Elvirund | ✔️

Chapter Thirty Six

I felt a shiver run down my right arm and immediately I knew at least three things were wrong. One, my right shoulder was injured. Two, I was dead. Three, even if I was alive the First Elder would hardly have let me stay that way. I stretched my arms to either side and found that my shoulder was completely mobile. How odd. Slowly, I opened my eyes. All around me danced a white light, and a presence pulled my heart up until I was standing. Through the brightness I saw faintly that the same was happening to Caphriel.

"Stop her! Both of them! Witchcraft!" The First Elder shrieked.

In response the ground shook with a roaring thunder that silenced even the shifty executioner. As the light faded, I shook out my wings to find that they were neither black nor white. Instead, they started pure ivory at my shoulder blades and darkened to a dusty charcoal at the edges. Caphriel's wings shot out simultaneously; the same gradient. In just that moment, I heard Elvirund speak.

'You were destined for great things, Alethia. Live, and live more. Become immortal.'

"Alethia, dove. Did you hear the same thing? What have you done?"

"I suppose Elvirund has chosen me to live, then. And forever, at that." I stared directly at the First.

"Alethia, you're alive!"

Raphael burst into a run before he fell under my cold glare, after which he backed away and allowed me to instead turn to Chip and Cas.

"How are you two, now that I've been Restored to my full glory?"

"Where do I even start?" Cas murmured under his breath.

"You're dead." Chip hesitantly stated.

"Not quite, anymore. I am alive and immortal."

From behind me two arms circled my waist and I was pushed forward by a forceful embrace that I knew could only belong to the agonized Caphriel.

"I'm so glad." She mumbled.

For a moment I couldn't answer her, only gazing quietly at the First Elder, who was exchanging glances with the executioner. He had ruined my life, and the lives of so many. So why had my desire for his blood disappeared? That was of little significance now. I gave each of them a smirk and unwound Caphriel's arms. This was going to be done right.

"Caph. Can I call you that?" I turned around and she smiled, nodding. "You're one lucky angel, aren't you?"

"I, well, yes. I am."

I took her hand and looked in her eyes. Really looked. Her irises shone a shade of green that surpassed the beauty of all angel eyes I had ever seen, and I was a little upset I hadn't noticed it before. Unsure of the clarity of my decision, I looked behind me at Chip. He nodded and waved me on, and I turned back to Caphriel. Humans knew things we Elvirians didn't sometimes.

"Listen, you've dealt with a lot. There's not much I can do to fill Uriel's spot. But I can do this."

I gave the First Elder a pointed grin and I pressed my lips to hers. Her surprise melted quickly; she pulled me closer and smiled, breaking the kiss.

"You'll do." She laughed tearfully.

"This is preposterous! Prince, why are you just standing there?"

"Do you have a problem, First Elder? Is it so insufficient for you to control every child in Elvirund that you must now control mine? She's very hard to handle even without haughty old men bothering her."

I wanted to ignore him; instead I froze and stepped away from Caphriel. Had I heard correctly? That couldn't have been right.

"Raphael, it looks like you have some explaining to do." I calmly raised an eyebrow.