Immortal Reign(40)

“I have failed you as a father so many times that I’ve lost count.” Gaius gripped Magnus’s face between his hands. “But you’re here. You’re alive. And now I have the chance to try to make amends to you.”

“This certainly helped.” Magnus indicated the ring again. “Take it back now. It belongs to you.”

King Gaius shook his head. “No. It’s yours now.”

Magnus frowned. “Don’t you need it?”

“Look at me,” the king said. “I have recovered from my afflictions. I have no need for the bloodstone’s magic anymore. I feel strong—stronger than I have in many years and ready to rule again . . . with your assistance, if you’ll give it to me.”

Magnus swallowed hard. “I will. Of course I will.”

“I’m very glad to hear that.”

“I heard what happened with the ritual,” Magnus said when he found his voice again. “Is Cleo all right? Is she suffering at all?”

King Gaius pursed his lips, his expression souring. “She seems as fine as possible, given the situation. You’ve heard about everything? About your grandmother?”

He nodded again. “Ashur found me and told me what happened. Where is Cleo now?”

“Likely shoving her unwelcome nose into the private affairs of others,” the king muttered.

After worrying about her safety for days, this was an incredible relief. “And Kurtis?”

“I have a search in progress for him,” the king said. “He hasn’t been spotted in days, but I feel he may return to the palace to see his father.”

“Lord Gareth is here?”

“He was.” The king paused. “Lucia has returned to us. If she hadn’t, I doubt that Amara would have allowed us to leave without difficulty.”

Magnus’s mind went blank for a moment. “Lucia . . . is here?”

“Yes.” Gaius’s gaze shifted past Magnus. “Actually, she’s standing right behind you.”

His breath catching in his chest, Magnus turned slowly around.

Lucia stood, framed by the throne room’s doors, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“Magnus?” she whispered. “I—I saw you dead. I felt it in my very soul. But you’re here. You’re alive.”

The last time he’d seen her, she’d been aligned with the fire Kindred, searching for magical stone wheels on the Limerian palace grounds. She had been cruel, quick to violence, and she had used his love for her as a weapon to manipulate and wound him.

But when Kyan had tried to kill Magnus, Lucia saved his life.

Despite Magnus’s claims that his sister would return, that she wasn’t continuing to help Kyan, in his heart he had honestly thought he’d never see her again.

But here she was.

Magnus tentatively moved toward Lucia, half of him on guard for something horrible to happen. But nothing did.

Her eyes were filled with tears as she gazed up at him.

“I’m alive,” he confirmed.

“I—I’m sorry,” she blurted then, the tears spilling to her cheeks. “I’m so, so sorry for everything I’ve done!”

He almost laughed at such a surprising and uncharacteristic outburst. “No . . . no apologies, please. Not today, my beautiful sister. The fact that you’re here with us again after everything that’s—” His voice dropped off as he suddenly realized that there was a strange bundle in his sister’s arms.

A baby.

“Who is that?” he asked, stunned.

She gazed down at the infant, a smile touching her lips. “This is my daughter,” she said as she pulled the blanket away from the baby’s face. “Your niece.”

His niece.

Lucia had a baby.

A baby girl.

Exactly how long had he been trapped in that grave?

“How?” was all he managed to blurt out in reply.

“How?” She grimaced. “I really hope I don’t have to explain such things to you.”

“Alexius.”

She nodded.

Magnus squeezed his eyes shut, fighting against the hot wave of rage that threatened to hit him.

“I’d kill him if he weren’t already dead,” he growled.

“I know.”

Magnus glanced at his father.

“Lyssa is going to be a very special young woman one day,” he said.

Clearly, the king had had much more time to come to terms with this world-jarring revelation.

“Lyssa, is it?” Magnus touched the soft blanket and looked into the baby’s blue eyes. Blue like Lucia’s eyes. “Well, she’s gorgeous, but how could she be anything but?”

Lucia touched his hand. “Magnus, how did you survive?”

Before he could answer, he noticed that she was staring down at his ring.

“What magic is this?” she asked breathlessly. “I’ve never felt anything like it before.”

“The bloodstone,” the king said.

“This is the bloodstone? It is dark magic—the darkest I’ve ever felt.”

“Yes, I’m sure it is. And it’s the only thing that saved both your brother’s life and my own. For that, and only that, we can thank your grandmother.”