"Eventually, yes," I said, my voice breaking.
Kade’s hand rested on my shoulder, I could feel the slight tremble in his body. "I'll always be here for you, Rem Rem."
I reached up to place my hand on his, my eyes still staying on Emon, our parents watching us all with quiet reservation. "Always," I whispered fiercely, “And it will be needed, Kade. Our court must be ready for battle in ten days time.”
Kade choked on a dark laugh. "Are you seriously asking me to bring my court to war within days of my new rule with knowledge that the fate of our world rests upon it.”
I turned towards him, "Ten days Kadey Kins, not a day longer. I will call upon you."
He folded his arms. "And how will I know where to find you?"
Holding my hand up, the lilin shadows rushed to swirl around it, bringing my daughter’s shadow form with them. She shiftedback at my side, smiling up at the both of us. "The shadows will come for you." I said gravely.
“Uncle Kade!” Riella beamed before turning into shadow and barreling into him. Stumbling, my brother cradled her shadow into his chest just as she shifted back into her fae form, wrapping her arms around his neck with a grin.
“Little bird,” he laughed, looking down at her he grinned, “you have learned to fly.”
Riella nodded excitedly, “And shift. Wanna to see?”
A small smile traced across my lips watching my daughter show off her new skills.
My mother sighed behind us, "I suppose this means goodbye, will you not stay to rest?"
I shook my head, feeling the sickening slither of the Sanguine slide along Emon’s flickering light. “No. We have no more time to waste.” My eyes shifted to my father, “Deirdre has extended her reach into the Valgari. Nice of you to tell me Hell shared its borders.” I drawled.
My mother gasped. "Shea! You did not tell her?"
He grinned at her but spoke to me, "Would it have even helped if I had?"
I crossed my arms, "I think you need to visit your shared realm father because the Sanguine has spilled into your lands. Deirdre has recruited the demons of Wrath, supplying them with blood crystals. If what you say is true, that your main goal is to ensure my survival then they must be stopped."
Green fire rose in his eyes, "Surely Lucifer has it under control."
I shook my head, "Lucifer is dead. His daughter rules in his stead. She is strong but young and untried. She wants the Sanguine crystals for herself."
Shea's flaming glare died and he frowned, shaking his head of flowing black hair. "Dead? No that cannot be possible, I would have known."
I snorted and flipped my hair over my shoulder, "That's your problem to solve now, I cannot be fighting the demons in the Sanguine and Deirdre at the same time." One look at my mother gave me pause. The urge to still keep her safe and protected strong. "And you cannot allow the Eithne to be compromised," I added.
His head tilted, his eyes losing focus. "Noted daughter.” A smile spread across his face, “I know you wish to be off, but youcannot leave just yet. You have a visitor and I must say, it’s about fucking time."
My mouth opened but before I could ask who, a roar I knew well, shook the white sands into tremendous plumes, its height competing with the large onyx towers in the distance and from them, a great golden panther raced towards us.
Preservation would have had anyone stepping back from the blazing glow of a charging beast but that had never been my nature. Instead, our eyes locked and a small sob tore from my chest, then my feet were moving, then running, straight for the world destroyer…the one I called friend.
Rearing, his giant panther form slid across the silver path to stop our inevitable crash, but I did not care. Slamming into his front leg, I buried my face into his golden fur. "Ethereal." My tears fell and wetted his regal coat, soiling his perfection—I needed him.
His massive head bowed around me, hot breath stirring my hair like a summer wind."Princess of the shadows. What has our fairy boy done now?"
Chapter 65
Istaredupintogoldeyes that were so much like Emon's, blinking away the tears and swallowing down my heartache.
I would not break. I could not break. Not now.
"How are you here? How did you break free?" My hand stroked the golden panther’s large head, the awe of his magnificence still just as strong as the first time I laid eyes on him that fateful day in front of The West Isle gates.
Not to have any attention stolen from him, Riella’s spirit guide appeared, spitting like a rabid animal up at Ethereal, taking on a smaller feline form in front of a cat of giants.