Chapter Forty

P hillipa rested Liana's crown upon her perfectly braided updo to complete her formal attire. Her maid also picked the black gown Liana wore. Beyond that, Liana didn’t pay any attention to it. Today would be the official death ceremony to honor their fallen soldiers. To honor her father, Luciano, and Asher. It had been two weeks since their death. Twelve of those days, Liana spent unconscious. The kingdom knew of her ailment, knew that she expended all of her magic to defeat Zatar, only for her father to make the ultimate sacrifice in the end.

Eyes red and glossy, Liana forced the tears back. She'd been crying off and on since she woke. But today was for the kingdom, for the soldiers and the families they left behind.

Sasha met her outside their chamber doors, dressed in her finest military jacket. After a brief bow, she led the way down the many flights of stairs. Damien waited in the entry hall speaking privately with his parents while Owen stood off to the side supporting his mother while she cried quietly against his shoulder. His stepfather stared blankly out at the world, the loss of his son making him a living ghost.

It was the first she'd seen of Ramone and Eva and all she could feel was guilt. Not relief that they were okay, but guilt because she let Luciano and Asher die. They went quiet at her approach. Damien barely looked at her when Eva pulled her in for a hug.

"We are so glad you are alright, darling," Eva whispered, giving her a squeeze. Ramone went next, repeating similar sentiments.

Damien stood there like a statue; hands clasped behind his back with his eyes on the stairs. "Just waiting on your family now, then we will head to the temple."

Liana nodded, ignoring the pang in her chest at how handsome he looked. With his crown and formal jacket, he looked the same as when they married. The only exception was his hair which he left down, and perhaps the grief staining his eyes. It hurt too much to look at him knowing that he was hurting because of her, ignoring her because of what she did, so she walked over to Asher's mother.

Ophelia didn't pick her head up off Owen's shoulder at Liana's approach. "There are no adequate words, but I am so sorry for your loss. Asher was such a bright light in this world."

Nodding, she hid behind her handkerchief. Liana looked to Owen. "Owen," she started but he raised a hand to cut her off.

"Asher was a soldier. He knew what he was doing. He died an honorable death. There is no apology needed for that."

Brows drawn, she simply nodded and walked back toward Damien and stood quietly at his side. They hadn't talked since she woke two days ago. He'd return each night to sleep, but he didn't talk to her, didn't cuddle her in the night like usual. He made his point clear that she was not forgiven.

Finally, her family appeared on the stairs, Wesley in the lead with his wife while Hannah and Charlotte supported their mother, and her youngest brothers trailed quietly behind.

Liana went to see her mother yesterday. Apparently, she hadn't left her bed for the past two weeks either. They simply hugged each other and cried until Liana had to leave or suffocate from the guilt. Her father was bound to die but he gave up whatever time he had left to save her and that was something she couldn't come to terms with yet.

Piling into carriages that awaited them out front, Damien and Liana sat forward facing while his parents sat opposite them. Two orderly lines of people waited along the short drive to the temple. They were not rowdy like at their wedding. This occasion was far more somber, only the rickety sound of the carriages and the horses' hooves on the stones filled the silence.

They were escorted to the front of the crowded temple and onto the dais to their thrones. And there they sat for the lengthy service. Each soldier's name was read out, their families filling the temple along with the elite. All of this was ceremony alone considering the vampires were burned upon an altar outside the temple two days after the battle, and the shifter and mage bodies were returned home to their people. It was necessary though. Their people needed to know they were valued, that each life mattered to their monarchs.

After the ceremony, their carriages turned toward the city where they would ride through to acknowledge the sacrifice of their people. There had been more destruction than she thought possible, not that she bothered to ask anyone what happened in the past two days. Familiar roads and lanes of shops were nearly unrecognizable from the damage. It broke whatever was left of her heart to see her home in such ruin. Everyone in the city had suffered under these weeks of terror from the separatists, and yet, all she'd done since waking was wallow. She hid while her people needed her. Another reason why she wasn't fit to be queen.

She couldn't wait to get home and hide some more.

People gathered in the lanes, soldiers keeping them at bay when they rode by. They waved and acknowledged the people, their smiles at bay for today.

Another ceremony awaited them in the central square which had been completely destroyed. A makeshift dais waited for them and when Damien helped her out of the carriage, he didn't let her hand go and walked her toward it. She tried to not let her emotions get the better of her as she reveled in the feel of his touch. He only held her hand to show the people they were united and strong.

It was nearly dark by the time Damien stood before his people and gave a heart-wrenching speech to honor their sacrifice, honor the dead, but also to muster their support for a new Triaedian. One in which they were all equals, and the breeds did not keep themselves separated.

The crowd cheered for him and as it all died down, a slow crescendo of singing rose from the crowd. One by one, they joined hands and sang the song of Triaedian. Tears filled her eyes, the unity and peace of it all nearly bringing her to her knees.

