Eternal Endings

Eternal Endings

The LAST Prophesized Series Novel

Kaitlyn Hoyt

Text copyright Kaitlyn Hoyt

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This novel is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to peoples either living or deceased is purely coincidental. Names, places, and characters are figments of the author’s imagination. The author holds all rights to this work. It is illegal to reproduce this novel without written expressed consent from the author herself.

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Cover Design by Victoria Faye

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Dedication

For all the Prophesized readers,

I’m so sad to see this two-year journey come to end, but I’m so glad you’ve all been on the ride with me. This book is for you. May your story be eternal.

Thank you.

Other Kaitlyn Hoyt Books

BlackMoon Beginnings

The Prophesized Series Book 1

Scorching Secrets

The Prophesized Series Book 2

Descending Darkness

The Prophesized Series Book 3

Reaching Retribution

The Prophesized Series Book 4

Stand alone Books:

Redeeming Lainey

Table of Contents

Eternal Endings

Dedication

Other Kaitlyn Hoyt Books

Ryanne

David

Liam

Logan

Incendia

James

Larkin

Emma

Bragden

Colton

Ryanne

Ryanne

Tom

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Ryanne

One Week Later

I can’t do this.

Pacing back and forth, I twirl the end of my hair around my index finger while trying to collect my thoughts. The hallway around me is empty, so I don’t really have to worry about anyone discovering me like this. Last time I checked, everyone was downstairs trying to get ready. Tom explained to me how mages don’t perform funerals the same way humans do—the way I understand. Instead of being sad at their loss, they rejoice the life they were given. To me, a funeral is a funeral. No matter how it is celebrated, a person still died.

The mages here today lost their lives because of that battle.

Because of me.

I could have ended it sooner, I know. If I just took Zahtri and Dravin out while they were frozen, everything would have ended much sooner than it did, but that wouldn’t have been the right thing to do. The honorable thing. Mages don’t have the manipulative and evil reputation like the Gadramicks, so I’m glad I didn’t do it, but it could have saved lives. I know I could have done something…more.

Like I told everyone though, not all the Gadramicks in that battle were evil. Like Larkin, Kyril, and Adam, they were misguided. Once they joined, there wasn’t an easy way to escape. If mages had attacked while everyone was frozen, more lives than necessary would have been lost.

Adam and Kyril were too young to die in that battle. Kyril died saving Emma, and for that, I will always be grateful. I got to keep my best friend. On the other hand, Adam died saving me. He jumped in front of me when I froze. I could have saved him if I only had reacted quicker…if I had done something besides stare at Dravin.

I didn’t get to know Vincent very well, but I wish I had. He seemed so cheerful and full of life and like the others, too young to die. He’s with Claire now though, and they seemed happy while I was waiting to find my fate.

And Claire. Unbeknownst to Claire, I still had a little bit of magic left in me. The night of the battle, everyone sat me down and explained what happened while I was out. Logan was able to heal my physical body of all the injuries I had sustained, but the rest of the healing process was up to me. The fact that Logan was able to partially heal me proved that there was still some magic within me, and I must have done something right because I woke up with Colton crying onto my shoulder. I don’t remember anything between waiting with everyone in limbo and waking up. Like everyone else though, I was incredibly surprised to wake up in that battlefield with everyone standing over me. I was even more surprised to find Colton’s arms around me with tears falling down his cheeks.

The second I became aware of what was going on, I clung to him as if he was my lifeline. I thought that if I lessened my grip, he would slip through my fingers again. Though that battle was a week ago, he still worries that something is going to happen. He watches me constantly to make sure nothing is wrong.

I turn around and start pacing down the other half of the hallway. Though I’m happy with where my life is right now, days like this just remind me of what I had to do to get here. I killed a man. He was an evil man, but he was a man nonetheless, and I killed him. I’m a murderer. There is blood on my hands. When Claire first told me I was the girl from the prophecy, I knew it would eventually happen—that I would have to do it. All the training we did was leading up to that.

In the moment, I was focused on ending the battle. I was focused on stopping the danger he imposed on my family and friends. Now, I just feel…bad.

I killed someone.

During the previous fights, I had fought against men and may have inflicted some life threatening injuries, but I didn’t know what happened to them. I probably should have worried about them more, but I had other things to focus on.

Now that the battle is over, everything that happened is all I can think about. Lives were lost because of me. They were there to fight the Gadramicks, but they were rallied together because I was taken. Voluntarily taken, but still taken.

During the fight, I took a life.

As I turn around to pace back across the hall, I feel an arm wrap around my waist. Before I even have time to expel my shocked gasp, Colton pulls me against his chest and hugs me to him. Stop it, he whispers into my hair. Ry, you need to stop this.

How did you know?

You may have the ability to read my emotions, but I have the ability to read you. When you didn’t come down, I knew something was wrong.

