Thorns of Fate: Serendipity Saga Book One

Chapter Forty-Five

My hospital room door opened onto a stark, white hallway. Carson hovered on my left, Anton on my right, both of them alleviating my strain by taking some of my weight. My heart swelled to see them getting along. I needed them. Both of them. Perhaps in different ways, but I needed them both right now.

Damien led us down the hall and past a nurse's station. We exited through a length of double doors onto an enormous waiting room. There were dozens of people waiting there, including my mother, Gabrielle, and Kellic, front and center.

The room erupted into cheers and shouts as they noticed us exit. My three family members threw themselves past Damien, crashing into me with hugs. My footsteps faltered and Carson wrapped his arm around my back, keeping me from losing my balance. My mother was crying and Gabrielle and Kellic spoke excitedly over each other until neither of their words made sense.

Damien stepped nearer, looking at me with green eyes filled with adoration. "Easy now, she's still weak," he explained and my aunt, cousin, and mother backed away, looking me over.

Kellic was the first to speak then. "Kyra, you were amazing!" She shrieked and only Anton stepped towards her kept her from throwing herself at me again. I couldn't help but smile. Almost everyone I loved stood here in that instance, eager to see me. See me alive anyway.

"She was stunning, as I always knew she would be," Damien said and the parental pride in his eyes sent a pang of joy through my chest.

"You killed that bastard," Kellic said through a tight jaw. "And...well...his entire army." She grinned at me, her face lit with excitement. She grabbed my hands with one of hers, the other laced through Anton's fingers. I was happy for them both, really. They both seemed overjoyed, eager for each other's company. Kellic had needed someone like Anton for a while. He had shed his selfish attitude and it occurred to me that his imprint with me was probably partially to blame.

I pulled away from Carson gently, shooting him a grateful gaze. He smiled and tucked his head in acknowledgement. I threw my arms around Kellic, tugging her tightly to me. She returned the hug, releasing Anton's hand. We stayed that way for several seconds, the room otherwise in silence. I needed this right now, the embrace of my best friend. Neither of us broached the subject of Will but I still wasn't sure that I was ready for that conversation. I had failed him and I didn't want to fall back into the pit of despair dwelling on it at that moment.

A sandy-blonde head appeared over Kellic's, joining our group in the hallway. Lucas smiled at me, his red eyes not as intimidating at the moment. "Good to see you up and around, princess," he greeted. I released Kellic and turned to him, remembering his appearance in the Coliseum.

"Lucas here brought his troops with us to the Coliseum. He single-handedly took out dozens of forces so we could get to you," Damien explained, clasping Lucas in a friendly hug.

Lucas looked up, almost sheepishly. "I did what was necessary for a dear friend and his family. Kyra," he said, turning directly to me. "That was some of the most impressive displays of magick I've ever seen. And I've been alive for over a millenia. Plus, I've seen your dad do some pretty impressive stuff." He feigned privacy, cupping his hand around his lips. "I think you might be scarier than he is," he said, wiggling his eyebrows and I laughed.

It felt good to laugh, like a weight was shifting off of my chest at long last. "I'm glad to see that you all made it out okay," I responded, looking them all over. There were smiles on each of their faces and I realized how relieved I felt. Will's death would hang over me forever but at least the rest of my family and friends had walked away unscathed.

"For the record," my mother said, stepping close and grabbing my hands to her chest. "That is exactly what I meant about overtaxing yourself. You nearly killed yourself with all that magick." Her words were chastising but her eyes danced with joy and awe and excitement.