In the Wake of the Wicked (Veridian Empire #1)

81. Rose

81

Rose

T hirty-three. That’s how many cursed Veridians dwelled inside the palace walls.

By the end of the week, I had woken every single one.

Children, aged men and women, mothers, fathers. Servants and lords, previous advisors to the throne, members of Gayl’s council. Nobody had been safe from the curse when it chose to strike.

I watched a woman reunite with her lover after ten years. An elderly man meet his eighteen-year-old granddaughter for the first time. A child talk with her younger brother who was now several years older than her. Story after story, memory after memory. With every single person, that stolen magic inside of me became less and less erratic. Less painful. Less urgent. Still there, but somehow, it felt…content. Overwhelming emotion crowded me on all sides, with bone-crunching hugs and shouts of relief and more tears than I could count.

And hope .

Rissa and Leo had filled me in on what they, the council, and the province governors had been doing during the almost two weeks I’d been trapped in my mind. What we were giving these people was so much more than just their magic back. We were giving them hope . To no longer live with the prospect of the curse hanging over them, to not have to worry about their power being based on some ridiculous tournament, to one day be unafraid of crossing their own borders.

The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, of course. Plenty of people would be angry, would push back on the direction of leadership. And it would take time—as would my mission.

But it was exhilarating , being a part of it. Being a part of change .

Rissa had stepped into a role of power in the empire so effortlessly it was as if she was meant for it. After confirming her heritage, the council and governors had elected to name her interim empress while they sorted through affairs. It wasn’t unanimous, but enough of them seemed to realize what strength she brought to the table. Within days, she’d organized my journey with the governors, ensuring my safe passage through each province and lining up people to escort me in their regions.

Time was moving faster than I could process. My excitement grew as I thought of the months and months I’d spend exploring new places, something I never thought I’d get to do in my entire life.

With that excitement, however, came a hint of fear. Fear of being away from everything I’d ever known, from my family, from the comfort of my isolated shop. Fear of how I’d be perceived in this new world.

Fear of saying goodbye.

I was leaving Veridia City tomorrow. Ragnar and Morgana had taken turns accompanying me throughout the capital over the last week and a half, visiting all the infirmaries, all the healer’s clinics, and all the sickbays on the small island. There weren’t as many people here who had fallen prey to the curse as in the provinces, but there were still a couple hundred that needed to be awoken. We’d been up from dawn to dusk traveling and meeting with families. I’d talked to more people in the last ten days than in two decades. Leo, Rissa, and the others had been just as busy working with Gayl’s council and the governors on restructuring what they wanted the leadership to look like, and the twins had been spending as much time as they could with their newly restored mother.

I’d barely had more than an hour alone with Leo. It was strange how much I could miss someone I’d only known a handful of weeks. How little by little he’d chipped away at my shell until he was suddenly buried inside my heart. Every scowl, every smirk, every hushed word had spread like seeds, taking root so deeply there was no chance of me ever pulling him out.

Not that I wanted to. I couldn’t begin to imagine life without him. But…I didn’t know what the next months or even years looked like. We had no idea how long my task across the empire would take. We could be completely different people by the time it was over.

I didn’t know how to say goodbye to him. I didn’t know how to leave him.

So…in true Rose fashion, I avoided it. It hadn’t been too difficult; we were both exhausted and pulled in so many different directions, there wasn’t much time for ourselves. And of course, I would have never wanted to take him away from his mother. Any spare moment the two of us had together was also shared with Rissa or Lark or Chaz or my family, limiting the conversation I knew we’d have to have.

But I was good at putting off painful moments.

My eyes drooped as I tucked my last pouch of herbs into my travel bag, buttoning the clasp and placing it beside my bedroom door. I desperately needed sleep before heading off on the first leg of my journey in the morning. The ship Rissa had secured my passage on was leaving for the southern province of Tenebra at eight o’clock sharp. Ragnar had offered to go with me for this first part while Morgana and Beau headed back to Feywood. I’d argued that they needed to stick together, but my aunt and uncle were nothing if not persistent.

A knock sounded on my door. I stifled a yawn as I pulled it open, almost stumbling when I saw who waited on the other side .

“Did you think you could leave without saying goodbye?” Leo asked. He leaned on the doorframe with his arms crossed and his tail flicking the floor. Always a sign of agitation, even when his features remained impassive.

