Page 73 of Moon Raven Rising
Chapter fifty-six
Nothing could have preparedme for traveling between the two powerful forces that are Dax and Osiris. Their presence alone in such a tight space was enough to be stifling, but the magic I felt pulling me forward to my destiny was surprisingly even stronger.
I watched Dax nearly break from the other side of the chamber barrier. He couldn’t see me, but I tried to send him reassurance, and though it hurt seeing him like that, what I’m looking at now causes everything else to fall away.
Recessed in the wall ahead of me lie three stones. Each one deep red, similar to that in Osiris’s ring. The chamber is no bigger than a closet, but the powerful magic I feel here brings a tremble to my hands as I reach for the stones.
“Queen now, daughter of the moon, bring forth a new rule. Bring balance and light to the darkness. A new moon—a ravenrising brings change to all. The end is only just the beginning of much more.”The ethereal voice makes me jump, and I pull my hand back.
“Who are you?” I ask, spinning in a circle only to confirm that I’m alone.
“What do I do next?”I askthe voice within my mind—its answer is a hum. Swallowing, I let my eyes fall closed and take a deep breath,waiting for a response.
After a moment of nothing, I open my eyes, jumping back with a gasp as I come face to face with a familiar face.
“Seriah?”
“Moon Raven.” She bows her head as her voice continues to echo ethereally through the small space. “You have made choices that have led you to this moment. Guided by many, you have chosen above all else to follow the light, and now comes time for you to decide for a final time what route you will take.”
“I—how did you get here?” My eyes search the small room, and as they land back on the seer in front of me, I really take in her appearance. Both here and yet not. A projection of her body wrapped in white, the gauzy fabric hangs loosely around her deep, warm skin, creating a haloed glow around her. She smiles then, soft, but her eyes are narrowed as she waits knowingly while my thoughts catch up to one another.
My lips part as I come to the realization of who she really is. Who has been the guiding light all this time to so many of us. My hand comes to rest at the base of my throat as I try to pull the words from my chest. My magic swells within me as though it is urging me on. Without me saying a thing, Seriah nods. A slow tilt to her head, confirming my thoughts.
The Goddess of the Moon.
“Choose your fate, Queen.” She says as her hand comes out, brushing the backs of her fingers along my cheek. When she does, a vision so strong and fast flashes into my mind that myeyes roll into the back of my head. Goosebumps pepper my flesh, and a cold sweat breaks across my skin. When my eyes right, I look her dead in the eyes and nod.
Somehow, I know exactly what needs to be done. The feeling blanketing me like a cloak of knowledge. I close my eyes, and this time when I lift my hand toward the stones, my fingers do not tremble. I stand strong, and there is no hesitation on which stone is calling to me.
My fingers wrap around the center stone. The smallest of the three, and I squeeze my fist around it, and with a pulsing eruption of magic, the onyx door dissolves completely. Seriah’s laugh flits through the air around me as she too is now gone. I stand alone with an immense well of power throbbing through my veins.
“Your path is one that not all would take—give power to your bonds and let those who are unwillingly chained break free.”
My feet carry me through the dark caves without falter, and within moments I am stepping out of the cave and looking over the ruins that are the wastelands. Fae lay slain, and blood from both sides of this war saturate the soil here once again. Their magic seeping into the land and fueling its ever-growing power.
“Moon Raven?” Osiris’ voice calls from where he pulls himself up on the cliff edge, covered in filth and a sheen of sweat. He looks me over from head to toe with wide eyes, causing me to frown and blink, looking down at myself. I was too determined to get out of the cave to take notice of the drastic change that had come of my appearance. When the magic manifested, my leathers changed, and the dress I now wear is an enchanting and lethal combination of black and silver gossamer split up the middle to reveal tight leather pants and knee-high boots made for war; silver embellishments throughout sparkling in the low light on the cliff. The bodice is boned, black leather with the same crest as the others, but instead of just being an embossed emblem, the moon is the same silver that is throughout the dress.
The wind blows my hair, which is now in loose curls around my shoulders, causing it to whip around the same as the skirt of my dress, but the heavy press on my head tells me that I now wear a crown too. When I look back up, Osiris places his hand over the bond mark at his side and nods.
“Moon Raven, Queen.” He whispers with a bow of his head. When his eyes meet mine again, I turn my hand over, revealing the small, deep red stone pressed into the center of my palm.
“The stones—they aren’t what you thought.” I say lifting his hand with mine, I let the small stone fall into his, and his forehead wrinkles. “I have one for you; it’s all you need. This one is different from the rest. The moon goddess showed me. Help me get through this and youwillsave your dragons.”
“As I’ve said, I'm here to help. We will see this to the end—together.” He says sternly with a nod as he looks out over the edge of the cliff.
“It’s time the kingdom of Aldramani knows the true meaning ofpower.” I say, lifting my chin to the horizon and narrowing the destruction that has been reaped on the soil of my land.Looking for the only man who has caused every horrible thing to happen to me and to all of the Fae in Aldramani. Every single struggle has been single-handedly caused at its root by Soren Croix. Starting first with Cano and the childhood he had to endure at his father’s hand.
I let my shift take over my body, starting with my eyes as Osiris makes his way to my side. He stands like a solid wall of muscle, ready to fight for the same injustices he himself has endured. Raising my hand, I don’t have to look at Osiris to know he mirrors my stance. Just like our bond mark, the perfect fluidity of a circle. We were always meant to work together to bring peace, not just to Aldramani but to all of Orendara. In this moment, I pledge to myself that I will do anything I can to help him with whatever is plaguing the kingdom of Valeska also. We will do everything we can to bring peace to the realm.
The magic consumes all the air from my lungs and sends a shockwave over the land, a beacon of power calling death to those who wrong the balance. Shadows meet the magic in the air, blanketing the land in darkness.
Eyes of hot embers meet mine as my wings burst from my back and splay wide. Something inside of me swells tenfold as his wings break free also, and a crown of shadows halos the top of his head. With a powerful down thrust of our wings, we both launch into the sky at the same moment, leaving those below as they watch the King and Queen of Aldramani come together in a dance of beautiful fury.
Together we soar side by side through the snow-heavy clouds and toward the power that is calling to me. The virulent magic calling me to shield the kingdom from its turbulent malignancy clouding the air. Just before I reach the point of convergence in the well of magic—I smile, calling on the power of my bonds. The dagger at my arm tingles as I bring my forearm up to throw a shield out.
“Bracarva, bring me your fire.”I push the thought out to the dragon, and within the next moment I hear her loud screech echo through the clouds above. She dives, lighting up the Fae in front of us.
“Dax, do what you can to keep the people away from this place until this is done.” I yell over the wind.
