The Forsaken Hero

The Sunsinger Estate was in chaos. Soldiers and servants swarmed the courtyard, tending to the wounded and clearing bodies. The ground was cratered and littered with rubble, with tents and supply piles everywhere. Overhead, storm demons patrolled the skies, earning uneasy glances from the men below. Near the outer wall, the ruins of a skyship spilled splintered wood and smoldering metal across the street, its hull charred and cracked.

A group of mage soldiers saluted as we passed through the gates. Luke gathered me in his arms and slid off Fable’s back, gently setting my feet on the ground. I leaned back against him, grateful for his arms, which he kept around my waist, hugging me from behind.

”Welcome home, my Lady,” their leader said, his salute crisp. ”We saw the light. Is it over?”

”Both the Divine and Noble houses have fallen,” I said.

The leader’s face softened. ”Thank the gods,” he whispered. He glanced toward the house, frowning. ”Where are Lord Aerion and Lady Selena? There is much to attend to.”

”They haven’t come back yet?” I asked, my voice barely carrying above the din of the courtyard.

The mage’s shoulders slumped. ”No, my Lady. You’re the first friendly faces since your storm demons appeared overhead. We fought off three waves of House Noble forces before that.”

My gaze swept toward the Sunsinger manor. A thin plume of smoke curled from the eastern wing, and dark scorch marks marred the stone walls. My stomach clenched, twisting with butterflies. ”What about Sari? Is she safe?”

The leader looked around his soldiers, who shook their heads. When he returned his gaze to me, he lowered his head. ”I don’t know, my Lady. We’ve been fighting nonstop since the battle began, and I...I’m sorry.”

”Thank you, and please stay vigilant,” I said, keeping the tremor from my voice. ”The houses have fallen, but there is still fighting in the streets.”

”Come on, let’s get you inside,” Luke said.

He led me toward the manor, the demons and Fable trailing behind. Soldiers we passed straightened their posture and saluted, their faces brightening; a few bowed in reverence.

The estate doors swung open as Anrynth emerged with a small escort. ”My Lady,” he said, bowing low. ”I am gladdened by your return. Please, you must be exhausted.”

”Please. Sari, is she safe?” I asked hopefully.

”The foxkin girl is safe,” Anrynth assured me, gesturing toward the smoking eastern wing. ”No foes breached the walls, though the nobles’ attack took a toll. Between the inquisitor’s attack and now this, I fear we’ll be replacing half the glass in the estate before the week is out. Not many windows survived the explosions.

I sagged against Luke, the tension finally breaking. ”Thank the gods. Zephyriss, if you can, please take what Devoted we have left and return to the city. Do what you have to make sure everyone’s safe.”

A predatory grin spread across the demon’s lips. ”With pleasure.”

When I looked at her, brow furrowed, she hastened to add, ”I’ll only play with the ones fighting against the Crimson Threads.”

I nodded reluctantly. She zipped into the air, taking half her demons with her.

”Is she really a demon Lord?” Luke asked as she vanished into the gloom.

Fyren sighed, shaking his head. ”I’m afraid so. Most sober up after a few millennia, but she never lost her spark. It’s irritating.”

Inside the manor, servants took R’lissea from Fable’s back to see her to her chambers. I started to follow, but Luke’s grip on me tightened, holding me back.

”Xiviyah, you need the rest as much as she does. You’re in no condition to help her yourself,” he said.

”But I—”

”No. You’re dead on your feet, and even I can sense your soul is at its limit. Trust the elves, and your allies.”

I didn’t have the strength to argue. Luke guided me down the hall, his touch firm but careful. At my prompting, Fable bounded off toward the eastern wing, following Sari’s scent. Behind us, Fyren remained at the entrance, speaking with the soldiers in low tones.

The world blurred. I barely felt the carpet beneath my boots, and my head eventually came to rest on Luke’s shoulder. The metallic scent of his armor mingled with the acrid smoke clinging to my clothes. When my legs finally gave out, Luke scooped me up in his arms, carrying me like a child.

