Chapter92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05OJinbDOC
43
He felt something warm and heavy on92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbLBw8Qy4V
his chest. At first, he was confused92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZbep8T7Lp
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlA05yVNh3
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCnjnC5Wqh
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡce6Ru1ztEK
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI1QbuGPKT
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HnQOvdlSn
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PHM7TEH6n
down.
“Don’t92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1E6NFnwAA
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8AfuxHMGD
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEnVcTvRjg
to sleep.
Over92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExkjmjz9YN
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LfXg8Mtlk
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDN8MubAv6
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RsrszjAO9
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGLGuse3OJ
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HqeEg8HLH
to tell him what had happened.
“We92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7zJzfUT75
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRnluyVK6I
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGWWNveFPX
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL36ZBbdyaz
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6riVZai4I
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFsTAYhR6h
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoeTJ81Mie
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBWtcKM67S
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDAIFl23Px
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwFSOIzBV4
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVjE6MyKW8
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgN0SDBujU
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wrSVQsx0c
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQZk2MqOZn
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnYGeNem4S
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVQIvCTASM
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6iBUiBaBb
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklsYGdMune
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e1r3rjFfQ
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXmKXhOpwI
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMeNXJnH56
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg7SPb3Znk
enormous debt.”
Vander92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykXSnD90My
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYPFUAe7Lt
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkdCnzDQS7
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnuKbQsdVh
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwvoPmbRAB
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVD8orFvZy
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbK1u59Cvy
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eSQH9ugQw
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFuM1zyxss
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AjiL89tfE
who betrayed us.”
“That’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOWb4XIX7y
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDuVMLL8yl
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6VfMNhUQQ
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeJBqV5q7t
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtv5Q2lBBe
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyq3j9MaTe
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRfiURmldb
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfb9dkCRv8
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwmK4iwx1Q
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOKH9w2uSU
my King.”
…
A92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsdz56C9yt
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx9N5sbOS5
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEGaM8taeo
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwo67tte1D
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2IxcqPNZZ
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWE74cUVNs
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl73h891S7Q
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsEKmFJzxH
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkYtzUXkFz
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUgeVCJvKD
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaaHtmt1Tu
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY63NWmzRp
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2u8OVSMTU
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9amv24DaV
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30gXYBvB7u
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1C6O1tVmd
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOuT9twUE3
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rWZSkUNI7
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP3wu8agkx
saw her smile.
“Are92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCqbdJIH3b
we going there soon?”
“After92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlIfeGbLq9
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU8Di10W0f
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkYidrehae
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnSKLedg8w
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHBB7TRABS
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppFpi1dR5D
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFoyouKDqN
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQdC1I0M36
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDTKGTIu6N
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbtHk5Buxj
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0GFLuaHbW
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo16kGLaIm
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbQIzdaBq4
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hApxKbbfz
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyJyv7njTo
that was for him to do.
Eliza92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKewyaTqVPW
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ewOmeqnQ
promotion.
Vander92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYdDe5DfaV
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lblZuEsyZ
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSQCIQ3Jja
hold it aloft.
“Do92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDiEs4vnx1
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLfs5Ah00Y
Cuvera asked.
“I92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpfQwzeYz5
do.” He shouted back.
“Do92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjODI5kRqv
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzHzVWiNHf
it?”
“Only92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2ys0yiKyf
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeukPDVGWPe
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RhCFFbIxk
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuaY1kSyLE
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWClgS0Urct
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFHD1SnbVv
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfvDrTNBHF
resilient, just like him.
As92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePd1oG3MKI
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZIA1HbPGc
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OFeRJFDZI
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7o3lYC2hO
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegj1hC0qsA
capable of protecting them all.
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He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUoP2y3yCq
is, the Eluvian Blade.
