Essence of the Angels (The Starlight Chronicles #2)

Chapter Twenty Seven

Valarie's POV

I must have been standing there for a minute, lost in my thoughts, because it was only when the sound of a void opening behind me that I jolted and twisted around. Shade emerged from the void, followed by Jason and Kyra.

"Oh good, you found each other," I said quickly, rushing to their side. "We need to hurry—Sadie just said this place is just seconds from collapsing."

Shade's eyes widened, and he turned to Jason. "Okay— do it," he said, straightening up. "Stab me with the sword."

Jason seemed unsure. "Will it work though?" he replied, drawing the sword. "It barely disarmed Titania, and it's transformed all the Urenphians we've ever used it on."

"I'm a God," he pressed impatiently. "The rules are different for me. Besides, all of our magic stems from the First Star. When it goes through me, it becomes Urenphian magic, and when it goes through Titania, it becomes Starlight magic."

Jason grimaced. "Okay," he said, still not looking convinced. He readied the sword and plunged it into Shade's chest.

Shade doubled over, causing my gut to flip. "Shade?" I cried, and he grunted. A blue-purple glow emanated from around his body.

"It's working," he grunted, and slowly pulled the sword back out. It clattered to the floor, and he stretched his back and arms out.

Blue magic began to curl at his fingertips, and his eyes turned a bright shade of lilac.

"Stand back," he warned—and his voice echoed. We immediately backed up, watching as he lifted his arms to the sky and a mass of swirling magic began to twist and spiral into the air. We watched as it traveled like smoke, drifting around each and every one of our bodies. It grew thicker and thicker, until I couldn't see anyone anymore.

I coughed—it was overwhelming, and it tingled against my skin. I felt the ground vanish beneath me and suddenly I was falling. I screamed as I tumbled through the air. Seconds later my feet hit solid ground once more, and the smoke cleared.

I blinked at the sudden brightness—it was sunlight.

I could smell grass and trees. I looked around and realized we were standing outside of Lorelei—the town was visible in the distance. Around me were thousands of people, as well as a lot of familiar faces.

"Did we do it?" I breathed.

A bang sounded, rippling through the air, and the entire world seemed to shake momentarily. I looked up at the blue sky and saw nothing, but the look of relief on Shade's face only confirmed it.

Urenphia had just imploded, and we had all escaped within an inch of our lives.

I started to laugh—unable to contain myself. I wasn't necessarily happy, but I was relieved, and the adrenaline still running through me seemed to be seeping away now.

"We should probably move all these people," Jason said, looking around. Shade nodded in agreement.

"Lorelei is empty—it could probably house a lot of them?" Kyra suggested. Jason agreed that it was a good idea, and together, we began to organize ourselves.

It was many hours before we'd managed to set everyone up with accommodation and supplies—even with a lot of us working together to make it happen. All of Titania's undercover angels who hadn't died in the conflict or escaped were detained—including Eriz, much to my delight.

Late into the evening, we all gathered back at Lucy's house as per Kyra's suggestion. It was painful to come back here without Lucy, but it was the only place big enough to house all of us—the Court Leaders, Shade, and the Starlight Entourage. It was also the only place that felt somewhat familiar to us.

"What are we going to do now?" I asked, as we collapsed around the Maisfer dining table. Kyra had been nice enough to brew us all tea. I remembered when Lucy had done that for us, and I felt another pang of anger towards Reina.

"We have all these people to worry about, and we have no idea where Reina took Lucy. What will Titania do when she realizes we all got out unscathed?" I asked.

"Let me worry about that," Shade replied firmly. He hadn't touched his tea. "This war is between the two of us —she has dragged far too many innocent people into it."

Scarlet made a disapproving sound from the end of the table. "We're going to help you," she insisted, and the other leaders all nodded in agreement. "We didn't endure Urenphia all this time just to sit by and watch you take on this burden yourself."

"You'll have our support as well," Kyra pointed out, gesturing to Jason. "We may be Starlighters, and we may be small in numbers, but we intend on stopping Reina. If anyone is going to be on a Starlight Throne, it's Lucy— she's the only one in the Starlight bloodline who deserves to sit there."

I had to agree—after the hell that Reina put us through, I didn't plan on letting her live long enough to reclaim her throne.

"Let us help you rebuild this world," Stellena added excitedly, almost spilling her tea. "It's large enough, and if we put our powers together, we can salvage what's left here for all the survivors."

It was incredible to think of what we were capable of doing all together. I could lead these people—and Lucy could help me. We could build an entirely new world, put an end to Titania, and create something amazing.

Though I didn't know how we would pull it off yet, one thing was for certain—with Shade awakened and on our side, the playing field was even for the first time in centuries.

"So, we're in agreement?" Kyra asked, looking around at everyone seated at the table. She was met with a bunch of determined smiles, and a thrill went through me.

Jason met my eye, and we shared an understanding look between us. We would destroy Reina and Sadie if it was the last thing we ever did.

I quietly sipped my tea—a new darkness brewing inside of me.