Chapter Thirty-four

T he War Council gathered in Damien's office once more.

Liana opted for fighting clothes, anticipating that they'd have to move quickly soon. Damien kept to his usual black trousers and blouse but added his formal jacket with the gold piping. He insisted they wear their crowns this time as well. She still wasn't used to wearing it.

The rest of the Council were dressed in their court finery, clearly not going into battle anytime soon.

The map of Ranville's properties still covered their war table, their army pieces now dotting the areas around Sancta Valles and less around Sapphire Cove.

Luciano began by pointing at the coastal city. "Our scouts bring news that most of the enemy now surrounds Sancta Valles. The sites in Sapphire Cove have been mostly abandoned. Some of our army stayed behind, most are heading our way as we speak. Our army is being redistributed around Sancta Valles to focus on these locations where the rebels are waiting. The city has been alerted to imminent danger and placed on lockdown."

They'd been busy while she and Damien ignored the rest of the world.

"What of the Original?" Damien asked.

Something nagged at Liana's mind that had her searching the faces of those present. "Wait," she interrupted whatever Luciano was saying. "Where is Asher?" Owen stood stiffly, his eyes focused and unmoving on the far wall.

Damien's head snapped up from the table and glanced around. "Where is my cousin?"

Luciano sighed. "He was part of the scouts sent to investigate the Original."

Dread twisted her stomach.

"He was captured. We don't know anything else."

Damien swore, digging his hands through his hair. "What was his last location?"

"Somewhere in the forest to the north. Our people couldn't get close enough to see much. There were too many rebels camped out," Luciano informed. "We assume that is where the Original is."

Master Kinley suddenly lurched forward. "Something broke through the wards," Kinley warned right before something heavy landed on the table. Damien pulled Liana behind him in a flash, but she peaked around him.

Shock held everyone immobile for a second before Owen roared an anguished sound that broke everyone into chaos. Owen grabbed the lifeless body on the table trying to wake him. "Asher! Asher, come on, brother."

Liana fisted Damien's shirt, tears gathering in her eyes. The dagger sticking out of Asher's chest told them everything they needed to know. Eva wailed, draping her body over her nephew as she sobbed.

Liana gasped, shoving Damien aside. It could have been her blurred tears, but she could have sworn she saw Asher's chest rise. Liana grabbed his wrist, letting her magic explode into him. It eagerly reacted, diving toward the injury. She nearly collapsed at what she found. The dagger pierced his heart. It no longer beat, but the life hadn't left him yet.

"Move!" she screamed and jumped onto the table. Neither of his family moved. "Move!" she screamed again, her voice cracking with desperation. She had only seconds. Ramone pulled Eva away, holding her close while Owen barely gave her enough space. Straddling his waist, she calmed herself with the feeling of his warm body. She had time. She could save him.

Grabbing the hilt with both hands, she put her whole body into pulling the blade out. She threw it away then planted her hands around the wound which oozed blood. The last time she did this, her father had been too far gone. Asher still pulsed with the light of his soul. He would pull through. He had to.

Her magic smothered the injury, healing it within seconds then forced it to start beating again.

Asher surged upward, knocking his head into hers.

"Ow!" they both groaned in unison.

"Now this is not a fantasy I've had about you before," Asher complained when he looked from Liana in his lap then to the War Council. Strong hands gripped beneath her arms and dragged her backward off Asher and the table.

"You better not be fantasizing about my wife at all," Damien growled.

Asher chuckled then winced, grabbing at his chest. "What you don't know won't hurt you," he teased, still grimacing.

"Gods, you're annoying," Owen declared before pulling his brother into a crushing hug. Eva joined them, sobbing against them.

Relief surged through her, replacing the grief which left Liana feeling shaky.

She'd been prepared to leave everyone. She had not been prepared for anyone else to die. They got extremely lucky this time, but it wasn't likely to happen again. The sooner she ended this, the safer everyone would be. She had to leave. Now. This would be her last moments in Damien's arms which nearly took her down.

