Suddenly, Cypher’s voice wasn’t just filling her mind. It was audible to her ears, and she could feel his presence as if he was with her. She lifted her head and saw him shimmering, translucent before her. “It’s my spirit, love.” He reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. She reached for his hand, and to her surprise, she was able to hold onto him.
“How is this possible?” She squeezed his hand tighter, somehow hoping she could keep him there with her.
“Our souls are bound. It is a gift from the Creator that we get to say goodbye, at least for a time. One day, you will join me in the afterlife. It is also so that I can give my power to you. You are my successor. I am honored to pass my reign on to you—my precious one, queen of my heart. Our people will need you to be their queen.”
Lilly shook her head as tears rushed down her cheeks. Her voice broke as she said, “I don’t want it. Not without you.”
“That’s not how it works. Nothing happens by chance, Lilly. You were not accidentally lost from the sprites. You didn’t just happen to grow up in the human realm. You did not meet Dillon and have a child together by some weird accident. Your daughter didn’t end up the true mate of a Canis lupus because he happened to move in across the street from her. And you didn’t become my mate because I selfishly took you.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle, though it was through tears as pain filled her. He had selfishly taken her, and she wouldn’t change it for anything.
“You were meant to be with me. You were meant to stand beside me. Now you are meant to be queen. Look at me, my sweet, strong Lilly.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. She felt his warmth, his breath on her face. It was a blessing, and yet it was cruel. She couldn’t keep him.
“Lilly Pierce, member of the healer sprites, mother to Jacquelyn Lupei, grandmother of Slate Lupei, and my soulmate, I pass to you my power, my memories, the history of our people, and the authority and responsibility that comes with my title.”
His hands cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears as he spoke.
“Even as I speak these words, my will resonates through the hearts and minds of every member of our race. Hear me now, all who belong to our kingdom. As is my right as king, I give over my reign to my bride. She is and will be, until her time to follow me comes, the Warlock Queen.”
A flood of power hit Lilly in the chest, and had Cypher not been holding onto her, she would have fallen backward. But his hands remained firmly pressed to the sides of her face. She felt his magic flowing inside of her like electricity running through veins.
“I love you,” Cypher said, his forehead still pressed to hers.
“I love you,” she whispered back. A second later, he was gone, and she was left with his empty body, the pressure of a kingdom, the worry for her daughter and grandson, and a broken heart.
Chapter 15
“These things have not been hidden from me. I see you. I hear you. You have not been forgotten.” ~The Great Luna
Fane saw Decebel fall. At the same time, his own legs gave out. The young alpha’s knees hit the floor, but Fane didn’t feel the pain that should have radiated up his body. He didn’t notice that he’d fallen forward, his arms instinctively dropping, his hands slamming down to catch his body. Instead, he felt something inside of him being ripped open. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments tore apart as though someone had reached into his chest, grasped hold of his heart, and then wrenched it from his body. The woven cord, once strong and vibrant, that held him to the alpha pair—his parents—was gone. That could only mean one thing. His parents were… He didn’t let himself finish the thought.
He could hear voices around him, but they faded into the background. In the forefront was his wolf, howling mournfully for his leader, while his human voice joined with his cries, lamenting the loss of the people who brought him into the world. Fane shook his head. It couldn’t be true. There was no way they were gone.
Without any conscious decision on his behalf, Fane scanned