Chapter17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iJPXgHCyk
43
He felt something warm and heavy on17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SQGJk62G1
his chest. At first, he was confused17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ePJvBD8VC
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWuSGpHXVn
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbZ6lZ614o
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tmFioy1fH
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppqE5wH0YW
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdOkMYSsh2
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBZeOs7mes
down.
“Don’t17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROrtr1eQ5t
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXWcjRjhM4
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGIWM6agOk
to sleep.
Over17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2LA495t0k
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA1H49hu8B
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyyq6lErfw
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mhwxbmV97
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa8VdAtZU5
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xZI2UQESt
to tell him what had happened.
“We17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7cRpkYxYC
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh6KYXqDRk
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GRXSGOEeM
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AsMjSrBaP
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6m9bte4qF
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaGzVnjXzp
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHACnsDPbt
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgggAjz1hT
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZUKYKCNho
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUbDf2fvVh
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMoaLYJrTt
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwNuv5velm
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWwGdaKpjR
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxN2KH5vR1
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr5hqcw59j
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGekuhhLaK
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY1PIpXj5F
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8H53WU4mM
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1jMEeLqro
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpljTCAWh9Q
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHLVSkWfA6
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfgmjUnd01
enormous debt.”
Vander17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTsQd1UeYn
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR3MpW4mHh
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoXvCZKzuR
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCcYb09pvX
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoXEsWW8gL
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjhIBvhT83
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse1JjcPr49
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqX9Ouka3E
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBBS1mncnH
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxRF1ulcsM
who betrayed us.”
“That’s17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHHRrJy1JQ
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tbO9DJIoU
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsUFJ86CqN
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIjuIjnSHM
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfiIrz5vuw
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSAN505WOu
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLouXd9ekPt
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpynUFzsVQ
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfL0HycANl
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl4jmNjs4R
my King.”
…
A17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLQd66H3eQ
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07iN1ZngPh
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkWA3UXM8n
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjClfJCzjt
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CzzG2O1HJ
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2h4TEnPAo
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZCFyDL5Mx
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLm7azKPli
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EP2Ifm9XW
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo3ZCk6eAu
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YhLsQxe9o
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRgHwNcB2F
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdAg1I1mVM
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCduHL6ZWQ8
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0LcbD0Kpp
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKLnjghp79
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6aviVbUsI
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBT4NBzYht
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcdC0rzvmm
saw her smile.
“Are17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKh0KmuEFz
we going there soon?”
“After17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOwvqZH5i2
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog7WuEKkb6
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t6OuN68o0
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mt5ifjvIM
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcn5FgEd3C
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPwwl3YUbl
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQUIklaGf9
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vwoYrvD99
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCPuTl5veU
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriyUliMJCk
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznDKK1o6C0
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW0VS2acS4
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo9gMDhtIx
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfzViRTLUC
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBI4jyHDfr
that was for him to do.
Eliza17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw5NFOBkw5
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mm05AVRXG
promotion.
Vander17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbayuyYnJin
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDcB8hwaPo
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnVplkjQDm
hold it aloft.
“Do17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiGoMTeRPc
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvxXgEvTSd
Cuvera asked.
“I17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMEYJA9R5Q
do.” He shouted back.
“Do17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7x9H8ShJg
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyiF2aiRXh
it?”
“Only17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IiFB6k4oo
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTH83eRlx9
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pa9fofdAZ
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TPULzc43l
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fIegsrR6f
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyPlUok52j
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjNjdQfTeX
resilient, just like him.
As17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aenS1Oswh
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU0VEmPg0F
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbDDyVWjiT
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjhhmHTRkI
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmWFcgTecz
capable of protecting them all.
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He17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo0ckhdbUG
is, the Eluvian Blade.
