Page 95 of The Reaping Rose

The kingdom we know is gone. A new Crown must rise.

Chapter 32

Elorie

My feet ache. My legs burn with each step.

Callum has managed to summon one Gate to cut down on the distance between us and the void, but we can only go as far as places he knows out of an abundance of caution, so for the past three days, we’ve continued on foot.

We’ve come across fewer villages than I expected, and we’ve avoided them entirely, sticking to the forest and staying mostly out of sight. Thankfully, the few humans we’ve crossed paths with have worn similar clothes to the ones we brought here, so they thought nothing of our attire as they waved hello and walked by.

With each step through the realm, the intensity of the dark pulse surges stronger. At moments, there’s relief, and the void quiets. We stop when that happens, wondering if we’ve lost it. But each time it eventually starts again. So we trudge forward, sick to our stomachs from the thrum of darkness ahead.

Nights and days roll into each other. We move in the darkness, settling when the sun breaks through the trees, taking turns sleeping and keeping watch. It’s easier to go unnoticed at night. The moon is only a sliver of light. Enough to find our way but allowing us to stay hidden.

Perame slows her stride to walk beside me more often than not. We didn’t talk much in Vaelier, but here, there’s nothing but time to get to know each other.

“I’ve never met anyone capable of convincing Wilder of something he doesn’t want to do.” She smirks, glancing around us. “Gods, the anger he let out on Rior in the ring when you swore you were going to the Mortal Realm without him… The fact that you won that battle is impressive. You have to share your secrets.”

“I have my ways.” I smirk, and Perame laughs.

“I have no doubt.” One hand spins a dagger as she walks beside me. “Still, I’m surprised you got him to this point.”

“Agreeing to let me go?”

“Accepting what he needs to do,” she clarifies. “Atlas said he’s finally considering claiming his crown.”

My gaze falls to the ground. During our last night together, Wilder said as much. He knows his people need him, and that he needs to stop putting off the inevitable. I just hope I’m back in time to witness him take his place on the throne.

“I have to admit, I was surprised he hadn’t claimed his crown yet when I arrived in Vaelier. He was always the heir, was he not?” I ask.

“Yes, as the oldest, it was always his place. But you know Wilder, more content in battle than in playing politics in the court. That’s why he spent so long in Andare. Fighting, distracting himself…” She rolls her eyes. “Running from the inevitable. Even before the war, I honestly didn’t know if he’d ever be ready to accept the responsibility.”

“Do you think he’s unfit to rule?”

She shakes her head. “The opposite, though he doesn’t see it.”

“But you do?”

“In battle, you get to know the heart of a person.” Her gaze drifts to the distance. “Many warriors lead with survival first, and I don’t blame them. Self-preservation is a powerful thing. It’s easy to say you’d sacrifice it all, but it isn’t until things go terribly wrong that you learn what you’re actually willing to fall for. But Wilder… he’d sacrifice it all for his people in a heartbeat. He doesn’t just care about the outcome but about who walks off the battlefield beside him. It made him reckless at times. Misunderstood even. But he’ll be the ruler his mother never was. Fair but caring. May the gods see her soul to the After.”

Perame places a hand on her heart in respect.

“You didn’t agree with how his mother ruled?”

She shakes her head. “I respected Queen Delayna. She led with wisdom and strength. But she sacrificed her own people to achieve what was needed. She was ruthless, and not in the same way as her son.”

“I hear she was ruthless even with them.”

“She was.” Perame frowns. “I wasn’t close with Selia, but I understand why she left Vaelier. I even understand why she did what she did, although I wish she’d gone about it differently. Our people may never forgive her, but I see why Wilder suffers. Her death hurt him, and I think he’s far from healed from that.”

I clutch my stomach, remembering Wilder’s grief bursting out of him upon Selia’s death. The intensity rattled me to my core.

“You understand him too.” Perame nudges my arm. “More importantly, you give him hope. You help him see possibility again. He’ll need that to lead his kingdom.”

“I’m not fit to guide him in leading a kingdom.” My gaze falls to the leaves crunching beneath my boots. “Not like Aurora.”

“That’s not true. Aurora represents a different time under a different Crown. She fights for what our realm has been. But you and Wilder fight for the future. You see beyond how things have been done, and you fight for what comes next. No matter what Aurora wants, you’re what’s best for him.”