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Chapter 88
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2021-12-03 11:39:48Days before the festival, I found myself deep within the city of Ilyria, with Adley and Ally by my side. I planned to spend the entire day with them, beginning with a small breakfast bistro situated beside a small lake and park. Couples took photographs beneath the azalea arches and in between the animal topiaries.
I made it startingly clear to Dain that my previous threat extended too today as well. Any stalker behavior would have to be done in person, and not by body jumping through his citizens.
“So, you told him?” Adley grinned, waggling her eyebrows. She leaned back in her seat, spearing a strawberry with her fork as she grinned at a nearby waiter.
“He was trying to tell me to stay out of Ilyria during the festival, other than that, he didn’t seem to care.” I shrugged, ignoring the twinge of irritation I felt. “I invited him…sort of. It’s been almost a week and he hasn’t brought it up since.”
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Iridian Chapter 89
My lungs were seizing, burning and spasming as I fought to breathe. It wasn’t fear that filled my every pore, overwhelming me until details became sharper and sounds richer.It was desperation, because I felt no trace of the power that had saved my life numerous times now. There was nothing, just this emptiness that accompanied the searing pain in my chest.‘Rachel, the powder isn’t affecting me—you need to breathe, calm down so we can shift!’I could barely hear her voice past the burning in my head and lungs, past the desperate thoughts of a dying girl, clamoring for oxygen.Ash, the bartender I hadn’t given a second thought about, towered over me. The streak of red in his hair seemed darker, closer to the shade of blood. He had been pushy at the club, and hit on anything with a pulse, but he hadn’t exuded cruelty the way he did now.The way he stood, the tenseness in his shoulders, it reminded me of some
Last Updated : 2021-12-04Iridian Chapter 90
Somehow, Adley had little trouble using the bracelet Dain had made for me. The three of us stepped into my suite, both Adley and I still weak and swaying. I wondered if seeing only the positive outcomes made her falter when something bad happened—was that why Ally always seemed so morose?“We’re going to use the bracelet to get back, all right? I’ll leave it here on the table.” Ally said firmly, her eyes betraying only a flash of sympathy before cloudy indifference took hold.“Ally, we have to tell him—”“Rachel can tell him. Can’t you?” She asked, ignoring her sister. Sliding the bracelet onto her wrist, she opened my closet door. I could see their living room on the other side, the pale couch heaped in blankets and throw pillows.“Ally—”“Adley.” Ally’s tone was harsh, but there was something hidden within it that made her sister halt.Tea
Last Updated : 2021-12-04Iridian Chapter 91
I wiped the tears from my eyes with a furious hand, staring down at my wrist. I touched the soft skin with my fingertips, tracing the cobalt veins beneath. There was no festering wound, that ached it oozed dark blood, nor a scarlet sickle etched into my skin.I pinched, poked, and prodded until my brain caught up to what I was seeing. Swallowing heavily, I noticed the absence of pain in my throat. It was then I registered Dain’s imposing presence, taking up most of the air in the room. The flutter in my stomach, the way I felt attuned to his every move, it was all back.My eyes drifted slowly, to where he sat just a few feet away. Leaning against the headboard on a bed large enough to fit a family of eight, I hadn’t even felt him sink into the mattress. The sight of him made me catch my breath. I had never seen Dain this disheveled before. Always so well dressed, never a hair or expression out of place.His raven hair was an absolute mess, the shaved
Last Updated : 2021-12-08Iridian Chapter 92
“I don’t feel so good.” I swallowed, blinking rapidly as though the image of Ash, bloody and bruised beyond all recognition, wasn’t seared into my mind. Tears turned my vision blurry, making my eyes and throat ache.Cold hands found my face, cupping my heated cheeks. Through the rivulets that danced in my eyes, I could make out Dain’s face, much too close for comfort.His head was tilted ever so slightly, a perplexed look on his face as he studied my own. I swore I could detect just a hint of frustration. I tried to shove his hands away, but to no avail. Hadn’t he ever seen a girl cry before?“Stop swatting my hands away.” I snapped, but the threatening tone of voice was flimsy considering it cracked halfway through.“Stop crying.” He murmured, his grip on my face tightened. I could smell his breath, and knew from the whisper of cherries, that it had been some time since he last had a drink.
