Chapter 55
For a moment Kira was alone. She hit her knees before the throne and thought about how close she had come to having it all taken away. A tear fell down her cheek as she prayed for forgiveness from her mother and from the goddess’ that graced her family with their power. She would keep her promise to Michalei. However dark he had to become, he was an honorable man that never gave up on her even though she deserved it.
Kira pushed herself up from her knees and with a new determination she swore that she would love Michalei and keep their nation at peace until her last breath. The light wrapped around her and brought her back to the chamber below the castle. He waited for her there prepared to extinguish the life of the guardians. She took him by the hand and led him to the center podium.
“Blood of my blood, released at last. Guardians of earth, air, fire, and water laid to rest. We thank thee for thy service, return from whence you came.” Kira spoke and then they cast the salt to the four corners together.
The ground beneath them began to rumble. Michalei held Kira close. She could feel the guardians returning to the ground from whence they had come. With a smile she looked up to him.
“That will get your attention won’t it?” She giggled.
“Absolutely,” He returned the smile with fondness. “You know, the people will be waiting to hear the good news.”
“Which good news would that be?” She teased. “The news that Domascus is defeated, or the news that you’ve won me against my protest. I won’t blame you for saying I told you so.”
“Brutal, but honest.” He winked. “You were indeed a prize all along and I shall suffer immensely through every minute of it.”
She kicked him in the chest knocking the wind out of him as she replied, “I may be a pain in the ass. But you are arrogant sir and what did you teach me about arrogance?”
“Oh on the contrary, it is not arrogance, its confidence, my dear.” He kissed her deeply taking her breath away. “You did teach me that much.”
“I have a lot to make up to you.” She sighed. “Starting with Credos, this now sits without its king.”
“Your father is going to go manage it for a while. So do not worry about that. It is late and we have announcements to do in a few hours. Permission to take my wife to bed, your highness?”
“Acceptable,” She replied as his arms wrapped around her.
In a flash of light, Michalei held Kira in the bedroom. As she looked at him she trembled a bit. Her mind wandered through thoughts of the past few weeks.
“Michalei, I wasn’t really myself when you had me the last time. I’m not sure about this.” She said as she looked at him sadly.
“Kira, look deeply into me. Crawl into my soul again, like you did at the academy. See what I see for yourself and forever remove the doubt.” He replied tenderly.
“I don’t even know how I did that.” She admitted.
“Well, try.” He replied.
Michalei pulled Kira tightly to him. He tilted her chin and stared directly into her eyes. In that instant, she joined with him. The feeling of pure love washed over her, followed by sadness, despair, and hope. It was all he had done, all he had seen, and all he had sacrificed that she now felt. It brought her to tears.
“Don’t pull away this time Kira. I want you to feel it all.” He said and then pulled her into a kiss.
Kira felt as if her entire body would explode. Michalei’s heart was full of pure love. As his desire for her washed through her soul she knew for certain that it was right. She quit holding back her own emotions and let them flow to him. He pulled away trying to catch his breath. Then he gently led her over to the bed, picked her up in his arms and lay her gently down.
“I am yours, now and forever.” He spoke to her.
“You have saved me.” She replied. “I too am yours.”
“Is that the only reason?” He smirked.
“Absolutely,” She replied pressing her lips to his. “Now, take me as yours. Before I make you change your mind.”
They united body and soul and in that brief instant they felt whole. Kira lay next to Michalei drenched in sweat and blissfully happy. It was as if everything just melted away and all there was left was them. She closed her eyes for a moment and just breathed it in.