Page 54 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

T he knife fell from my hand onto the ship's floor with a loud clatter drawing a wince from my soulmate, but I did not care.

Shaking, I traced the beautiful bronze skin of his arms etched deeply with thick and elegant swirls of black ink .

The art was sinful and exquisite and I followed a slow path from his tense shoulder down his bulging tricep, across the sensitive skin of the inner elbow, and down his thick muscular forearms, curling my hand around his wrist.

My vision blurred with bittersweet tears at the brands on his body…my brands on his body. They were exact .

A perfect match.

I pulled back quickly, my hands clutching at my naked chest and released the shadows that restrained my soulmate. My mind raced at the meaning of the brands, not believing the shocking conclusions that came with it.

"I don't understand," I whispered.

Emon’s arms slowly lowered and I could not take my eyes away from the swirling tattoos and when he gritted his teeth to sit up, I continued to stare. His branded shoulder was now so close to me, I could kiss along the ink just like he always trailed kisses along mine.

"Remnant," his breath raspy, his thumb sliding up my neck where my pulse beat wildly, and then to grip my chin, tilting my face up. "Little umbra, look at me."

I tore my eyes away and stared into his loving golden blaze. "Please tell me this doesn't mean what I think it does, shifter?"

His brow furrowed before leaning in to kiss my lips softly, whispering his confession against them. "I told you, not even in death will I ever leave you. The soulless sleep can't have me Remnant Ezra Solaire Dark, only you can."

"But these vows, they are that of the shadow fae, vows of darkness," I said, feeling the powerful enchantment carved into his skin, tracing the scrolling lines. "Your kingdom…" I reared back, my eyes wide.

"Will survive without me—it already has survived without me.

" He tilted my head again so that I would see the sincerity in his face.

"I knew taking these vows would break the ones I made as a shifter king, and I never hesitated, not for one goddess damn second.

You are my home Remnant, you're my kingdom to worship and serve, I am in your fan club for all of time.

The only difference is that now I have proof of it, etched into my skin like you have been etched into my very being. "

I sighed heavily. "I would have never asked this of you, Emon."

He smiled sadly and kissed my lips again, his thumb sliding across my cheek, his breath enveloping me in his warm chocolate scent. "It was the only way to ensure our family’s survival and for you to get to The Well—your mother, she had another vision."

"What?" I gasped, searching his eyes for the truth.

He nodded solemnly. "It was why I could not tell you, why I hid this from you.

If you knew too soon we would fail, and just as she said if I did not stay by your side until the very end we would fail.

So your mother and I found a way to avoid bartering my soul to Shea.

By taking the vow of the shadow fae, I am tethered to you infinitely in your darkness, even in death we will still remain bound forever, you will never be alone. "

Tears filled my eyes and I leaned to the side, placing a soft kiss on the top of his shoulder where his brands started, just like mine. "You leashed your soul to the darkness Emon, you belong in the light. You are my light."

His hand cupped the back of my head, running down my hair and naked skin, burning a hot path from my torso, to my bare hips, and then gripping my upper thigh, his claws prickling the sensitive skin. "Not just the darkness my love…it is your darkness. The only place where my light can shine."

I studied him, seeing the grimace of pain he had been hiding, the fatigue around his eyes, the slowing of his pulse at the base of his throat.

I had known…of course I had known. I just didn't want to acknowledge it, like the slain blood fae of my childhood.

I thought I could change his destiny if I just held him tighter to me.

The soulless sleep was upon him.

"How much longer?" I could not control the quivering in my voice.

He grunted softly and his hand brushed my hair over my shoulders, baring all of me to his burning gaze. "We are out of time," he rasped.

"No," I whispered, my hands reaching up to cup his face, his bearded scruff scraping across my hands.

"You cannot leave me yet." My tears fell and through them I could see the strain it took for him to stay upright, the slight shake in his powerful frame, the panting breaths that I knew had not been only desire—I was a fool.

Dropping my hand to the center of his chest, his strong heart was irregular and slow beneath my fingertips.

"No," I said again, looking back up into his mournful eyes.

His forehead fell into mine and he blew out a shortened breath.

"It's just my body—," he panted. "I will still—still be with you," he rasped and gave me a lopsided grin.

It reminded me of the smirk he sent me when we first met in the Wildwoods, as he was bleeding out chained to a tree.

"Need to—" He caught himself, eyes fluttering closed, his body pitching to the side. "Lay down."

I trembled and complied with his wishes, slowly lowering him down to the ship's hull, my hair cascading around us in a cloud of darkness, tears falling freely on his face.

"There are—," he huffed, eyes trained on my swaying breasts, "worse ways to go."

I snorted through my tears.

He smiled softly, his golden gaze glittering with amusement before a frown puckered between his brows when he met my watchful regard. "This pain, I'm sorry—" He reached for me, too weak to close the distance between us.

Taking his hand, I hugged it to my heart. "This isn't your fault Emon."

He chuckled weakly. "Not that. I'm sorry—," he gasped, his body lurching but he fought it with a feeble growl. "Sorry I can't finish what we started—hate wasted opportunities." A small flare lighting up the dimming in his beautiful gold eyes.

I couldn't stop the bitter laugh from escaping my lips. "Something to look forward to when I deliver you from this darkness." I leaned over and kissed his lips chastely…sweetly…to calm the devastation wrought on my heart, pieces breaking that only he kept together.

Emon smiled faintly, his eyes falling closed before he gasped one final breath, his voice barely audible against my lips. "Love you, little umbra—see you soon."

"I love you too, shifter." I dropped my head to his chest with a sob, still holding his hand while I pressed my ear against his smooth bronze skin, listening to his slowing heart.

Bum…bum…bum——.

He gasped.

Bum…bum——.

His grip on my hand went limp and I kissed the elegant ink around his wrist, shaking. I had wanted to be at The Well before this happened, so that I knew his soul would be safe but he had ensured my safety instead.

Bum—bu——-.

A slow exhale.

Silence.

My body shook hard, my agonizing sobs so visceral they had no sound. I knew then, that this would be the worst sound I would ever know. Even if we survived for that happily ever after—the sound of his beating heart ending was going to haunt me for the rest of my days.

Emon was gone…the soulless sleep had taken my soulmate from me.

I glared through my pain at the metal door where the storms raged.

The territory of Wrath may have been roaring its violence outside but it would never compare to the brutality of a grieving heart. The Well of Souls would answer to me and then Deirdre would too.