Blood of Two Crowns (Hallowed Fates #2)

Chapter 52

Chapter

Fifty-Two

MAREINA

T ime passed at an indiscernible pace, and I only vaguely noticed that it went by quicker than my mind could follow as darkness gave way to light and light to darkness. I never wanted to leave Malekai’s side again. It was only a matter of time before my worry for Ataraxus, still in need of my blood, and Nakoa reached a tipping point. My soul felt torn in three, being separated from them.

Coupled with the fact that my body had demands I could only deny for so long. I came and went, folding between Malekai’s cave and my father’s house only to use the toilet and shower when I began to grow weary of my own stench and to the bed chamber where Ataraxus rested so I could give him my blood and reassure myself he was still alive. Nakoa, to my dismay, remained elusive.

Until one day, I returned to Malekai’s cave to discover he was gone. Panic struck me like a bolt of electricity as my magic scoured my realm to find his drakonati curled away in another cave in a distant forest I hadn’t yet visited, but somehow knew because my soul was tied to this place as much as it was to the broken male in front of me. Malekai’s beast groaned at the sight of me, nudging me back towards the entrance of the cave. My eyes squeezed shut against the pain. He wanted me to let him go.

I had responsibilities to attend to. Two soulbound that needed me. People, a kingdom, and a realm to care for. All of which were in the throes of turmoil after being breached by the malevolent beings formerly trapped in Vassileo. And I had selfishly remained here, desperately shoving away the constant nagging at the back of my mind. Yet here I was, clutching onto my beloved drakonati, who was trying to shove me out of his lair. My heart was shattering all over again.

“I told you. I can’t do this without you,” I whimpered as he gently tried to usher me to the cave’s mouth. “Please, give me Malekai. Change back. I need him.”

His drakonati replied with a great huff that blew my hair back. With another nudge, I stumbled back, feeling like a shunned canine.

Tears tracked my face as he held my gaze. I could feel his words.

Live your life, Mareina.

A shuddering breath left me. “I can’t.”

A huff that may have sounded like, You can, followed by another gentle nudge sent me another step away.

“Please, don’t make me.”

Malekai’s drakonati gave a pained groan, tossing its massive head.

The gentle winds outside the cavern whirled around me as if trying to coax me out of the cave itself. Somehow, that breeze drew my gaze. The light of day shone bright, another glaring reminder that the world went on. Birdsong filtered in from a distance accompanying the sound of leaves whispering against one another on the breeze as the murmur of life beyond beckoned me.

Akash, when was the last time I’d felt the sun on my face.

A stone-hard snout nuzzled against me as a rough tongue the length of my arm licked me from head to toe. The scent of his saliva, so very near to Malekai’s sea salt and embers scent, filled me with a sense of peace.

I curved my body over Malekai’s drakonati’s snout as my resolution to ignore my duties, my life, waned. I pressed my lips to his silken scales before whispering our favorite words against him.

Words I wished I had declared every day of the last 100 years and shown him just how true they were.

“I love you in this life and every life to come. Katadamna kaza.”