Diamond in the Rough - Vivienne Savage Page 0,51
Rosalia saw of her former mother-figure and mentor was the sight of her attempting to claw her way out of the portal as the spirits of those she betrayed dragged her away, still living, to her doom.
At last, silence reigned on the battlefield beneath the dark sky. Night had completely fallen and swept milky swirls of silver starlight over the midnight sky, crafting a beautiful contrast to the ravaged land below.
Blood had been spilled needlessly upon the scorched earth, and what remained of the battleground in the wasteland of the old city was no place for men, let alone gods. Something about gazing upon them made the gods unfathomable to describe and struck her full of awe—so much that she barely registered the lumbering sound of Xavier’s heavy approach. The divine beings were light and energy and though Rosalia would always have the memory of meeting them, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to fully recall their features.
Energy swelled around them all, incorporeal at first before gaining substance in swirling, multicolored lights that were breathtaking to view. With the lights came a wind that grew in speed until the group was blocked from the sight of any stragglers.
Inja and Islena surpassed Rosalia’s expectations, not that she had ever expected to meet one of them. Despite the previous weeks of her adventure and meeting two other deities, it never occurred to her that she’d meet her own patrons.
“We are free at least from our captivity.”
“But…Moritan said a sacrifice was needed.”
“And you did sacrifice, as did your mate. Both of you have served admirably, Rosalia.”
“And you, dragon, have righted the wrong set long ago by your ancestor. Our fellow divines shall recover—with faith, their spirits will flourish. For this, we give our thanks. In appreciation, we will grant you one boon, a single wish to be shared between you, granted from your heart’s greatest desire.”
“I yield my share in this wish to Rosalia.”
“Xavier—”
“I have everything I need. You are enough.”
Her greatest desire? There were a dozen things Rosalia wanted, but none of them stood out in the forefront as her greatest desire. She wanted the Enimuran Thieves Guild restored. She wanted life returned to the unjustly slain. And even more than that, she wanted her family again.
If Hadrian and Frederico had been a father and grandfather to her, then Mira had been the closest she’d ever had to a sister. Her heart yearned for them and tears burned in her stinging eyes. “What if I ask you to return my loved ones to life again?”
“That is a noble wish, young one. While our power is great, there are other forces and beings of great power who would take offense to meddling with the natural order of life.”
“But it wasn’t natural. They were murdered. Please. I don’t want riches, powers, or magical gifts. I just want my family.”
Islena’s pale eyes drifted to her twin. He glanced at her. “There must be something we could do, isn’t there, brother?”
“Something,” he agreed. The twins held eye contact for three seconds, that moment in time lasting an eternity to Rosalia. Her heart seemed to slam a dozen times against her ribs in that span. When it ended, Inja flicked his gaze toward her. “We will leave one soul. Resurrect one body, as restoring even a single spirit will send vast ripples across the Ocean of Fate. More than that would cause irreversible damage. Is this a satisfactory gift, child?”
One soul.
Faced with an impossible challenge, Rosalia turned to the ghosts lingering on the sand. How could she possibly choose between one of them?
Hadrian pinned her under a knowing look. “I’ve lived a long life, Rosalia. I’ve seen many things, traveled to many places, and found peace with my end.”
“But La—”
“I loved her. It is a pity our affection was one-sided. But I also loved you with all of my heart. You were the daughter I always wanted, the child I longed to have with Lacherra. But she did not want a child, and now, in my death, I understand why.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He stepped forward. Though his steps didn’t disturb the sand, she felt the ghostly caress of his fingers as he took her hands. “I could have raised no better a child than the one your mother left in my care. Walk forward with peace and happiness, Rosalia. Remember my teachings. As long as you hold those close, I will always be with you.”
“I love you.”
“As I love you. Remember my words, and never forget