Chapter Forty-Two

C HAPTER F ORTY-TWO

Illias is running towards me as Darius and I return to the castle fields. He wraps me up in his embrace and my arms are stuck to my sides as he tightens his hold, practically breaking my ribcage.

‘Let her breathe, brother.’ Iker taps his shoulder, laughing when Illias releases me and slaps Iker’s hand away.

‘Why on earth would you leave?’ Illias ignores Iker, his usual worried eyes scanning me from top to bottom.

‘I went to see Sarilyn.’

As soon as the name leaves my lips, all three of my brothers widen their eyes as if I have just sprouted ten arms from my body.

‘Why?’ Iker says, baffled. ‘To have a friendly conversation while everyone else is wondering what is going on?’

I sigh. ‘Listen, I have already despatched Ruvyn and Lorcan. Right now, they are rounding up a team of Venators to assess any damage to the city and its people.’

Regardless of what I say, my brothers don’t look the least bit pleased.

‘You’re all safe, which is what matters,’ Darius cuts in when he sees me struggling against my brothers’ concerns.

Idris shifts his attention towards Darius, drawing my gaze in his direction. Darius’s fingers delicately toy with his mother’s pendant while his left hand rests inside his breeches pocket. His gaze is fixed on my brothers, emanating an air of profound respect that seems to resonate through the four of them.

Footsteps echo against the ground from behind us. Freya, Link, Rydan and Tibith pant as they come to a stop. They look exhausted, yet Freya’s eyes are so bright. They twinkle from a distance and radiate something that makes me believe she is overjoyed despite the recent tremor.

‘Finally,’ Rydan huffs, seeming out of breath.

I frown.

‘You need to come see this,’ he says, his expression the most serious I have ever seen it.

Freya and Link share a sideways glance before gesturing with their chins to follow them.

‘This isn’t something Tibith did, is it?’ Darius teases as we all begin to walk behind. Tibith’s eyes go wide in protest as he clambers up Darius’s leg. ‘If so, he should be pardoned immediately.’

I chuckle but none of my friends even loosen themselves up a bit. That sets my stomach off. ‘Rydan, is—’

‘Look,’ he cuts me off, coming to a stop and staring at the ground.

My brothers, Darius and I glance downwards at the same time. An odd silence permeates the air.

‘Grass,’ I say, cocking an eyebrow up at Rydan. ‘We are looking at grass.’

‘No, don’t you get it?’ He runs a frustrated hand over his face when I don’t say anything. ‘It’s grass . Bright green grass that is healthy .’

My eyes wander back down to the fields covered in dead grass. Yellow and lifeless.

‘Before you left, us three were sitting here.’ Rydan motions to me and Link. ‘It wasn’t green; it was all dry and crumbling in our hands, but then you stood up after the tremors, and it was different.’

His words begin to dawn on me.

I was clutching the earth beneath me so tight when the shaking began; all I wished for at that moment was to be able to mend this world.

‘Whatever you did, Nara,’ Freya says, shaking her head with a smile, ‘your magic grew it all back.’

‘You healed it,’ Darius whispers, his eyes on the grass as he smiles.

Healed it.

The story behind it is that it bleeds real blood. Some say it’s Solaris and Crello’s blood from the creation of this world. Others think it’s cursed and are waiting for the reincarnations of the sun and moon to bless it and make it sacred again.

Turning to Rydan, the memory of him saying that long ago flickers like an ember flame, igniting an excited spark in my eyes. In a moment of impulsiveness, I reach out and cup his face, kissing his cheeks. ‘You magnificent solver.’

Unruffled, he shrugs, his lips curving into a smug smile. ‘It’s a gift.’

I shake my head, my grin never dissolving as I turn to Darius, and without needing to say a word to each other, he can already read my mind.

‘Inform the shifters we’ll be in the city,’ he says to everyone. The earth rattles once more, and Darius immediately shifts into dragon form. As the wind picks up, my brothers step back and I climb onto Darius’s back.

We take off not a second later, heading straight into the centre, where dozens of people storm the streets, children in their mothers’ arms, men picking up broken debris from taverns and past Venators in ordinary clothing, helping them.

I jump off close to the ground before Darius can land. Some scream in terror at the view of a dragon by the pavilion, and others near enough faint by the bridge overlapping the streets.

I spot Lorcan among them and he frowns at me, confusion evident on his features.

Instead of letting him know, I rush towards the Neoma tree, slowing down once I am a few feet away from it.

I can sense Darius right behind me as I say, without looking back, ‘Do you think this will work?’

A pang of melancholy strikes my chest as I stare at the once-vibrant tree. Its gnarled branches reach out to me like fingers.

‘I trust wholeheartedly that it will, Goldie,’ Darius says softly.

I pray that it will.

People from the city begin to surround the pavilion, staring in unease and confusion. My brothers and friends arrive with a few shifters following behind. They find me by the tree, and I release a trembling sigh.

Darius has already rounded the tree and is now facing me.

There is no sign of life.

When I first came here and saw it, I never thought it was salvageable. Aurum had destroyed it beyond saving, and now, as I stand here before it, all I want is to see its marigold leaves alive again.

I feel the rough bark against my fingertips. Gently shutting my eyes, I search for a flicker of existence – for a pulse. And suddenly, as if it senses me, a wave of warmth courses through my veins.

I open my eyes only to find Darius also with his hand on the tree.

I gaze at him with a smile, my hand delicately touching the rough surface of the tree. As the air fills with the earthy fragrance, my eyelids flutter closed, allowing me to bask in the comforting warmth that emanates from deep within us.

As my power begins to flow from the depths of my soul, I focus on the Neoma tree, drawing enough strength to heal, heal, heal .

A soft glow then brightens the surrounding area and I dare to peek.

My eyes widen at the breathtaking sight. Around Darius and me, a radiant golden light emerges from the trees roots, spreading like liquid sunlight.

Whirling patterns float gracefully around us, enveloping us in a tender embrace as if we were underwater. One by one, delicate buds form, swell and burst into vibrant marigold blossoms.

I can’t help but let out a chuckle as I gaze upon the branches, witnessing their growth unfurling like flickering flames. It’s stunning; it’s everything .

I gaze downwards and lock eyes with Darius, as his powers and mine coax the tree back to life.

We did it , my eyes are saying.

We did , his eyes whisper back.

And then a powerful surge of bright light pierces the sky with a thundering roar.