Page 39 of Dragon Throne: Part One

The weight of Penelope’s loss was heavy in their hearts, clearly visible in the still glistening eyes looking back at me. Stepping forwards, I paused before Asher and did something I had never done… I pulled him in for a hug.

He initially froze under my embrace, thinking he was doing something he shouldn’t—touching the princess—but I didn’t let him go. Once Kingston nodded to him reassuringly, I felt Asher’s arms wrap around me, accepting my gesture.

Stepping away from him, I stepped towards Arlo, hugging her tightly to let my appreciation for them show. Unlike her commander, she accepted my gesture immediately, hugging me back like the embrace was the one thing she had needed all this time.

Harrison was next, his arms wrapping around me appreciatively. One by one, I hugged my warriors—my family—a motherly instinct wholeheartedly taking over me.

Everything inside me wanted to take the pain away from them, even if that meant the burden would fall on me.

I supposed that as their soon-to-be queen, they were my children in a way. I was here to guide them, protect them, and there was nothing that could aid the healing of a broken heart like an honest and loving hug did.

I would give anything to have my mother embrace me again.

Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to see myself that way in their lives, I didn’t expect to be regarded as such, but it gave me the inspiration I needed to be better for them. Become the queen they deserved.

When Braxton and Elijah stopped before me with Harper, joining the others, I went straight to her. My arms wrapped around her carefully, not wanting to hurt her further, but I still held her closely, cradling her head to my neck. I hugged her like I secretly needed to be hugged.

Harper’s tears began to fall, and she clung to me, sobbing into my embrace. My heart constricted, and a sliver of guilt cut through my chest. Sometimes it was so easy to lose ourselves in the pain of trying to survive, that we became blind to that of the people around us.

“She loved you so much,” I whispered in her ear after several minutes, placing a kiss on her cheek as I pulled away to look into her eyes. “We all do, and we are here for you.” Clearing the wetness away from her cheek with my thumb, I placed one more kiss on her cheek before I hugged Elijah and Braxton.

If I was being honest, I might have squeezed my mate a bit harder than the others. I was so relieved that he was okay, and with everything that happened I hadn’t yet been able to speak with him about what he endured with Raithian, or how he was able to come back unharmed.

Looking into his eyes once I stepped away, I returned to the front to see my guard still touched by the exchange, a few of them brushed off tears from their faces.

“Thank you, Princess,” Islay mumbled, lips trembling from the emotion swirling through her, and she grabbed Harrison’s hand. Asher reached for Arlo, and they all linked hands in a show of solidarity and comfort.

“A lot of things have changed since Braxton left the other night. And it is time you all learn the truth,” I announced, seeing the color drain from Braxton’s face.

Swiftly moving to my side, his gaze discretely shifted towards Harper. “Not now, Evie. This is not the time,” he pleaded in a whisper.

Offering him a small smile, I took his hand in mine, and pulled him closer while the others tried and failed to hide their curiosity.

“I’m not going to reveal anything you are not ready to reveal, but if there is something this life has taught me, it is that every moment is the right moment to share something important with the people you love.”

He seemed to think about it, understanding filling his expression before he nodded. “Okay.”

My attention shifted to Kingston, who nodded at me but gave Braxton the evil eye, and then I faced the guard. “I am afraid to say that we have lived believing a necessary lie for a long time. But it is time to change that.”

Letting go of Braxton, I reached for the accord that was still inside my suit, and I unfolded it.

“Brother Khayden Skystorm,

For years, we have embarked on a journey together that has brought us many small victories, despite the great losses. You have become not only my brother, but a guiding light to our cause and to all the brothers and sisters we have been able to free, thanks to your perseverance and drive to do what is right.

It is because of the fight that lives in your soul that we named you our Harbinger of Justice, and that title has become your living truth…”

The instant the Harbinger was mentioned, the warriors tensed in unison, their expressions hardening with disdain for the man they believed to have betrayed them, and whose departure had brought pain to many of them, directly or indirectly.

Exchanging a brief glance with Braxton, I received his nod of encouragement, and taking a deep breath, I continued to read.

“This cause was born out of the need for change, the desire to regain our dignity, learn our worth, and obtain our freedom. Yet, it was your loss which truly ignited the fight in all of us that day and fueled the Uprising. For that, we are truly grateful. We have only been successful because of your pain and need for justice, but we will never forget that.

Now, we embark into a new battle together. One we will try to win so we can destroy the Warlock King once and for all, giving our children the world we wish we would have enjoyed ourselves. Now, you and Sister Keira have given us a brand new hope. One we must protect at all costs, because it is not only a blessing the two of you well deserve, but a shining beacon to us as well.”

I paused for a moment, realizing by reading the accord the second time around, that it was actually a farewell letter to Braxton’s parents. To the family my parents didn’t think they would see again. The emotion brought on by that realization made my chest burn.

“Sister Keira, the fruit of your wombis a new reason for us to fight. So, it is because of the love, pride, and appreciation we feel for you, that we, Ezra and Sienna Skyborne, King and Queen of theSpes Regnum, our new Kingdom of Hope, hold you to this vow.

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