Chapter 187

**Cay's pov**

My mother is dead, and my father is beyond broken, and so am I, in more ways than I can count. Our family had been together since the very beginning of this war for control of the continent, but now, it is only my father and I who remain standing on the battlefield. At first I thought this was all a dream, a nightmare that I couldn't wake from.

But now I know better. I know that my father loved my mother, more than he loved anyone, or anything, including his kingdom. He made a mistake, many mistakes over the years by treating her the way he did, and whilst he realises that it was wrong, he cannot change it. It is too late. And I think that is what hurts him the most.

I wish it were possible to raise her soul from the land of the dead and bring her back, but it ain't, she is with the great dragon mother now, where she belongs. My mother will live out the rest of her days in peace, flying through the stars with her people. Her dead brother and her mother. People who she hasn't seen for years. They died much like she did, in despair.

I hope they find peace with each other.

but most of all. I hope that she will look down on me with pride, because I will never be a victim again. No one will touch me if I do not wish to be touched. I'm stronger than I was, not because I have more physical strength but because I know what to expect. I will not be broken down. Not anymore.

I place my hand on my fathers shoulder, "we should burn her." I say, "it would be what she would have wanted."

he nods, climbing back to his feet and moving away from the body, "you're right, it is what she would have wanted." He turns to a random soldier, "build a pyre, we are going to burn the queens body."

I watch and he and others scurry away to collect the wood and turn to look back down at my mother, she died to protect me, the least I can do is honour her memory.

I wish there was some way that we could bring her back, but not even black magic can rouse the dead. Death is the end of all things. Even though no one wishes it to be.

my father turns his attention back to me, "you should try and get some rest." He says softly, "we will burn her once the sun has set."

I look around the camp, but I have no desire to leave my mother out here. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her body. I had to make sure she was burned.

I had to make sure that her soul was at rest.

I was tired, more exhausted than I have ever been in my whole life. But leaving her side felt wrong, it was like I myself would die should I leave her out here in the open to rot.

"I think I'll stay. I'm not that tired." I lie, knowing that he wouldn't understand.

Dieter opens his mouth, though my eyes were fixated on the horizon, horses galloping their way towards us, about twenty of them.

who would come here? Not many like to leave civilisation behind and come out into the woodland. Especially not at this time of year. The nights were getting colder.

"who's that?" I say to no one in particular, my eyes fixed on the figures as they ride straight for us.

perhaps they had seen the army of men retreating and decided to come and see what all the fuss was about. But who would ride towards an unfamiliar army without their own behind them?

strange.

my father called the army back, pushing me behind him to shield my body, but I still couldn't keep my eyes off the riders as they got closer. Something was calling me to them. Like I needed to be closer. Much closer. I've never felt anything like it before, like a magnetic pull.

Something inside me says that once they come, they'll never leave, and my life will forever change. Though I have no idea why. Or how.

The first rider I saw had pale blonde hair and eyes as blue as my own, and even from his distance I could tell that they were solely on me. He was searching the crowd until his eyes met my own. The invisible pull got stronger, suffocating me as it urged me forward. My mind was screaming at me to go to him.

my father blocked my view as the riders came to a halt not too far from us, the leader, the blonde who's eyes I could feel on me even now, dismounting and stepping forward.

"Princess." He says, his voice thick with an accent I don't recognise. "I have been searching for you for days, but I have always been one step behind."

I step out from behind my father cautiously, "why would you be looking for me?" I ask, though I feel as though I know the answer deep inside my chest.

He was meant to find me, and more.

The strangers eyes face over my body, a small smile appearing in the corners of his mouth.

"she asked you a question, stranger." My father growled.

"excuse my fathers rudeness, we just lost my mother in a battle." I say, pointing towards the body that was now covered in a sheet. "but I do not understand why you are here."

he stared at the body, and then back to me, "the stars told me that I needed to find you, and urgently."

"the stars?" I frown, no one can talk to the stars.

even my mother wasn't able to.

"All my people have the same ability." He says, stepping forward, "I am not here to harm you, princess, I am here to help."

the magnetic pull worsened and I found myself stepping forward, wanting to be closer to him.

"why do I feel like this?" I murmur, mainly to myself.

"because we are bound by the moon, sweet princess." He says, taking my hand, "you are meant to be a queen, my queen."

My eyes widen.

"I don't fucking think so." my father growls from behind me, pulling me back. "She's going fucking nowhere with you."

"get off me." I snap pulling my arm out of his grasp.

"you are going no where with this stranger." He growls again, turning back to the blonde god, "we do not know you, you cannot just come here and make claims that my daughter belongs with you."

He smirks, "what if I said I could bring your wife back from the dead?" He turns to me, "I can breathe life back in to your mother. I can make her live again."

my heart stuttered, my legs weak. "You would do that?"

he nods, "if you agree to come with me."

That was hardly a debate my mind told me to go, to agree and ride with him. I know he isn't lying, I don't know how, but I just do.

I know in my chest that this man would never lie to me.

"bring her back and I will go with you." I say, my father oddly silent.

if he can bring my mother back, I'd follow him to the edge of the world.

Lucinda will breathe again.