”It’s okay,” he whispered. ”Just sleep.”

I couldn’t help obeying him, the world fading into unconsciousness.

When I stirred, the gray light of dawn filtered through the curtains, soft against my eyelids. For a moment, I lay suspended between sleep and waking, before falling on the side of consciousness. I knew not how long I’d slept, but the ache in my bones was gone, and I felt surprisingly refreshed.

Blinking away the grogginess, I stared up at the familiar ceiling of my bedroom. The silken sheets felt particularly heavy against my skin, but as I looked down, I realized I still wore my dress from the day before. But the blood and grime that had caked its fabric were gone, washed away as if the battle had been nothing more than a terrible dream. My skin was clean, and the soot and blood that had painted my arms and face vanished.

My breath caught, heart pounding against my ribs as reality crashed back in. Had it all been a nightmare? The crater, the ash, the Arbiter falling before Luke’s blade—was any of it real?

But then it came to me, the faintest scent of smoke clinging to my hair, the lingering smell of ash on the sheets around me. The memories flooded in then, each one sharper than the last: the cannon firing, the world going white, Luke’s broken body in my arms. No dream, no visions. It had all been real.

With a groan, I rolled into a sitting position, stretching with a yawn. The room was quiet, devoid of the constant rumblings and screams of battle or the shouts from the courtyard. My gaze fell to the bedside table. The Aetherial Prism rested there, scattering multicolored light across the room. I brushed it, a spark leaping between the crystal and my finger, sending a shiver down my tail. Its power beckoned to me, and I drew it in, taking a deep breath as it stretched my soul.

A sudden, low exhale caused me to jump, suppressing a squeak as my hand darted back. But I relaxed quickly, a light blush coloring my cheeks as I found Luke sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, his head lowered. He wore his armor from the day before, though it, too, was clean, though the rents remained. His chest rose and fell with low, even breaths.

I slipped off the bed and tiptoed toward him, crouching in front of him. He looked so soft and gentle asleep, vulnerable in a way I’d never seen him before. My lips curved in a soft smile as I ran a gentle finger across his cheek, tracing his scar. He didn’t stir.

Had he stayed there all night, watching over me, even after everything he’d been through? My smile widened, and a warmth spread through my chest, chasing away the last of the morning chill.

”Oh, Luke...” I whispered.

Luke stirred at the sound, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked, his violet gaze focusing on me. My breath caught as our eyes met, and I jerked away, warmth flooding my cheeks.

”S-sorry! I didn’t mean to--”

Before I could retreat further, his arm shot out, pulling me into a hug. I stumbled, falling into his lap as he wrapped me in a hug.

”Good morning,” he said, pressing his face into my hair.

”Morning,” I mumbled into his chest. My tail swished, curling around his leg as I shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. ”What are you doing here?”

Luke chuckled, the sound rumbling beneath my ear. ”I wanted to be here when you woke up.” He shifted, his muscles tensing slightly. ”Not... not in a creepy way. The maids used magic on your clothes and cleaned you up. I didn’t... I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

I buried my face deeper into his chest to hide my blush, listening to his rapidly beating heart. It slowed as the quiet between us stretched, slowly eroding the weight of the battle hanging between us.

A soft knock echoed from the door, followed by Luxxa’s muffled voice. ”My Lady? Are you awake?”

My head snapped up, the peaceful moment shattering like glass. I stiffened in Luke’s arms, my tail tightening around his leg. Luke merely sighed, a low, weary sound, and rested his chin on my head.

”In here,” I called out, my voice a little too loud, a little too high.

The door creaked open, and Luxxa stepped inside, her silver armor gleaming in the dawn light. Luxxa stepped inside, her silver armor gleaming. She was always so composed, but this morning, she looked tired, her shoulders slumped just slightly. Her eyes found us instantly. A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she smoothed it over, coughing to hide a smile.

”My Lady,” she said, inclining her head. ”Forgive the intrusion, but Lady Selena has requested your presence as soon as you awoke. She and Lord Aerion have returned.”