Page 103 of Joy Guardian
The prince met my eyes. “What promise did she break?”
I’d never seen the torment of a promise breaker before. But Prince Rha was right, this was the behavior of someone who had broken a promise. An inferno of pain and despair burned through those wretched souls, making them lose their mind and die in torment.
What promise did she break?Prince Rha’s words echoed in my head as I searched for an answer.
My gaze fell at the dagger by the prince’s foot. Oria had dropped it after trying to attack Ciana.
There was one promise that was present in both the vow of the Joy Guardians and the oath of the Watchers, one promise that we all gave, it was to protect the Joy at all costs.
The realization settled in me with startling clarity.
“She promised to defend joy,” I said. “Yet she attacked one of its creators.”
The prince stared at Ciana. Understanding of what I’d realized a while ago spread on his face. Humans weren’t just the vessels of joy. They were its creators, the sources of it. They were more precious than even our ancient Source at the temple because they possessed an infinite ability to replenish and grow their happiness.
Oria screamed again, thrashing in my grip and smashing her head against the floor in the never-ending torture.
“Pass me the dagger, Your Highness.” I tipped my chin at the blade by the prince’s foot.
He kicked it toward me. Pressing my chest down on Oria’s feet to keep her from kicking the floor, I grabbed the dagger, then shifted up her struggling body.
“I’m sorry you erred in your mission, Joy Guardian.” Sorrow seized my heart when I raised the dagger.
This wasn’t how I had thought any of us would end our lives, but there was no other way to free Oria from her suffering. A long, terrible death was the fate of every promise breaker. Killing them quickly instead was a true act of mercy.
“May the Gods of Eternal Darkness welcome you to the afterlife. May you be forgiven for your sins and spared in death the suffering you’ve brought upon yourself in this life,” I whispered the spell to ease her spirit’s passage into the next phase of its existence, then sank the iron blade into her heart.
She screamed one last time. Blood tinted the foam that bubbled out of her mouth.
“Rest now,” I exhaled, keeping the blade in the wound firmly.
She finally stilled. The silence fell on the cell, deafening after Oria’s ear-splitting screams. I held her until the black shadows of her spirit leaving her body curled around the blade in her heart. And Oria was no more.
Letting go of the handle, I wiped the splatter of her blood from my cheek and looked up at all those who had gathered in the entrance.
“Get your hands off my woman, Your Highness.” I glared at the prince.
He smirked at my gruff tone but released Ciana, who instantly rushed to me.
“Is she…” She cast a cautious glance at Oria before falling to her knees at my side.
“Dead.” I pulled Ciana to me.
“You’re bleeding.” She fussed over the cut on my shoulder.
“It’s nothing.” The wound was already tingling with healing magic as the flesh started to knit itself back together.
She buried her face in the side of my neck. I held her, revelingin the peace that descended upon me in her presence. Everything seemed to fall into place when she was near. I didn’t even need my tendrils to feel connected to her on a deep visceral level.
“I love you,” she whispered, echoing my feelings for her. “I lied that I didn’t because it scares the shit out of me.”
She raised her head. Her wide-open eyes met mine.
“As long as we’re together, I’ll fight all your fears for you.” I kissed her lips. “Because the only thing that scares me is you being taken away from me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She drew in a breath as if ready to rush into a battle. “I’m yours,” she exhaled.
My brave woman. She had fought a battle of love before and lost. Yet she rose from the ashes, picked up all her pieces, and opened her heart again. For me.
