Chapter Thirty-six

L iana refused to believe what her eyes saw - Luciano unmoving on the ground, a blade sticking out of his chest. Some of the soldiers around them shared the same fate, only three of their group survived. Their mission had been a complete and tragic failure. They hadn't even gotten close to Zatar with that damned dagger. And now, Luciano is dead. Soldiers were dead. And they were no closer to killing this scourge of destruction.

Owen lifted her off the ground with his hands beneath her arms. "Liana, what did he mean, wait for your father? Why?"

Staring around the now destroyed barn, Liana couldn't think at all.

"Liana? Are you alright?" Damien's voice startled her inside her head. " You were cut off and now you feel off. What is wrong?"

She couldn't answer him.

"Are you hurt? Where are you?"

Luciano is dead. His family would mourn him and now she would have to be the one to sacrifice herself again. She would have to leave Damien and her family.

"Liana!" Damien shouted into her mind.

"I'm fine ," she snapped, then severed their connection. She couldn't do this with him in her head. She would waver under his presence and there could be no hesitation.

Owen shook her. "What did he mean?"

Liana yanked out of his grip and wiped the tears from her face. "I have no idea. My father is safe in the castle. He was never a part of any of this plan."

"We've got a problem." The surviving shifter pointed to the other side of the meadow.

A line of people stepped out of the trees, many trailing after them. A few raced ahead to where Zatar lay unconscious in the grass, ignoring the rest of their comrades. Liana hadn't registered his presence sooner and regretted it immensely now. It would have been cowardly, but it would have been effective if she stabbed him while unconscious.

"He was holding his army back at the front lines," Owen stated. "But why? And where was he going to take you?"

"I don't know. Maybe they are here as a distraction. To hold back anyone that might have followed," Liana reasoned, surprised that her mind still worked while Luciano lay dead at her feet. She looked down at the vampire. It felt wrong to leave him there. To leave any of their team behind while they rushed back into battle. "Vampires complete their death ceremonies by burning the bodies, correct?" she asked, her eyes glued to him. Even in death his face was still as stony and dour as ever.

"Yes," Owen answered. "We believe it is the only way for the soul to move on."

Liana knelt once more and placed a kiss to his forehead. "You don't have to wait any longer. Go find her," she whispered, more tears falling onto his still warm skin. "Any final goodbyes?"

Owen didn't speak up, so she stood back and conjured a fire to consume him. Flames engulfed his body burning so hot they glowed white. It took only minutes before he was ash. Minutes was all it took to wipe one of the strongest men from this life.

Liana already felt the sting of his absence but was glad that he could be reunited with his mate and daughter.

She asked the shifter of his preferences for the other shifters. All the others, including the mage, would remain until proper death ceremonies could be performed. Luciano wouldn't have wanted any of that. His only goal left in life had been to die. She let him have it.

"Liana, we have to go," Owen urged as he stared across the meadow.

Liana watched as Zatar climbed to his feet, slow and weak compared to his previous spry movements. It was Jupiter's power that helped her escape that spell. She'd tapped into whatever power was embedded in the blade and the cuff the god created. That was why Zatar was so weak now. He may be a demi-god, but he was not more powerful than a true god.

"No, I have to kill Zatar."

Owen moved to stand in her line of vision. "There are four of us. He has hundreds behind him, and he's more powerful than you. We need to reconvene with the army."

Liana forced her eyes off the demi-god. If she were going to get close enough to drive that blade through his heart, she'd need help. She wouldn't stand a chance if she had to protect herself from his army and his magic. Shoulders slumping, she nodded. Owen picked her up and ran, the two shifters following.

Back at the command tent, Liana was surprised to find the General, the council, Ramone and Damien there. Damien paced behind the group who were circled around the map of the battle. His head snapped up at her arrival. Engulfed in his arms in the next second, she could hardly breathe he squeezed so tightly.

"You shut me out," he growled in her ear. "You don't shut me out like that when you're in danger."

Liana shoved him away and wrapped her arms around her belly. Tears welled in her eyes thinking about how she had to tell him about his grandfather. Damien gripped her chin, gently pulling her back to look him in the eye. His nail scratched at a speck of dried blood on her cheek, his nostrils flaring as he recognized the scent.

"What happened?"

She swallowed back a sob. "I… I'm sorry. I tried to save him." Tears poured down her face and she couldn't keep going.

Owen finished for her. "Two other shifters survived. Luciano and the rest of our team didn't make it. It was a trap."

Damien stepped back, his hand falling from her face. "No. No, he can't be gone."

Liana reached for him. He moved out of range which had her breath catching. "I'm sorry. I tried. But Zatar's magic…"

"Don't speak that name," Damien hissed, his eyes fixed on the ground. Clenching his jaw, he strode to the map. "What is the situation with our enemy? Is he dead?"

Owen joined him at the table. "He is alive. He incapacitated us with some magic fog that immobilized us. Somehow, Liana broke us out of it with a magic I've never felt from her before. We would have all been slaughtered if she hadn't broken out."