My cheeks flushed. “No, that’s not—I was going to say goodbye,” I said quickly. “We’ve both just been so busy.”

He raised an eyebrow.

I let out a sigh, then tugged at his arm to pull him inside the room. As the door shut behind him, I circled my arms around his waist, placing my head against his solid chest. “I’ve missed you so much, Leo,” I whispered. Closing my eyes, I listened to the beat of his heart and his steady breaths, tension leaving my body with each passing second.

“I missed you too, sweetheart.” Lips pressed into the top of my head. “How are you feeling about tomorrow?”

“Excited. Scared. A little nauseous.”

A chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Sounds about right.”

“It’s Alaric’s province,” I said in a quieter voice. His features appeared in my mind, the smiling, jovial older man contrasted with his cold body lying on the forest floor, my dagger through his back. “I know you’re going to say it wasn’t my fault, but I don’t know how I can face his family. His people . After…what I did.”

Leo traced a hand up my back and rested it on my neck beneath my hair, cradling me to him. “And no matter how many times I say it wasn’t your fault, I know it won’t take away your guilt. I hate that this is going to follow you for the rest of your life, but you’re doing so much good, Rose.” He leaned back and kissed my temple. “You’re bringing life back to these families. We can mourn Alaric and honor his memory as you help his people.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m glad Ragnar will be with me, at least.”

He licked his lips, pulling further away. “Actually, about that…”

“What? Did something happen to him?” I asked sharply. We didn’t know if there were any effects of me waking people from the curse—what if it wasn’t permanent? What if it went wrong ?

“No, no, your uncle is fine. But he’s not going with you to Tenebra.”

My brows knit together. “Why not?”

“Because I am.”

I froze. “I—I don’t understand.”

A smile formed on his lips. Slow and shy at first, then a brilliant beam, sending butterflies soaring in my chest. “You’re the one who said we should run away together.”

“But—but you have a life here,” I said. “The Sentinels, your sister, your mother . You have so much time to make up for with her. And the empire is getting back on its feet, don’t you need to be here ?”

“I’ve already talked with Rissa and Mother. My sister is more than capable of handling things without me.” He laughed. “And my mother actually told me if I didn’t go with you, she’d shear the hair off my tail.”

I made a sound in the back of my throat, a cross between a laugh and a sob. “She sounds like Rissa.”

“Besides, it’s not for forever. This life will be waiting for us when we get back.” He took my hands. “What do you say, little wolf? Are you up for an adventure?”

My head spun. That well of power in me sparked, roused by heightened emotions. “You really want to do this?”

“I told you, I would run anywhere with you.”

I gazed up at him, searching those dark eyes for any hint of hesitation. All I saw was clear resolve. The hard planes of his face softened as he stared back, his determination shining through.

I threaded my fingers through his and took a breath. “Then let’s run.”

The deck of the ship was full of crew members readying for departure. Men shouted instructions, luggage was tightened and stowed, deckhands prepared to hoist the mast. This one was slightly larger than the passenger ship my family and I took from Feywood to Veridia City, and much nicer, with its polished wood and sleek frame.

Leo and I stood at the bottom of the gangway. A deckhand approached to take our bags, then motioned behind us and said, “Sir, ma’am, the empress is waiting for you.”

“ Interim empress,” Leo said under his breath, but when I glanced at him, pride shone in his eyes. “It’s already going to her head.”

“Oh, little brother, you’re just jealous,” Rissa’s voice sounded from a few feet away. She leaned casually against the wooden railing separating the port from the ocean, her arms stretched out across it. Blonde curls blew in the breeze with the backdrop of rolling waves and the rising sun. When her eyes landed on me, she grinned.

Covering the distance in a handful of strides, I threw my arms around her.

“I never did say thank you, Rose,” she said into my hair. “For risking so much to help us and for everything you did in that chamber. We couldn’t have done this without you.”

“That’s not true. I may have cast the final spell, but you’ve been building up to this for years . You’re incredible, Clarissa Aris.” I pulled back and gripped her shoulders. “There’s no better person to lead our people.”

She smiled. “And there’s no better person to help our people. No two better people, I should say.” Nodding to Leo who was waiting behind me, she said, “I know how much this means to him, getting to be part of the end of the curse. He needs this closure and to see that people don’t blame our father anymore. And I’m so glad you’re doing it together, because he needs you , too.”