Magic stirred in her veins, pushing her to let it out. Still nervous about what it was capable of and not trusting in Juno at all, Liana reluctantly let it pull her forward. Damien didn't follow her off the dais.

Her skin began to glow gold, the hue making her want to pull back. This magic belonged to Juno, was the same power that ran through Zatar's blood, the cause of all this death and destruction. Yet, she found herself letting it happen. The crowd's singing ended naturally with the song before someone else started up a war song. One full of sorrow about fallen heroes. Liana sank to her knees in the dirt. A pile of rubble rested between her and the people which used to be the main fountain.

Mage lights erupted from her, lighting the square in a golden hue before the magic leaked out of her fingers toward the rubble. She could feel the intention of the magic in her bones and let it happen. Prodding at the stone rubble, gold strands blanketed it all and began shaping something new. It took only until the song was complete for the new statue to be revealed.

Mage light illuminated the new statue, the new symbol of Triaedian. Three figures stood in a triangle with their hands linked and raised above their heads. One figure was a vampire that resembled Asher, his fangs clearly on display with his mouth open in a cheerful yell. A female with long hair and a triumphant smirk that resembled Charlotte represented the mage. And a bear for the shifter, a mighty roar erupting from strong jaws. At their feet was a mix of small children hugging and playing together. Some were mage, some vampire, and a variety of animals were represented.

An inscription on the base read, 'To all those that fought for unity. To all those that lost their lives fighting for peace. Triaedian will forever remain a kingdom united because of their sacrifice.'

Liana let silent tears fall as she stared up at the statue. She was pleased with the result. Her magic did this. It created something beautiful from the destruction it reaped by another's hands.

She stood on the base of the statue, letting the public see her grief. "From this day forth, the separatists have been defeated once and for all. If you can't support that, leave this kingdom because we will not suffer such ignorance and stupidity. Get out of your own free will before we force you out."

Liana let that sink in for a moment. "From this day forth, Triaedian is a kingdom of united breeds. We are a nation of different people that are stronger together. We are different, but our hearts are the same. Our grief and loss are the same. It is time to end the separation. Not a single person shall be ostracized or harmed because of who they choose as their friends or lovers. Nor should any child ever be forbidden from their birthright. Triaedian was founded to be a sanctuary for all breeds. It is time we live up to that dream. Who is with me?" She yelled.

The crowd yelled back in affirmation.

"Who wants a land of peace?"

They cheered louder.

"Who wants to become the greatest kingdom among all nations?"

She felt her power surge once more, lighting up the crowd with her golden glow.

"We are one people united for Triaedian!"

They went wild, cheering and clapping endlessly. Liana stood proud with her hands clenched at her sides. There was no joy, but relief that they responded favorably, that they were willing to follow her as much as it terrified her to be a leader.

Damien appeared beside her and offered her a hand. His face was blank as he escorted her back to the chariot where his parents already waited. The crowd was livelier on the ride toward the castle and cheered for them as they passed.

Once they were on the long road up to the castle, Liana reached for Damien's hand which rested on his knee. He pulled away from her touch, keeping his stare outward. Liana retracted, folding her arms and ignoring the poignant stares of his parents.

"Once again you act without telling me anything," Damien growled through gritted teeth. "We were supposed to be united in front of our people or is all that talk of unity just and act for the people."

Startled by his anger, her mouth gaped. "Damien, I'm sorry. I just… my magic compelled me."

"Enough of your magic," he barked. "That magic is a curse from the gods."

Shock held her immobile as the rest of her fragile soul dwindled into complete darkness. Shoving her magic down deep, she turned her back to him and forced herself not to cry.

"Son," Ramone warned.

Damien blew out a heavy breath. "Liana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"Yes, you did," she spat back. "You wouldn't have said it otherwise."

"I said it because I'm angry and upset and frustrated and I lashed out at you."

It was too late though. The damage had already been done because Liana already thought that of herself. "Yes, well, me and my cursed magic were never supposed to make it past the age of twenty. Unfortunately, I survived."

He growled, yanking her around to face him.

"Don't touch me," she complained, yanking her shoulders free.

"Don't say things like that," he demanded in return.

She yanked the crown off her head and threw it on the floor of the carriage before turning her back on him once more. "I never wanted any of this. All I ever wanted was to hide in the forest where no one could shame me anymore."

Damien sighed. "Liana, I'm sorry. I know it's a sore topic. I never should have said anything."

But he did, and she was spiraling into her past. Everything she suffered since she was a child was because of her magic. Now Luciano, Asher and her father all died to protect her because her magic was supposed to be the key to killing Zatar.

It was cursed.

She was cursed.

Hunched over, she couldn't wait for this ride to be over. All she wanted was to disappear. Disappear from it all and never return.

She was the savior of nothing, and no one needed her.