Imperial (Insight #8)(73)

“They will matter. I swear it.” He glanced up and then bowed to one knee.

It took me an instant to realize that Vade was now standing next to me.

“Rise,” Vade said with a deep velvet tone.

Silas did so gracefully, slowly. His eyes rose to meet Vade’s; in them now was deep respect.

Vade extended his hand and Silas took it. After a moment of staring into Silas, Vade spoke again. “I am in your debt. The Creator chose wisely when He declared who Monroe’s guardian would be.”

Silas’ eyes shifted between me and Vade. “That, he did,” he said with a bit of a sly grin. “I have words that need to be said,” Silas said as he released Vade’s hand.

“And they will be heard,” Vade said with utter confidence.

Silas nodded once, and then vanished.

I felt Vade’s hand slide into mine. “Ready?”

“I’m afraid,” I whispered.

“Why?” he asked in a tone laced with deep concern.

“I have watched the Reaper tell many that their deeds are done, that it is time to move on. I have fulfilled my purpose. My essence not only created the perfect weapon, but the perfect child. My line is stronger now than ever… he may very well tell me that my time is over.”

“Then he will accept me as well.”

“Vade—”

He stopped me before I could go on. “Glory, in part you are right. One life has ended for the both of us, but a new one will begin. Our work has just begun.”

“Then I shall hope for mercy.”

“Speak the truth to him, and you cannot fail.”

Nervously, I nodded once. He moved us to the front steps of our mansion in the sky. Rasp and Mazing were waiting there.

Vade tenderly kissed my forehead before he took the first stone that led downward. Mazing and I took the second, Rasp the final one.

Mazing and I were cloaked from the rest of the world, but I knew Vade’s decent into the Veil would not go unnoticed, that when or if we returned there would be others waiting on us.





Chapter Nineteen





The descent into the lower levels of The Realm was slow, giving me much time alone with my beloved First. Mazing seemed calmer now than she had in eons. I wondered if it was the awakening of Silas that had done that, or the revenge she had gotten against that petal named Cadence—or maybe, just maybe she could feel the love that her queen now could feel.

“You look well,” I said tenderly.

A quiet smile came to her lips. “I’m happy for you.”

“I really thought it was the end,” I said, appraising her deep auburn eyes.

“In a sense it was, I suppose. I feared not, though, not when I saw the Fated below.”

“They are strong,” I granted.

“Vicious.”

That made me smile. “I truly hope we can fight with them.”

“Agreed…”

“Do you feel peace now that you have had your vengeance?” I questioned.

She moved her head from side to side. “Cadence was a puppet for evil kings. My vengeance is not over.” She breathed in deeply. “His scent is stronger now than ever before.”

“And how does that make you feel?”

“I feel everything.”

“Do the bad emotions outweigh the good ones?”

“Depends on the moment,” she said with a smirk.

I glanced at Vade. “Do you know what he said to me?”

“Besides that he loves you?”

My soul seized. Hearing them say such words was going to take some getting used to. “You heard about that, huh?”

“Try felt. Every soul felt it; the Earth danced.”

“Well, at least it didn’t crumble.”

That made her laugh, loud enough that Vade glanced over his shoulder at us. Holding his gaze, I spoke. “He said easy come, easy go. That he wanted it to be hard to convince me to love him so that he knew I would never leave.”

Mazing was utterly confused by Vade’s reasoning, which was a good sign. “It has already been hard for you to find peace with the one you share your heart and soul with; don’t make it any harder on yourself in the future.”

“Unless you have the power to erase a really old memory, I don’t know that I can vow that to you. I never felt pain like I did when I saw what I saw. I could never touch that body or those lips without seeing that Creator-forsaken petal. That may be why, if he is alive, he is hiding from me.”

“Ill will with the vessel, not the soul?” I questioned.

Mazing questioned me with her eyes, but my expression was not offering any clues as to where my mind was.

“In a sense. Our time was short; intense, but short. I don’t know that I ever really knew him. The man I held was self-loathing, wished for death, and showed no loyalty.”

I smirked. That was not the man Silas was now.

“Time not only tells, but reveals all.”

“I suppose.” Her eyes drifted over me slowly. “It has been an honor to be your First.”

“Why do I feel like you’re telling me goodbye?”

“I kinda am.”

“Excuse me?”

She shrugged her shoulders as she glanced away. “We know this game, this walk we are about to take. The Reaper has no reason to give me a stay.”