Page 12 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

"I can see you are all wary. I, too, would have had the same fears just a few weeks ago, had I learned that the Night Prince was the Eclipsed King we’ve been following for years, but…" He turned in an arc, locking eyes with each member of the rebellion as they watched him with rapt attention.

"I’ve experienced his loyalty. If it weren't for him and the woman beside him, I'd be too disfigured to serve alongside you all after Alaric tortured me for his own sick entertainment. Evander saved me, a human, and asked for nothing in return." He took a step forward as he turned back toward Evander, and it didn't escape Lea’s notice that he chose not to share the secret of Lea’s powers. "I am honored to fight beside you, King Evander, and will do so with the same loyalty you showed me as a servant in your castle," he said as he tucked his thumb into his palm and placed it over his heart.

Gray stepped forward and shook his hand. "And I am honored to fight at your side." Reaching back, Gray grabbed Lea’s hand, sending a calming wave of energy through her that slowed her racing heart. "I made a vow tonight, to someone more important to me than the air I breathe, the stars that guide my magic, and the life that floods my veins. I vowed to her that my father and brother would die at my hand. That they would suffer for the evil they’ve inflicted upon this kingdom."

Lea’s heart clenched, his words ringing out as pure truth settled deep into her belly. Raising Lea’s hand to his lips, Gray pressed a kiss to her fingers before letting go and taking a confident step forward. "I make that same vow to all of you here today. I will not continue to let my heart beat in my chest while the rest of the kingdom suffers. On my life, death is coming for King and Prince Nestruir!" Thunder boomed somewhere in the distance and the fires flickered, the flames sputtering as if fighting for oxygen.

"I will vouch for him as well!" a young boy Lea didn’t recognize stepped forward. "I owe Evander my life, twice over. I will follow him wherever he asks."

"Thank you, Noah. And please, call me Gray." Gray shook his hand.

Several rebels within the crowd placed their hands over their hearts. But still, others remained cautious, a few soldiers appearing to examine the entrance to the clearing as if they were wondering if they could make it back through undetected.

The crunch of dry grass interrupted the tense silence, and Lea looked around for the origin of the noise. One by one, heads turned toward the sound, the crowd parting as Thomas came forward. There was nothing of the boy she had grown up with in the man before her, his serious face lined with fatigue, his shoulders squared and eyes fierce. His hand was on his sword, knuckles white as he approached Gray.

Lea’s pulse quickened, her palms growing sweaty. Never in her life had she seen Thomas look so serious, so determined. Erik straightened, moving to place himself in front of Gray, but Gray’s shadows floated up to form a wall, blocking off Erik and stopping him.

Thomas paused as he reached Gray, his hand still on his sword, his breathing slow and heavy as he stared at the Eclipsed King, the man he had been fighting against at every turn since his arrival in Auropera. He drew his sword and pointed it at Gray with shaking hands, the tip inches from the mountain tattoo inked across his chest.

"Stop," Lea whispered, her stomach clenching in fear, but Gray stepped forward and took a deep breath, his chest swelling to press against the sword as he met Thomas’s eyes. They held each other’s stare for a long moment, a silent conversation passing between them. The night was so quiet Lea swore she could hear the fires crackling all the way from Auropera, and she held her breath as she watched the boy she used to consider her best friend come to terms with the events of the evening.

Thomas closed his eyes and dropped his sword, the thud of the metal on the ground a wordless admission of defeat. He knelt before the man who had taken everything from him, who had taken him from his family and home, and stolen the girl he'd loved his entire life.

Pulling the dagger from his belt, he sliced it across his open palm, squeezing it into a fist and letting blood drop at Gray’s feet. He tucked his thumb in his bleeding hand and placed it across his chest.

"Yesterday you were my enemy, one I swore I would kill." Thomas met Lea’s shocked stare, apologies and regret filling his eyes. "But, I was wrong." He turned back to Gray. "With the blood that runs through my veins, I mark this vow in the earth beneath your feet. If you pledge to do the same, Evander Nestruir, Eclipsed King of Desia, I will fight alongside you, to my death, if that is what the gods decide, to end the rule of the Black King and restore peace to our kingdom."

The clearing filled with tension so thick, Lea felt as if she could barely breathe. She could hear the thump of her heart and the shuffling of feet as the rebels waited to see their new king’s response to the man who had admitted he'd wanted to murder him. Every pair of eyes fixed on Evander’s face, for surely if Thomas, who hated Gray so much, could believe that there was good in him, then he had to be worth giving a chance.

Please give him a chance,Lea begged silently.

Gray stared down at Thomas, pulling his own dagger from his belt and drawing it across his open palm. Lea felt a mirrored sting of pain in her hand as Gray’s flesh opened, but it was nothing compared to the searing agony she’d felt when he'd been injured battling Alaric. Gray held out his fist, allowing his blood to soak into the ground next to Thomas’s.

"With the blood that runs through my veins, I mark this vow in the earth beneath your feet. In front of all present here today and the God of the Sun and Goddess of the Moon above, I will fight alongside you, to my death, if that is what the gods decide, to end the rule of the Black King and restore peace to our kingdom."

A cheer went up from the crowd, the ringing of metal echoing and bouncing against the magical barriers surrounding them as one by one, the members of the resistance followed in kind, their blood staining the soil below them in an unbreakable oath. Lea’s heart swelled with pride as she stepped forward, pulled the dagger from Gray’s hand, and sliced the sharp blade across her palm. She winced as beads of bright red blood pooled in her cupped fist. Turning to Gray, Lea lowered herself to kneel.

A large hand closed around her biceps and she paused, looking up at Gray with wide, confused eyes.

"I told you once that you do not serve me. I meant it then, and I mean it now." He cupped her chin gently, turning her head to look out toward the crowd staring intently at her. "But, by my side, we can serve them together."

Lea couldn’t help the tears that pricked her eyes at the sincerity in Gray’s words. A smile flitted across his serious face as he continued to twist her body toward the rebels.

Holding out her hand, Lea turned it over and let her life’s blood join the scarlet promises dotting the soil. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth to speak, wondering how she had found herself lucky enough to not only be part of the resistance that would change the kingdom, but also to get to stay with Gray.

"With the blood that runs through my veins, I mark this vow in the earth beneath your feet. In front of all present here today and the god and goddess above, I will fight alongside you, to my death, if that is what the gods decide, to end the rule of the Black King and restore peace to the kingdom."

A chorus of gasps met Lea’s ears. She opened her eyes to see the blood dripping from her hand was glowing the same silvery-blue she’d seen on the doors of the chapel. Her hand tingled, and her heart pounded erratically in her throat.What in the gods’ names?

"It’s a blessing from the goddess!" Emma called out, pressing her hand to her heart. "I can feel it."

Lea’s head swam. What other explanation could there be? She’d only seen that silver blue glow connected to the goddess of the moon.But why me?she thought.And why now?The possibilities terrified her.

Gray nodded to Emma. "I think you’re right. And if my mate has been blessed by the goddess herself, then we cannot lose." Hundreds of heads swiveled back to her, their eyes hopping between herself and Gray. She looked at Thomas, who appeared as if he might throw up at any moment, his face an ashy pale color that reminded her of how he’d looked after she’d tried to make him a potion that would make him invisible as a child.

Hushed whispers bounced between the trees, a mixture of what sounded like prayers and doubtful conversations.

"Mate? But… I don’t see the mark, my king." Joshua said from somewhere in the crowd.

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