A Crown of Cursed Hearts (Kingdom of Blighted Thorns #3)

53. Vexxion

53

VEXXION

F ury spoke with Madrood and every single Lydel citizen who’d come here to show support, walking among them with a mix of wonder and joy on her face.

Vera and I sat on benches on the edge of the courtyard with the scent of Mayline’s roses drifting around us. As the night waned, our friends went inside, seeking the quiet of their suites.

“She’s amazing,” Vera said softly.

“I love her.”

“As you were destined to do.”

“As I would have even if we hadn’t been fated or betrothed. I will always belong to her, from now until we take our final breath and beyond that. No matter where she goes after this world is over, I will seek her. Loving her isn’t something I do, it’s what I am.” She was the very pulse beneath my skin. Every day with her was an affirmation that my life had meaning.

Vera took my hand and lifted it, examining it in the winking lights from tiny sprites popping in and out of the garden as if they, too, could not stay away from the gleaming wonder of Lydel’s new high lady. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have left you at Bledmire with him. I should’ve found another way.”

“If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t be the man I am today, the man who finally accepts he’s worthy of one woman’s love.”

“You were always worthy.”

“I’ve done things—”

Her fingers tightened around mine before releasing. “Everything you did, every path you took, was destined from the moment you first took breath.”

“ I have controlled what I do, not the fates,” I said sharply.

“Have you?” she asked, equally hard.

“Always,” I growled.

Is everything alright? Fury asked in a voice lilting with sweet contentment. She thrived in the love of her people. She was destined for this from the moment she first took a breath.

I was her shield. Her lover. And I would remain at her side until the bitter end.

Everything’s fine, I said lightly. You’re happy?

Very much. It’s . . . breathtaking. They’re swearing fealty, one after another. Promising to dust off their riding leathers, polish their swords, and sharpen their magic. When I ride, they will charge forward at my side. And the dragons . . . Each word she spoke in my mind was a fierce, painful, yet wondrous, stab. Imperfectly perfect, like her. They’re amazing.

The rest of the beasts had flown to the aerie, followed by Airia, Tempest’s flight leader. Only Madrood remained, rumbling behind her like an overgrown pet chall, smoke coiling from his nostrils and flames licking through his eyes. If anyone so much as scowled her way, he’d scorch them.

This was what she was destined for—not a simple betrothal with one such as me.

“I still apologize,” Vera said. “I saw . . .”

“Things you knew you couldn’t control.” Given a choice, of course I would’ve fled Bledmire all those years ago. I’d walked along the fine wire stretching across the cavern for most of my life, waiting to fall.

I still walked it, only others had joined my fury and I, perching on various sections of the thin band. Some waited to cause destruction while others had placed themselves between them and us.

“You’re right about that,” Vera said. “Knowing is both a gift and a curse. You had to remain there, or you wouldn’t be here today. And if you weren’t by my niece’s side—”

“She was born to be the strong woman she is today.”

“But she’d be harder, so much harder.”

“We’re all molded by our past.”

“And those we love.”

“If you need my forgiveness, you have it.” I didn’t blame her or anyone but the monster who called himself my father. He’d dragged me down a horrifying path, not this frail woman sitting beside me.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I, too, have done things I hope no one ever discovers.”

I glanced her way, but she watched Tempest. “What have you seen of what comes next?”

“Many things and nothing. ”

“I imagine it’s hard to interpret some of them.”

“You’re correct. I see wisps of this and that, and too often, they’re pieces of a puzzle missing their picture. Some could belong to a puzzle sitting in a box I haven’t opened. Others could be duplicates from puzzles I’ve already completed. I sort through them and listen to whatever they’re trying to tell me. Then I hope I can place them correctly on the board.”

If she could tell me, did I truly want to know how this would turn out? I had to hold onto my belief that we’d end it and emerge from the storm unscathed. Otherwise, how could I go on?

I clung to the dream that Tempest and I would finally have a moment to breathe together. To love and laugh and drop down into a bed of flowers and kiss.

No fear. No anger. No more betrayal.

I wasn’t sure such a glorious place existed, but if it did, I’d find it and bring my fury there.

