Five Years Later
I breathe in the fresh air, sun soaking my skin.
A blue sky hangs above the yawning stretch of crops. I shield my gaze with a hand, determined to find the end of this daunting cornfield.
“Somewhere more interesting.”
Kai’s voice is a drawl beside me. My eyes flick to him, combing over the stubble clinging to his strong jaw. “What?” I ask, fearing the answer.
“Somewhere more interesting,” he repeats with a sigh and crossing of his arms. “That is likely where this field ends.”
I scoff before I scold. “Tando has been good to us. That being said”—I glance around the nearly deserted brick road we stand on—“let’s settle this year’s trade agreements and get the hell out of here.”
Kai takes a step toward me, blotting out the sun with his broad shoulders. “Admit it, darling. You hate it out here more than I do.”
I’m spinning the rings that hug each of my thumbs.
“What makes you say that?”
“The quiet.” He brushes a long strand of hair from my face. “The open space. The lack of handsome strangers to rob.”
I give him a flat look. “You’re right. Not a single handsome face for miles.”
“Easy, Azer. Don’t hurt your foot with such a blatant lie.” He flicks the tip of my nose gently. “I said strangers, and we both know I am nothing of the sort.”
“No, you’re not.” I grab his hands and pull him close. Then I’m murmuring, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t still rob you.”
I lift his wedding band between our close faces.
It was simple, really, snatching the silver ring from his thumb. He wears his symbol of our union on the same finger I do—a reminder of our love, and the love of a lost brother.
Kai shakes his head at me before grasping my hand. “Still as vicious as ever.”
“You love it.”
“I love you,” he murmurs. “Foolishly.”
He kisses me, and still my heart flutters at the brush of his lips.
Pulling away, I glance over at the field of corn waving beside us. “You still feel her, right?”
Kai’s lips twitch into a smile. “She’s on her way back.” Then he raises his voice toward the sea of corn. “Did you find it?”
A small body tumbles from the maze of crop to scurry toward us. That shock of gray hair blows around her face, obscuring the excitement displayed there. With a large ear of corn gripped between tiny fingers, she runs into her father’s awaiting arms.
“That’s the one you were looking for?” Kai asks, examining her loot. “You’re sure this is the best corn in all of Tando?”
“I’m sure, Daddy!” She shoves the vegetable into his hand and promptly reaches for me. I pull her into my arms, trying to ignore how big she has gotten in the last three years. Resting on my hip, she runs her small fingers through the hair falling down my back. Her own is an ashy blend of Kai’s ebony waves and my silver strands. With gray hair and muted blue eyes, our little girl is a messy mixture of two strangers who fell in love.
“What else did you find on your adventure?” I ask while straightening her rumpled clothes.
“Bugs,” she states indifferently. “Big, fat ones.”
Kai nods. “I’m sure. Now, did you bring anything else back?” He inches closer, making her giggle. “Maybe some new freckles?”
She knows this game. And Kit loves it.
Kai presses his lips to the bridge of her nose, over and over until she is squealing. Once he has finished peppering our daughter with kisses, he turns to me. “Is it time for that recount?”
I roll my eyes. “Is that not what you did last week?”
His grin has my cheeks flushing. “One can never be too sure.”
The first soft kiss is to my cheek.
“One,” he murmurs.
The second is on the bridge of my nose.
“Two.”
The third is when I lift my chin and press my lips to his. I smile against his mouth. “Your recount will have to wait. Let’s get the hell out of here, remember?”
We head down the quiet road, Kit’s hands in each of our own. The cottages here look lonely between the fields that accompany them. It is quiet in Tando, eerily so, and I’m grateful when we finally step into the city’s market. Though it is certainly not the bustling Loot I’m so accustomed to, the relief I feel at the sight of milling bodies is shocking.
Kit skips between us as we point out the muted colors all around. Tando’s banners are a soft yellow that seeks no attention. The market is docile and brimming with kind individuals. I quietly envy those so content in such quaintness.
But Loot is my home, and Ilya is thriving around it. The kingdom is open, our borders welcoming of trade and travelers. Ordinaries live alongside their Elite neighbors, growing bolder despite their lack of abilities. It was all I ever wanted to see as a powerless girl.
The slums are my current project. Crumbling buildings are being restored, allowing more shops and homes to border the alleyways. Feasts are held regularly at the castle to welcome the people of Ilya into our home. The once crushing divide between Elites and Ordinaries is slowly smoothing into something promising.
I take in the quiet street, the uniformity between each sturdy brick shop. This is certainly not my kingdom. My Ilya is lively and drenched in color. It is worn and healing and home.
“Kit, honey, stay close!” I call after watching her tear down the street, brandishing an ear of corn.
Kai stares after her with a shake of his head. “She looks just like you. Only, someday soon, that corn will be replaced with a blade.”
I smile sweetly at him. “And she can practice using it on you.”
“You have prepared me well,” he reminds.
His arm tugs me close. I rest my head on his shoulder. We watch our daughter skip in the pooling sunlight.
Until a flash of lilac has my gaze flicking to a shadowed corner of the street.
I stare into the face of a ghost. She stares back.
Scarred flesh climbs up the side of her neck. Mutilated skin stretches across her features before disappearing into that lilac hair. Only one half of her sharp face bears the remnants of my hatred.
I can still feel her soft skin beneath my palm, feel the heat of that raging fire I forced her into.
I expect that rage to resurface now. I expect to crave that revenge on Adena’s behalf and ache to finish what I apparently did not the first time. Blair seems to anticipate the same, because I watch her shoulders tense beneath the cloak slung over them.
But I feel nothing. I do nothing.
We stare at each other for several beats of my clamoring heart.
In another lifetime, she was my enemy. Here, she is a stranger.
I do not wish to avenge Adena any longer. I wish for her to rest.
So, with a slight nod of my head, I let Blair go.
She returns the silent peace offering with a dip of her chin.
“Mommy! Daddy! Look what I found!”
Kit steals my attention with a flurry of limbs and the waving of what must be the best rock in all of Tando. Kai scoops her into his arms, feigning astonishment for the gift she sets in his palm. I, too, look impressed by Kit’s finding as I smooth her wild hair.
And when I finally glance over at that shadowed corner, the ghost is gone.
Kai catches my flitting gaze. Holds it gently. Tilts his head.
“Not-so-vicious little thing,” he murmurs endearingly.
Of course the Wielder knew she was here.
I blow out a breath before stealing our daughter from his arms. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I wouldn’t want to.”
We continue down the sun-drenched street.
Onward, always.
A king. A queen. A princess. A rock and an ear of corn.
Those we have lost walk alongside us, their memory warming our scarred hearts.
We are those we loved.
I tilt my face to the sky and let the sun brush warm fingers over it. The soft rays are a comfort I embrace like an old friend.
My husband stands at my side, just as he always has and always will.
He smiles, and it’s the one meant solely for me. Kit copies her father, though only one stolen dimple peeks out on her right cheek.
I flick them both lightly on the nose. This draws a giggle from Kit and that ceaseless look of reverence from Kai.
I smile back, just as Adena taught me to.
This life is sweet.
Like honey.