"Where is he?" Damien was like stone, his features perfectly blank. Liana kept back uncertain of what to do in that moment for him. They had a war to win but she was sure her husband was hurting. Luciano was a beloved grandfather. They were as close as could be and she knew he was feeling the loss.

"Last we saw, still near the barn. He had his army with him in the meadow." Owen tapped on the location on the map.

The General pointed to their front lines. "After the Queen knocked out a good majority of their numbers, we defeated them all too easily. But now you are saying he has more soldiers?"

Owen nodded. "At least four or five hundred more."

"Then we obliterate his army and stab him with that cursed dagger," Damien declared.

"My King, you cannot go into battle," the General said.

"I'm not letting the Queen near that lunatic without me."

She shook her head. "Damien, we've been through this…"

"No," he interjected curtly. "This is my decision."

Liana glared with red, watery eyes. "It is our decision," she corrected. "One of us has to stay safe, and you don't have the magic to combat him."

His head was shaking, his brows pulled low over his eyes. "This is the second time he has gotten to you. I will not allow it again."

Liana didn't press him. She knew she wouldn't get anywhere with him right now. Once they were alone, she'd make him see reason. She'd have to because now she was the only one capable of doing what needed to be done.

"Get the soldiers ready to move out. We leave as quickly as possible." Damien stalked out of the tent and into the forest, leaving the Council to bicker amongst themselves about his involvement in the battle.

Liana followed after him and found him pacing at the bottom of a small hill. He sensed her coming but kept up his pacing. Liana let him process what happened while she found a stump to sit on.

"How did you break free?" he asked after many silent minutes.

"I borrowed magic from the blade and the cuff. Jupiter's magic overpowered his." It was as good an explanation as she could muster.

"Good. Then you'll be able to use the dagger to protect us until we get close enough."

Liana didn't respond. She wouldn't let him get anywhere near that battlefield. He would stay safe in the castle where he wouldn't be able to get in her way or stupidly sacrifice himself to protect her. One of them needed to survive this.

She let him keep pacing until he finally sank to his knees in front of her. Gripping her calves, he rested his forehead on her knees and sighed. Liana ran her fingers through his hair trying to soothe him but kept magic out of her touch.

"I don't want to believe he's gone," Damien whispered.

"Neither do I." She had no more words for him, feeling inadequate in that moment. Perhaps a proper lady of the court would know more false platitudes to give him. All she had was her love. "Luciano lived a very long life and had such a positive impact on many."

His shoulders shook, the soft plunk of tears falling onto dead leaves reaching her ears.

Liana swiped at her own. "I know he's happier now though. He is with his mate once again."

He lifted his head. The blue of his eyes stood out against the red ringing them and fresh tears tracking down his cheeks. "Just as I will always want to be with you."

She palmed his face. There was nothing left to discuss. Their time was at an end. An end that came far too quickly. "I love you, Damien. With everything in me, I love you."

He pulled her into a hug. "I love you, Liana."

Breathing in deeply, she savored the feel of him in her arms. "Can I get a little boost? A taste of you before we go?"

Despite his red-rimmed eyes, he smirked. Gods she loved that smirk. "Only if I get a taste too."

Nodding, she pulled the collar of her blouse aside. His eyes instantly darkened, his fangs poking out. The moment his fangs slid into her shoulder, she sighed, her body going lax. Moving his shirt, she sliced his shoulder with magic and drank. It was still odd for her. The thought of drinking blood. But he didn't taste like blood. He was sweet and alluring, and power made tangible. Her magic hummed delightfully, going languid in her bones. Damien pulled back far too quickly, and she stole one more kiss, putting every ounce of her love into it.

"Liana," Damien started as he pulled back. She didn't let his questioning face say anything more before she put him to sleep. With a sob, she caught him with magic and lowered him gently to the ground. Her magic slithered beneath her skin, irritated that it was used against him, but didn't fight her. She pressed kisses all over his face then carried him back to the camp.

No one said a word when she strode in with Damien hovering unconscious at her side. "Ramone, take Damien back to the castle. Whoever is going to fight, we leave now." She strode away, keeping her head held high, forcing herself to not look back.

This was her burden to bear, her sacrifice to save the rest of the kingdom from a monster. It was her purpose in life to die just as the gods chose for her. She hated them for it. Hated that Juno forced her power on her without revealing the whole truth first, the weight of the responsibility she carried for accepting the power. No matter how much she'd doubted herself, she truly believed in the savior prophecy. She doubted that she'd do it well or quickly, but she believed that whatever shortcomings she suffered, Juno's magic would be more than enough to make up for them. Never did she imagine that her purpose as the savior would be to die.

Perhaps that was her price for accepting immense power never meant for a human. Perhaps it was all an unfair trade she wanted no part in.

However, if she could save Damien and their families, if she could give Triaedian a chance at peace, she'd do this. It wouldn't be for the gods. They meant nothing to her anymore.

Damien would likely hate her for a while. Maybe he'd mourn her eventually. But they'd all move on.

And she'd watch over them whether the gods allowed her to or not.