Nyte cupped my cheek and inched his face closer to mine. “Yes,” he said as the light devoured us both. “Our friends. Our family.”
55Astraea
When I opened my eyes, I winced at the piercing amber glow hitting my face and streaking across my fingers over Nyte’s chest. The color was so beautiful, the shine of forgotten treasure. My fingers flexed against him, and I felt his heartbeat, strong and sure, under my palm.
I dared to twist my gaze toward the source of the amber light, squinting as I tried to make sense of its brilliance. And there it was—the sun, breaking over the distant horizon, spilling its golden warmth across the land. The world seemed to hold its breath, bathed in hues of fire and honey, every shadow dissolving into the glow. I stood transfixed, utterly captivated, realizing that I’d never felt so humbled by the simple beauty of a rising dawn.
“Is this real?” I whispered.
Nyte’s idle caress up my arm was convincing. He seemed too lost in thought to speak, perhaps contemplating the same, as we both stared out over the scene of serenity.
In the distance below, the castle of Vesitire glinted with dark beauty against the stunning rays. The daylight was finally restored to our realm, which no longer quaked with anguish. The land was so still, peaceful. We were high on a mountainside with the most perfect view over the entire central city of Vesitire.
I watched the dawn rise with tears in my eyes and the picture of Cassia and Calix in my thoughts.
We’ll be with you in every dawn.
I would always miss having them with me, but every day the sun promised a new beginning, a new day, their spirits within the rays would forever bless me.
Nyte’s hand cupped my nape, and I looked up, finding his golden eyes ablaze with the streaks of sunlight against them and… glistening. Right as a tear spilled over his cheek, he crushed his lips to mine, and my heart erupted like the break of the first new dawn.
It was a kiss of triumph and devotion. Of defiance that finallywon.
“We’re real,” he said, resting his forehead against mine, his smile so bright.
I laughed first and he joined me. We stood there holding each other andlaughingin pure delirious joy. The ground wasn’t rumbling against our happiness anymore; there were no cries of pain or anguish from below.
The war was over.
And we were free.
Nyte lifted me, and there had never been such liberation over his face. He was glowing with so much hope he’d never dared to express before.
“Right here,” he said.
My brow furrowed, but my smile couldn’t fade in the slightest as I scanned around.
“Here?” I questioned.
“It’s a perfect view of the city. Easy to fly down to. We have the forest; there’s a nearby stream and enough clearings for Eltanin. I think we should build our home right here.”
I didn’t think my heart could swell in my chest anymore before it might explode. Casting my sight over the cliff edge, I thought the view held so much more meaning now. My life with Nyte began to build at this very vantage point, starting now.
“It’s perfect,” I said, barely a choked whisper. “But shouldn’t we stay in the castle?”
“We will be there plenty, and we’re only one short flight down, with your wings or with Eltanin. I want this home as privacy for us. A safe haven for our friends too. But we can share the castle with them, as a home they can stay in permanently. Drystan can act as your lead counsel, if you choose and he accepts.”
I loved that idea, and I hoped the others would too.
Nyte sank to his knees, holding me straddled over them.
“We need to make sure everyone is okay.” As I said it, I couldn’t bring myself to move.
“We’ve done enough for the world. Right now, all we have to do is watch the first sunrise.”
It was the first dawn of so many hopeful prospects. Most of all, I watched it with him as the first of our new life. The life we’d chosen and might not be done fighting for, but for now… we were the stars and night itself; anything was possible and everything was inevitable with us.
56Nyte
