Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) (67 page)

Lying in bed in the early morning quiet, Kyrin smiled up at the ceiling and basked in how right things felt in that moment. With Kaden just in the next cabin, everything was as it should be, and she cherished it. The last couple of months had brought much pain and hardship, but, in many ways, things were better for it.
Thank You.

Below her, Lenae worked on breakfast—such a peaceful, now familiar sound that added to Kyrin’s joy. Ready to face a day full of such thrilling newness, she slipped out of bed and dressed. Downstairs, Lenae smiled at her, mirroring her contentment.

“Anything I can help with?” Kyrin asked.

Lenae shook her head. “I think I’ve got everything nearly finished. Besides, you’re going to rest and enjoy these days. I insist.”

Kyrin smiled as gratitude filled her heart. The woman had become such a dear friend and mentor. On impulse, she walked up and gave her a hug. Lenae let out a little noise of surprise and squeezed her tightly in return.

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me these past weeks,” Kyrin told her.

As they parted, Lenae’s lovely eyes were a little watery, and she cupped Kyrin’s face in her hands. “You’re welcome. I enjoyed every moment of it.”

They shared another smile, and Kyrin stepped away to the window to admire the beauty of the bright forest right outside. Her gaze fell on Jace sitting with Tyra nearby. Rayad had told her all about what he’d done in Landale and during their escape, much to Jace’s chagrin. He clearly didn’t want the recognition of a hero, but that was how she would see him. And it wasn’t only because of Landale. He had saved her life too, after all.

She opened the door and walked out to him. Tyra wagged her tail in greeting, and Jace rose to meet her. She smiled at them, glad of the opportunity to talk to Jace. He’d kept his distance after returning to camp the day before. The excitement would have certainly made him uncomfortable, but she suspected something more.

“Good morning,” she said cheerfully.

Jace echoed her with enough of a smile on his face to make her happy.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Kyrin went on as she breathed in the fresh, earthy air.

“It is.”

She stared at him for a long moment until his expression grew uncomfortable, but she couldn’t help but marvel at the change in him since the first night she saw him at the fire. With such clear images of his tortured eyes in her mind, it was easy to compare the difference to their
vivid sparkle now. And for some reason beyond her understanding, Elôm had used her to make it happen. What a thrilling transformation to be a part of.

Following the same impulse as before, she stepped forward and closed her arms around him. He tensed but returned the embrace, a bit awkwardly at first, and she bit back a chuckle. When they parted, he stared down at her with an amusing crinkle in his brow.

She smiled and gave a shrug. “I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me, really. Kaden may be here now, but you will always be one of my best friends, and I don’t ever want to lose you. You can count on me for anything.”

Relief cleared the confusion from his face. So it was as she suspected. He had worried that Kaden’s presence would change things. He looked away from her and swallowed as if working to control his emotions. She waited for him to turn back to her. When he did, his expression was the most open she had ever seen, and his voice came out a little rough. “I don’t want to lose you either.”

“You won’t,” Kyrin promised. “Not by my choice.”

A full smile emerged on his face—one of such true joy, Kyrin could have cried. Perhaps the doubts, the lies, the pain would still come around to haunt him, but for right now, he had found peace.

Off to the side, movement caught her attention. Holden approached them slowly, his arm in a sling. Just like with Jace, the look in his eyes had completely changed since the days he’d glowered in mistrust. Contrition filled them instead.

“Looks like he has a lot on his mind.” She looked up at Jace to make sure he was comfortable. “I’ll let you two
talk.”

Jace’s eyes followed Kyrin for a short distance as his mind still lingered on how he had come to care for her in only a few short weeks. She was special. She hadn’t given up on him when many others would have, even when he tried to push her away. That was the true definition of a friend.

Finally, his focus fell on Holden. Though unsure of his intentions, none of the old apprehension surfaced. Something else settled inside him—something nearly foreign. Confidence. Whatever the man might say, those who mattered most would stick by him, and that offered a calming assurance.

Holden came near and seemed unable to meet Jace’s eyes until he stood directly in front of him.

“I needed to talk to you…because of yesterday.” He paused and rubbed his shoulder as a clear struggle played out on his face. But determination set in, the expression of a man owning up to his mistakes. “I was wrong. Everything I said and thought about you was wrong.” He shook his head. “I was a fool and went against everything Elôm has been trying to teach me. I’m sorry. I don’t know if you can grant it, but I ask for your forgiveness.”