The idea of someone needing me the way I did them made something crack inside my chest, filling me with sweet warmth. Before I could respond, someone shouted my name, and I turned to see Chaz wheeling Lark toward us along the boarded path .

“You just had to make us get up at the crack of dawn, didn’t you?” Chaz said, chuckling. When he reached us, he came out from behind the wheelchair to envelop me in a one-armed hug. “If you ever get tired of life on the go with broody over here, I’ll tag in anytime.”

I snorted. “It’s good to see nothing has changed, Chaz.”

When he pulled away, his lighthearted demeanor slipped slightly. “Some things have.” His dark eyes slid to the side, as if searching for someone no longer there. Cords wrapped around my heart and tugged, the memory of Horace’s last moments branded into my mind.

“You’ll be alright,” Chaz continued, offering a small smile. “You’re good for each other. Just don’t forget about us while you’re off saving the world, yes?”

“We’ll do our best,” Leo responded with a smirk, smacking his friend on the back.

As Leo said his goodbyes to Rissa and Chaz, Lark cleared her throat. “I knew I chose well after Ragnar’s incident. From the very beginning, I had a feeling about you. You have this fire that can’t be quenched, even against all odds.” She gave me a thin-lipped smile and wheeled herself to the rail. I followed, taking in the sling around her arm and the fading bruises still visible on her dark skin.

“Thank you for taking a chance on me,” I said, and she looked back at me in slight surprise. “Things haven’t always been the smoothest between us, but for all the loss this month has brought, I wouldn’t take any of it back.” Out of the corner of my eye, my gaze lingered on Leo. “My time here…it taught me things about myself. Both good and bad. It was twisted and terrible at times, but it made me capable. And in the end, we got what we’ve been working for, didn’t we? A better future.”

“A better future,” she repeated wistfully, then gave me a once-over. “You two stay safe. We may be heading toward that better future, but we’re not there yet. Be careful and watch out for one another.”

I reached down and squeezed her hand as Leo approached my side. “The captain wants to leave soon,” he said, then guided me away from the railing. “We only have a few more minutes.”

Turning on my heel, I saw Ragnar, Morgana, and Beau walking toward us.

My heart clenched. They were leaving soon after me to head back to Feywood and I wasn’t sure when I’d see them again. With a hand at my back, Leo led me to them, stopping far enough away to give us space.

My aunt clutched a handkerchief, her face red and eyes puffy. Beau kept running his fingers through his newly cut hair—he looked so much older without the locks covering his eyes. Flashes of that little gangly boy I used to chase around the gardens crossed my mind, now a vibrant young man with such a soft, tender spirit.

“Don’t you dare start crying,” he said in warning as I drew closer.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I laughed as I pulled him into a tight hug. “Take care of the shop for me while I’m gone, alright?” I moved back and straightened his collar. “And remember where the foxglove is in case you come across any more Madelines. I won’t be there to fend them off,” I said, shooting him a wink.

“You’ll be back with us in no time, just wait and see.” He ruffled my hair the way I always did to him. “Love you, Rosie. I’m gonna miss having my big sister around.”

“I thought you told me not to cry!” I exclaimed, my vision blurry with tears threatening to spill. “You can’t go saying stuff like that, Beau Beau.”

“Well, you can cry with me,” my aunt said, hastily suffocating me in her embrace. “Oh, I’m so proud of you, Rose. And I know your parents would be, too. I just wish you didn’t have to go.” She dabbed at her cheeks, smiling encouragingly through her own sadness. “You are so brave, my dear girl. So strong. The two of you have been our greatest blessings,” she added, grabbing her son’s hand.

“She’s not dying , Ana. We’ll see her again soon,” Ragnar said with a grin, and my aunt swatted his arm .

I looked between the two of them, unsure if I’d be able to get my next words out. Ragnar was right; I would see them again, but we had no idea how long this journey around the provinces would take or what dangers we might face. And afterward…well, I no longer knew for certain that my future lay in Feywood. Emotion clogged my throat, a blend of overpowering love and gratitude and heartache that paralyzed me.

