Page 116 of Calling of the Crown

Her warm grin was contagious. “My darling, Bria.”

Lip quivering, I fell into her open arms and squeezed her tightly. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

She held me to her, running her hand over my back. “It’s because of you. I was already trying hard to force myself back as the battle drew near, and when you were walking onto the field, I heard you calling. The water heard you. And, together, it all brought me back.”

I leaned back to look at her. “So, you’re here for good?”

She cupped my dirty cheeks. “I’m here for good, Dewdrop.”

I fell back into her arms and held her tightly. Finally. Finally. My mother was here with me.

Rune hovered beside us, and when she and I pulled apart again, my mother’s glistening blue eyes met his. Rune immediately bowed his head. “Alesta. I’m Rune. I’m—”

“Balgair’s son,” my mother interrupted, her voice growing thick with emotion. “You look just like him. Very handsome.” Her wistful expression turned somber. “I’m so sorry about—”

Rune shook his head, knowing exactly what she was about to say. “Don’t be. She … She’s in a better place now. For that, I’m grateful. There was no helping her here. Maybe my dad can help her where they are now.”

My mom placed a hand on Rune’s arm, then quickly pulled him in for a hug. His eyes widened in surprise for a moment, but he quickly relaxed in her arms and hugged her back. Seeing the two of them—my husband and my mother—was nearly enough to make my heart burst.

As Rune and I got back to work, a noticeable presence was missing as we coordinated teams and Fae; someone who was typically always by our side for tasks such as this.

Feeling the first prickle of dread since returning, I looked at Rune. “Do you know where Jesiah is?”

Rune’s features immediately tightened with grief. He nodded and pulled me back toward a place on the field that I didn’t want to go.

Many Fae were scattered across the vast area, their sobs filling the air as they went to find loved ones who didn’t make it. Hearing and seeing them made my throat constrict, but not as badly as the scene in front of me did.

Jesiah was crumbled on his knees, cradling a limp Akira. His forehead pressed against the smaller man’s, and he wept silently, his tears rolling down his cheeks and onto Akira’s. Bassel, Avana, Carlos, and Ardley stood behind him, holding each other. Avana sobbed with her head leaned on Bassel’s shoulder, and the Liger’s face was scrunched up in agony. Carlos seemed to be fighting back his tears as he had his arms wrapped around Bassel, but they still managed to fall. Ardley had his hands on his hips, his head tilted back toward the sky, and eyes closed as he cried.

Fresh tears clouded my eyes as Rune and I knelt in front of Jesiah and Akira. Jesiah didn’t move or look our way. It was like he didn’t even know anyone was there. It was just him and our fallen friend.

“I just got you back,” Jesiah whispered against Akira’s face. “Please. Please come back.”

Akira stayed still and quiet.

He’d always stay quiet now.

A hole opened up inside my chest, and I fell into it, aching and wishing for Akira’s light to come back but knowing it never would.

“It’s my fault,” Rune lamented roughly. His head hung and tears fell. “That arrow was meant for me. He—He saved me.”

Jesiahs’s lips trembled as he pulled back to look down at Akira. “Of course he did.”

Rune stared at his best friend. “He—He wanted me to—” Rune stopped as sobs choked him. Inhaling deeply, he finished, “He wanted me to tell you that he loves you.”

Jesiah’s eyes fell closed again. His shoulders shook as he wept. “I love you, too. Fly high for me, my sora. Fly high and beautiful like you always have.”

Chapter Fifty-One

THE WEEKS AFTER THE BATTLE were the most exhausting since arriving in Ambrolia. There were endless issues that needed solving, dozens of fires that had to be put out between individual Fae, and reworking the way both Kingdoms functioned. Land Fae were basically leaderless now, and even though it had never been my intention to lead more than my Kingdom, the Land Fae looked to Rune and me for guidance.

It made my chest swell with pride and love when I watched Rune take charge and lead, helping the Fae with this transition and new way of life. He provided a lot of counsel to those who struggled with moving on, relating to them due to his own previous struggles, and helped them overcome it.

Another big change was the disbanding and rebuilding of the Council of Doctrina. It was now made up of twelve members, equal parts Land and Water Fae. We put our heads together to discuss solutions and programs to help both groups of Fae with the new way of life.

There was very little time to rest, and I could hardly even think of anything else with all the necessary things going on, though there was no missing the heavy, almost tangible, cloud of grief that still blanketed everyone.

Grief for the old way of life.

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