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“Damn it.” Okay, now it’s definitely time to run, but I can’t imagine just leaving Phantom and Rayne here. “We have to run.”
And then Shenra moves to stand in front of us. As if this one woman could protect us from the dangerous pack of shadow beasts. “Stop, your queen commands it!”
I’ve never seen anything like it.Feltanything like it. Electricity moves through me raising goosebumps across my flesh, and every one of the shadow beasts stops.
Shenra looks back at me, those hazel eyes of hers wide in surprise, and then she looks back at the army in front of her. Her voice lifts, holding all the command of a true queen. “Our time of suffering is over. Our time of rebuilding is now. Go to the castle, and there we will remember what it is to be people. We will start over again.”
The pack starts running again, this time heading in the direction of the castle. I cringe, but Onyx and Dusk are instantly around me, protecting me from the pack as they race around us with no regard. But none of them hurt us, they just run by, ignoring us as if we never truly mattered. And when I peek out between my men as the pounding of their feet eases, I see that sure enough they’ve run toward the castle.
They’ve obeyed her command.
My men move away from me, and then Shenra and I are staring at one another. There’s longing in her eyes as she stares at Onyx and Dusk, there and gone again in a flash. “I guess… I’m their queen.”
I nod, but then, and I don’t know why, I move back to Phantom and the Shadow King’s body. This war is over. The earth is safe, as is this world, and yet, it doesn’t feel like we won. It feels like we’ve lost more than we ever imagined.
That soft voice that I’ve never fully understood comes into my head, gentle, but happy for the first time. “Saving the shadow beasts cost me my heart and my life a long time ago. It has cost you much too, but I will not let it cost youthem. Not these two warriors who gave so much for my world. They can still be saved, if they return to earth, but none of you can ever return to the shadow realm again. I do not have the power for that. If they do, their lives will be taken the moment they enter my world.”
All along it was the goddess speaking to me?
Part of me doesn’t believe it, doesn’t believe her promise. Part of me is angry with her because when I asked to save them before, she didn’t. But if she’s speaking the truth now, I don’t care about any of that.
“Why now?” I ask aloud.
Everyone turns to me, but I ignore them.
“I had to know my people were safe, and they are now, with their queen, and with your mercy.” Her words feel like they’re saying more than I can understand, but I look toward the others.
“The goddess says if we return to earth with Phantom and Rayne, they’ll live, but none of us can ever come back here.” I release a slow breath. “Do you think it’s true?”
Shenra answers, “The goddess wouldn’t lie.”
Dusk looks close to tears. “But our people need us. How can we just leave after all they’ve been through?”
“Because I’m here,” Shenra says simply, drawing herself up taller. “Technically, my marriage with your father never ended. I’m the queen. Our people obey me, see me as their alpha, and I know that I can help us find ourselves again. With them, I can return to my lands and try to save more than just the people here. I know I can.”
I look at Dusk and Onyx. Either way, I’m returning to earth with Phantom and Rayne, because I have to try to save them, even if it’s not a sure thing. But my heart would break if they stayed here, if we always had to live in different worlds.
Yet I can’t take their people and this place they love away from them.
“Do what you think is best,” I tell them, my voice cracking a little.
After a moment, Onyx signs, “I trust Shenra. I know that our people will be safe with her, but Dusk is the last member of his family, so I’ll go with his choice.”
Dusk releases a slow breath. “Once upon a time I made the poor choice not to kill my father when I had the chance, which caused our whole world unbelievable pain. As much as my soul wants to stay here and try to heal our people after what I did, that would be selfish, because it’s clear the goddess has chosen Shenra as their leader. So, I’ll return to earth with all of you, leaving my blessing with Shenra.”
The woman smiles. “I promise I won’t let you down.”
I look at the bodies of the Shadow King and Phantom. “Does anyone know where Rayne’s real body is?”
Because it isn’t Adrik’s body any longer, it’s Rayne’s.
They spread out searching for Rayne while I sit beside my men. At last, Onyx comes out of the woods carrying Rayne’s body. He looks like he’s in pain, but he holds the smaller man like he’ll go to hell before he releases him.
“Are you sure that’s him?” Dusk asks, staring intently into my eyes.
I look down at the Shadow King, then into the still face of Rayne. Both men are dead, but my heart knows the answer. “Yes, I’m sure.”
Dusk picks up Phantom, even though he too looks exhausted.