Jace had to let this sink in. Not a single person in all his life had ever apologized or sought his forgiveness for their actions against him. He wasn’t even sure how to accept it. But Holden waited, his eyes earnest—such a stark contrast to the scathing looks he’d previously cast Jace’s way. Realization settled inside Jace that forgiveness was a difficult thing for him. It always had
been. Yet, didn’t he so desperately crave it for the things he’d done? Things far worse than what this man had done to him? Who was he to withhold it?

“I forgive you,” Jace declared, and the gratification that washed through him was instantaneous.

Holden breathed a deep sigh. “Thank you for that, and thank you for saving my life. I didn’t deserve it.”

He extended his hand. Jace looked at it for a moment and then gripped his arm. For the first time, Holden smiled at him.

He turned to go then, but glanced back. “By the way, I don’t believe your wolf is possessed.”

Jace let out a soft chuckle and reached down to rub Tyra’s ears.

The moment Kaden left his cabin, Kyrin walked over to him with a huge grin springing to her lips. Though it would take time for the bruises and signs of beatings to fade, just one full night of sleep and good food had already lessened the effects of captivity. It brought her such joy to see him that she had to keep hugging him to be sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“You’re here. I can’t believe it.”

“Neither can I. It’s unreal.” His grin matched hers—a wonderfully familiar sight. “I told you we’d make it. It just took a little longer than I expected.”

She laughed, thinking back to the bell tower. “A lot longer and with a lot more difficulty. If I’d known then half of what I do now, I would’ve escaped that very day.”

Kaden shrugged. “It turned out all right in the end.”

“It did.” As much as she would have liked to be spared the heartache and
pain they had both experienced, anything different may have ended disastrously or not happened at all, such as befriending Jace. That she would not want changed.

“So, this is it. This is home,” Kaden said as he surveyed camp.

She took in the sight as well. It was the same as always, yet it felt more complete to her now, and a deep fondness for it welled inside her. “Yes, this is home.”

“I always did want to live in the woods.”

Kyrin chuckled a little. Their grandfather’s face had turned so red when Kaden had mentioned this dream back in Auréa. “Elôm gave you exactly what you wanted.”

“What about you?”

“My biggest concern was the two of us being split up, but we’re both here and surrounded by good people and good friends. That’s enough for me.”

Kaden didn’t say anything, but she felt his eyes on her. She looked up at him. “What?”

“You’ve changed.”

“Have I?”

He gave a definite nod. “I’m not sure how, exactly. You’re more outgoing, I guess. The way you helped Lenae with the injured and how you interact with everyone. I don’t think the Tarvin Hall Kyrin would’ve been so quick to do that.”

She contemplated this. She hadn’t even thought before she’d acted yesterday. “I guess I hadn’t really noticed.”

“It’s good.”

Kyrin smiled in appreciation of his praise and linked her arm with his to give it a little hug. Her eyes drifted to the center of camp where Jace and Holden had finished talking. From the look on Jace’s face, it had gone well. She smiled up at Kaden and said, “You haven’t officially met Jace yet.”

Kaden also looked at him, curiosity in his voice. “Is he…?”

“He’s half ryrik.”

Kaden’s eyes grew a little wider, but after everything that had taken place in the last weeks, it couldn’t be as shocking as it might once have been.

“He’s taught me a lot since I got here. Besides Sam, I’ve never had a friend like him. I hope you and he will be friends.”

“Your friends are my friends,” Kaden said without hesitation.

She smiled, and just to cement his feelings, she added, “He saved my life when we came upon a band of ryriks a couple of weeks ago.”

Kaden’s brows lifted.

Having achieved the desired effect, she tugged on his arm. “Come on.”

She led him over to Jace and Tyra. Jace looked a little nervous, but Kyrin offered him an encouraging smile. She trusted her brother completely to treat him with compassion and to befriend him just as she had.

“Jace, I would like you to officially meet my brother, Kaden.”

Kaden was quick to extend his hand, and Jace took it with little hesitation.

“I’m pleased to meet you,” Kaden told him.

“And you,” Jace replied.

“Thank you for taking care of my sister. I’m glad to know someone’s been looking out for her.”

Jace shrugged, but a small smile came to his face. “I think she’s looked out for me more.”

Kaden grinned and glanced at her. “She’s good at that.”

It wasn’t long before Anne showed up in camp. Kyrin smiled at her teary reunion with Trask. They hugged tightly for a very long moment before Trask stole a quick kiss when he thought no one was looking and claimed her hand to lead her into camp.