Page 120 of Anathema Codex

Wills helped me find The Daughter… and my future.

“You’re right. It’s our duty.” My answer brings a bright smile to her face, like the Light is radiating from her in waves, and in another minute we’re both dressed and opening the door to see Sun Wolf and Luminescence waiting for us.

“Little Star has returned to us,” Luminescence says with the absolute joy that everyone here feels.

“We should welcome her back,” The Daughter replies, but when she starts to walk forward Sun Wolf stops her.

“Wait, Daughter. You should wear the Light.” He slips past her into our home and returns with the golden crown, tucking it into her hair and pinning it in place so that everyone will see the rays of Light around her head.

“Thank you, Sun Wolf,” she says, smiling at him, but it’s not the same way she smiles at me. It means more when it’s directed at me, and soon he’ll see just how different he and I are. All of his longing looks at her will be just that. Longing.

I offer my arm and she takes it, and Sun Wolf and Luminescence fall into step behind us as we head toward the steadily rising cloud of dust that the vehicle stirred up. The sky looks like it’s on fire, vibrant oranges and reds signaling the setting sun, and all of the colors seem to reflect in the golden spikes around her head. It makes The Daughter look like some mirage from the desert, like something from a fairy tale… and I’m at her side.

Where I belong.

Many of the Children of the Light are gathering in the main walk of the community, and as we pass they all smile. It’s pure adoration in their eyes. For The Daughter, and now for me too. For us.

It fills me with a sense of purpose, ofmeaningthat I’ve never had in my life, and for a second I feel like I’m walking on air. I know that part of the light, bubbly feeling is all the ambrosia we drank, but part of it is real too, and it feels like it could last forever.

Then I see him.

The air behind him is hazy with dust, and the setting sun seems to be playing tricks on my eyes because the dust itself seems stained red with blood. Like a fine mist of it is just hovering behind him, andher.

I should be beyond the hate I feel for both of them, but there it is. Simmering underneath all of the goodness that The Daughter has brought out in me, begging me to make the haze of blood real.

“I knew he’d return to us.” The Daughter unwinds her arm from mine and walks toward them like she can’t see the hatchet resting on his shoulder, glinting in the light.

“He can’t be here,” I whisper to her as soon as I catch up to her side, but when I try to grab her elbow, she pulls away to spread her arms wide in welcome to the bastard that doesn’t belong here.

Lakyn fucking Meyer doesn’t deserve to be here.

I won’t let him take this from me.

This is my destiny. The destiny that Wills brought me. I was meant to be at The Daughter’s side, and it’sourcalling to lead the others into the Light.

And he doesn’t belong in the Light.

He belongs six feet under, bled out, and even though I know that’s a dark thought I can’t keep it at bay because of the fucking smirk on his face as he blows out a cloud of smoke and takes a single step toward us before we all stop moving.

Lakyn adjusts the hatchet on his shoulder and sucks on his teeth, tilting his head from side to side as he glances at me before settling his gaze on the one he calls Trixie. A low chuckle rolls out of him as he spreads one arm out in a mockery of The Daughter’s welcome, and that damn grin slides over his lips.

“Miss me?”

TWELVE

Gods in the Desert pt. 1

LAKYN

It’s clear to me that Trixie is still smacked up on her fucking cactus water, and it’s even more clear to me that these two are coming down from the high of a fresh fuck.

So Red wasn’t lying to me after all.

“I’m so happy that you’ve decided to return—”

“Shut the fuck up,” I snarl at Trixie. Because while I have a few words of my own for her, I’m waiting for the right moment to let that happen.

Running a blood-soaked hand back through my hair, I take a deep breath and let it out as the grin returns to my lips. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been able to really let go and get down and dirty, but this… this is special. I almost don’t feel like doing what I know has to be done.

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