Page 67 of Humans Don't Have Horns
“We need to go inform the families.” She grimaces and rises. But she sways from exhaustion, and in the blink of an eye, Bahar is next to her, supporting her.
“Is Kala all right?” I ask as they turn to leave for their terrible task.
“She’s fine. She went to see Kon.” Bahar gives me a rueful smile, and a wave of relief washes over me.
Anya comes to sit near me. “This is unbelievable,” she gasps incredulously. “I have never seen anyone heal so quickly, even from far lesser injuries.” I look at Daton again. The bleeding has stopped, and his wounds seem less deep. Then a roar of pain escapes his lips, and I’m so relieved that I start laughing and sobbing at the same time.
“What’s the big fuss about? Of course the asshole won’t die. He’s the fucking Butcher, for fuck’s sake,” Siean grunts. I didn’t even notice her approaching. But as I meet her indigo eyes, they glint. The Queen of Renya just let her sister and her main healer save the life of her nation’s greatest nightmare, so maybe things have changed a little. And if she had to wrap it in derisive remarks, so be it because I know right now that my sister accepts that I love him. And that is just another mark on history in Amada. And on hers and mine.
***
It is the middle of the night when the music and singing begins. But now it is not the Mongans alone. It is Kozaries and Renyans as well, while the Aldonians stand observing somberly from afar.
My brother has already attributed the victory to his archers. Claiming it was them who stopped the demichads from climbing out of the canyon. Ignoring that the Mongans slayed thousands of demichads while only about a dozen emerged from the canyon at all.But it seems that while the Kozaries have gold and Renyans have healing, Aldonians have only lies. That has been their only resource for years. Their only commodity.
As I step into the crowd, a large Mongan raises me to his shoulders, and I yelp in surprise. Up on his shoulders, I see Niska being carried on another Mongan’s shoulders. I have no idea how she hasn’t collapsed by now from exertion. She grins at me, and I almost fall from the Mongan’s shoulders from how different that looks on her instead of her usual murderous expression.
I hear the crowd roaring before I see him. They’re not allowed to kneel to anyone but the Goddess, but the reverence is there. The adoration as they shout his name, as they praise the Emancipator. He limps slowly, Emek and Bahar at his side. He looks pained. But he’s alive. Anya said it was as if death herself spat him out after swallowing him. And he’s walking. I would have never believed it possible. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles at me. That smile. It makes my toes curl and my blood seethe every time. Just one smile.
Niska told me how he got his injuries, that he put himself between her and the demichads as they surrounded her. I was proud of him but couldn’t fight selfish fury at his actions at the same time. Fury at his willingness to depart from this world and from us, even if it was for the noblest reasons.
But since he gave me his axes, not a word has passed between us. And I now start questioning whether there is an us. What if last night was more to do with the world coming to its end? Yes, I’m sure he loves me, but now that the demichads are dead, all the reasons he and I could never be together are raising their ugly heads in my mind.
He is a king. He can deny it as much as he wants, but I see how the people cling to him. As much as he is hated by the Puresouls, he is admired by his own people. And not only for his skills in battle. He is more than a warrior. He is the north star for them to follow. And he has become that light for me too. Always emboldened me, even when I had so little faith in myself.
Finally, I’m relieved from the Mongan’s shoulders, and anotherMongan grabs my hand and pulls me to dance. They even manage to make me drink some bree. Maybe because my wounded arm hurts so badly, I’m willing to drink it to numb the pain.
At some point, I am pulled from the party by my waist. Daton leads me a few feet away from the revelry. Still, anyone can see us as he nuzzles my hair, his arms around me. I melt into his embrace. His honey-like scent fills me. He kisses me lightly, trailing his lips from my jaw to my lips. “Emek told me you saved her.” Another sweet, light kiss. “My fierce woman.” And I can’t help but blush at his praises. “But then you saved me too.” His lower hand lazily draws circles on my lower back.
“It was Anya’s remedies,” I manage to whisper as his other hand brushes my ribs so close to my already heavy breast.
“No, it was you. It was your voice that beckoned me. I’ve never met death before. She is alluring,” he says with a low voice, and I never thought it was possible to be jealous of death. “But not nearly as alluring as my fina.”
“You never told me what fina means.” My eyelids tremble as his lips remain so close to mine, as his thumb grazes the lower part of my breast.
“It’s hard to translate. It means more than one thing. It means that you are my heart, my soul, my life.” He kisses me, and I moan into his mouth. His hand moves from my waist to my nape. His tongue enters my mouth and swirls against mine. I clench my thighs, trying to manage the throb he’s causing in me.
Slowly he pulls his mouth from mine. It’s a good thing his hands hold me, or I would surely tumble. “What will you do now, Lian?” he asks, and I struggle to make sense of the words as every part of my body is already molten. I have no answer to give him. Amada’s assignment is done. And there are so many things that need to change in Amada, but I don’t even know how to start. When I don’t answer, he looks me in the eyes with his starry ones. “Niska will be the new warlord. I’m done. You reminded me there is more to life than death.” His fingers play with the locks of my hair. “In the Land of theOutlaws, there is a piece of land I know. Not big. But the weather is mild, and things will easily grow there.”
“You want to go back to being a farmer?” I look at him, baffled. He’s talked of it before, but after seeing him here, so regal and formidable, it seems so far from the power he holds within his people.
“I liked it once. I was good at it once.” His eyes search mine, and I feel he’s struggling with his words. “Come with me. I know it’s a lot to ask. It’s not a rich life. It’s no match for any palace.”
“I don’t care about that.” I shake my head.
Then his hand caresses my cheek. “Living with a Cursed One, it’s not a smart choice, Lian.” He sounds almost scolding suddenly.
“Never said I’m smart,” I simper.
“But you are smart and brave and kind. You are everything good. You have honor in you more than anyone I’ve ever met,” and I marvel at his words because I know he would never have said them lightly. He looks at me with all this hope in his eyes. I’ve never seen hope in his eyes before.
“Yes. The answer is yes.”
He grins at me, a dazzling grin full of teeth and starry eyes, and then even though he’s still injured, he pulls me up in the air and spins us both in a circle of celebration. I can’t help but chortle at this joyful act by my usually brooding man. But as he kisses me deeply, I forget to laugh, and lose myself in the kiss. I feel as if my heart will burst out of my body any moment now with how happy I am. This feels so right. To go with him. There is no other path I would rather follow.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lian
