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“I was lost in the shadows,” I whisper into her hair, “but I’m not anymore, and I’m going to stand at your side, Cora. We have to stop this. We have to save the monsters.”
She leans back, her tear-filled eyes searching mine. “You’re stronger now,” she murmurs. “I can see the steel in your gaze.”
I smile. “I am, and I’m prepared to fight for this happiness we’ve found.”
We smile at each other, happy despite the rising war.
“Look at them,” I hear Nero say. “Do you see it?”
“What?” Weyland asks.
“The strength,” Nero murmurs. “The strength between sisters. The power.”
Grim hums. “They’ll shake the world.”
I grin, squeezing Cora’s hand gently, and she repeats the action.
“Yes,” I say, standing taller. “We will.”
Chapter
Fifty
DADE
Kai and her sister are inseparable. They have so much to catch up on, and I relax throughout the day as nothing but smiles replace her tears. Their bond is evident and strong, so when Cora takes Kai away to bathe and dress, I stay behind, trusting they are safe in the castle. Cora’s mates seem to believe the same, and even though they are only in the next chamber, it reassures me that both our mates are fine.
Cora’s mates seem nice enough, though the grumpy minotaur keeps glaring at Rook who is sitting next to me. The fire burns in the chamber, the flames lighting up the stone walls. Kaito lingers near the door, waiting for Kai but wanting to be part of it. Weyland is walking around, looking at everything, while the naga, Nero, follows him. There is a grinning dark fey watching us as he plays with a knife—Bracken, the gargoyle, Razcorr, informed us. There is a man who is a kraken who introduced himself as Zetros as well.
Bracken grins. “Quite the collection of monsters.”
Grim, the minotaur, sighs like he is used to the fey and simply tolerates him.
“Ignore him,” Zetros calls as he slides to the floor near me, stretching out. “He’s always an ass.”
“Where is Krug?” Razcorr calls, peering around.
“Krug?” Rook inquires.
“Cora’s orc,” the gargoyle explains.
“Probably creeping around, waiting for her,” Bracken grumbles.
When I glance back, I can see Kaito has slipped away while we were all talking, no doubt to check on Kai. None of us like being away from her for long, but especially him. She is always at his side. I expect jealousy to flare in me, but only gratitude does that he is with her. We’ve all grown used to each other, our very own family. After not having one for so long, it’s nice.
“Cora’s sister, Kai . . .” Grim leans forward, his eyes hard and worried. “She is truly okay? Cora has been so worried and heartbroken.”
Even the fey sobers at that, nodding. Clearly, Cora has been very worried about Kai. I know Kai was worried she would blame her or be angry, but from what I can see, she is overjoyed she is back.
“She is.” I nod. “She wasn’t for a while, but she’s healing, and she’s fighting the darkness inside now—one we all carry.”
Rook nods, wrapping tendrils of shadows around his fingers, and Grim shoots him a glare.
“She dispels mine,” I add, sharing with them. “Until her, there was only darkness, pain, and loneliness, then she came into our lives. We are nothing without her.”
“It’s the same with us,” Grim says, his words sharp but loving. “Cora is our light.”
“Grim is a monster of few words.” Zetros laughs, nudging me. “But he isn’t wrong. Our Cora saved us all in a way. Me especially.”
