The welling of tears which I had been holding at bay surged forward again, and I threw myself at my mate.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
I murmured the words over and over. I had never believed I would have someone like Brace in my life. Someone who did everything in his power to ensure my happiness. I was blessed in so many ways. And yet, my heart still ached.
“Lallielle’s trying to reach them through dreamscape. She can go deeper into one’s subconscious. Josian is providing backup power,” Brace said. “I had to push them pretty hard to get them to leave. It wasn’t until they knew for sure you were coming back to us that they went to help the others. I think they expected you would sleep longer.”
I halted his explanation. I knew my parents loved me more than anything. They would not have easily left my side when I was hurt.
“Let’s go to the girls.”
I pushed down the remaining flickers of hope. I knew my girls were gone; I’d felt it. Josian and Lallielle wouldn’t find them hiding deep in their subconscious. And yet, I still couldn’t stop myself from literally running toward the ballroom.
I sensed the mood long before we made it into the large, ornately clad room. Stepping onto the top of the long staircase, my eyes were immediately drawn to the angels that decorated the ceiling. It was oddly appropriate considering the room was being used as a sort of open-air tomb.
Reality was, I couldn’t bring myself to look down upon the scene I knew waited below. There was a heaviness in the air, a sense of mourning and pain. I could feel the emotional resonance of everyone who waited there. All of us had lost someone. For some it was their mate. For me it was my sisters.
Sucking in what I hoped was a fortifying breath, I took the first step and started to descend. Gods, it was a lifetime ago that I had walked through those doors on the eve of my eighteenth birthday. Almost killing myself in those ridiculous heels. A lifetime ago that I didn’t know the true joy of Brace. Or my half-Walkers. I didn’t know of the pain and fear and craziness that the next year fighting the Seventine would bring. My world had done a complete three-sixty, and even though we had won – we had beaten them – the cost was just too high.
When Brace, Lucy, Colton, Cerberus and I had almost reached level ground, my eyes finally fell on the scene. My heart stuttered in my chest, its beats all over the place. Breathing was suddenly so much harder to do.
Everyone gathered around the seven bodies which were laid out in an arrangement, raised up on padded white tables. The closest one I could see was Francesca. Her whiteness both contrasted and blended with the marble floor. Standing at her side was Lallielle, head bowed, lips moving. I knew my mother was spiritual. She prayed to the gods. And she loved her sister.
At the foot of each girl lay her sacred guide. They mourned with the rest. Their cries were low, but I heard and felt every single one.
Brace wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into his warmth, helping me regulate my breathing by matching our bodies together. Lucy and Colton were on the other side of me, and my best friend was still sobbing.
“I haven’t stopped crying since the dark mountain,” she whispered, as if she’d heard my thought. “Standing on the outside, watching the girls fall one by one. Hearing as you begged for them to stay. As you fought for them. Knowing that in the end you would probably … die.” She sucked in deeply, as if just saying those words killed her.
I hadn’t even realized that I’d spoken out loud during those last moments with the half-Walkers. But I must have.
“If I never live through something like that again. It will be too soon.” Lucy finished.
I reached out and hugged her one-armed. “I’m so sorry. It sucked. It really freaking sucked, and I would do anything to change what happened.”
She had no idea how much I wished I could erase our loss. I’d give anything. Dammit. It wasn’t fair.
I was just about to step out onto the marble floor when a tall male emerged from beside the staircase. His blond hair was disheveled, his face drawn. A cord of something flickered in my stomach, the connection between us flaring.
I couldn’t stop myself from crossing the two steps to meet him. I hesitated briefly, examining Lucas. He looked the same: perfectly chiseled and coldly handsome features. It was as if the gods had precisely carved him to fit a stereotype of the ruling Emperor that he was, but they’d lacked a touch of the warmth I found in Brace’s beauty.
He stepped closer, and before I could react his arms closed around me. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”
The weird mini-bond between us was really humming now. Lucas and I were the chosen rulers of First World and would always have a connection. Something I wasn’t particularly comfortable with, but it was there nonetheless.