Page 10 of Vampire Solstice (Vampire Girl #5)

Chapter 10

The Lovers

T he morning after the battle dawns clear and warm, the first true sunlight this village has seen in centuries. It touches every corner of the square, banishing the lingering shadows and illuminating the faces of the villagers as they gather around the Mythos tree in the center of the village, now vibrant and alive, its branches reaching high into the sky. It feels like a different world.

Fen and I stand near the newly freed man—Kael. His skin still holds a pallor from years of the curse, but his eyes are bright as he gazes at Myra, who hasn’t left his side since last night. Her hand remains entwined with his, her touch a lifeline.

“Thank you,” Kael says, his voice rough but sincere as he looks at me. “For freeing me. For freeing all of us.”

Myra steps forward, her eyes glistening with tears. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

I reach into my cloak and pull out the journal Myra’s grandmother had hidden for so long. I press it into her hands, holding her gaze as I speak.

“Read it,” I say softly. “Your grandmother knew. She knew you loved Kael, and that he wasn’t evil. She didn’t bring us here to kill him; she brought us here to free him so you two could be together. She wanted nothing more than for you to find happiness.”

Myra’s lips tremble as she clutches the journal to her chest. A sob escapes her, and she steps forward, wrapping her arms around me in a fierce hug. “Thank you,” she whispers. “Thank you for everything.”

I hug her back, my throat tight with emotion. When she pulls away, she looks between me and Fen, her expression resolute. “There’s something I want to show you,” she says.

She leads us to the Mythos tree, its bark glistening with a faint golden sheen. The air around it hums with magic, vibrant and alive. Myra places a hand on the tree’s trunk, her fingers glowing faintly as they make contact.

“Its power is restored,” she says. “My grandmother’s magic passed to me when the curse was broken. I can use the tree to send you back to your world.”

Fen steps closer, inspecting the tree with a cautious expression. “You’re sure it’s safe?”

Myra smiles faintly. “It brought you here, didn’t it? Trust me, it will take you home.”

I glance back at the villagers, who stand in small clusters, their faces still marked by wonder and hope. Turning to Myra, I take her hands in mine. “We’ll send supplies,” I promise. “You won’t be alone. And if you’d like, you’re welcome to join us for the Solstice celebration at High Castle.”

Myra’s eyes widen slightly, and a small smile tugs at her lips. “We’ll think about it,” she says.

Fen rests a hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding. “It’s time,” he says gently.

I nod, turning back to the tree. Its magic calls to me, a faint pull in my chest that feels like both a farewell and a welcome. Myra steps back, her hands glowing brighter as she channels the tree’s power. The golden light intensifies, wrapping around Fen and me in a warm, comforting embrace.

“Goodbye,” Myra says, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. “And thank you.”

The light swallows us whole, the world dissolving into a blur of warmth and magic. When it fades, we find ourselves back in the throne room of High Castle.

Chaos greets us. Advisors and courtiers rush about, their faces marked with panic. Kayla is ordering people around, but she freezes when she sees, her eyes widening.

“You had just disappeared. Now you're back. What happened?" she asks.

I frown. "Kayla, how long have we been gone?"

"I don't know. A few minutes. I was about to form a search party," she says.

I look to Fen and shrug. "Breaking the curse must have reset time somehow?"

Kayla's frown turns to a look of confusion. "What curse? What are you two talking about?"

I smile. "We'll explain everything. But first, we need to add a village to our maps and get a convoy of supplies out to them right away."