The Dark God's Bride Trilogy, #3 (32 page)

Noctis shoved the Necromancer away from him and then he retrieved his bride. He laid her down again and enveloped her in a crystal clear time bubble. He used his power to reverse the damage done to her physical body. The terrible wounds down the side of her neck healed completely, but there was not a breath in her body. Her heart was deathly still. He could reverse any damage done to her body but he couldn’t bring the dead back to life. The thought of spending an eternity was insufferable.

The Oracle’s words rung in his ear.
‘Remember this, Summit. If you love her as much as I think you do, there is hope for Amara yet.’

Noctis finally understood what the
Oracle meant and what he needed to do. He gathered his bride neatly into his arms. Because of this woman, he once made a choice between what he couldn’t live without and what he didn’t want to live without. And now, because of this woman, he had to make a choice between what he couldn’t live without and what he couldn’t continue to live without.

He placed a hand under her neck and lifted her up. At the same time, he lowered his head and joined them in a kiss. Gaila had given him the water of life – the source
of his immortality – through a kiss. And now, he would give that gift to his bride through a kiss because he needed her more than he needed eternity.

“It’s time
for the birthday girl to blow the candles on her cake!”

Amara leaned over the dining room table and blew all twenty four candles on her cake. A round of applause went around the table. Her mother and Chevalier, and all of her friends had gathered together to celebrate her 24
th
birthday party, one she never saw coming. Only Raya hadn’t showed yet. Amara thought that perhaps Raya couldn’t find her way to their new address. Noctis had bought a very luxurious penthouse for them to move into while their home was under reconstruction. He promised that every detail would be the same as it used be, with some improvements. Their new home would be his apology gift. She wasn’t so petty of a woman that she would hold him responsible for something beyond his control, but she had to admit that she liked the idea of rebuilding their home.

Amara hadn’t celebrated her birthday in years, but she felt that this one particular birthday was worth celebrating. She was finally free of the
Oracle’s prophecy. Earlier this morning, she even felt like going down to that fortune telling shop to demand her ten dollars back. 

“The woman was only trying to make a living,” Noctis said to her
that morning while they were in bed. “You shouldn’t have read into it in the first place.”

“She told me that I was going to die in my 23
rd
year!” she had argued with him.

“She said that your mortal life was going to end on your 23
rd
year,” he corrected her.

“Now that you mention it… she did say that.” She blinked at him. “How do you know what she said?”

He just smiled and didn’t say anything further. Amara noticed he had been acting strange lately too. Their roles at meal time had been completely reversed. He would not let her take a single bite out of anything and she would have to watch him devour enough food to feed a small army. When she complained, he simply poured her a glass of some kind of alcohol beverage as if that would make up for food. She hated the bitter taste of alcohol. She had not been feeling hungry, but she craved the taste of succulent meat and the sweetness of apple pie.

Noctis briefly explained to her what happened on that day, but he didn’t get into the gritty details as to why she
awoke an immortal. He just instructed her never to consume earthly food and that was pretty much it. She must have asked him a thousand questions, but she only received answers to a select few.

And it wasn’t just their eating habits that changed. Their lives in the bedroom, or out of it, changed as well. Amara blushed brightly when she recalled his boundless vigor in bed last night. Before that day at the museum, she always had the feeling he was restraining himself with her as though he was afraid that she would break if he had not employed restraints. But last night was different. He was different. He made love to her again and again until morning light
broke through the window and even long after that.

“Have a slice of cake, Amara.” Lizzie’s voice snapped her out of
her thoughts. Amara shook her head when her friend offered her a slice of cake on a plate.

“Oh, I forgot. You’re not supposed to eat now.”

Lizzie’s condition had improved. She was healthy enough to move around the penthouse on her own and play with Gemma for a short time. The doctor said she would only get better with time, but for now, she must avoid any physical labor. Not that she had any chores to do. Shiran hung around the mansion more often now. He planned on buying a beautiful estate on the east side, but Lizzie said she didn’t want to move away from her best friend. He had no choice but to stay with her and his daughter. Luckily, the mansion that was under construction was going to be big enough so that he and Noctis would rarely have to bump into each other.

“Are you going to tell him?” Lizzie whispered to her ear. Amara blushed brightly when she realized what her friend was asking. Earlier that evening, Lizzie had accompanied her to the doctor’s office to consult about her nauseas. She’d attributed the symptoms to poor nutrition while she was staying up in that mountain cabin, so she was thoroughly shocked when the doctor had told her it was morning sickness.

Amara had been stunned – astonished – beyond words. When Lizzie saw the tears in her brimming in her eyes, her friend had thought that she was upset by the news and tried to comfort her. The thing was, she didn’t feel upset. She didn’t feel frustrated, or confused, or even the least contrite. Lizzie had been so worried about her stunned silence that she’d begged for her to say something. Amara couldn’t say anything.

Even until now, her friend was acting as if she was some silly teenage girl who got knocked up and terrified of where her life was heading. Far from it, Amara was a grown woman who had never thought that her life would actually go this far. The Oracle’s prophecy had been the veil in front of her eyes. While other girls were dreaming of the future, Amara was living in the moment as though she was going to die in the next. She didn’t plan her wedding like most girls and she didn’t even dare to imagine herself walking down the aisle in a pure white dress for fear that she might actually want to. There had been so many dreams beyond her reach.

Amara rested both of her hands on her lower abdomen and smiled at the thought that she was nurturing a life inside of her.

“What are you going to do?” Lizzie asked worriedly.

