Chapter 101 Democracy
ARYA
Luca woke up to me watching him. His eyes fluttered before snapping open and settling on me. Then a slow smile made its way to his handsome face.
“You’re doing the creepy thing again,” he mumbled, nuzzling into my hold on the bed.
“You’ve been unconscious for three days,” my voice sounded choked. That pressure that has been stuck there for days still present. “I’m allowed to be creepy.”
“Fair point.” He tried to sit up, winced. “What happened?”
“You collapsed immediately after we escaped the void. Your body couldn’t handle the strain of maintaining immortality while fighting absence.” I helped him sit. “The healers said you were lucky to survive.”
“Worth it. You’re here. That’s all that matters.”
“About that—” I hesitated. “Luca, the immortality transfer. We need to talk about it.”
“Later. First, what happened to Mordecai?”
I sighed. That was the complicated part. “He’s in custody. Magically bound, constantly monitored, in the most secure cell we could create.”
“But?”
“But he helped us escape. Without him, we wouldn’t have known how to safely dismantle the prison.” I looked out the window. “The council is divided on what to do with him. Some want execution. Others think his knowledge of ancient magic is too valuable to waste.”
“And you?”
“I think he’s a monster who deserves to pay for his crimes. I also think eight hundred years in the void changed him. Not enough to make him good, but enough to make him… less evil?” I shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s my ancestor. I have to deal with him somehow.”
“We’ll figure it out.” He took my hand. “Now, about the immortality—”
“You need to keep it.”
“What? No. We agreed—”
“We agreed before I knew what maintaining immortality in the void would do to you.” I squeezed his hand. “Luca, you nearly died. If you give it back to me now, you’ll definitely die. Your mortal body can’t handle another transfer.”
“Then I’ll stay immortal and watch you age while I don’t? That’s worse than dying.”
“Is it? Because I’d rather have you alive and immortal than dead because we tried to force another transfer.” I kissed him. “Besides, this way you get to be insufferably overprotective for centuries. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“That’s not funny,” he frowned. Clearly, my attempt to lighten the mood didn’t work.
“It’s a little funny.”
“Arya—”
“Luca. Please. I can’t lose you. Not after everything we’ve been through. If that means you’re immortal and I’m not, so be it. We’ll make it work.”
He stared at me for a long moment. Then pulled me into a kiss that tasted like relief and resignation and love.
“Fine. I’ll keep the immortality. But—” He held up a finger. “You’re going to live the longest, fullest life possible. No unnecessary risks. No more sacrificing yourself. No more noble stupidity.”
“I make no promises.”
“Arya—”
“Fine. I’ll try. But you know me. If it comes down to saving everyone or saving myself—”
“Then I’ll be right there beside you, making sure it doesn’t come to that choice.” His arms tightened around me. “We’re partners. That means we protect each other.”
His eyes flickered to my list, and he leaned in close. My eyes fluttered closed just as a loud knock came from the door. Luca groaned and moved back a bit, giving the person permission to enter.
Caspian opened the door, looking apologetic.
“Sorry to interrupt, but the council is convening. They need both of you.”
“What about?” Luca asked.
“Everything. Mordecai’s fate. The void’s collapse. The restructuring of our magical defenses. And—” He hesitated. “There’s been a development. Something the council needs to address immediately.”
“What kind of development?”
“The kind where several territories are using your void-escape as evidence that you’re too powerful to be trusted in leadership.”
I felt my stomach drop. “They’re challenging our authority?”
“Some of them. The more conservative factions. They’re calling for new elections. Arguing that concentration of power, even in good hands, is dangerous.”
“They’re not wrong,” Luca said quietly. “We are incredibly powerful. The combination of Moonborne magic and Lycan strength, plus the political influence we’ve accumulated, we could become tyrants if we chose.”
“We’d never choose that.”
“They don’t know that. They just know we escaped the impossible, defeated an ancient monster, and came back stronger.” He looked at Caspian. “How bad is the opposition?”
“Bad enough that ignoring it would be a mistake. But not bad enough that it’s an actual threat. Most territories still support you. But the dissent is growing.”
“Then we address it. Directly.” Luca stood, swaying slightly. I steadied him. “If they want elections, we give them elections. True democracy. Let the people choose.”
“You realize we might lose?” I said.
“Then we lose. But we lose honestly.” He smiled slightly. “Besides, I’m tired. Eight hundred years of ruling, plus a week in the void? I could use a vacation.”
“You’re not serious.”
“I’m absolutely serious. If the people want new leadership, they should have it.” He headed for the door. “Now let’s go face the council before they start making decisions without us.”
The council chamber was packed. Representatives from every territory, species, and political faction. The air was thick with tension.
Luca and I entered together, and the room fell silent.
“I understand there are concerns about our leadership,” Luca began without preamble. “Concerns that we’ve become too powerful. Too dangerous. That we might abuse the authority you’ve given us.”
Murmurs of agreement from some quarters.
“You’re right to be concerned. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And we—” he gestured to me, “—have accumulated a lot of power.”
“So you’re stepping down?” someone called out.
“We’re offering you a choice.” I stepped forward. “New elections. Fully democratic. Every territory gets a vote. If you want new leadership, elect new leadership. If you want us to continue, we will. But the choice is yours, not ours.”
The room erupted. Some cheering. Some protesting. Some arguing amongst themselves.
Lord Drayven, one of the oldest Lycan nobles, stood. “This is unprecedented. Kings don’t just… offer to be voted out.”
“Then maybe it’s time for something unprecedented.” Luca’s voice was calm. “The unity movement was built on the idea that everyone has a voice. Everyone gets a choice. That includes choosing your leaders.”