Chapter Forty-Nine

"NO! brIA! NO!" RUNE'S DESPERATE wails sounded far away.

All of the gasps and cries sounded distant.

They were muffled like I was underwater.

I took a breath, my body and limbs tingling. But not hurting. I stared at the entrance point of the sword, and I wondered briefly if I was dreaming. Shouldn't I feel that? The odd sensation swirling around my gut spread, traveling down my legs and up my chest, face, and arms.

A gasp left Elias, and he released the sword to fall back on his butt, staring up at me with wide eyes. My armor and the sword suddenly fell to the ground as if it had fallen through nothing, and when I looked down at myself, I realized why.

I'm water.

Black liquid floated around my translucent, watery center, but with one thought from me, the gunk shot out of my form, falling into the grass between Elias and me.

"What the—" Elias stared at the place where the Nightbloom landed.

I looked over my see-through limbs before scanning my gaze over the faces of those still blocked by my walls. They stared at me, some dumbfounded, others horrified, and those closest to me, with wonder.

Except my mother. Her eyes were wide with horror, and that's when I knew what was happening. She'd warned me that gaining the ability to become water would come at a steep price, and I'd most likely become lost to it, just like she had.

Suddenly, my watery body jolted, and the lullaby that often called to me swept me away until all was light, tranquil, and easy.

Stay.

Safe.

Calm.

Peace.

Stay.

Here.

This was nice. This was easy. I wanted to stay here and float forever where there was no pain, no death …

Death.

Akira! I thought, fighting past the whispers of the water.

I opened my eyes and found my watery form drifting through the current, and somehow, I just instinctively knew that I was in the Moradian Sea, the heart of the Water Fae Kingdom. The water had brought me here somehow, but I wasn't done. I still had a battle left before me, what had been my goal all along.

My translucent figure sank deeper into the ocean, but having a new sense of power and connection, I didn't fight the sea.

I became it.

I felt myself expanding and growing larger like a sponge soaking up water. I stood from the ocean, and as I rose out of the Morardian Sea, I loomed tall enough to see clear over the trees of the Lylora Woods and all the way into the Valley of Wisps. The Fae gathered there looked up at me like I was something right out of a horror film, and I was sure that's exactly what I looked like.

A monstrous figure of a woman made out of the ocean.

Calling to the water that made me up, I silently commanded, "Bring me all those still alive in gold-and-green."

Water burst free from my towering form, snaking through the field, collecting those I'd asked for. With the task complete, I sank back down into the sea, drifting further and deeper than I ever had before until I reached the centermost part of the ocean, far away from anything except water.

My body took on my normal size but remained as clear and buoyant as water. When I saw the shapes drifting toward me, I opened a massive pocket of air, like an enclosed stadium. Suddenly, the water deposited all the Fae dressed in green-and-gold before me in the space I'd created. Elias was front and center.

"What have you done?" Elias snapped as he looked around at where I'd brought everyone.

There was a collective gasp, shouts of fear, and every sound in between.

"First and foremost," I began, my voice carrying over the crowd thanks to the water producing it from all around us. "If you can't tell, I've brought you to my domain. We're deep in the sea right now, and I'm the only thing stopping these walls from collapsing. One step out of line or an attack on me …"

I looked to a place in the top of the watery box I'd built. A hole formed, and a gush of water immediately rained down on everyone. Screams filled the space, but with a quick flick of my wrist, the water rose back up into the air and out the hole, which I resealed.

"I assume you get my point," I said, my tone hard. "I doubt even your strongest swimmers would make it to the surface before drowning, so I suggest no one attempt anything right now. Unless you all want to die very agonizing deaths. Drowning is not fun. Trust me. I know."

"Why'd you bring us here?" a voice demanded.

"To kill us?"

"Make us slaves to your demands?"

Smiling, I shook my head. "I believe you have me confused with Elias. Those are things he wanted, but that's not the kind of leader I am. That's not the kind of person I am, though I'm sure others would like you to believe otherwise. I'm—"

I stopped when I noticed a couple at the front of the group. A dark-skinned woman held another in her arms, and the collapsed lady struggled with a nasty slice through her neck. She had to be seconds away from dying.

I raced to their side and fell to my knees by the wounded woman.

The Fae clutching her pulled her tighter into her arms and growled, "Get the fuck away from us! Don't touch her!"

Ignoring the angry words, I placed my watery hand over the seeping wound on her throat. My palm warmed, and the skin beneath it closed.

The injured Fae sucked in a breath and blinked rapidly.

"Fonna!" the dark-skinned Fae cried as she beamed down at the other. "Oh my God, Fonna!"

Fonna reached up to hold her healed throat. She looked at me with tear-filled eyes. "Th-Thank you."

Nodding, I stood and looked over the thousands gathered. Since I'd brought everyone here, I realized Fonna probably wasn't the only hurt person. Not wanting anymore death, I called, "Is anyone else seriously injured and in need of quick healing? If so, please help each other forward so I can heal anyone who needs it."

"Why would you do that?" a man questioned. "Why would you save any of us? So we feel indebted to you?"

