Bonds of Light and Fire

76. Resurrection

The artwork above is not mine.

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    "I think you were the one who came to me," Luciana said, holding her father's gaze. Aeron's arm tightened around her. A breath of icy wind touched her skin. A shield, courtesy of Rowan.

    "I came to Terrasen, but you came to my tent." Brye moved to the front of his desk and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. None of his companions spoke. They just watched with blatant curiosity. "And I have to wonder why." Brye faced Aelin. "After my cabal failed to bring my daughter to me, I assumed that meant you intended to keep her.

    Aelin tilted her head. "Maybe it meant your little roaches couldn't find her and chose to go into hiding, rather than face your wrath."

    "They wouldn't have been able to hide from me. Not with the network of spies I have in Erilea." Brye's gaze slid back to Luciana. "And they assured me that they knew exactly where she was, and where she was going to be. Given that she is here and my roaches are not, I'm going to assume you took the liberty of dispatching them for me, your Majesty."

    "Alas, I cannot claim that victory."

    Luciana's heart was pounding against her ribs, and she could scarcely draw a full breath. Memories clawed at the corners of her mind, begging to be seen. The iron shackles around her wrists. Her beautiful gown ripped from her body. Four different males, two familiar and two not, forcing themselves upon her repeatedly. Her sobs. Her screams. Her muffled pleas when she was gagged and drugged.

    Vaughan's voice cut through the fog in her head. They are gone, and you are free. Say it, Luciana.

    They are gone, and I am free, Luciana managed to repeat.

    Don't let him get to you, my Light. Keep him talking. I'll be there soon. Vaughan's voice faded, but his presence remained, shining brightly at the other end of the Mating Bond.

    "That honor," Aelin was saying when Luciana finally listened once more, "can only be claimed by your son." She waved a hand at Aeron, then resumed dragging her nails over her palm. She'd been doing that since they arrived.

    "Kron and Malik mentioned that my little Sunbeam had found her half brother," Brye said. "Well then, let's see how you turned out, Boy."

    Aeron didn't pull away from Luciana. He lifted his chin, glaring at their father. Despite the humanness of his features, the resemblance between the two males was uncanny. A muscle in Aeron's jaw twitched, and Luciana knew he'd thought the same thing.

    "Better than you," Aeron hissed. "Stronger. Faster. Smarter. Better looking. I probably have a bigger dick too."

    Brye barked a laugh. "You sound like your mother." Aeron bared his teeth, and Brye's smirk faded. "Are you at least worthy of carrying my blood? Have you any magic? Any rank or authority?"

    "According to one of your Commanders, I'm a dick sucking prick, whatever rank that places me at."

    "Somewhere above a manipulative and sadistic General, I'd say" Rowan remarked, feeding an arrogant tone into his voice.

    "And you, Sunbeam? What role do you play in this glittering Court of dishonorable bastards and proud whores?" Brye asked.

    Luciana didn't answer, so Aelin spoke for her. "She maintains the sanity and innocence of my unorthodox family. Never met anyone sweeter. You've raised a wonderful daughter, General. Oh, I beg your pardon. I meant Luciana raised herself to be a wonderful female. That she was raised at all is a miracle, considering what you and her mother did to her. You especially."