Blood of the Lost Kingdom (Daughter of Erabel Book 2) by Kristin Ward

Author:Kristin Ward [Ward, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Threa strolled through a lush garden, plucking a jeboa fruit from a low branch and biting into it. She was no longer a child. Looking closely at Threa’s features, Fiadh’s eyes went wide. That was her own face upon the water, only older and, somehow, more experienced.

The truth of it sank its teeth into her. It pierced the last shred of resistance she had held onto, rupturing it as she accepted what had been true all along. Threa was her mother. Reaching a ghostly hand to her ears, those mutilated things Veren had been repelled by, she ran her fingers over them, feeling a moment of shock as the disfigured flesh was nothing more than a smooth point so like Threa’s. This was her true self, as she would have been had Riona not taken a blade to the tips of her ears and cut them, thereby hiding her among a people who would have known what she was had they remained whole.

She remembered hints of sadness, hints of guilt in Riona’s eyes whenever Fiadh noticed her glance at her ears. Now, she understood, and with that understanding came gratitude and forgiveness. Riona had sacrificed so much to keep her safe. It must have been hard. It must have broken her heart to cut her child.

It’s alright, Mother, Fiadh sent into the void. You don’t need to feel bad about it. You don’t need to feel guilty. I understand why you did it, why you had to do it. I love you.

Fiadh felt a measure of peace and shifted her attention back to the scene that played out, a new awareness and knowledge tickling her mind.

Finishing off the fruit, Threa rubbed her hands on her gown and turned her head, eyes lighting up when a handsome male stalked toward her. She ran to him, launching herself into his arms. They kissed passionately, and Fiadh looked away, uncomfortable witnessing their intimacy and only returning her watchful eyes when she heard their voices.

“I have missed you, Aeson,” Threa whispered, twining her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.

“And I, you,” he said, running his hand along her spine. “But I cannot stay.”

She pulled back. “What?”

He sighed and pulled her to a bench, taking her hand as they sat. “Laenfar has fallen.”

Threa gasped. “How?”

“The mages betrayed us. They have aligned themselves with men and are making war on every kingdom. Soon, they will set their eyes on Erabel.”

Fiadh was as shocked as Threa. They both looked at the beauty of their surroundings. It was as though, at that moment, she and her mother were of one mind.

“That cannot be,” Threa whispered. “They have been allies for centuries.”

“Those days are gone.”

Threa stood and began to pace. “Is my father sending you into battle?”

Aeson nodded.

Tears filled her eyes as Threa ran toward him, falling to her knees at his feet. “Please don’t go!”

“I must, Threa. Your father commands. He needs all of his warriors to fight against mankind’s armies, especially now that there is a greater threat aiding them.

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