Damien supported her weight. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

Luciano was beside them in a second. "Did you use too much magic?"

Locking her knees, she forced herself to stand tall. "Fine. Just relieved and a bit shaken." With great difficulty, she pulled herself out of Damien's arms. "Asher, I'm glad you're alive, but we need information. What did you see?" she asked, keeping her voice strong and steady.

He brushed a hand through his messy curls. She'd miss his playful attitude. "Thanks for that, by the way. I thought for sure I was dead." Rubbing at his chest, his face scrunched as he tried to remember. "They took me into the storage barn at the vineyard. There had to be hundreds surrounding the place, a mix of breeds. Inside, the Original was there along with about twenty or thirty others, all mage. They kept me tied up for a while until he approached with that dagger. Said I would be the start of the final battle then stabbed me. That's all I know."

"Good enough, I suppose. He's at the vineyard barn." Liana turned to Luciano. "Is the team ready?"

He nodded.

"You can't just march off to battle," Damien protested.

"What else are we supposed to do?" she countered. "The Original has made his move. He wants a fight. We will give him one on our terms."

His bright blue eyes flashed between hers, frantic and fearful. "I… You…" he stuttered, nothing following.

Liana erected a privacy shield and pulled him into a hug. His arms banded around her like a vice. "I'm coming home, remember? I promised."

He inhaled her scent. "You're a terrible liar, remember?"

She sucked in a startled breath. There was no way he knew she lied.

"I love you, Liana. You have to survive this."

"I love you, Damien. Forever." She released him and dropped the shield. Before the nerves and regret could get the better of her, she stalked out of his office. She'd keep his handsome face in her thoughts until the end.

***

Luciano caught up with her in the hall and steered her toward the training courtyard. She hadn't been back since her abduction and wondered what they were doing back.

"Owen has gone to gather the team. We will meet here. Is there anything else you need to prepare?"

She shook her head.

"You've got the dagger?"

Liana patted her thigh.

"Good. You remember your training once we're out there. Just because you've got special magic doesn't mean you can't be careful. You'll be surrounded most of the time once we get there but you stay alert."

She gave him a mocking salute.

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you going to say anything or are you trying not to spill your secrets?"

Liana glared at him even as her heart picked up speed. "Maybe I just don't feel like talking." He couldn't know. She hadn't told anyone.

The ancient vampire crossed his arms, feet hip-width apart like he was waiting for her to start sparring. "I'm not going to stop you, if that's what you're thinking. I'm not Damien. Just tell me how to help you get it done."

Maybe he did know. But how? "What are you talking about?"

He sighed, forever disappointed. "We don't have time for denial. Tell me what needs to happen to make sure the Original stays dead."

She still wasn't sure how he knew, but it wouldn't hurt to tell him the rest. If she got close enough and for some reason couldn't finish it, Luciano would be able to help. He would be the only other option to consider. He's wanted to die for centuries. It wouldn't be such a burden if he was her backup.

Eyeing him skeptically, she just said, "Just keep hold of the hilt once he is stabbed in the heart. Everything else that needs to happen will happen." Conjuring a decorative pin with the royal symbol, she infused it with her magic. "Keep this pinned to your jacket. It should allow you to pass through his wards."

Luciano allowed her to pin it on him. "You know. You could just give me the dagger now and save yourself."

Her heart lurched. It was such an easy release from her duty. There would be no guilt on her part because she wasn't asking him to take her place. Luciano had been done with this life for centuries.

His hand covered hers as the tears welled up. "We both know I just want to see my love again, Liana. Let me take this burden. You and Damien still have so much life left to live."

"But I'm the Savior. What if it doesn't work with you?" She desperately wanted it to work. Hope blossomed like a dangerous spark inside her chest at the idea that she could dump this on Luciano.

"You'll get me as close as you can to him, but it will be my hand on that hilt when it slides into the Original's heart."

She shook her head. "I want to be brave and courageous. I want to save Triaedian. But I also want to live. I can't leave Damien yet."