Last Updated : 2021-12-10Iridian Chapter 93
Just three days before the festival of Day and Night, I found myself sitting at Dain’s dinner table, my mouth open in outrage.“See how easy that was?” Dain grinned, leaning back in his chair. His eyes darted to my lips, where the wine I had been drinking splashed against my lips and dribbled down my breasts. He had been making a point, that doing small magical acts was as easy as walking and talking. With a flick of his pointer finger, the wine glass had slipped from my hands. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table, his head tilting ever so slightly. “Would it be gross if I tasted you, Rachel?”I rolled my eyes at the word ‘gross,’ and how strange it sounded coming from him. There was a sophistication to the way he spoke, while I had barely managed to pass my high school English class.Flushing, and running the risk of babbling incoherently, I stabbed my fork into a cube of steak and placed it betwe
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I had all afternoon to think about what Dain had told me, and the slim possibility that his brother was out there…alive.No, I wouldn’t let myself hope. There was no escape from what I had done. I had seen his body with my own eyes, and my silence was only delaying the inevitable.Ever since Ash’s attack, sleep was no longer a break from reality. I relived his assault in my dreams, felt that familiar pain and embarrassment all over again. Nightmares where he had done more than just mark me—so much more than leave me battered and bruised.Leslie was truly skilled at her job because every time I was wrenched from a nightmare, coated in sweat and disgust, I could smell the vanilla scented steam spewing from the bathroom. I’d soak in the bath for over half an hour, surprised at how well I slept once the tension had finally been drained from my body.I had expected tonight to be the same, but when I rested my head on the velvet p
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A young servant with sable hair and a wide smile paused as she passed me heaving against the stone wall. Not that I would ever admit this to Helios, but his training was paying off. That was the longest I had run thus far. The servant’s eyes were wide with concern, the stack of folded sheets in her hands forgotten as she reached for me.“Oh, I’m alright. Just exercising.” I gave her my weak excuse and a painful smile before heading back the way I had come. “Training—with Helios.”I waited several minutes before venturing back, and even more before approaching the set of open doors.The elevated heart rate and sweat coated skin, I could blame that on training with Helios. It was the perfect excuse for my flustered appearance. I couldn’t ignore the giddiness I felt.I had just successfully used magic, for the first time. Nothing exploded or caught on fire, and my feet remained firmly planted on the ground.
Last Updated : 2021-12-11Iridian Chapter 96
I lunged at the desk in the living room, snatching up one of Adley’s school notebooks and a pen, just as her eyes unfocussed and went blank. The calm sky-blue of her irises glowed softly, unsettling as she stiffly swiveled her head in my direction.For seconds Adley stared at me, until finally she spoke.“Daughters of the sun and sea,two once powerful kingdoms brought down to their knees.Dying legacies, where only one will stand.The champions of Light and Dark hold the fate of the world in their hands.”Ally sighed, frowning softly at her sister, until her eyes too went blank. Her eyes began to glow, the same soft color as her twin. Ally’s pale blue eyes held fragments of grey, like gathering storm clouds.Her head swiveled in my direction, and she spoke.“A call to arms from warrior’s past,to defend their Houses at long last.Brothers forced on opposing sides,the me
Last Updated : 2021-12-14
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I stumbled over my words, forcing them into the space between us where they hovered like a noxious gas. “What—what do you mean? I killed Nadia…I don’t—” The Moon Goddess cut my rambling short by placing the palm of her hand against my cheek. It was something my mom had done whenever I was upset as a child, and somehow the Moon Goddess’s touch held that same level of comfort. She smiled sadly, but it was an expression of pure love and understanding. “Do not punish yourself, daughter. What was left of Nadia’s essence has returned home and rejoined that of her wolf, but her death does not mean Evil is gone from the world. Us celestial beings aren’t allowed to meet our creations, but this situation…it is unique. I’m afraid I cannot tell you much, but there is one who can.” Jumping at the chance to get some answers, to preserve the peace Dain and the warriors fought so hard for, I asked, “Who? Who can?” “It is time to awaken, daughter. It’s in the world of the living where you’ll find
Iridian Epilogue Pt. 2
All I could do was stand there and gape at him. Honesty shone in his eyes like newborn stars, but all it did was leave me confused. I replayed the last twenty-four hours in my head, searching for the moment where I’d won the game between us.When I came up empty handed, I stammered, “I did?”Dain nodded, staring down at me with hooded eyes. “You did.”“How? When?”“As for how, that’s the part where I cheated, I’m afraid. I didn’t admit out loud what I felt for you, but I felt it nonetheless.” He admitted, a sheepish tilt to his lips. “I realized I loved you the moment those doors opened, and you appeared at the top of the steps. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget the way you looked in that gown, which I’ll have to thank Adley for when she returns. You could’ve been an assassin here to put a dagger in my heart and I would’ve gladly let you.”There was an explosion of butterflies in my chest, their wings beating so frantically that the sound of my heartbeat was drowned out.Leaning into Dain
Iridian Epilogue Pt.1
Epilogue – Part OneIn every book, in every movie where a great battle is fought and won, they never show what happens after.I’m not talking about the following weeks or months, but hours and days. I’m talking about when the dust has yet to settle and the ghosts of the dead still linger in the walls, when every gust of wind or insignificant sound sends you freefalling through time. When every shadow bares the face of someone you know—or worse, someone you killed. When all that’s left is this numbing sense of disbelief that tries to trick you into thinking this new reality isn’t real—that it’s all some pitiful hope conjured up by a dying, fear-riddled mind.According to Dain, it’s a time to mourn what was lost while holding those we love near, a chance to silence the ghosts that haunt us by thinking of the future we’d create. When I asked this question, my mate wasn’t the only one with an opinion. In Apollo’s not so humble words, it’s a time to get absolutely plastered and to celebrat