Vera released my hand and rose. “I should go to my rooms. I’m tired, and we have many things to do over the next few days until . . .”

Until it was time for us to rise for the final battle.

“I’ll stay here with her.” Watching her. Protecting her with my magic, the might of my arm, and my everlasting soul.

Vera stroked her fingertips across my face to my scars, and they twitched from her touch. “I’m so sorry,” she choked out.

“Don’t be.”

She nodded and slowly walked along the path, finally stepping inside the manor .

When everyone had left, leaving only me, Fury, and Madrood in the courtyard, I left the bench and joined them.

Madrood’s gaze met mine. I leave her with you for the night. Protect her well. She has more to face.

As do we all.

He dipped his head forward before turning to gently nudge Fury’s chest. They spoke in their minds, and she smiled before leaning forward to kiss the dragon’s brow. He huffed, shooting sparks, though he took care not to send any across her dress.

With that, he backed away and sprung off the ground. He soared over the courtyard a full circle before peeling away to fly toward one of the aeries.

Tempest leaned into my side, linking our fingers, and watched until he was no longer in view.

“I still can’t believe it,” she said with so much joy, it sliced through me. “We have an army. Dragons. Riders. Generals. Our power’s growing every moment. I finally believe we can do this.”

“Ultimately, you will have to do it.”

Her smile fell. “I’ll do whatever I must.”

She would find no peace in it, and in that, we differed. I could flit to Bledmire and try to do it myself, but I knew I would not succeed. Yes, I held Weldsbane’s core within my soul, but Vera wasn’t the only fae who could see things he wished he couldn’t.

I’d seen that if I tried to kill Ivenrail myself, I’d die from my efforts.

The best vision said that this petite, strong woman at my side had a small chance of ending the king’s brutal reign .

I’d support her and love her and hope to still be standing with her when she delivered the final blow.

Her yawn stretched out.

You’re tired, I said in her mind.

Take us to our rooms, love. I want you. I need your soothing touch.

It’s always yours. In a blink we stood in our suite.

Would you like a bath? I asked.

Only if you take one with me.

My heart roared with a joy only this woman could give me. I prepared the room and magicked away our clothing. As she laughed softly, I swept her up in my arms. She snuggled into my chest.

I flitted us into the vast tub full of piping hot water, settling her on my lap facing me with my hands on her hips and her palms cupping my shoulders.

She smiled up at me. “Here we are again. I’m grateful it’s here in this tub and not at Bledmire, however.”

“You didn’t enjoy our baths at the castle?”

“They were delightful—”

I snorted. “Just delightful?”

“Sinful and delicious are better words to describe those moments, but they always held an edge of bitterness I couldn’t shrug away.”

“You’re safe here.” For now, though I could feel him coming. He’d reach the edge of the continent within a few days, and unless we stopped him, he’d overrun this land and drink down its power to feed his own.

“You’re safe here too.” Her fingertip traced across my throat where the collar used to thrive on my fear and my blood and any happiness I dragged from the torturous world I grew up in.

“I love you,” I said.

She kissed my chest and looked up at me. “I love you too. Always and forever.”

“There’s something I want you to do.”

Her head tilted, and her lips quivered, though she quickly smoothed them.

It was a kick in the gut that she suspected I could still be hiding things from her, and I deserved to take on the pain I’d delivered to her with one betrayal after another. I’d lied and hid things from her. Some I couldn’t share, others I held back to guide her—no, to manipulate her along the only path that might ensure our success.

That time was over.

“I’m wide open to you. No more secrets.” I kissed her quickly. “I promise. Look into my eyes and see that I’m telling you the truth in this.”

Her brow knit as she studied my face and eyes before she nodded. “No more secrets?”

“I haven’t earned the right to ask you to trust me in this.”

Vexxion, she croaked in my mind. Her eyes glistened with the tears I’d forced from her, and it was all I could do not to sink down into the wallowing agony I’d made myself face when I saw what I was doing to her.

Fury. My fury. “Will you do one thing for me?”

“Yes.”

“Walk through my mind.”