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fifty-eight

Ereon

I n one fleeting moment, I cast a shield over Siphonie, Rhenor, and Eldoris, protecting them from Carnaxa’s overwhelming grief. The air crackles and fills with the jarring sound of Carnaxa’s blood-curdling screams. Waves crash around us, emanating from her palms. My magic seems to wane a bit as she siphons from it. The floor turns to ice as she leaves her father’s side and steps forward, leaving sheets of frost in her wake. The water builds around her, its sound drowning out everything else except the screams she lets out, a sound unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Once a girl with a loving mother and father, she has had to transform into a woman. Someone who has been forcefully uprooted from her homeland, separated from everything familiar, and still she fights for the lives of her people. But on the night of the Nle Shom , I promised her everything and I meant it. She will always have me.

I motion to Rhenor, dropping the protective barrier I surrounded them with, and encourage him to lead the others out of the room. Once they exit I walk to her.

In the middle of the room she stands with her power surrounding her, and I wrap her into my arms. She clutches my chest, her nails digging into me as she screams. I let her mark my flesh with her grief, letting her use me as she wages against the sadness that overcomes her.

“Tell me what to do, Ryehro . Tell me how to help you.”

“He’s gone ... he can’t be gone.” Her body shakes from the sobs. Her fists ball up in my shirt.

“I love you … let me help you. What can I do to help you?” As someone who lost their mother, and she’s already lost hers, she knows this is not a wound that heals. I will be here for whatever she needs.

Her knees give way, and she starts to crumble. I catch her and wrap her in my arms as we lower ourselves to the floor. I hold on to her as I pray to the Goddess that she will help her — for a mother to help her daughter.

“Upon the day the moon turns bright, the loyal heir’s death awakens eternal night.” A voice slices through my mind. The prophecy. I hold on to Carnaxa as I try to figure out the rest of the pieces. The moon turned bright the day Carnaxa walked onto Shaston’s sand. That was the first part.

The loyal heir.

I think you were meant for this, Prince. Rhenor’s words replay in my mind. No, it can’t be that simple. It was my misplaced loyalty that led Carnaxa to cross into Shaston. My loyalty to Atlas. He might not be the one who sired me, but for many years I played the part of his loyal heir. The one who dealt out the punishments at his command, all to try to appease him. To try to be the son he wanted me to be — at least until I started to know her. But I don’t have to be that man anymore, I can be the one to change this. Carnaxa continues to shake as I hold her, her sobs quieting and her power ceasing.

The sun rises in the distance, bright with beautiful rings of color around it. It’s then I hear the horn of Shaston blaring. A war cry from my own men outside of this castle. Word has somehow spread that the King of Antalis is dead. In this moment, I understand exactly why Carnaxa was given two twin drops.

“Shh...” I whisper into her. “It will be okay. I got you.”

Carnaxa finally left her father’s room. Rhenor and Siphonie helped me carry her to her chambers. We all sit in Naxa’s room, listening to the bellowing sounds of the Prel beating against the palace doors. Carnaxa seems to be in a state of shock, not talking to anyone. Rhenor paces, and Siphonie’s worried eyes dart around the room. What will happen to them if the palace should fall to the Prel ? Would anyone care about their titles?

“I need to go tell those men that I am here already. Maybe it will keep them from causing too much damage,” I say to Rhenor, who eyes me with worry.

“These were your father’s plans. Do you really think he would have forgotten to ensure you couldn’t command them? Especially after that display at yours and Carnaxa’s ceremony? He knew you had grown attached to her Ereon.”

I shake my head. He’s right. These men won’t listen to me, so it’s back to my original plan. It’s the only one that makes sense. “Rhenor, you and Siphonie need to get somewhere safe.”

“I’m not leaving her,” Siphonie says, before Rhenor can even answer. Rhenor looks at me, knowing we won’t win this argument.

I beckon Rhenor over to me and we walk away as best we can out of hearing distance. The look of pure annoyance on Siphonie’s features, as we move away, could sink a ship. “I need to do something ... and when I do it, I don’t want you to interfere, and I have to make sure she doesn’t either. Do you understand me?”

He eyes me cautiously. “What is it you think you can do?”

“What must be done. Just take care of them.” I turn and walk away from him.

Rhenor says nothing as he returns to Siphonie’s side and wraps his arm around her shoulders.

I take a deep breath, appreciating the sight of the sun high in the sky. I laugh at the moon following behind. Of course, this won’t be just any normal day. I sigh and turn back to Carnaxa.

“Princess” — I look at her — “I need you to come with me.”

She shakes her head, so I kneel, letting my elbow rest on my knee as I do. I place my thumb under her chin, urging her to look at me. “I need you to come with me. Now, Ryehro .”

Slowly, she stands and I walk her onto the balcony. “Do you see that?” I ask her, pointing to the sun and moon warring in the sky. She nods. “I think I know how to help, but I need to know that as soon as I do, you will find Thylas.”

A loud crashing noise reverberates through the halls as the palace’s main door gives way, informing us that the soldiers are now inside. Carnaxa jerks her head around, realizing for the first time what is happening.

“Why are they doing this?” she asks, her voice barely audible.

“I need you to listen to me. I need you to find Thylas.” I slowly trace her face, swollen from crying, with my fingers. I lean down and kiss her soft lips once more, letting her sweet smell of sea salt and vanilla consume me.

Goddess, I never want to live without this — without her. I could have had so many lifetimes with her, and it would have never been enough. I hope I’ll find her in the next. I reach behind my back and pull out the dagger that I found on the side of Carnaxa’s bed. The jeweled hilt glinting in the sunlight. “I have to end this. ”

Her eyes meet mine as she realizes what my words mean. “The loyal heir ... No. You aren’t even Atlas’ heir — Thylas is,” she says, shaking her head, grabbing for the dagger in my hand.

“My queen.” I hold her wrist, keeping it from grasping what she wants. “Let me do this. Thylas may be his heir by blood, but it’s me who was loyal to him for so many years. I am the loyal heir. Because until we knew … I would have inherited the throne. Let me keep you safe.”

“Ereon, no ... I can’t lose you too.” She touches her shell and reaches out to touch mine as well. As she does, the shells hum with their brilliant light. The ripples ebbing and flowing between us. “You’re my twin drop. I need you.”

I wish I was a better man, one who deserves her. I wish I could have her in my bed every night, have her bear my children, and be the one with me as we grow old together. But I’m not and my wish is nothing but a dream. I’m not the man she deserves. I never was. That man is in Shaston with my father. Despite what I might have yelled at him before, he was the one who made her his sole focus — she was the sun around which his thoughts orbited. He dared to fight a prince to keep her, and then he surrendered her trembling hand into mine in the hopes that I would be able to keep her safe from the cruel world. And now … I can. This one, final time I can rise above the man I am and become the man she needs. I can do this one thing for us all. I take in the scent of her vanilla and coconut mixing with the salt around us, and I watch as tears slip down her cheeks. She won’t let me do this if I allow her the option. I know I’ll have to act fast so she can’t interfere.

I pull her close to me, knowing I’ll shove her away before I let the blade slice my throat. It’s the last gift I can give her.

I take Carnaxa in my arms once more when the door to her room breaks away, and the Prel funnel in.