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He cleared the broken glass off the stone window seat and gazed out at the view he knew so well. His room looked down on the palace’s central courtyard, which bustled with activity as Therians of all clans and stations prepared for the funeral ceremony. Word of his edict ending slavery had quickly spread, and the former slaves who had hidden in the dungeons had been the first to join them.
The survivors had contacted the human village at the base of the mountain, and a group of humans was making its way to the palace with Therian escorts. With so many hands to share the work, the funeral would be held the following day.
Luca refused to rob the humans of the chance to say goodbye to protect the secrets of the hidden world, and much to his relief, the others had agreed. Nikoli and Nadya had rendered that effort futile anyway.
The world Luca would rule was not the one he’d been born into. So many things were changing.
The funeral was a vital show of his strength and compassion for his people. It also represented the end of Nikoli’s tyrannical reign and the start of a new future in which the Therians’ king would protect them and help them thrive alongside humans.
His feelings toward vampires were clouded because of Ash and Zia, but they would have to deal with Nadya’s fuckery, as Ash had called it, quickly. Now, it was time to say goodbye.
High Therian Palace, Dawn, Friday, November 23, 2012
Ash stepped through the portal Eiko had opened and looked at the imposing palace in amazement. Dani and Eiko followed. Zia had opted to spare the grieving Therians her vampiric presence during the funeral. Ash worried that she would upset some people, but she wouldn’t miss this for the world. Her mate was grieving, and she would not leave him to face it alone. She felt a twinge of awareness through their damaged bond and caught a whiff of Luca’s scent.
Seconds later, he appeared in the courtyard. His attention focused on her with laser precision as he closed the distance between them. Dani and Eiko backed away to give them privacy. Ash watched his movements with her new vision, drinking in every detail, from the tousled dark hair that fell over his brow to his handsome features and the familiar muscled planes of his body. Luca crushed her in an embrace, and they both reveled in the contact.
Ash took deep breaths that smelled like Luca, grateful they’d made it this far. She turned her face up to his and smiled, letting her expression reflect her love for him. “I have missed you so fucking much.”
Luca’s eyes widened in shock when he saw that her eyes were human blue again. “Your eyes…”
Ash grinned. “They’re only red when I use my powers. It just takes a while to fade.”
Shaking off his surprise, Luca kissed his mate, savoring having the woman he loved in his arms where she belonged. As the sun warmed his skin, he broke the kiss and looked at Ash in concern. “The sun doesn’t hurt you?”
She held up her hand and showed him a ring that sparkled in the sunlight. “It will only work for a few days. Eiko said the long-term solution will take a while to prepare and will put me out of commission for at least a week.”
Luca looked down at her and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. We have some time before the ceremony starts. Do you need anything?”
Ash shook her head. “The only thing I need is to be here for you. Are we still set to escape for a while after the funeral?”
Luca nodded. “Yes. I insisted on it. We can’t manage a full day, but we will have twelve hours to ourselves. Viktorija has a small house on a nearby mountain peak that’s well-warded against pretty much everything. You can’t even find it if you don’t know it’s there.”
She snuggled into his arms. “That sounds like heaven.” Ash laid her head on his chest and listened to the steady thump of his heart. Rather than inspiring a thirst for his blood, it sent a powerful wave of emotion through her. They both jumped when that sent a jolt through their bond. “Did you feel that?”
Luca grinned like a child at Christmas and spun Ash in a delighted hug. “I did, so I don’t think our bond is broken. We’re still connected.”
Her eyes sparkled with love when she met his gaze. “You’re damn right we are. You carry a piece of my soul, dragon.”
Luca grinned at her, at peace for the first moment since she’d left. “As you carry mine, vampire.”
Dani cleared her throat behind them. “Uh, guys? Maybe there’s a better time or place for this conversation.”
Luca looked around at the bustling courtyard. They were blocking progress, and some stared with open curiosity. “Fine point. Let’s go inside and check on Mother before we get ready for the funeral.”
“How is everyone doing? I can’t even imagine how hard this has been for you,” Dani murmured as she followed Luca through the enormous doorway into the palace.
CHAPTER THREE
Late Afternoon, Friday, November 23, 2012
Luca retired to his restored chambers to dress for the funeral. As delighted as he was to see Ash, he needed time alone to prepare himself for the next few hours and his role as the king. His mother had insisted that Ash attend as an honored guest when she suggested keeping a low profile, and Kittania had promised to protect Ash with her life while Luca saw to his duties. He’d reluctantly left his mate in his mother’s capable hands.
He dressed in the traditional mourning regalia of the royal family, dreading what was to come but knowing it was necessary. The king left his chambers and moved through the halls toward the throne room. Memories of the state it had been in when he returned with Viktorija cluttered his mind as he got closer—a response to the trauma he’d experienced. Luca tried to ignore the gruesome mental images as he passed hundreds of weeping humans and Therians waiting for the ceremony to start.
Nikoli hadn’t only decimated his bloodline. He’d also slaughtered the last surviving members of several ancient families and put a significant dent in most of the noble dragon houses. The pervasive mood in the palace was somber but hopeful because of the change in leadership. Luca wanted to be the king his people needed to see them through this transition.
The doors to the throne room had been thrown open, and people spilled across the cavernous space beyond the ceremonial hall, which was enormous. Their sadness hung heavy in the air, and the sounds of desperate sorrow echoed off the walls as he strode toward the front of the room.
