Edýia smiled, it appeared to be candid but she already knew that it was more apologetic than anything else. Whatever she was planning, it happened all too fast for her to register the sequence of events as the blinding light engulfed the hall, and that was all that she could see.
When it receded, all that was left behind was nothing more than scarred walls, and without a trace of the shikari. Her gaze drifted from Edýia's face to the place where Azra sat moments before all began. He was no longer in the same place where she left him.
" How could you?" Iris lashed the accusatory question without any restraint.
" How could you take my son from me," Her hands gripped Edýia's shoulders before she even realised she was doing it. And once more the sisters were unleashed, not by her own choice.
" Iris," Another familiar voice rang in the eerie quietness. The soft caress of his tone brought back so many joyful, yet painful memories of a past that unfolded and a future that would never come.
" Breathe," His footsteps resounded in the now dead-silent chamber, " Control your emotions. This is not a time to let loose," His amber eyes glinted in the afternoon sun, very much like molten gold, and the reminder of how many times she'd drowned in them, crested her like the sharpest blade that ever touched her skin searing in its path, deepening the wound that it was already there. A wound that never truly healed. A wound that still bled, not as profusely but bled still.
" Ian," A deep breath to gather herself, as he stretched his arms and wrapped them around her, " You're back," She crashed into his chest, with absolute abandon.
" Bollocks," Corvin muttered, somewhere behind her and began treading towards the double door without looking back.
" How are you here? Nevermind. I'm glad that you're here," Iris muttered with her nose buried in his chest. There was no trace of rotting flesh or greying skin. He was him.
" I'm here to say goodbye, " He said as he pulled away with an apologetic smile.
" What?" That was all that she could muster. The joy of seeing once more hadn't even had time to touch her, never mind settling in. The shock was plenty obvious on Iris's expression, tainted by a trickle of anger.
" This is our final time until you pass into thereafter," Ian lovingly pressed his lips on her forehead.
" Gods, I missed you,"
" No," Iris shook her head as she retreated a few steps back. He looked exactly the same as the last she saw him
" The sisters require my sacrifice. The deal has been struck. I will see you in the afterlife. You will come to me once you pass. Until then, live well, my Queen," He reached to touch her face but didn't quite find the strength to touch her. He nodded at Ker, turned on his heels, and sauntered back through the pool of smoke that swirled suspended by the door.
With one final glance over his shoulder, he stepped through it and the gate collapsed in itself.
" You, " Iris turned to Ker with a murderous look in her eyes and closed the distance in two long strides, " You did this didn't you," The accusation echoed in the chamber several times as Ker blinked languidly as if already bored with the scene.
" Yes," A smile stretched on her lips and melted into the floor beneath her feet.
Edýia snapped her fingers and she was gone in the blink of an eye. Fucking gods.
Flexing her fists at her side Iris stomped out of the room, leaving everyone right where they were.
Someone whistled, and trilled their lips, " I guess we can go home," One of them remarked with a lightness in his tone that irked her enough to want to kill that person, even though it was unwarranted.
As soon as she stepped into the grounds, Iris roared letting out all the frustration, the hurt, and the pain, calling to the gods or anyone who listened. She'd prayed many times to them, but when she needed them they never showed themselves. And now that she was so close to ending everything, they butted in, and poked their noses, prolonging a war that has lasted longer than it should have.
Arms wrapped around her shoulders, hard chest pressed against her back, as she crumpled to the ground dragging him with her. There were no words sweet enough to soothe the pain she was experiencing. But his warm embrace, bit by bit soothed her, brought her back to him, and realized that tears streamed down her cheek, staining the cold slabs of stone.
Corvin didn't say anything, as she unravelled in his arms. She stopped counting how many times, he'd held her broken self and pieced her back together afterwards. Did it matter?
" I'm here," He whispered, softly kissing her hair, and tightening his arms around her.
She didn't, nor couldn't say anything to him. She had been, fortunate enough to be loved by two men. It was hard to choose which one she loved more. Ian or Corvin. Was it even the right time to say such a thing?
The sobs subsided, and grief settled to a dull, throbbing rhythm. She'd lost Azra for a second time since he'd been born.
Silent tears leeched down her cheeks at the reminder and finally raised her head to be greeted by a bitter smile on Corvin's lips.
" I thought he'd take you from me," He took a deep breath, " I'm glad you chose to stay," He tried to smile but failed miserably.
" He wanted to say goodbye. He will wait for me in the hereafter," The words came out rather ragged, and forced.
" And yet, here you are," He smiled, a bit more heartfully this time and pressed his forehead on hers. And she realized that she could indeed end her life to join Ian. At the bitter realisation, she closed her eyes, and for some reason, felt the weight of the world lift off her shoulder and the searing power that crackled in her veins regardless of what time of day was, rapidly faded.
" Say something lewd," Iris challenged.
The smile on his lips stretched into a full grin, " I can't wait until it's just us, do you know why?" Iris shook her head.
" Because we are not leaving the bed until the next Whitsun celebration," Nothing happened, no cackling, no whispers, no humming in her ears.
" The sisters are gone. She locked them up again," Corvin frowned, his shoulders sagged, and blew out a breath of relief.
" I guess," He twined his fingers with hers and gave her a small squeeze, "It's just us, now," He pressed his lips on hers in a soft, gentle kiss.
" Is this a good time to tell you that I love you," He whispered as he pulled away from the kiss, and rubbed his nose against hers, " And perhaps hope that you'll meet again in the afterlife," Everyone began pouring into the castle grounds.
" In your dreams, troglodyte, " Iris poked his chest with her finger, eliciting a rasped laugh from everyone around.
" No one minds their own business anymore, " He muttered as he pulled himself up with her in tow and faced the others in the yard.
" Time to go home," Dakran declared and began marching towards the gates, as everyone followed chatting among themselves.
" We need to get everyone out of the forest," Iris whispered as the fell a step behind everyone.
" Can we leave Evin in it?" Corvin chuckled, " It's not much to ask is it?" He shrugged as they pushed past the gate.
" No, he will take my place so we kind of need him," Iris shrugged and leaned onto his shoulder, as began descending the incline into the forest.
THE END