Moon Child (Complete!)

Chapter 22: LAST CHAPTER!

A/N: I want to thank everyone for reading this book and going on this journey with me. It has been so much fun, it pains me to say goodbye to these characters and the world. But I may write a second book, let me know if you'd like to see a second one! Once again thank you to all the readers who has stuck with this book and giving me feedback/comments. (You know who you are!). This book will be polished and edited sometime next year hopefully, so look forward to that! :) I guess that's all I have to say on this. Have fun reading and enjoying this last ride. To pass your time check out my other books I'm working on 'Deadly Rose' and I will soon be publishing 'The Grimthal Guardians' So keep an eye out for that :).

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I awoke to the thundering beat of war drums. I could feel the deep reverberations through the earth inside the hut. The drums were answered with the cry of trumpets. Flinging myself out of bed I quickly and quietly dressed in fighting gear that was left on my dresser. The tapestry flapped open as Kian stormed in armored to the teeth with various weapons. His face was set in stone the hard planes of his face pulled tautly. 

"It's time, isn't it?" was my only greeting. He came up in front of me clasping my face between both of his calloused ones. He forced my head up to meet his softened green ones. 

"no matter what happens, you will always be mine Lainey." Something inside me that had been snapped before now fell into place. It's as if an answer I didn't know I needed has been revealed. Startled I realized what this meant. No other force this deep existed. I knew what he was to me and what I must do. I could not lose I would not let these people die for me. They had become my family. 

"Will you be with me?" I whispered staring into his green eyes. The corners of his eyes crinkled.

"Always, Lainey." That was answer enough for me If I didn't make it if I died in this battle I would be remembered. At least remembered in all the ways that counted. Kian still cupping my face leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was soft feather light, barely touching. I pressed into it further. The kiss deepened into an almost frenzied need as if this were possibly the last time we would ever get together. 

Breaking apart, at last, he let go of my face stepping back assessing my attire and the weapons. He gave me an approving nod. 

"Let's go kill some bastards."

The moon hung high in the sky creating a silvery light over everything. I rode in front of the lines of warriors. My mare nickered in delight sensing the upcoming battle. A horse bred for war. Valric was foolish to attack tonight when my powers would be at their peak from the full moon. He might as well have handed his head right to me. Flying in the air was Kian scouting the soldiers ahead. I squinted my eyes to see the distant forms of marching enemy lines.

As they neared my heart nearly stopped beating. Valric rode in front on a black stallion, he spurred his horse into motion coming straight for me breaking away from his soldiers. I did as well, riding ahead to meet him head on. I sent a wave of my power blasting aiming at him. The flames should have killed him and his steed. Instead, it bounced off them harmlessly. I snarled my frustration. He must have put up a shield. 

Both of us pulled up our horses as we neared. The sword strapped to my side was a steady weight, one that I appreciated. I spotted Kian circling above us keeping an eye out on me. Before we left for battle I had made him swear not to interfere. This was my fight to win. And If I died so be it, I would die defending my own. 

"You really think you can beat me?" Valric said low and deathly barely heard over the roar of soldiers and wind. He stood before me on his black steed, like an impending doom. I bared my teeth at him. 

"Actually yes, I do."

"Then let's find out." With the soldiers fighting behind us, the sound of death faded into background noise as Valric through his raw power at me in a swirl of dark clouds and lightning. I wrapped my fire around it making it disintegrate into nothingness. He chuckled a low laugh before pressing harder. Lighting flashed barely missing me by inches. I let my fire build inside of me, let the sounds of death fill my ears. I let the death of Jared and the deaths that are lost on the battlefield fuel that fire. With one last push, I sent all my energy into it flames ensnared me in a bubble. I was fire incarnate. I shoved all that flame towards Valric. He didn't stand a chance against my flames. Too quick for him to block it burned him and his horse to no more than bone, They crumpled to the ground, nothing more than blackened ash.

The fighting behind me ceased, victory cries sounded from my men. I had did it, the stars shone in the darkness just for tonight. The moon a spectator above us all.  With a mighty caw, Kian flapped down and landed before me. He changed back into his regular form. His pointed ears glowed silver from the moon. His eyes shined with love in them, He stepped close throwing an arm around my shoulders and tugging me close. The feel of being pressed against him comforted some small part of me that I didn't know needed comfort. 

"You did it," He whispered against my air. Chills shot through me, raising goose bumps along my skin. Something deep within me snapped into place a sort of tugging knowing. Something ancient and deeper than the world itself.

"I should tell you, us fae, have our own sort of mates, similar to you shifters." I closed my eyes as if in a daydream to his words. I hadn't let myself think of the idea of mates since Jared. But it was possible, if one didn't accept the bond or there mate died, they could be fortunate enough to find another.

"If you accept, I'm sure our mating bond would be one and the same." His voice caressed me, calming my beating heart still fast from the fight. 

"I accept you Kian as my mate," I whispered still nestled against his side. His side vibrated as he repeated the same. The bond between us grew stronger until we became as one. A single entity to drive out the darkness. No matter what happened next I knew we could face it together. Nothing would stand a chance against him and I. The shifter who was foretold to save the future of people, and the fae warrior who helped her along the way. 

"Let's go face the coming dawn," Kian said tugging her with him twoards the grouping of our soldiers breathless and bloody.

"Together," was my only reply.