“I—I’ve never been one to show how much you mean to me.” I breathed out slowly. “I’m not good at this, at feelings ”—Ragnar chortled at that—“but I would have nothing without you. You took me in without a second thought. You raised me as your own and showed me what love looked like in a world that—that didn’t want to love me.” My voice broke off. Silent tears streamed down my aunt’s face.

I collected myself, instinctively reaching my hand behind me. In an instant, Leo was there, giving me his strength.

“And I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for that,” I continued. “So thank you. For everything.”

“You are our own,” Ragnar responded gruffly. He leaned forward to cup the back of my neck and pull me into his chest. “You may not be my blood, but you’re our daughter .”

Drops of wetness stained his shirt as I leaned back and he said, “Until we see you again, Rose. Bring hope back to this broken world. Have your adventures. Find your freedom. Remember how loved you are.” He met Leo’s eyes over my shoulder and nodded. “That’s the greatest future I could hope for either one of my children.”

Morgana and Beau gathered around us. Beau slung an arm across my shoulder while my aunt leaned into Ragnar’s side, the four of us sharing one last moment.

For now.

Above us, a horn blew, signaling the ship’s imminent departure. The world picked up speed as deckhands began to usher other passengers to the gangplank, leading them up to the main deck. As I waved goodbye to my family, I couldn’t help but look over their shoulders for one last person.

“Do you need something?” Leo asked, putting a hand at the small of my back.

I shook my head. “I guess I thought Nox might come, but he’s probably heading to Drakorum soon. It’s fine.” I hadn’t seen him or Arowyn since I woke up. Arowyn had evidently journeyed back to Celestria shortly after Gayl’s death, and Nox had been in deep discussions with Rissa and her council on behalf of Drakorum, who had never made an appearance in the capital.

From the top of the gangplank, a voice filtered down to us. “I was wondering when you’d ask about me.”

My lips broke into a grin. Looking up, I saw that cocky face smirking back at me as Nox leaned against the railing. “Let me guess, you saved the best for last?” I teased.

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere.”

Confusion swept over me. “You—you’re staying? On the ship?”

“Our dear empress has a task for me, it seems.” He winked at Rissa.

“We need eyes over in Mysthelm,” she jumped in. “An ambassador, of sorts. It’s a long road to fix what’s been broken between them and us, but it’s a step.”

“Mysthelm?” My eyes shot to Nox. “How are you getting there?”

“Little detour through Tenebra, then I’ll head south down to their border. You’re not getting rid of me that quickly.”

I could practically feel the glower Leo shot him. Even after their lengthy discussion on the beach during the third trial, Leo still carried a bit of irritation toward the dragon Shifter. I snorted. “This will be interesting.”

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of interrupting the love birds,” Nox crooned. “Strictly business. I am a professional, after all.”

Rissa gave Leo and me one last hug. “Stay alert, especially in these first two provinces.” We ascended the gangplank and she shouted from below, “Be safe! I’ll write to you!”

And with that, they were gone.

I exhaled slowly as I leaned over the deck railing, watching the ship push off from the port. By the end of the day we’d make landfall in Tenebra and start our new journey. A mission of healing and hope. And while it was bittersweet to say goodbye, there was a freedom in this. A freedom I’d never considered but had always yearned for. A beautiful, open landscape ready to be filled.

Leo came up behind me and put his hands on the rails, trapping my back against his solid chest. I turned to nuzzle my cheek against his chin. Before us, waves rippled and gleamed in the sunlight, brushing against the bottom of the boat. Birds sang in the distance as wind skimmed my skin.

“Are you sad to be leaving your home?” I murmured, nodding toward the receding shoreline.

“I’m sad to leave my family for a little while, but Veridia City isn’t my only home.” He twisted me to face him, and I locked my arms around his neck as he said, “Not anymore.”

I smiled. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting into with me, monkey boy?”

“I think I have an idea,” he said with a chuckle. I lifted up on my toes when he leaned down to kiss me, my lips still grinning against his.

“I love you, Rose,” he said quietly. “And I will spend every moment of the time you give me making you as happy as you have made me.”

Of the time you give me . “I’ll hold you to that,” I said, kissing him again as my chest swelled and ached with joy. “Because it will be a very, very long time, Leo Aris.”

Our entire lives, our future, our purpose lay ahead of us, as clear and full as the day.

This was just the beginning.