I lean back and look at Colton. My handsome Colton. He’s all dressed up right now in navy blue slacks and a button down gray dress shirt. He looks amazing, but even his appearance can’t keep my mind from the topic at hand. I can’t do it, I tell him. I can’t go down there. I can’t celebrate that they’re gone. I can’t smile and pretend like I’m happy.

Colton leans down and frames my face with his hands. Looking me directly in the eyes, he says, We’ve been through this before, Ry. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent their deaths.

If I didn’t freeze when Dravin threw the dagger then…

Adam would have still died, Ryanne. Don’t you see that? Colton only uses my full name anymore when he’s really trying to get something through to me. The Fates had a hand in that battle, because they had a lot riding on it. Balance had to be restored. For every Gadramick life lost, there had to be a mage one as well. It could have been any of us.

I know that, but…

But, nothing. You did not choose who died. You were not the one who killed them.

He died because he saved me, I whisper. Colton’s green eyes soften at my statement, finally understanding.

That’s why you need to go downstairs and celebrate his life.

That means they’re gone. All of them, my voice cracks at the end. I can’t celebrate that.

Just go downstairs and see how beautiful it all is. You’ll want to celebrate it.

His parents are down there.

It was different with the others. We were their only family. We all helped each other grieve, but Adam is a different story. He has parents. He has a family, and I can’t go downstairs and see them upset. I can’t look them in the eyes and tell them I’m sorry for their loss.

Ryanne, Colton says, his voice lowering. We were all there that day. We were all fighting for our lives. Some of us were fighting for the lives of others. Though I didn’t like him, Adam saw what everyone else saw. You are worth fighting for. He gave his life so you could do what you needed to—so you could save us all.

He doesn’t get it, and I have absolutely no idea how to explain it to him.

Just come down, and then if it gets to be too much for you, you can leave, he says. Please.

I stare up at Colton for a few moments. I guess I can do that much. With a nod, I take a small step forward and let him wrap his arms around me to try to calm me down before I head downstairs. Resting my head against his chest, I close my eyes and take in a few deep breaths, letting his feelings swirl around me.

You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here, and I’ll never judge you. Don’t try to hide your feelings. Speak to me, Ry.

I killed a man, I whisper to him. I took someone’s life.

A man who had taken so many other lives.

I don’t think he did.

Ryanne, Zahtri was worse than Dravin. He orchestrated it all. He laid out all the plans, and Dravin carried them out. Zahtri stood in the background and watched everything play out. He may not have personally killed anyone, but he was responsible for the ones who had.

You don’t understand, I say.

Colton grabs my chin and tilts my head up again. I don’t look at him right away, because I don’t really want to see his expression.

Don’t I? With his words, I finally meet his gaze. I beheaded a man.

My eyes widen as his words sink in. I knew Colton had killed Dravin, but no one would tell me exactly how it happened.

I looked Dravin right in the eyes as I pushed my blade through his neck, Colton tells me. "I watched as his eyes widened and his mouth fell open, pained and scared, knowing that he was a dead man. You can train your whole life for a single moment, but nothing fully prepares you for it. Nothing. I know what you’re battling with. We can help each other get through this."

Why are you so good to me, Colton?

Why do you keep asking me that? he replies as he places a small kiss on my forehead. Come on, I’ll be right here for you. Let’s get this over with.

I couldn’t get myself to move for another five minutes. Colton just held me and kept promising that everything was going to be okay, and we’d be able to get past the events of that battle and live the life I saw in my visions. I still really want that life. I haven’t told him that I dreamed about that vision the other night. A small part of me doesn’t think it was a dream though. I think it was another vision—a reassurance that we’re going to be all right in the end. It’ll be a rocky road, but we’re going to make it.

With his hand tightly wrapped around mine, Colton opens the door to the backyard and ushers me out. I stay by his side even when I’m through the doors. He was right when he said it was supposed to be a celebration. Though there is a somber feeling in the air, I can see smiles on the faces of those standing around. The sky is alight with fading reds and purples as the setting sun moves behind the tree line. Numerous torches are lit around the yard to provide illumination. Their shadows dance along the cool grass with the light night breeze, and cast shadows across the faces of those standing nearby.

Colton laughs at my small gasp at the beauty of the scene in front of me. You can do this. You saved the world, Ry. This should be a piece of cake.

It’s the simplest things in life that prove the hardest to face, I state as I take a step forward. Liam, who has his arms wrapped around Natalie’s shoulders, looks directly at me, and gives me a small smile and a nod, silently reassuring me like Colton’s grip on my hand.

Letting my eyes move around the yard, I look at all the people. They are here to say goodbye to someone. After that battle, a lot of mages, mainly friends of Tom, came by the house and wanted to see me. They wanted to make sure I was doing okay, but I couldn’t talk to anyone. I couldn’t face them. I felt like I let them down since I didn’t do as much as I could have in that situation. More lives could have been saved if I just tried a little harder.

