AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Adara.” Her eyes lit up at the sight of me, filling with tears. “Oh, my sweet girl!”
I flew across the room and into her arms, kneeling by the bed so as not to put my weight on her. “Mother,” I sobbed, pressing my face into her chest. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
We clung to each other for a long while, happy tears spilling down our cheeks as we laughed and cried all at once. “It's so strange to be in control of my own body again,” Mother finally said, giving me a watery smile. “For a time, I thought it would never happen. It took everything I had just to hold onto my sense of self.”
“I never doubted you,” I said, squeezing her hand. “You’re too strong to let anyone erase you. Even the Mother of Shadows.”
My mother shook her head. “No, you are the one who is strong. You saved me…you saved everyone, even though you were thrust into all this madness with very little time to prepare or wrap your head around any of it.” Her face fell. “That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have hid the truth from you, shouldn’t have lied about your heritage or forced you to wear that amulet. I thought I was doing the right thing, thought I was honoring your mother’s wishes.”
“You were,” I said, giving her a gentle smile. “I know I was angry at the time, but if I’ve learned nothing else, it’s that the universe works in mysterious ways, and everything unfolds the way it does for a reason.” I glanced toward the door, where Einar waited on the other side. “Speaking of the universe… I have something to tell you.”
The door opened, and Einar stepped into the room. “I remember you,” Gelsyne said slowly, sitting up straighter. “You’re the dragon general. Prince Daryan’s best friend.”
“I am.” Einar smiled, threading his fingers through mine as he came to stand next to me. “And I’m also your daughter’s mate.”
47
Leap
Leap sat on the balcony railing outside his suite in Castle Angtun, staring out at the city of spires as he contemplated the events of the last few days.
He’d never imagined he'd go from scrounging as a thief through the streets of Wynth to fighting in battle as a Lightning Rider, taking down giants and facing down Shadows alongside his closest friends. And he definitely never thought he would be living in Angtun again, sitting in his childhood room as he stared out at the city’s spires and contemplated what he wanted to do next.
He knew he couldn’t go back to his life of thieving and racketeering. Those occupations had given him some useful skills, skills he had begun using, and wanted to continue to use, for good. And while he’d initially joined the Lightning Riders so his Uncle Oren would give him the authority and resources he needed to help Adara, he realized he wanted to continue walking the path his parents had tread. Not just because it would make them proud. But because it gavehimpurpose.
It's also strange to be on good terms with Uncle Oren, he thought as he swung his legs back and forth over the railing. He and his uncle hadn’t fought once since the battle, and the old coot had even backed him up once or twice when Ryker tried to make snarky comments during state meetings. He and his cousin would never love each other, but things were tolerable now. With time, they might even become pleasant.
Leap was about to hop off the railing to head back inside when he spotted two figures flying in the distance. At first, he thought they were harpies, but there was no way harpies would dare travel this close to Angtun, so he slipped his goggles over his head and zoomed in for a closer look. His heart leaped in his chest at the sight of two dragons—one ruby red, the other ice blue, their scales throwing off rays of rainbow light in the morning sun.
Leap whistled for Cirra, who pulled up in record speed. He jumped on her back and the two of them zoomed off toward the western gate to meet the approaching dragons, who shifted into half dragon forms so they could land outside the electric gate.
“Hello,” Adara said, stepping up to greet the guards on duty. “My name is Adara, and this is Einar. Lord Oren—”
“Let them through,” Leap ordered, hopping off Cirra’s back. He stepped forward and pressed the golden ring on his finger to the metal arch that served as the gate portal. An enormous sense of satisfaction filled him as the electric force field powered down. He still couldn’t believe his days of breaking and entering were over, that his Uncle Oren had given him a gate key, even though all lightning riders had them.
“Leap!” Einar grinned, and to Leap’s surprise, he rushed forward and scooped the air fae boy up into a hug. “I never thought I’d be so happy to see you, street rat.”
“Likewise, old man,” Leap shot back, though he was grinning too. Einar put him down so he could hug Adara next. She smelled a little different, a sweet, smoky scent clinging to her skin that reminded him of pinewood burning on a winter night. “You seem happy,” he told her. “Like you’ve found a missing piece of yourself.”
“I did.” She beamed, sending a look to Einar that was full of pure love. He gave her a tender smile in return and Leap blushed, feeling like he was witnessing a private moment. But the look faded away, replaced by a grave expression as she turned back to him. “How is your cousin?”
“She’s holding on,” Leap said grimly. “Do you want me to take her to you, or do you need to rest first?”
“No, we’re fine,” Adara said. She squared her shoulders as she looked toward Castle Angtun. “Take me to her.”
The three of them flew to the castle, Leap on Cirra’s back, while Adara and Einar used their wings. It was surreal to watch her soaring alongside him, bat-like wings of powder blue flapping effortlessly behind her, as if she’d had them all along.
Leap wondered if she would take the throne—with the powers of flight, fire, water, and her herbalism knowledge, it was almost as if she were a child of all four races. For all the bickering between the three remaining Houses about her qualifications, she was clearly the best fae for the job.
Lord Oren was waiting for them just inside the grand entrance. The guards must have alerted him to Adara’s arrival. “Welcome, Adara and Einar,” he said in his rumbling voice. His expression was as stoic as ever, yet Leap caught a flicker of anxiety in his raptor-yellow eyes. “The healers have prepared Tempest for you.”
“Excellent.” Adara and Einar inclined their heads in a show of respect. “Please lead the way, Lord Oren.”
The group walked down the long hall and through the courtyard maze, flanked by guards on both ends. A frigid wind whipped through the air, and it felt to Leap as though it were ushering them forward, pushing them along the path toward the infirmary tower where Tempest was staying. They climbed the steps to the top floor, and the guard at the head of the group knocked briskly.
“Come in,” the healer called, and they entered. The room wasn’t big enough for all of them to fit, so most of the guards save two waited outside in the hall. Leap’s gaze flicked to one of the large windows set in the circular walls, and he caught Gale’s eye, who hovered outside on his cloud familiar along with three of their comrades. The older rider gave him a subtle nod, and Leap turned his attention back to his cousin, satisfied that, should anything go wrong, they had security covered from all angles.
Tempest lay on the bed, eyes closed, breathing shallow. Since Adara had vanquished Nox and thereby removed her influence on Avani and Tempest, Tempest’s disposition had improved. She was no longer a crazed, unthinking beast, driven by madness, but she wasn't herself, either. The shadow taint still remained, running up and down her paper-thin skin as blackened veins. It was a testament to her strength that Tempest had held out this long.
