KAIROTH
Pain. Wrath. Justice. Nothing.
Chapter Seventy-Two
BELLAMY
“Hungry?” I turned to see Leoni and Driscoll standing behind me on the terrace.
The starry night spread out above. Driscoll held up a tray full of bread, jam, and some kind of stew that made my stomach turn. I almost hadn’t come out here. I’d been holed up in my room for the last three days, refusing to see anyone. My brothers ignored that and barged in on me anyway, but they quickly realized I wasn’t in the mood to talk.
But tonight I desperately needed fresh air, and of course, the moment I emerged from my chambers, Driscoll and Leoni found me.
I’d barely been able to eat anything since the battle. Since... I swallowed. Since I’d lost Kairoth.
I turned back to stare at the sky above. Once Kairoth died, all the shadows he’d commanded disappeared along with him, and so did all the magical items that had been created from those shadows. The island was free now.
I just wished it felt more like a victory instead of a funeral.
“You both should go,” I said. “Everyone else has already left.”
Even the boys of Neverland had left. Most of them. Some decided to stay here, stating that it was more of a home than anywhere else could be. Others left with the pirate lord, who promised them a new home he and Princess Gabrielle had found.
“Leoni,” I continued, “you’re captain of the guard for Queen Poppy, and Driscoll, you’re a soon-to-be king.”
“Queen,” he said. “I like queen better. It really does have a ring to it.”
He let out an oomph, and I assumed Leoni elbowed him.
“Right. Not the point. Though I do want to talk about the fact that I have a betrothed, and he happens to be a king.”
“All you’ve done is talk about it, Driscoll. Nonstop. To anyone who will listen. You single-handedly cleared out the dining hall last night because everyone was so sick of hearing about it.”
“Not me,” a deep voice said. Aron.
He hadn’t left yet either, despite the fact that he needed to get back to Fyriad. He was king now. He had a big weight on his shoulders. But he’d handle it. Especially with Driscoll at his side.
“Like I said.” I cleared my throat. “You three have many responsibilities you need to return to.”
“Oh, stop trying to push us away.” Driscoll came up on one side of me, leaning on the balcony. Leoni and Aron came up on the other. “We’re not going anywhere until we know you’re fine.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve got my brothers.”
“Yeah, but they’re brothers.” Driscoll waved a hand in the air. “We’re your friends. You can’t talk about some of this stuff with your brothers. I mean, were you going to tell them about your shadow daddy?” Leoni leaned over and swatted him on the back of his head.
“Ow!” He rubbed it. “Uncalled for.”
“You’re uncalled for.”
He stuck out his tongue.
“I think what Driscoll is trying to say,” Aron said, “is that we’re here for you because we care.”
Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes. “Thank you,” I choked out. “I just can’t believe he’s gone.”
“He did a brave thing,” Leoni said. “A good thing. Everyone thought of him as this monstrous beast, but in the end, he really was a hero.”
I let out a sob, my shoulders shaking.
