Chapter Thirty-three

L iana cursed the gods a thousand times over. Before Damien could even make it to the stairs, they were stopped.

"Liana!" Elias coughed, then corrected, "I mean, Your Majesty."

Damien huffed but set her on her feet. Diego and Dahlia were on Elias's heels as they raced toward them.

"We've been trying to talk to you since last night. We never finished telling you about the attack before you ran off."

"Well, spit it out," Damien bit out, his fangs appearing. Dahlia stepped in front of Elias, recognizing the threat of a vampire. Elias ignored it all.

"The Original changed his plans. That's why we've been so desperate to talk to you. He's here in the city. He plans to attack soon."

Liana gripped Damien's arm for support.

No. Her time to make peace with all this slipped away as quick as a wisp of smoke.

"Where?"

"Somewhere to the north. We didn't get an exact location."

Damien went full vampire which had her stepping in between him and her friends. "Luciano!" he bellowed, his voice carrying through the castle. His grandfather arrived quickly. Liana kept a firm grip on Damien's hand, surging soothing magic down their bond.

"He's at Ranville's vineyard north of the city," Damien explained. "Have you sent scouts out yet?"

"I did. To Sapphire Cove though. Liana, send them messages. Bring them back. I'll send others to the vineyard and get our team prepared."

Liana nodded and summoned parchment and a pen. Luciano gave her the names of the scouts then disappeared.

"What is happening?" Elias asked.

"We are at war." Goosebumps rose along her flesh at Damien's declaration.

"If you all want to join the fight, find General Victor. Otherwise, stay out of the way in your rooms." He dragged Liana away and up the stairs. "You need to go to our chambers. There are things that I must do but the moment I am finished, I want you waiting for me."

"Are you sure there is nothing I can do to help?"

"You are already offering too much. Rest for now. I need to alert General Victor, and the Council. I will be back shortly." He gave her a quick kiss before disappearing.

Liana entered their space and paused as the reality of what she was going to have to do hit her. This wonderful life she had would be gone. For so long, she spurned the world. She rejected any idea of a husband that could love her let alone accept her love of magic. She had wasted so much time judging, so much time closing herself off from everyone. At the time, it was all she could do to survive, just like she told Charlotte. It hurt her now to think of all that time wasted though. The years she could have been closer to her sisters or her friends in Sapphire Cove.

Then Damien came along, swept her right out of the comfortable cocoon she'd wrapped herself in and challenged everything she knew. He showed her that her judgments only hurt her, no one else. It closed her off from life and love. Damien helped her shed the weight of her past to move forward in a happy life with him.

The best thing that's happened to her, and she was going to betray him.

Sitting at the writing desk, she grabbed parchment and a mage pen. There was no apology great enough for this. What choice did she have though? The goddess chose her for this. She could only hope he would forgive her in time.

Damien,

I hope you don't hate me forever. The only way to kill a god is with a human sacrifice and Jupiter's blade to the heart. Zatar is part god and part mage. He is Juno's son. There is no one else equipped to do this. Juno has been planning this for a thousand years. My fate was sealed the moment she chose me.

I will love you until the end of time. Even in death, the only thing I will cling to is my love for you.

Before you barged into my life, I was a skeptical shrew. I thought I wanted a life of solitude so I could escape the patriarchy. If you hadn't come along, I'd probably be married to Keeper Olivier and bored out of my mind. You helped me see that what I really wanted, what I was too scared to dream for, is a love like ours. I cannot thank you enough for dragging me out of my own darkness and back into the light.

You are so good. You are an incredible king. A thoughtful and generous lover. A kind son. And loyal friend. You are the best person I have ever known. It will be difficult for you to go on without me because I know how impossible it would be for me to live without you. I know you will though. There are too many people counting on you. I'm counting on you to keep going. You're not disposable like I am.

I wish I had more life than these fleeting years. I wish I weren't destined to find you only so that I would be in position to die for her mistakes. We are all pawns to the gods though. If you play it right, maybe we can spend an eternity in the cosmos together.

Please, try to live again after I'm gone.

I love you with every piece of my soul.

Yours forever,

Liana

Swiping away her tears, she rang for her maid.

Phillipa arrived just as she sealed the letter.

"What happened?" Phillipa asked, seeing her tear-stained face.

"We are going to war, Phillipa." Her maid staggered a step. "I want you to keep this safe for me. Should anything happen, give this to Damien."

She shook her graying head. "No. Don't you do this, Liana. Don't you dare say goodbye."

"I'm not, Phillipa. It's only a letter in case the worst happens."

"What are you going to do? Are you fighting with them?" Phillipa still didn't take the letter.

"I have a secret mission to carry out with a small group of soldiers. Hopefully it will prevent a battle from even starting."

Phillipa broke and pulled Liana into a hug. "I know you, child. Don't you dare do anything rash. You come home to us. Do you hear me?"

"I hear you," Liana replied. Pulling back, she handed the woman that raised her the letter. She couldn't handle writing any other letters. Her family would understand. "Please have dinner sent to our room later. We will be staying in until we need to act."

Phillipa wiped her tears and left.

Exhausted and emotionally drained, Liana drew herself a bath. Filled with scented oils, the humid bathing chamber smelled wonderful and glowed with the light of candles instead of mage light. Sinking into the hot water, Liana forced her thoughts to go blank. Nothing outside this bathtub was going to intrude. For the remainder of her life, she wouldn't think about her impending death.

