Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
I blink, fighting my own damn tears.
“That’s beautiful,” Willow whispers. She raises her head, viewing the ocean too. “I’d tell him he’s the best brother ever. And that I miss every conversation we had.” Willow’s eyes glisten as she tears her eyes away from the water. “I’d tell him that losing him was one of the hardest things I’d ever endured, but finding him here made everything feel complete. I’d tell him I love him too. And that I’m glad he’s at rest now.”
Beautiful, my love.
Willow tilts her gaze to mine, a feeble smile gracing her lips.
“Ready?” she asks Danica, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
Danica nods, rubbing Willow’s knuckles with her thumb. “Ready.”
I walk over, helping Willow to a stand. She clutches the urn as we make our way to the shoreline.
She sniffles as she removes the lid of the urn. Her pain runs through me, tugging at every single heartstring. I remain strong for her, kissing her temple, whispering that it’ll be okay. That she can do this.
Finally, she walks ankle deep into the water, tilts the urn, and dumps Warren’s ashes. The gray dust swirls with the foam, slowly drifting away.
With a shuddering breath, Willow faces me, eyes filled with tears. Then she peers over my shoulder, and her mouth parts.
“Danica?” she breathes, sloshing through the water to run past me.
She drops to her knees next to Danica.
But Danica’s eyes are closing.
Her last breath slips out as a soft sigh.
“No,” Willow whimpers, dropping her head to Danica’s chest.
“Damn it,” I mutter.
Willow’s emotions nearly overpower mine, but I do my best to control them. It’s hard though. It seems now that we contain Regal energy, our Tether is stronger than ever. Our bond has amplified, so what she feels, I feel it just as much.
I drop to my knees next to her as she lifts her head and places a kiss on Danica’s cheek.
I lay a hand to Danica’s chest. Only a whisper of a heartbeat remains, and it’s fading quickly. Her memories flood through me just like Selah’s did.
Her bleak childhood. The grief of losing her mother and seeking vengeance by killing her father.
The happiness she felt when she met Warren. The laughs and giggles only he could conjure from her. The joy she had sparring and practicing with her beloved katana.
Her pain and heartbreak when she lost her mate.
Her final moments of satisfaction—of peace—as she watched Willow pour his ashes.
I press my lips, but that doesn’t stop my tears from falling. The ache in my chest has doubled. I take my hand away just as Willow draws in a deep breath.
“Come here,” I whisper to Willow, spreading my arms open for her.
She falls right into them, sobbing hard into my chest.
So much pain.
So much loss.
So much hurt.
I hold her tight, allowing her grief to course through me too.
Because I’ve got her. No matter what kind of struggle she faces, I’ll never let her go through any of it alone.
NINETY-FIVE
WILLOW
The following morning, I’m standing next to Caz with Silvera and Cerberus at our sides, watching as a steel ship nears the shore.
The black sails flap with the salty ocean breeze, and the mechanics within groan when it comes to a complete stop.
The Kessel tribe is lined up with all their things packed. Children are eager to board the boat, bouncing next to their mothers. I look at them all, wishing Danica was amongst them.
I can’t believe she’s gone too. My heart still aches, especially when I remember she and I lost the same person. My brother.
I miss him so much, and I know she did too. I get why she didn’t want to live anymore. If it were Caz who’d died, I’m not sure I would’ve wanted to either.
I sense someone coming and look over my shoulder, spotting Milandra with the twins. They look much different now, Minka and Maia. They digested the seed last night, and though they were beautiful before, they’re ethereal now. Their skin is much more radiant, hair a silvery white, and their eyes are just as bold and blue as Hassha’s were when her power was activated.
Their eyes glow now as they walk toward us. Minka has her sword attached to her hip, and Maia has her bow strapped behind her, along with a few arrows.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to teleport you all there?” Caz asks, focusing on Milandra. “It’d take a few trips to get everyone there, but we don’t mind.”
“We don’t mind at all,” I assure Milandra when her gaze flicks way.
“I’m sure,” Milandra sighs. “I prefer taking the journey this way. It’ll give me the chance to think things through.”
Caz provides a nod. “Very well.”
The gangway opens like a mouth on the ship, ready for boarding.
“You ready to go back home?” I ask the twins.
“Not really,” Minka says.