I narrowed my eyes on him. "I do it because it's the right thing to do. Because even though it would be easier to believe that I'm your enemy, I'm not . Now, please bring me the seriously injured; those in most peril first, please."

Whispers filled the makeshift cavern as Fae shuffled forward. The first was a man who helped a boy—someone who looked far too young to be involved in a battle like this. The teen's body was littered in wounds, but the direst of them was the cut right through his gut, which had his innards hanging out of the opening.

"Please," the man cried. "My boy. My Tristan. He's all I have left."

I quickly hovered my watery hands over his wound and watched the intestines pull themselves back in place and the skin stitch back together.

When I was finished, Tristan hugged his father tightly. Tristan then turned to take my hand. "Thank you so much," he cried. "Thank you."

I smiled and squeezed his hand. "No thanks necessary. I'm glad to help any way I can."

The next person came forward, and I moved through the throng of Fae who needed my help. Despite everything, each was grateful. Elias watched every exchange with disdain and contempt. They were his people I was helping, but he clearly wasn't eager to receive such assistance.

When I was done, I faced the crowd of Land Fae, and I saw a vast array of emotions gazing back at me. Fear, loathing, gratitude, bafflement, skepticism … hope.

"I didn't want the battle that happened today," I boomed. "I didn't want to see any Fae, those from my Kingdom or Elias's, subjected to the suffering and death that I knew would happen with such a fight. Today's battle was one demanded by your King, and victory was meant to be appointed when either he or I killed the other. I'm sure you all were aware of this."

Some heads bobbed in acknowledgement. I turned my watery eyes on Elias, who couldn't keep the hatred off his face as he watched me. Guess he wasn't able to keep his mask of ease up anymore.

"I am not a killer," I stated firmly. "That's not who I am, and it's not how I will start my rule as Queen. There has been enough blood spilt over the century. I will not add to it. This war ends now , and instead of ending with death, it will end the way it should've. With new alliances. New beginnings. New possibilities.

"This war has controlled you all long enough. Do not let your grievances, hatred, or vengeance control you any longer. It's time to heal. It's time to grow. It's time to rebuild Ambrolia into a world where all Fae can coexist, because at the end of the day, we're all Fae. We all belong here."

I swept my eyes over the Fae and stood taller in my watery body. "The road to mend the broken relationship between our kinds will be long and difficult, but all those Fae waiting on the surface are ready to try. The past will not be held against you, nor will today. That fighting is done and over. It's time to forge ahead and learn what it means to live as neighbors once more. Don't let those who died today do so for something as twisted and ugly as hatred. Let them have given their life for something better than what they left behind—a world where Fae exist harmoniously, without suffering, fear, or death."

"And if we refuse?" Elias growled.

Staring blankly at the Land Fae King, I deadpanned, "If you're truly that hell-bent on holding onto your grudges and not giving everyone, including yourself, a chance to walk around without hate burdening you, then I will wait. Like I said, I will not kill you. I won't kill any of you. If you refuse, I'll make you a great little home down here until you're ready to let go of your need for blood."

"So we'll be prisoners," Elias scowled.

"Better a prisoner with a chance of coming home than a corpse who died while corrupted by bitterness."

Elias gave an incredulous laugh. "And you think anyone here would be interested in what you're offering?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But that's for them to decide. Not you." I paused, recalling a memory that would always stick with me. "A boy I knew once said that when leaders decide they want war, citizens don't get a say."

My throat tightened, remembering Blake as he'd told me his story that day so long ago while he healed my wounds in a store bathroom. So distant, yet his words so powerful.

Clearing my throat, I asked, "So, Fae, what will you decide? It's time for you to have a say. Will you help me rebuild in the name of peace for Ambrolia?"

I stared at the crowd and waited, not knowing how many would step forward.

The first sign of movement came from two familiar faces—the two Feline Fae I'd saved at the start of the battle. They came to the head of the group, and while holding my gaze, they threw their daggers to the ground. They placed a hand over their hearts and knelt. "For Ambrolia."

I smiled. "For Ambrolia."

The next group were Fonna and her companion, as well as the teen and his father. They mimicked the stance of the Felines and called in unison, "For Ambrolia."

Slowly, more and more Fae stepped forward to follow the lead of those kneeling, calling out those same words.

For Ambrolia.

A couple dozen remained standing, their chins tilted up in defiance, and Elias headed those Fae.

"This is your decision?" I asked, looking at each of those still standing.

"We'll never bow to the likes of you," a man spat at me.

"Good. I've never been one for the whole bowing concept." I smiled. "But I'll be waiting for the day you're ready to stand beside me. Those not ready to try their hand at peace will remain here, deep in the ocean where you aren't a threat to yourselves or others. I'll come by later to provide you with any necessities and see if there's anything more you need or want. And one day, when you're ready, I'll gladly bring you home."

"So this was your plan?" Elias seethed. "Lock us away and let us rot?"

I met Elias's glare with an even gaze. "No. That's the difference between you and me, Elias. Your endgame was always death. And mine? It was always new chances and new life for everyone."