Chapter16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECEHhLXZJ4
43
He felt something warm and heavy on16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gr9HigwLG
his chest. At first, he was confused16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoxSpFCHSj
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxi5p3wk9n
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgryotM4yqS
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkOkaieRS1
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA3vxxL5Z1
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7bTtI7BWP
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLcgvW5NNH
down.
“Don’t16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTzuZvpWyT
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2u88QBSAp
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfKtqJvm1i
to sleep.
Over16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR2kGvdpPp
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZj1aJu9Tk
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SHU1XmGUW
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz8yA0lUIO
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT1ncw2wzs
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ByeZtr5h2
to tell him what had happened.
“We16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7YvDHAXXL
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qeCDvPSFy
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPSt9XUQIX
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd22eK514tF
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrzZKObQvC
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBygz7NRWJZ
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aVwdRMGXD
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1M3ofXyuw
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4ihFcj5Gj
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7DmipEw4t
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBUE2xYb8z
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQhKJ6TGwJ
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d16MNUIPi
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOHdiDaU7k
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxpD5svren
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLpiYS9kis
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjkHLEh9I4
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf8x1OMn7A
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZyfgcpfld
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHP4cK2t4b
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2ssekk3rG
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8SdnsynSm
enormous debt.”
Vander16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUmRuQZ4MH
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsdhvnK5Dq
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBDAon9dLR
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ430dwVIUYK
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTj4H3Uey9
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJd3qknuir
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrtjFYmNMj
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6B1ZihyGT
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fGDaNwWsF
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd7M5dG5CF
who betrayed us.”
“That’s16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdA9lgYBu0
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dkSDTPg4U
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNNySbFIdN
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8tGj2lAqm
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWNWOrDBNa
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXowpMn212W
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbM4chnmg4
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xzSLeqHXe
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IamRbRi0F
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjcEM9uLra
my King.”
…
A16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoGcAogpyO
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYIkttZldy
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QPbUeuAmz
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86O6eT7032
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBYqyUH1ma
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamEZJNrPWZ
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu45q8mWZvs
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZI9IZlN21
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNtF0tAnCD
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPjBcLlUht
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx6QxNZxb9
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhqQpZpSd6
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucAft9E6zM
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R23DYsBZ7
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTF36bH0G8
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeTZlabM9e
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EJW8cAPnf
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hrhY3bcCv
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEB3p9OqKF
saw her smile.
“Are16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhxkz2r5xD
we going there soon?”
“After16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp04E8qvxq
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhRh5y3KRT
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qf7qI5ZEi
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC9mW3bBhd
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wL8baPcXO
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnD7kGIzmy
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSQ6opWPhJ
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfdQ9QIdhu
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVdex0yA5O
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCG1PV4kQQ
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo6EgKOlDW
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTQX3h2haP
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsarNnDySAT
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk5gztX7Lk
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeISkGubigI
that was for him to do.
Eliza16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHzmv2CMDn
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gJFLTuHvU
promotion.
Vander16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tVdhtxyvb
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlArslWdsO1
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ8iX4b9Wh
hold it aloft.
“Do16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMW17Z36wh
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aw6e4I6SR
Cuvera asked.
“I16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SodlaYCqf
do.” He shouted back.
“Do16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GngbnZdJI
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCn8sXxQWw
it?”
“Only16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDNPlGHmzG
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLUT6Re28y
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2WOrIZ0vY
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQCKhsTNdY
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCjGUUTt1p
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeI5UOzH8F
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY56AFDumh
resilient, just like him.
As16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qjfqvBqpr
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEnzaRStBW
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIWoWMa9Tn
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XB2ij2Bx3
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DXd0dXt70
capable of protecting them all.
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He16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdYZiYSP4S
is, the Eluvian Blade.
