Chapter78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBClJgr7Q7
43
He felt something warm and heavy on78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbetdCADNxM
his chest. At first, he was confused78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R8xI7auag
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fBRvLEPjn
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsAGiRziM8
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFqRz3suvM
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtEk9wGZsK
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D1cWubTEF
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftGoYcCUqG
down.
“Don’t78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGmJiW98Ev
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKJ6EMR25m
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoVwSPhVYB
to sleep.
Over78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbleGxJhq27
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa80rIGIAFj
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e9AavOu8g
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6s2FM48V7
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BdYskebPm
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGXOia4eaW
to tell him what had happened.
“We78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BAIA1dYPM
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8dUjnjJmB
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm4Ma6Z6Vf
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPAWWPk5Hc
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvej1U4KEtB
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ko11eUWhT
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjZOpzBhxs
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsCgC5ep0B
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQUz7EZPGH
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYbCWTcQnV
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVxXifJTYD
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAEwfRi9Zz
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygIf9F5p1V
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P2f1rDNP6
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfriloqpTc
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN6dOn0D90
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9joF7TT3WK
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5QzfflcJM
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweKkJ14fqO
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFBKzfORzy
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKAouDqeut
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQbFzgJkF6
enormous debt.”
Vander78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mU0NBxStP
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZjqbUkjkh
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MptLVQqHT
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcORA7KJQy
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35aTbHRAcv
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3I4tO8U2t
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwuJG92Lrm
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFSnXwnNi0
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZUsS5w0N7
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBYSWGhgKC
who betrayed us.”
“That’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnfjC5X0Kr
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSih8Yp8FXV
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUPB579hrk
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBFwKAuQdl
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hZdF0DWdr
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvg1Sjkngh
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiW9dG4FfZ
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxTjIpkxjY
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8J8cVJOxx
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtOHP4EibG
my King.”
…
A78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsteYlUnl2B
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav6eK6jGMT
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74FIo81rDf
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezsT5B6PNK
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNMbpZtX3t
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoonJCX607
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68fjCvtHi6
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh181H2phRZ
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7KhNrqcZG
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5pF7YYHrt
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6dGxdl7jf
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv535sQH4QY
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSwjzgzEid
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01Ig7oJ4bY
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ210a6tMWRg
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO7BUC5QDT
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuKkiaWsS2
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvorWJbxaFE
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0d4bLYRKx
saw her smile.
“Are78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMnj6M9UCF
we going there soon?”
“After78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziiTLJ0382
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqrSC4T2Ua
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejyr4LuZ5f
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazqr4uRSZV
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B6CDo086b
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURWxYZF3Xu
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnimFu0KW2I
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfkEJYS17R
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCiLLNYBxg
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf5jTFw0gM
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4abFZVWE2D
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXL5dPtp1L
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hUEKSfiFs
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJOi4xQMMB
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbR4omipi7
that was for him to do.
Eliza78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzmkuUY52k
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFMbgvJnV1
promotion.
Vander78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQDHqB6j1T
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16T165aiZ9
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYKVKEdKta
hold it aloft.
“Do78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0NWA5hYIs
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlpbhpNayV
Cuvera asked.
“I78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTKzYCC8Dc
do.” He shouted back.
“Do78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3fx11Fwoy
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb29aP1HY1
it?”
“Only78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aZEQMtbwL
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHwtY8RYZb
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQZDVEDfAW
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdlxQ85PV9
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx4FQpkPHa
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1EXhfLfkh
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheSxvvJMoM
resilient, just like him.
As78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PhAK6fTdz
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0DFURXinm
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p6yFqRJaX
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNHqgN0MXn
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoXPEu1sNc
capable of protecting them all.
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He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3mTebdO8w
is, the Eluvian Blade.
