Page 114 of Live Like Legends

“So that’s a yes?” I asked, with a smile pulling at the corner of my lips.

“No, Nicholas. That’s ahellyes.”

Dear Maurice,

I know what you are going to say and luckily, I’m not there to hear it. My father would stomp around and rage if he were still alive and knew what I’d decided to do. I think I would have been a different person had I not known you. I might have ended up just like my father. Bitter and so afraid that your power would be diminished in some way. You took the verbal beatings from that man with a sharp smile and I applaud you for your efforts, but I saw through it.

You had loving parents that celebrated your wins and soothed you during your losses. I envied that about you. I never quite understood why you choseto be within sparring distance of Isaac Zuriel. I never got it through my head why you would be in every meeting you could when I was summoned to meet with him or why you insisted that you wait outside for me if you were not allowed in.

You were my relief from the thin line I constantly walked on with that man. Even when I wanted to run away and never hear the word executive again, you stopped me. We could have portaled somewhere and been nomads, never having to be held down by obligation again.

You were my friend. As tarnished as that word might be between us.

I don’t think I ever truly admitted to you how smart you actually were. You let me go on and on about my ideas for the future and you listened, adding in your own as well. When my father had you cast out and with everything that happened to Scarlett, I didn’t know if I would have been worthy of the job you pushed me to do.

The last time we spoke, you told me to take care of your son. The son that has the same look of aspiration and confidence as you once did. A look you still have. He deserves to know a realm of peace and prosperity. The kind of place I wanted to create, the kind of place you always knew could beachieved. The kind of place to fly free and fall in love.

I am sorry that my father’s cruelty stole your happiness and I am equally sorry for not finding the courage to help you restore even the smallest piece of your heart. He is your son, Maurice but when I see him fight, when I hear him speak, I am reminded of her. He has a tenacity I haven’t seen in a long time and I think he can make a real difference.

I know you didn’t want the kind of power my father held and you thought that only I could do these things, implement these changes we’d envisioned. Maurice, these ideas, these notions are ours.

There is so much to do and I am working with the Enchanters to slowly try to find some peace amongst all our kinds. If I’m not here to do it, then I do not trust anyone else to see our plans out. You have a heart that’s big enough to house this realm and the people deserve you at the helm. You deserve to be heard. If my father would have listened to your pleas not to fight, maybe things would be different.

Accept the power, Maurice. You were always stubborn, but you understood the necessity of when things truly mattered.

Accept the power. Please.

Your friend,

Jonah

We settled back into Nick’s room, my anxious angel heading towards his door. He opened it slightly, peeking out to see if anything seemed odd or out of place. He headed into the bathroom and I followed him.

I leaned against the door frame with my arms crossed, watching him turn the faucet on and splash water onto his face.

“Your dad is the supreme ruler now,” I pointed out.

He choked out a laugh. “It seems that way. I would really love to say I’m surprised but I’m not.”

Maurice deserved this immense power he’d been given. He’d stayed back with Natalia and everyone else after we’d discussed a plan for tomorrow. Ariel was about to be in for a surprise when more than just his invitees showed up.

“Hmm, are you ready for whatever tomorrow brings?” I asked, biting my bottom lip.

He turned to me, his hands holding onto the edge of the sink. “I’ve only been absolutely sure about a handful of things andthisis one of them.”

“Oh and what are these other things, hmm?” I inquired, playfully.

He walked over to me, placing his hand on the wall and leaning down towards my face. “You.”

“Oh really? I’m pretty sure you were very fucking skeptical about me.”

He rubbed his nose against mine. “Technicalities, needy one.”

I leaned up and took his lower lip between my teeth, biting down softly. He hissed when I released it. “Well, technically, you stink. Take a shower.”

I winked at him before reaching for the door and closing it behind me. I jumped onto his bed, crossing my legs over each other, so my knees pointed out. I took this moment to consider Elise’s words. I had every fucking intention of presuming Dimitri was dead. He had looked really fucking dead.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

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