Damien entered shortly after. He disrobed and slid in behind her silently. Wrapped in his arms, she rested her head back against his chest.

"Does this not come off?" he asked, inspecting Jupiter's cuff around her upper arm.

"I haven't been able to get it off. I hardly notice anymore though." With a heavy sigh, she melted into him. "Is everything in motion?" she wondered.

"Yes. Now we wait until we have more information before we act." His fingers brushed lightly back and forth along her hip. "Forget about all that. It's been too long since I've indulged in my wife."

A chuckle escaped her before his lips landed on her neck. Arching into him she teased, "It's only been a day."

"Far too long indeed." His tongue flicked over his claiming mark which had her moaning with abandon. "I'm going to take my time worshiping your body, temptress. I'm going to mark every span of flesh with a bite, so you remember who you belong to, who you have to come home to."

His hand slid over her belly, dipping down between her legs while his other arm wrapped around beneath her breasts to hold her on his lap.

"Do you understand, Liana?" he whispered into her ear, her body shivering despite the hot water. "You are going to return home after you save us all."

Her hips tilted into his hand seeking more. She heard him but couldn't promise that. All she wanted was to forget right now.

He pulled away, denying her while his other hand encircled her throat. Pressing just enough to let her know who was in control, he growled, "Promise me, Liana. Promise you are coming home to me."

A tear escaped. He wouldn't yield. She knew that. For the second time, she lied to him. "I promise."

His fingers slid back between her legs, and she let out a sigh of relief. "Say it," he demanded. "Tell me your promise."

Gasping, it was getting harder and harder to focus. "I promise to come home to you," she whispered, her heart breaking.

"Good girl," he praised, then let her have everything he gave. Keeping his hand around her neck, he worked her body with an expert touch. She loved how well he knew her, knew what she liked and the exact right way to send her soaring.

He didn't bite her like she wanted, instead letting her ride out her pleasure before settling quietly in the bath once more. When he grabbed a cloth and began scrubbing her shoulders, then arms, Liana sighed and let it happen. After she was clean, she turned to do the same for him. He let her take her time sliding the soapy cloth along his body. It was more for his benefit though. She could feel his eyes tracing every inch of her body, sticking on her chest far too often.

Liana emptied the tub with magic and gave them a quick rinse before he carried her to their bed. Damien worshiped her with his mouth until she was begging for him to end the ache he created. He bit her with abandon, Liana loving every slide of his fangs into her flesh. Loved when he offered his blood back to her.

She lost track of time in his arms. Lost track of the world outside their bedroom. Exactly what both of them wanted.

Sated and happy, Liana fell asleep in her husband's arms.

The mood turned somber when they woke later that evening. They sat in robes at the table and ate in silence while Damien kept hold of her hand at all times. Neither wanted to break the safe bubble they indulged in.

She pulled him onto the balcony after their supper and reclined in the cool night air with the mountains surrounding them. Soothing sounds of the forest - gentle swaying of the trees, insects singing their lullabies - almost lulled her into rest once more.

"What do you think our life will be like when we don't have the separatists to worry about?" she whispered, afraid to let her fantasy play out. It would likely just hurt them both even more in the end.

His arm around her waist tightened. "It will be perfectly mundane and thrilling all at the same time. Our kingdom will be safe, our duties will return to monotonous meetings and tedious court gatherings. Outside of all that will be the most amazing life we can imagine. We can do anything. I hope we have a family which of course will bring a lot of excitement."

"If they're anything like William and Carlisle our lives will be hell. Especially if they have vampire speed."

Damien chuckled. "Vampire children can be difficult to keep track of. It's a good thing you'll be their mother then. You can smother them with all the protection charms and spells possible."

"And tracking spells," she added.

Damien sighed and toyed with the ends of her hair. "What do you picture for our life?"

"A family would be wonderful. I also want to keep teaching. It was brief, but I enjoyed teaching those young girls. I want to open a school where any mage is welcome regardless of gender or wealth. I want to help usher female mage into the army if they want. And in between all that, I want you every second I can get you. I want to see the rest of Triaedian with you. Take vacations to the beach like my family used to do. I just want to live with you."

It could have been so perfect with him. So effortless.

"That sounds perfect."

Perfect yet unattainable.

Damien tensed beneath her. "We have a visitor." He called over his shoulder, "On the patio."

Liana pushed up on his chest and made sure her robe was secure before Luciano walked out. "Sorry to interrupt. We have more information, and it's not good."

"Not good as in we need to call another War Council?" Damien questioned.

Luciano nodded, his eyes stuck on hers. Her brows furrowed, wondering what this news could be.

"Alright, we will be down shortly."

Luciano didn't move which had her nerves wracking higher. "Is my family okay?" she asked immediately.

"As far as I know. Why?"

"Because you're staring at me like this bad news pertains to me," she accused. "They wouldn't have left the castle, would they?" she asked more to herself than the others.

He cleared his throat and finally looked away. "Nothing of the sort, Queen. Let's just meet with the others." He disappeared before either of them could ask more.

"Well now he's got me nervous it pertains to you as well," Damien complained. "Come on, the sooner we get there the sooner this can all be put to rest."

Liana stared after the vampire with an odd sensing of knowing in her gut. Only problem was, she wasn't sure what she thought she knew.