Page 65 of War Of Fire and Fortune
"Please," I cried again, louder this time, voice breaking. "Please don’t leave me. Not now. Not like this.”
I didn’t know how long I sat there with light bleeding from my hands, pooling over them, but I was fading. My body swayed. My mind began to blur. I’d given too much and it still wouldn’t be enough.
And then a calloused hand touched my cheek.
I blinked through tears and glowing light. My vision was blurred, but amber eyes looked back at me. Kade. He had his forehead pressed against mine.
“Hi,” he rasped.
I sobbed, choked on it, and laughed all at once. My breath caught in my throat. And then a groan came from the head still in my lap. Ace’s eyes fluttered open, hazy and confused.
“Eme . . . ?”
His voice was rough, barely audible, but I loved the way it sounded. A moment ago, I thought I might never hear it. He sat up.
They were alive.
I couldn’t speak. I wrapped an arm around each of their necks, tears still flowing even as relief slammed into me. My body wouldn’t stop shaking, but they held onto me until it subsided.
“It’s over,” I whispered hoarsely.
Kade pulled me into his arms, holding me like I might disappear. I collapsed against his chest. We all rose, swaying slightly. Luana barreled into Ace with a cry, her sobs muffled against his chest as he caught her and held her tight. We turned and saw the rebellion in the distance, Atreya, Shay, and Baron at the front. Everyone began cheering with tear-streaked faces.
“It’s over,” Kade repeated, pulling me against his body.
We were alive.
We were together.
And the war . . . was finally won.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Emelyn
Two weeks later…
Irolled over and the bed was cold where Kade should’ve been. I cracked my eyes open and reached farther, but he was gone. I sat up, looking for him, but he wasn’t in the room we were staying in at the palace. Then the door creaked open and he walked in shirtless with a tray of food, and the ache from all of our lovemaking was nothing when I saw him like this. I wanted him again.
He gave me a beaming smile, and it was the lightest I had ever seen him. Actually, everything was lighter now, and the feeling was something I was still getting used to. Kade sauntered over to the bed and set the tray down.
“Good morning,mei wynsoara,” he singsonged and leaned down to give me a quick kiss. But I could tell something was weighing on him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, concern furrowing my brow, and he released a sigh.
“Must you always read me so well?” He smiled, and I nodded.
“Yes, especially now. There are no secrets between us anymore, so what is it?”
“My mother talked to me yesterday. She wants to know if I want to take my rightful place on the throne and become the Emperor of Ember,” he disclosed, and the thought alone made adrenaline course through my veins. I had no desire to be a ruler of any kind, especially not when it came to an empire. I had spent most of my life with people relying on me, and from here on out, unless I was needed, I wanted a peaceful life, and so did Ace. I couldn’t imagine being so far from my brother all the time. I guessed it really wasn’t that bad considering Kade could just Hollow us wherever we wanted to go for the day, but still, the distance was there. I wanted to help Ace with Woodhaven and restore it back to its former glory. I wanted to travel without the circumstances of needing to remain hidden, see a world that I was truly free in, and then I would settle down and plant roots somewhere.
Kade cupped my cheek. “Emelyn, breathe.” He must see the distress written all over my face. Caressing my mind down the bond, he brushes his thumbs across my cheeks. “It’s decided then.”
“W-what?” I stuttered. “What do you mean decided? I haven’t said anything.”
“I don’t need you to tell me how much you don’t like the idea of ruling. I can see it written all over your face, and even if I couldn’t, I felt everything down the bond. I want to be with you, Emelyn. I do not care about my bloodline and who ‘rightfully’ should be anywhere. The only place I belong is with you, wherever that takes us.”
“But who will rule?”
