“We have no use for it. Though I only ask you swear on your life to make sure it never reaches nefarious hands. Certainly never those of a nymph.”
Balthezar took the trident cautiously. “I will guard it with my life and that of my crew.”
Astraea’s hand slipped into mine, and she gave me one of her most endearing smiles, which sparkled the stars in her silver-blue eyes.
The next presence I detected washed a new wave of relief over me; it was becoming exhausting to keep up with these fluctuating emotions. As I flicked my gaze toward the direction I sensed, the sight of Elliot filled me with gratitude because he’d made it, but it was tragic to watch him walk alone. Battle-worn and tired. I wouldn’t let him walk alone anymore, not when our circle grew onthis courtyard with people who would welcome him as easily as the Golden Guard did.
I approached him myself. Neither of us smiled, but we shared our grief.
“Zeik was always the most confident that we all would make it,” he said.
That slashed me within, but the wound was welcome when we could remember our…friends.
“He always was the most optimistic bastard,” I said.
Elliot huffed, shy of breaking into laughter.
“I keep trying to convince myself their deaths meant something, that they contributed to the war we’ve won, but I can’t. Sorleen… she didn’t even get tolive.How does time mean anything when it isn’t filled with any dreams or desires, only suffering?”
I didn’t have any condolences or wisdom to soothe his loss and pain. Not when I’d existed before without any care for time myself.
“None of them got to live the lives they deserved. It will forever be one of my greatest failures.”
“And mine,” Elliot said.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, sharing that burden for a moment.
Behind Elliot, a flicker of red hair caught my attention. Tarran also arrived alone. I still didn’t trust him, nor was I particularly pleased to see him, but I returned to Astraea’s side because of the expression he wore as he tried not to display his grief, but it was there.
Astraea saw it too, and she walked to meet him.
“She didn’t make it,” he informed us, his voice reducing on the last words.
With the way he only spoke to Astraea, as if it was something personal to them, I knew who he meant.
Laviana was like a sister to Astraea.
The resilient elder vampire had been a pivotal leader for the vampires, devoted to seeing them achieve the equality they deserved and to not be seen as vicious monsters.
For her, I mourned silently.
Astraea covered her mouth and tears glistened in her eyes. The aftermath of battle was always so desolate and would linger in the air for weeks to come. This was only the beginning of discovering all their losses.
“Take me to her,” she whispered.
57Astraea
I couldn’t place my feelings. The war was won, but sorrow filled my chest too heavily to allow any room for victory.
Staring at Laviana’s peaceful face upon the pyre, I mourned for her.
“I’m sorry we weren’t there,” a male voice said from behind me. I turned, finding two nightcrawlers with faces so uncannily alike they had to be twins.
Then the memory flooded back to me with a gasp. They were the children of my nightcrawler and human guardians.
“Kenton,” I whispered, in case I was wrong, but the slightly taller dark-haired nightcrawler smiled at the name. “Ethan,” I greeted the other brother.
Ethan said, “Phew. We weren’t certain you would remember us.”
