Shadow & Storms (The Legends of Thezmarr, #4)

by Helen Scheuerer

For he knew in his bones that she would emerge victorious, Naarvian steel in hand, vows of vengeance on her tongue. And that she would come for him.

The thought was bittersweet, for she’d won the Great Rite and achieved what she’d always wanted, only to have lost something more precious when she emerged.

For him, the world would wait. And when he was safe at her side, they could watch the whole fucking thing go up in flames to be reborn anew.

‘Then the world will know that if they hurt him, I’ll burn them all to the ground.’

As blood dripped from Wilder’s swords, that brilliant white light flared again. At last, he tasted the storm on his lips, and looked up.

She broke away, panting. ‘I love you,’ she gasped, refusing to tear her eyes away from him. ‘I love you so much I can hardly breathe. I’ve wanted to say it for so long —’ Wilder gave a hoarse, broken laugh. ‘Tell me again later. Tell me when we’re safe.’ Thea kissed him again, desperate to show him that tempest he’d brought to life within her from the moment they’d met. ‘I’ll tell you every day until my last,’ she murmured.

‘I am the storm,’ she told herself. She let her lightning rage, right alongside her heart, and she split the gods-damned tower in two.

‘I asked them if I’d regret it… not seeking immortal life.’ He met her celadon gaze, memorising every one of her features anew. ‘They told me that I’d never regret it. That while my life would hold much pain, it would also hold more love than I could ever imagine.’

‘You said a moment, and I gave you one,’ she told him firmly. She pointed to the door. ‘Out there, you can have your armour on as much as you need, but in here with me? We are equals. It was you who told me, what hurts you, hurts me. You told me we’ll take it on together.’

Wilder return to her side, felt the brush of his lips against her temple, and it took every ounce of willpower not to melt right into his body. ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. ‘You never need to thank me,’ Wilder told her. ‘I will always fight for you. And it’s my honour to do so.’

Don’t let the world – don’t let anyone convince you that you’re not enough. Only you define your story. You and you alone. When they tell you what you’re not, when they tell you what you can’t do, remember: you are the storm, Elwren. You split the skies and flood the plains. You make the ground tremble beneath their boots. No one can fucking stop you.’

Drue and Adrienne arrived, both clad in black armour, riding straight to the frontlines. They grinned at one another. ‘Luck be with you, sister,’ Adrienne said, offering a hand. Drue shook it, her expression fierce. ‘Not if he’s been with you first.’

‘You asked me what I wanted?’ he rasped, thrusting into her slowly, deeply. ‘I want more than war stories and bloodshed. I want to build a life with you, Thea.’

‘We are all daughters of darkness, Thea. We were born into a world of it, a place that would dictate the way in which we defend ourselves, the way we live our lives. No more. That world is no longer. And the next one will be what we make it.’