarity, forgiveness and love.

Two things I never felt as if I deserved.

Riella's hand reached out from Emon's arms, pulling me back to the now. "It's so beautiful here," she whispered.

I smiled at the way the golden sunbeams highlighted her innocent beauty while the large oak trees hummed again at our return. Encouraged, wisps swirled around her enchantingly, drawn by her soft innocent voice.

Jar smiled back at her. "Thank you child. It is where I grew up. As an ancient fae we emerged from the grove, it taught us about the world, the trees whispering its secrets until we were ready to leave to live as part of your world."

Riella's little brow puckered and then her jaw dropped. "The trees say they were sad to see you leave."

Jar nodded, not an ounce of shock or surprise in his features. "You hear them too. I am not surprised, my little cub. Your powers are manifesting as we speak." He waved her over and placed her tiny hand on the smooth silver wood. "What else does it say?"

Emon shot me another look of concern, how many was that today already? My hands twitched at my sides, aching for the comfort my shadows brought me during times of uncertainty. That was something that was always clear. Their power.

She smiled again, looking between Emon and I with wonderment swirling in her gold and green eyes, drawing out a chuckle from her father. He was irrevocably smitten by our daughter and I loved him all the more for it. "They say they are happy to meet me."

Jar nodded. "Faerie honors its miracles. Yes, your power will be full soon." Then his eyes narrowed on Emon and I with full disappointment. "Unlike your own powers. Both of you. Your manipura’s are blocked, the source of all fae’s power and strength."

Emon smirked, sheathing his claws. "I'll have you know healer I am shifting just fine."

Jar raised his brows. "Is that so, your majesty? Show me your beast then?"

Emon narrowed his golden gaze. "I fail to see how this is your concern healer."

Jar snorted then. "Don't be daft, boy. I am a goddess damn healer."

My brow furrowed, anger and realization dawning on me. "Emon…"

He turned to me, raking his hand through his hair with a guilty expression. "You said you never doubted my power. Don't start now. My beast does not define me and nor does your shadows."

I breathed heavily, then hissed through my teeth. "So you what…purposefully distracted me from the full truth?"

Emon stepped toward me growling low, his hand cupping my face. "No, little umbra. I took your fears and loved you, honored you, worshiped you for them and ensured your mind got the rest it needed."

I pulled his hand from my face and snarled. "You cannot keep doing this, Emon. Using this uncontrollable need for each other to not face the truth." I glared at his pink shirt for emphasis. "We are not whole and that puts our daughter in danger. Pretty words and soft kisses don't change that!"

Emon snarled, turning away from me to prowl the grove. Raking his hand through his hair over and over again, shaking out his claws and retracting them. Snarling and hissing at the wisps that attempted to reassure him.

He had every right to be frustrated…but so was I—and hurt. I had confessed my fears to him and expected that in return. He could not possibly think that just because he had no beast that I did not see him as powerful? Was he that worried I lacked so little confidence in him?

Jar sighed, shaking his head. "I suggest you both reflect before you leave here. What you find will assist you with the journey ahead." He bent down to gaze at Riella. "While your mother and father work, would you like to see more of the grove?"

Riella's eyes swirled, the gold in them shining more brightly. Emon paused, his hand dropping from his face, seeing it as well. "Oh yes," she said, turning towards us and I inhaled, her eyes almost pure gold now. "May I?"

I nodded dumbly. "Yes of course."

Jar gave us both a knowing look. "Sort this out and do it quickly, you don't have much time." Then he glanced over at Emon. "Try not to hurt any more Prime trees here." The woods hummed and then shuddered. "They know what you did to their kin and won't take kindly to your outburst a second time."

Emon’s fangs flashed with frustration. "I also apologized."

Jar chuckled, his eyes sparkling before a flash of light shifted him into a powerful snow leopard. He was a beautiful beast, especially when the golden light shined down upon him.

Bowing to Riella she scrambled upon his back, grinning madly at us with her golden gaze and waving goodbye as the snow leopard stalked through the trees.

"Her eyes turned full gold," Emon said softly, breaking the silence between us.

I turned towards him, fisting my hands at my sides, my teeth bared. "I swear to the goddess Emon,” I hissed, “if I had a sword right now it would be laid across your throat until you spilled every truth you have been holding back from me."

Emon narrowed his eyes, anger and excitement flashing in them. "If you could even get close enough to me in the first place that is.”

I held his gaze and exhaled slowly, “Is that a challenge shifter?”

Emon chuckled darkly, shifting our bag on his back. “Perhaps, it is little umbra.”

I grinned, there was no happiness or pleasure in it—there was only dark intent, “You’ve made a grave mistake.”

Emon returned my smile with a feral one of his own. “See if you can come at me then, soulmate. First touch on me, no matter how light, and I’ll confess all my fears for you to hold in your already tortured heart. Since that is what you fucking want so badly.”

Fury, pure fury had me lunging for him but I knew my shifter, knew he was faster than any other I had come across. I could see it in every coiled ounce of his muscle as he spun away from me, a dark chuckle teasing me as he went. But I was pissed enough to make it happen.

This challenge would be a difficult one.

“Too slow, my love.”

Baring my teeth, I moved again, faking my advance and spinning towards the direction I knew he favored. His eyes widened with surprise for a brief second before twirling from me. My hands grabbing onto the pack he wore on his back instead of his body, and ripping it towards me.

With stealth, he allowed it to be pulled off of him and I threw it down with mild irritation. The sound of its contents spilling and the knowing slide of steel drew both our attention.

Chests heaving we stared at the pair of black swords before lunging at the same time. Emon slid and I flipped, grasping one of the pommels before I launched over his head.

Spinning without pause, I faced him, our swords ringing loudly in the grove and the trees around us shuddered. Emon was still on his knees, the sword held high above him and his golden gaze was like being pierced by pure fire .

A slow smile curled up on the edges of his lips before he rose, pushing my blade upward with his great strength and towering height. “Shall we change this game?”

Raising a brow, I swung my sword down and around to dance back from him. “First blood?”

“Would that satisfy my savage soulmate then?”

I inhaled deeply, feeling my mind calm with the weight of the sword in my hand. “Perhaps.”

His teeth flashed the sunlight peeking through the trees. “So be it.”

Without preamble or flourish, Emon attacked me head on, his brutal force ringing through each deflection.

But I shifted and moved with him, not against him, letting my body flow with his attack.

His size and speed were his advantage, his reach was great but I was small and the closer I could get to his physical self the less ability he had to use his weapon.

If I continued to play defense he would tire me quickly and win this charade.

For that was what it was.

Ducking beneath a deadly arc of his blade, I stepped into him, leveling my sword to slice low at his feet where he could not deflect. I could practically feel my victory, his blood would be mine and so would all his damned secrets.

Until his hand slammed heavily down on my wrist and the hilt of his sword punched heavily into my back, shoving me into his chest. Dropping my blade, I launched my knee straight into him, slamming it hard into his upper thigh.

I was too close to him for my true target but it still felt fucking good.

He hissed, and in a move I had never seen before, I found myself with a blade across my throat and a shifter pressed against my back. The delicious scent of him falling around me in a thick cloud.

I sucked in a deep breath. Sweet goddess.