“I’m going to make amends,” Amara said to her friend. It was her chance to set things right. It was her chance to make up for the terrible lies she’d told him. This baby inside of her will make up for everything she’d unintentionally robbed from him. Her smile widened when she thought about ways to break the news to the father of her child. She knew how badly he wanted a child of his own.

Lizzie stared back at her with a puzzled expression. “Sweetie…”

“Is it time to open the presents yet?” Artemis asked the people in the room.

Dimitri was the first to jump at her with his present. “Here, Amara. This is from me.”

Amara smiled at him and opened his present first. “I wonder what this could be… oh, a new poker set.” She looked up at him. “Really, D?”

“Premium,” he said with a bright smile on his face. “The set that we have right now is old.”

“Mine next!” Sirena shoved Dimitri aside and placed a large clam into Amara’s hands. 

“Thanks, Sirena!” Amara said as she set the clam on the table. It must have weigh
ed at least ten pounds.

“But you haven’t opened it yet.” Sirena pouted at her.

“Oh…” She didn’t realize she was supposed to open it. “How do I open it?”

“You tickle it.”

Amara laughed and attempted to tickle the clam. It opened as Sirena said. Inside the clam was a huge glowing pearl the size of her fist.

“I’ve always wanted a huge glowing pearl! Does it do anything?”

“You can use it to light up a room or,” Sirena touched her face with both of her hands, “you can mill it down and make a facial mask out of the powder. It works wonders.”

Amara was quite impressed. “Is this what you use? Your skin is practically glowing!”

“Yep!”

“This I need to try!”

“That’s about a year’s worth. I’ll get you another one next year.”

“Wow. Now I feel the need to continue to be your friend.”

Lizzie placed a small gift box in her hands. “This is from me, Shiran, and Gemma. It’s not much, but it’s our thoughts that count.”

Inside the gift box was a charming white gold locket. Amara opened the locket and saw a family picture of the four of them inside. Amara gave Lizzie a big hug and then let Lizzie help her put it on. She extended her arms toward Shiran to ask for a hug but he refused to come.

“Are you still mad that I ruined your once in a lifetime chance at becoming a powerful Necromancer?” she asked the Necromancer.

“Who says that I’m not already a powerful Necromancer? I don’t need the power of ten thousand souls.”

“What made you change your mind?” she asked curiously. “You could always start over and wait for the next opportunity.”

“Well…
after the solar eclipse, Death and I had a heart to heart. He said that if I would stop pursuing the power of ten thousand souls then he would stop pursuing me.” He glanced over to his wife and sighed. “I have a lot more to lose now so I took the offer.”

Lizzie smiled sweetly at him. “You’ve made the right choice, dear.”

“If you don’t want my hug, that’s fine. I’ll hug Gemma. Bring her to me.”

The Necromancer moved forward and carefully delivered his daughter into her arms. Amara gave the baby a big hug.

“Ma!” The baby said her first word and surprised her parents. Amara included.

“Say it again, Gemma!” Lizzie said to her daughter.

“No, say ‘Daddy’, Gemma!” The Necromancer went down on his knee to speak to his daughter. “Dad-dy. It’s not that hard.”

“…
Ma…ma…” the baby babbled on.

“Good girl, Gemma.” Lizzie patted her daughter’s cheek.

“…Ma….ra…”

The Necromancer lifted a brow. “…ra? What in the world is ra?”

“Mara! Mara!” The baby said and then, she giggled.

“I think she’s trying to say Amara,” Dimitri said.

“Really?” Amara gasped and then, hugged the baby a second time. “I’m Gemma’s first word!”

“Technically, her first word is ‘Ma’,” Lizzie disputed as she retrieved the baby from Amara’s arms. “Come here, Gemma. Say ‘Mama’.”

Damian suddenly materialized into the room with a large white box in his hands. Amara nearly jumped when she saw him because the last time they were face to face, he was trying to murder her in a cover-up.

“Don’t be alarmed,” Damian said. “I’m not here to hurt you. Nala had asked me to deliver your birthday present.”

“Why didn’t she come herself?” Amara asked, half-disappointed, half-worried.

“Nala wanted me to deliver a message. She said she was glad to have you as a friend and she wished you many, many happy birthdays.’

“…What is that supposed to mean?” Amara asked.

“I’m not at liberty to say,” Damian replied with deep sadness in his voice. He delivered the birthday present, bowed, and dematerialized from the room.

“What’s in the box?” Artemis asked curiously. “That Nala better not show me off. I’ve put a lot of thought into what to get you, Amara.”

Amara
held the white box close to her heart. This one gift she would open in the privacy of her bedroom.

Noctis sat
in
his study while his bride celebrated her 24
th
birthday party with her friends downstairs. He wanted her to himself today, but things hadn’t gone as planned. He needed to face the reality that there would always be room for other people in her heart. He didn’t like it, but he also didn’t want to change that warm aspect of her character.

He tapp
ed impatiently on the gift box he prepared for her and glanced at the clock on the wall.
When would they leave?
He wondered.

He glanced over to the door when he noticed that he had a guest. The Oracle was standing at the threshold of the door, waiting for him to invite her in.

“Come in,” he said to the Oracle. “To what do I owe this delightful visit? Another prophecy?”

The Oracle entered and closed the door behind her. “Perhaps.”

Noctis straightened his posture. “Surely you jest.”

“I did say that you would help my daughter fulfill another important role.”

He ran his right hand down his face. “What is it this time?”

“You are a lucky man, Summit. My daughters are highly sought after as brides.”