Ember of Hope
Chapter 63

The city was abuzz with happy murmurings when they arrived. People were bustling around with a joyous pep in their step. When they landed in Ilya and stopped by the patrolling guards to get some answers; they got the shock of their lives upon hearing the reason of people’s happiness. King Alexander was alive… he had returned.

“What?” Valiance’s confusion was legit as the old guard spoke fast with his eyes becoming wider with every detail he shared. It was clear that he himself couldn’t believe the news. “I was there Master; at the portal, when they came in. I saw him with my own eyes. Your mother was with him and another woman I didn’t recognize”. Valiance took a wobbly step back as if in a trance and Damien’s hand shot out to steady his friend.

“Mother” Valiance whispered and then his eyes sharpened as his focus returned. “Let’s go”, he lowered himself for Raegan and she didn’t waste a second in climbing up. She could feel his urgency as her own pulse had quickened.

Valiance shot towards home like a bullet out of a gun and Damien followed him at a much reasonable pace because of Sarah. When they landed in front of the double doors held open by two guards; Raegan had braced herself for a rough impact but despite his speed her mate landed smoothly and she slid down his back. Valiances shifted back in a blink and raced inside; bee lining for the Council wing with Raegan hot on his heels. Asking the guards about the whereabouts of his father; Valiance entered the library and stopped short. Raegan; unable to stop herself in time, bumped into his back and his arm shot back to steady her.

“Come on in son”. King D’evreux’s voice rang out and Raegan nudged her mate a little to move forward so she could enter the room.

“How?” Valiance’s whisper sounded unconvinced. And as she rounded around him to enter the doorway, she understood why. There stood a man with Valiance’s father whom she somehow knew was the long perceived dead king of Evreux; who’d returned from the grave.

“Raegan”. King D’evreux almost ran forward and took her in an embrace. “How are you? Are you alright?” he smoothed her hair back from her face and searched her eyes to replace the answer. And he looked as worried as her own father would’ve been in the situation. And she didn’t know how to respond, so she blurted out what came to her mind first, “I turned into a dragon”. She giggled nervously. King D’evreux’s eyes widened as he looked at her, then behind her at Valiance and back towards her. Finally Valiance came forward and stood beside her, “Father” he greeted his father with a one armed hug and turned towards the other man standing silently to the side; watching the whole reunion.

“She is your mate” he observed and pulled Valiance in a hug, “Come here son”.

“Alex, meet my daughter; Raegan” King D’evreux put his arm around her shoulder and introduced them with a smile. “Raegan meet the new king of Evreux… or old one if you put it in right perspective” he chuckled lightly.

King Alex came forward and looked at her keenly, as if he was trying to place her and failing. In the end he just smiled and extended his hand towards her, “Hi Raegan. It’s a pleasure to meet you”. She took the king’s proffered hand and smiled back tentatively. Inside she was freaking out just like she would be if she met Chris Hemsworth. After all she was meeting a legend. She was star struck.

They all sat around the drawing room and talked shop and it was becoming more and more difficult for Raegan to keep her eyes open. And then Damien entered and his face was almost comically same as Valiance’s was when he first looked at the king. He bowed his head with his hands clasped behind his back, “My king”. King Alex stood up to meet him and it seemed as if he knew Damien well. There was an air of friendliness around them. As was expected, she supposed, because Valiance and Damien were always together. And considering the friendship the two kings had, it was no news that King Alex treated both boys as his own.

“How the hell did you come back from the dead?” Damien asked incredulously, making them all laugh. It was typical Damien to talk so unceremoniously to a king.

“It’s one of my many talents son” he winked.

“Where’s Sarah?” Raegan asked Damien after all of them had settled down once again.

“She went to the kitchen in search of some food. Said she was tired and was going to bed after eating something”. The way he didn’t meet her eyes told her she had to talk to him later. There was some trouble around those two and she could think of a few reasons.

“We had to crown the king because people were becoming anxious. But we held the celebration for your return”. Valiance’s father informed them. He also told them about the fact that someone else had returned with King Alex… someone other than Valiance’s mother who was currently in a neighboring town visiting her father hence why Valiance was still sitting with them.

Katherine Vidarr was back.

A rage so profound descended upon Raegan that it shook her to her core. And maybe her expressions were exhibiting her inner storm because Val’s father looked at her and shook his head slightly. Then he proceeded to dismiss them by telling them to go rest.

………