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I was fine. I just needed to recover from wielding too much magic all at once and finally bringing Burton down. It still doesn’t feel real. Everything feels far too…serene. Right now, it’s calmer than it was before Erikel appeared, more relaxing than when I was in Shadowmoor, and less stressful than any other moment I’ve ever experienced in my life.
It’s not a feeling I’m familiar with, but apparently, it’s one I need to get used to. Especially if my men have anything to say about it.
Burton is gone. Forever. But it still confuses me why he chose to impersonate Erikel. What connection does that have to anything? I don’t understand. I’ve mentioned it to Rhys twice now, and there’s something about the look in his eyes that tells me he knows, but he’s not open to sharing. Maybe I don’t need to know, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to know. I fought a damn war for it.
The only other enigma I still face is the reappearance of the emerald gate before me. An addition which has had me rereading the scrolls about the magical items that make this world so damn messed up.
In my slumber, Rhys transported us back to his home, Zane’s childhood home, for us to rest and recoup while I slept away my worries. I’ve enjoyed the past three days exploring the ridiculously large grounds, meeting with my mother, and indulging in my men in the entire fucking wing dedicated to Zane.
This morning, however, when I stepped out of our bedroom to slip down the hallway to the main bathroom with the clawfoot bath, I was stopped in my tracks by the shimmering green gems.
With the shadows still around, I knew we had missed something with the prophecy, but there was no time for me to consider anything with everything else unraveling around us. It seems the gate felt the same way, waiting until now to reappear.
The passage I came across earlier consumes my mind. As if sensing my thoughts, Brax speaks. “We just need to figure this out, Shadow. Then, the passage promised that the completion of the prophecy regarding the Realm of Shadows would come to fruition.”
“You say that like I’m going to have any confirmation once it’s done,” I grouch, huffing in irritation, even though I’m aware it’s definitely not his fault.
“It states that once the prophecy is completed the correct Realm of the Afterlife will be restored. The shadows will be where they’re supposed to be. They’ll be safe. Will we have confirmation? No. But we will have done everything we can on our side, and if not, we’ll know because they’ll still be here. Which means we’ll keep trying until they’re fucking not.”
Well… when he puts it like that.
“Say it to me one more time.” I don’t peer back over my shoulder to clarify who I’m talking to. He’s read it to me far too many times already to know I mean him.
His heavy sigh echoes around me, but I know it’s not frustration at me. It’s at the fucking prophecy. “When green arches hold delicate reds, all that is needed is a touch of darkness, a promise of change, and an unwavering belief.”
I purse my lips as my foot taps on the marble floor. Initially, we had assumed my stepping through the green arch into the Realm of Shadows and holding the Potens Ruby was what was needed, but clearly not.
Edging closer to the emerald arch, I let my fingers run over the gems. When I reach the top, hovering on my tiptoes, I pause. The familiar feel of sharp edges and smooth surfaces is absent, making me frown.
“Brax, can you—” My words are cut off when he stands before me a moment later, hands wrapping around my waist as he nuzzles his face in my neck. I hum in approval, still caught off-guard when he lets down his walls and embraces me like this.
“Whatever you need, Shadow,” he breathes, and I smile.
“Can you lift me in the air? Just a little, please,” I ask, and before I can finish saying please, I find myself in the air already.
I can see the top of the arch much better from here, and a gem-shaped space at the crown of the keystone sits empty, just like my fingers detected. “Do we have the ruby?”
A moment later, I feel the press of a jewel in my palm and glance down to see Eldon smirking up at me. He wraps my knuckles around it, pressing a feather-light kiss to them before releasing my hand.
Slowly prying my hand open, the Potens Ruby gleams, trying to draw the desire out of me to use it for my needs instead of getting rid of it. Its allure does nothing for me, and I waste no time holding it up to the empty spot.
It fits perfectly, and when I push it into place, a shiver runs down my spine. Brax pulls me back a step, lowering me to my feet as the jewels shine bright.
“What—” Creed’s question is short-lived as the room falls dark.
One by one, shadows and silhouettes appear before us, dancing along the walls and stretching along the floor before embracing the darkness that falls inside the emerald arch. It feels like hundreds, if not thousands, appear, some taking their time while others rush through until, all at once, the room goes still again and the emerald gate shatters. Shielding my face, I brace for impact, but it’s as if it implodes, all the shards drifting into the darkness just like the shadows did moments ago, taking the Potens Ruby along with them.
“When green arches hold delicate reds, all that is needed is a touch of darkness, a promise of change, and an unwavering belief. The Potens Ruby needed to go in the actual emerald arch. Even though you’re technically not a necromancer anymore, your touch still counts as darkness. You’ve done more than promise change with an unwavering belief, Dove.”
I take a deep breath, letting Zane’s words wash over me. They’re all true, all correct, but it’s still weird as hell that he’s referring to me when he says it.
“Do you want to summon those fuckers? Check if they respond, just to confirm?” Brax asks, cocking a brow at me, and despite his teasing tone, I do just that.
Connecting with my magic, I call for the shadows, but nothing happens. My shoulders sag with relief, and it surprises me how much this was weighing down on me after everything else we’ve been through. Lips press against my temple, my hand, my crown, my neck. Each of my men reaches out for me as I happily embrace their touch.
“Now, are you ready for your surprise?”
“What does it involve? And is it a good surprise for me or a good surprise for you?” I quiz as Zane takes my hand and leads me down the stairs.