Luciano cupped her cheek, brushing a tear away. "Darling, you are the bravest Ashwood I have ever had the honor of knowing." Liana's throat constricted as she forced back a sob. "This is for all of Triaedian, for my family. It is not for you to carry this burden alone. Let me take some of this off your shoulders."

It would be too easy to say yes. "I told Juno I would do it."

"Liana, screw the gods. They're the ones that created this mess. What does it matter who does it, as long as it gets done?" He stepped back. "The others are coming. Liana, please, just let me do this. I've lived hundreds of years, and I am tired. I miss my wife and daughter. The rest of my family is safe in your hands. Just give me the dagger when the time comes."

She didn't respond when she heard footsteps behind them. Swiping at her face, she composed herself before turning around. Owen, Sasha, three other vampires, four shifters and three mage stood there. The vampires wore light chainmail over their chests. The mage wore minimal, slim armor while the shifters wore only thin canvas pants and shirts.

Sasha handed Liana chainmail. "The King insisted you wear this." Liana pulled it over her head, the metal not as heavy as she expected.

"We are headed north to a vineyard. The Original is there, surrounded by hundreds of the enemy. Part of our army is already moving into position to help distract them while we sneak through to get to him. Our mission is to protect Liana and get her to the Original. We do not engage otherwise," Luciano instructed. "Everyone pair up. Vampires will follow the shifters' pace. The Queen is with me."

He strode over to the secret door, everyone following in silence. Once they reached the forest, the shifters shifted into their animals and the vampires carried the mage. It took them longer to reach their army because they slowed for the shifters. Still, they made excellent time. They found the General's tent where he waited with a few other soldiers. Her eyes caught on someone that shouldn't have been there, although neither of them said anything yet.

They bowed upon her arrival. "An honor to be fighting beside you today, Your Majesty," General Victor greeted.

"The honor is mine, General. Now, I believe we have a battle to end. Is everyone in position?"

The General chuckled. "I don't believe the battle started yet, my Queen."

Liana wasn't laughing. "It started the moment he sent Asher's half-dead body to me."

He sobered and cleared his throat. "We are in position, Your Majesty."

She turned to the displaced person. "Didn't I just leave you in the castle? Why are you out here?"

Damien cracked a smirk. "Just making the rounds to all the locations. Boosting morale and showing our people we are fighting with them."

Liana grunted. "You aren't fighting this time. One of us has to be safe."

"I couldn't miss the opportunity to tell you to be safe one last time." He pulled her in for a kiss. More than ever, she yearned to give up her duty. Maybe she could let Luciano take her place. He was more than willing. "I'll be heading back to the castle momentarily. Keep me updated every step of the way," he demanded with a gentle tap to her temple.

Into his mind she said, "Stalker."

Grinning, he pulled away. "General, Grandfather, defeat these bastards once and for all."

General Victor bowed. Luciano chuckled darkly. "Oh, we will."

Liana watched him go, longing for the life they planned. Longing for the countless years of happiness, of a possible family. Longing for the freedom of whatever she chose to do with her new title and privilege. She'd barely gotten started on her life, barely started living without fear of her own power. It couldn't end for her so soon.

Images of children, of a mage school full of little girls and boys, of her teaching all danced through her mind. That's the future they were fighting for. A future of peace and cohesion. She'd done her part so far. So many others have already died. This fight would take many more lives before it was over. The aftermath would leave everyone with grief but also lay the foundation for an improved Triaedian. Their kingdom of unity could flourish, and Liana wanted to be a part of that. She wanted to fight to make things right.

That would only be possible if she weren't the one to sacrifice herself. Over her shoulder she caught Luciano's eye. With a small nod, she relinquished her sacrifice to him. He just smiled in return.

General Victor mumbled to no one in particular, "You know he is going to find a way into this fight, right?"

A grumbling response came from all those present. Liana just rolled her eyes. She knew he couldn't sit by and let others fight in his stead. She just hoped he stayed off the front lines. She couldn't worry about him anymore now, though. She had to focus.

"I believe it is time," Luciano called.

Time to end the separatists.