The second I’m out of the shadows and into the thick of the crowd, people step out of the way and face me. I tighten my grip on Colton’s hands as everyone stares. My heart is beating erratically, desperately trying to escape from its ribbed confinement, as I try to keep their emotions and thoughts in check. The small semblance of calm I was feeling initially is slipping away with each silent second that passes. These mages were there that day. They saw what happened. They know.

Colton steps a little closer to me and I feel his reassurance seep into me, but I can’t stop staring back. I don’t know how to react, because they don’t seem to know how to either. This is my first appearance in a week. This is actually my first time leaving the house.

I jump and turn to my right when a low clap echoes through the yard. Its deep noise crescendos, and suddenly everyone is clapping and giving me small smiles.

What is going on? Why are they clapping? My body is bombarded with various thoughts and emotions all at once. My knees threaten to give out as they continue to clap. My lungs tighten as if the oxygen was siphoned from the room, and I clutch my chest trying to coax them to work again. Black spots spiral around my vision, teasing me with the darkness. I can’t handle this. Stepping backward, I try to turn around and head back inside, but Colton releases my hand and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side.

I can’t, I whisper to him.

The panic must have been obvious on my face, because Tom steps forward. Guys, guys, he says loudly, trying to silence everyone. Please quiet. She’s still in shock. Give her some peace tonight. We’re here to celebrate the lives of those who were lost.

I’ve never been so thankful for Tom as I am right now because the clapping subsides. As it starts to become silent again, my eyes are drawn to the side. They move over a lot of people. There are many faces I recognize, but whose names I can’t recall. Towards the back of the yard, I meet the eyes of a couple. The male has his arm across the female’s shoulders, and unlike most of the mages here, these two have tears in their eyes.

I know immediately who they are, just like I know I need to speak with them.

Though Tom is still talking, I step away from Colton and walk across the field. I feel everyone watching me, but seeing those two in tears awoke something inside of me. A need to comfort. Walking directly over to the woman, I don’t stop until I have my arms around her waist and am hugging her to me. Her body tenses initially, but she quickly moves past that and wraps her arms around me and cries onto my shoulder.

I’m so sorry, I whisper to her.

I’m not sure how long we hold onto each other, but I can’t let her go until she wants me to. When I woke up, Colton held me. There wasn’t a need for words. I needed that, and now I need to do that for someone else.

When she finally lifts her head off my shoulder, she looks at me directly, ignoring all the eyes that are probably focused on us.

I’m not sorry. You gave him a reason to fight, sweetie. You helped him turn around when we couldn’t. Thank you.

Now it’s my turn to cry. He tried to save me, and I’ll never be able to thank him. He’ll never know.

Dear, look around you. I glance over my shoulder and just like I was expecting, everyone is watching me. Look at all the people you were able to save because of what he did. Everyone here is indebted to you because of that day. Adam knew what he was doing. You changed him for the better. Don’t doubt that he doesn’t know how thankful you are.

I don’t know how to respond to that. Their son, their only child, is dead because he stepped in front of me. How can they not hate me? How can they not want me to take his place?

Sweetie, she starts. More endearments. I see the pain in your eyes. I see the sadness. You were given something that day. Don’t waste the days you’ve been given by thinking about the past and dwelling on what you could have changed. I’m sure Adam didn’t save you because he fell in love with your frown. With those words, she reaches forward and wipes my tears away. Don’t cry.

How did you know? I whisper.

Our Adam left because he wanted power. Attention. He thought Dravin could give him that. He didn’t think about others. Now, I may be old, she smiles at me when I open my mouth to argue with her, but I know of love. I know what it makes a person do. Adam wasn’t thinking about himself in that moment. He wasn’t thinking about power or getting attention. He was thinking about you.

I’m sorry I couldn’t save him.

But you did, she tells me as she steps back to her husband. More than you know.

The unease comes back the second she steps away, and I clench my fists at my side, trying to prepare myself to turn around. I never was able to handle attention well, and I thought that I was getting better, but something changed in me after that battle.

You’re doing great, Ry, Colton says softly as his arms snake around my waist again. He gives a single nod to both of Adam’s parents.

Are they still watching me? I ask him while leaning back against his chest.

They’re always going to be watching you, he tells me.

So, I should just suck it up and turn around. Is that what you’re telling me? Because I’d rather you make me invisible so I actually disappear. Colton’s chest rumbles with a low chuckle, and my body starts to feel a little lighter with that sound. If Colton can remain calm during all of this, I can at least try. Taking a deep breath, I nod and step away from him. Okay, I’m good.

You sure?

I’m never sure, I mumble and lean around him. I’m not going to smile. I can’t tonight. I immediately search for Tom because he’ll know what to do next. I’ve never been to a mage ceremony before, but I know I made a scene walking towards Adam’s mother like that, so we need to get everything back on track.

I easily find Tom standing in the same spot I was earlier and give him a small nod. Lacing his fingers through mine, Colton pulls me back to the middle of the yard. I follow his movements, keeping my eyes on the ground and avoiding everyone’s wandering gazes.

"Are you sure the invisibility thing