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The elongated claws tipped with old blood were hers. I couldn’t forget the sight of her gnarled fingers, which had once been slender and elegant, even if I tried.With a loud smack, she flattened her palm against the stone floor. A second arm shot out of the water, followed by another wet smack.‘That puddle’s not nearly big enough for what she’s trying to do…’ Rayna pointed out, her voice just as sickly as I knew my own would be.Both of Nadia’s arms were bent at odd angles as they rose from the water, but that was the least disturbing thing I witnessed as this day began to quickly unfold. Next to appear were her eyes, the whites much too large to be considered normal, followed by the jagged slash that was her smile. In the memories I’d seen, her smile had been coy and playful, with the same softness as a flower’s petals. This one was of malice and envy, both deeply disturbing and in dire need of some chapstick.Her shoulders rose from the water at the same time but were bent awkward
Iridian Chapter 212
It took everything within me not to flinch at the sound of her voice and how close it truly was to my ear. Only when I felt her icy talons meet my skin did I act.‘It’s showtime.’ Rayna murmured, lending me all of her strength as I willed the floor to crumble beneath my feet.Together, my wolf and I fell.Since I was prepared for the impact, it was easy to call on my magic to lessen the blow. Warm air rushed beneath my gown and outstretched arms, acting as a safety net that slowed my fall and kept me from toppling over. It wasn’t the graceful landing I’d been trying for since Nadia was doing something to block our magic, but it kept me from breaking both my ankles on the way down.I didn’t wait for the dust to settle. The moment I felt solid stone beneath my feet, I took off running.Nadia’s snarl was one of surprise and outrage, strong enough that it made the castle tremble. I didn’t repress my grin or the laughter I spewed into the air, knowing both would entice her to follow—to con
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Nadia launched herself at me, and as she did so, her hair and dress billowed out at her sides. The movement was slow and lazy, almost like she was submerged in water and not hovering a solid three feet in the air. Even though her form was translucent, and she seemed to be neither here nor there, I had a sickening feeling she could still do significant damage if I let her reach me.Instinct took over, and for once in my life, it wasn’t telling me to run.I launched the orb in my hand like it were a baseball, and watched as it spiraled through the air, a small halo of light surrounding it. When it hit its mark, square in the center of Nadia’s face, I silently thanked Aidan for teaching me all those years ago. I had hated every second of his baseball phase, but he’d been so passionate about becoming a professional athlete and whisking us away that I couldn’t resist helping him practice. After a dozen scraped knees, a handful of bruises, and one broken arm, we both called it quits.The in
Iridian Chapter 210
For the longest time all I could hear was the sound of stone grinding against stone.There was a painful burn in my lungs, but I didn’t dare exhale. Instead, I held my breath and watched as the corridors around me shifted. Walls slid left and right, forming new pathways that hadn’t existed before. Many changed angles, creating sharp turns that you couldn’t see coming until it was too late.Some of the windows began to close, melting away as though they’d never been there, while others grew larger. The ones that grew in size turned into arched doorways narrow enough for but one person to slip through.While the castle itself wasn’t a sentient being, every brick and inch of tiled floor was alive with Dain’s magic. I could feel it’s alluring touch within everything I altered and couldn’t help but smile at how eager it was to please me. Even the paintings responded to my call, changing forms until each one was exactly the same.The brash strokes of oil paint shimmered as they changed colo
Iridian Chapter 209
“My sisters, are they safe?” Aidan asked, his voice low.Even with a side view of his face, I could see the way it twisted into a concerned grimace. With eyebrows knitted tightly together and jaw clenched, he pivoted his head from left to right, peering down each corridor as we crept through another intersection. The sword he clutched in his hand, it’s metal an impenetrable black that shimmered with blood, was raised and ready for use.“Is anyone truly safe?” I asked, eyeing one of the windows warily. It would be all too easy for Nadia or one of her monsters to slip through now that the hallways were conjoined. “They’re hidden away. The fight won’t reach them.”His shoulders slumped as much as they could with the defensive stance he held, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.“Thank the Goddess. Even though I’d see them when I got back, I’m not sure I’d be able to handle it if they were dead.”He didn’t have to explain why, not when the answer hovered in the space between us.There w
Iridian Chapter 208
Selfishly, I tried to call on Helios, to summon him to my side like I’d been told I could. It was what he would’ve wanted, it was why we completed the bond in the first place. The issue was that no one told me how to do it.There was a sense of awareness that settled over me, followed by a wave of understanding that told me Helios was very much alive. He was feeling it too, a subtle tug that let him know I was still here. I concentrated on my golden-haired warrior harder, imagining him as a sword sheathed at my side, ready to be used at moment’s notice.I felt that tug turn into a harsh pull, but there was no smile of victory on my face, because the milky-eyed creature at the end of the hall let out a blood-curdling wail and charged.I’d never been afraid of horror movies, not with their make-shift gore and fake blood. The knowledge that the creepy monster on the television screen wasn’t actually real was enough to smother any fear I might’ve felt. As I scrambled to get away from the
