Page 158 of Death of a Mortal

She didn’t even hesitate. She headed to the kitchen and made herself a plate of what I’d cooked. I envied so much how comfortable she was justbeing.

With a last glance at me, Drayce closed the door and shook his head. But I knew I saw a smile there.

When everyone had full glasses of wine and Bramick and Aerie had full plates, the table was at near capacity, but it felt…comfortable. Had my mother ever shared a table like this with these same three people?

“Oh my gods, Naci, did you make this? This food is incredible,” Aerie said, making me smile.

I nodded, and she made a face that I imagined resembled her look of pure pleasure after the throes of passion.

“So, successful raid, Dray?” Bramick asked with a full mouth, somewhat disgusting if I was being honest. He was a brute indeed.

“A successful raid, Bram,” was all Drayce said in response, with a nervous glance at me, earning a whoop and a big gulp of wine from Bramick.

“What happens in a raid?” I asked. I wasn’t going to explode on him this time, but I needed to know the details.

Everyone looked to Drayce, and when he didn’t answer, Aerie just plowed on. “We go town to town, slinking through the shadows, looking for strong fae, mortal sympathizers, or king-haters. And we recruit them. And bring them back with us.”

“Not to be confused withraidraids, where we kill all the asshats that are causing trouble in these towns by killing mortals and spreading purge propaganda,” Bramick added.

“Shut it, Bram, she doesn’t want to hear—”

“Yes, I do. I understand death and sacrifice, Drayce.”

Aerie cleared her throat and got up to bring the bottle of bubbly wine from the cold storage to the table. Clearly, she’d been here a time or two. She and Bramick both. This was a family. They loved and trusted each other. Gods, I wanted that, needed that so much in my life.

After the awkward pause and a few glances at Drayce, they started swapping battle stories, revealing that Aerie was the fiercest and most bloodthirsty of this group, making me like her even more.

They teased each other, poked and prodded, and ended with nothing but laughter. There was no pressure, nothing forced—just love. Even Drayce seemed more at ease than I’d ever seen him, talking and laughing openly. According to my mother’s journal, they’d all been together nearly as long as I’d been alive.

I glanced up at the ceiling. I wasn’t sure I even believed in ourgods anymore, but if they were up there, I guessed my mother was too. And I couldn’t help but feel this would make her happy.

“I’d like to, um, say a few words,” I said sheepishly as I stood up, cutting into the banter—this would be a life-altering moment. Everyone raised their glasses and waited for me to continue. I took a deep breath. “My mother…Keryth knew all of you. And at first, that made me…really pissed, actually. That I didn’t know my mother the way you all did. But I’ve come to realize that our lives were destined to be intertwined. Because of her. Because of what she believed in you all, and in the reason this rebellion even exists. And I…I’m damn proud to be a part of it.”

Everyone cheered, praised, smacked the table, taking deep drinks from their glasses, exclaiming, “Hear, hear!”

Everyone except Drayce. He just raised an eyebrow at me, asking silently if I meant what he thought I meant.

It was unsettling that I knew his thoughts without him speaking, but I gave him a nod.

I was staying. This was my home now. And I had found the things worth fighting for here. Nella left this hectic and cruel world behind, but I could still make a difference in it, forher. My mother wanted a better place for me, and I wanted a better one for Nella’s memory. She deserved that more than my vengeance.

I would just have to bear the weight of loss alongside Drayce. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was inevitable if I stayed.

Drayce and I tipped our glasses back, quietly sealing the pact that no one else knew was being made.

Chapter 37

Say the Word

The weeks turnedinto two months after I decided to stay and give the rebellion and this cause my all.

I was no longer in private lessons with Garrick and Bramick and Kaelor—thankfully, when it came to the latter—I had finally joined group sessions. I did combat magic with the other fire elementals led by Nythera, a female with raven hair that reflected slightly red in the sun. She was an absolute genius with fire, making it move and transform more like water than the temperamental element this group sought to control.

The whole base now knew, too, of the “golden touched crow that was always with Naci”. Our bond had become common knowledge, even a thing of awe for some. It made me smile anytime anyone asked about it.

I still strength trained each morning with Garrick, but now I ran, weight lifted, sweat and pushed to exhaustion with other soldiers. I found quickly that the more weight I could lift, the better I felt. Over the weeks, the transformation of my muscles impressed even Aerie, and she was lean and strong for such a small female.

Then there was physical combat and defense with a squadron of other army soldiers led by Kellan. These sessions were quickly becoming my favorite. Who didn’t love kicking ass and taking names, especially among those that had openly stared, criticized, questioned, and threatened me? I’d have been lying if I said I didn’t enjoy that part.