Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Chapter 60:

Sanaya’s P.O.V

Every Incubus in the Kingdom mourned the loss of the former King. They were spared the gory details about his advent into darkness and how he wanted to manipulate Mages and other creatures of Shadowland to gain control over other dimensions.

It was a unanimous decision by the Queen mother, Lance and Acelin. The people will remember Nathaniel Eustein as a just King who died to save his son from a corrupt mage. He would become a hero and Lancelin could rule proudly as a martyr’s son rather than the son of a traitor. Everything had been calculated carefully to secure Lancelin’s rule and I was in agreement with it no matter how much it hurt to stand in the front line of the grand funeral service that had been arranged for the King.

“Sometimes, it’s the best option to grin and bear than to face a revolt. I’d survived the loss of my mate…I cannot bear to survive the loss of my son.” Queen mother Valleria had spoken sadly. “If word gets out, my son’s rule will be questioned and revolt at such a delicate time will leave the entire dimension in chaos. It will not only affect Incubi but humans too. We cannot let that happen.”

People would see a coffin being lowered into the ground but only we would know that there was no body inside that coffin; only an empty casket. Miaka had burned the body to all but ashes, leaving no room for a resurrection. Since an Ancient Mage had woken up, no bodies were buried but cremated. If the Dark Council knew the wearabouts of the rest of the mages then their bodies would’ve been burned as well, but the covens that had buried them have either gone into hiding or been wiped out.

The service ended at around eight in the evening after a grueling day of constantly having to greet several guests and pretend to moan the loss of a father figure that Nathaniel never was. Several Incubi had flown in from different countries to witness the memorial and once they were gone, with only the closest of our relatives by our sides did we breathe a sigh of relief.

I met with Tanya after the grand memorial service had been wrapped up and everyone had gone home. “How are you dealing?” I asked her, knowing that there was no easy solution for her pain.

“I’ve broken off the engagement,” she told me with a sad smile. “I thought I could move on, especially after Martin’s betrayal, but I just couldn’t. I’m not asking you to reduce his sentence or beg forgiveness for him. He alone is responsible for his crimes and he should’ve known better. But I also understand the desperation he must have been in to choose this path.”

“He asks about you every day.” I told her as we took a stroll in the palace gardens. “He doesn’t ask for forgiveness, however. For now, he’s being kept in a special cell where no magic can get in or out. But after the dark magic wears off, he’ll be back to normal…to human.”

“And I’ll continue to live on…” A tear fell from her eyes that she quickly wiped away. “I’ll remember him for as long as I live, not as the man who turned to darkness but as my childhood best friend and the man who was my first love. Maybe I would move on in life one day, but until that time comes, I will keep performing my duties as Chrone and keep him in my heart.”

“I wish you all the best.” I gave her a hug as I told her goodbye. Tanya was still my friend and would always remain so but because of her duties as Chrone, she had to give up her office job and dedicate all her time to the coven, so I won’t be seeing her as often anymore. I would miss her, but I could understand her decision to quit her job. She needed to be as far away from Martin’s memories as she could.

“Why is fate so cruel sometimes?” I asked Lance that night, as we slept in each other’s arms on his bed.

“If fate isn’t cruel, we would never learn to appreciate the little things in life.” Lance told me. “We often take so many things for granted until we are on the verge of losing them.”

“I’m glad I have you.” I told him, cuddling up to his side and burying my face in the curve of his neck.

“I think I’m the lucky one.” He told me, curving himself around me, holding me close to his warmth. “I would’ve given up on love if it weren’t for you. After witnessing my father’s downfall, I knew I could never be like him. I’d seen my mother crying several times in secret but she always held her head high in front of everyone. I swore I would never let my mate feel that way.”

“But what if we do tire of each other after a century or so? Immortals live so much longer than humans.” It was a reoccurring nightmare I often had, one of my most baseless fears even though I knew what I felt for Lance will never diminish.

“I don’t think I will ever feel any different about you than I do right now.” He told me honestly. “Yes, immortality is a bane in some cases but I’m glad I get to spend it with you, no matter how long I live. I have witnessed the rise and fall of so many kingdoms alone, see thousands of sunrises alone. But now I know I will have you by my side to witness so much more.”

“Since when did you get so romantic?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“Since you came into my life.” He kissed the bridge of my nose before getting up and holding his hand out for me. “Come on.”

“Where?” I asked him while looking at the clock, but took his hand nonetheless. “It’s past midnight.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

I followed him into the elevator and watched him press the button for the roof. We were both in our pajamas so I was glad we weren’t going outside. I was half asleep and I didn’t want to dress up to go out right now.

“Why are we going to the roof?” I asked him. Not that I was complaining…I loved the rose garden and the gazebo and recently, Lance had modified the gazebo by removing the couches and the swing and moving in a beautiful velvet red sofa that could double in as a bed.

We had decided to stay in New York and Lance was still running his company and bar chain as well as his Kingdom, all from ReefWood HQ. It has been his home for over two decades and I felt comfortable here as well.

I had also just moved in with Lance and with the money I had saved, I was able to buy back our old house for my mom. She now lives in the house my father grew up in, where I grew up, and she has given me her blessing to be with Lance.

“I told you,” he said sneakily. “It’s a surprise.

I narrowed my eyes at him and when the elevator stopped on the floor, Lance looked at me with a grin and motioned me forward.

Suspiciously, I stepped out as the elevator doors opened…and what I saw outside took my breath away.