Lukas awoke, trying to orient himself in the first few seconds of his regained consciousness. He attempted to move, but his body refused to cooperate, and he couldn’t even open his eyes. It felt as if he was suspended in the inky darkness of the void, his body enveloped by layers of shadow, untouched by the chilling cold. Something protected him, if only for a fleeting moment. The fantasy lasted only a few more moments before the weight and pain of the past few days gradually returned, and Lukas relished the last remnants of peace and comfort.

  Unfortunately, reality intruded, and the fear of what awaited him began to spread through him. He knew he had to open his eyes soon. Taking a deep breath, Lukas felt his body ache with the effort, his ribs burning with every breath he took, as if his body were still revenged.

  Recognizing his limited state, Lukas allowed himself more rest. Instead, he took a moment to listen to his surroundings. The eerie silence was unsettling. He heard no voices, not even the faint sound of people moving in the building where he had awakened. There should have been servants or soldiers diligently working into the late night hours, but there was nothing. His surroundings were too hushed; none of the fighting or screams that had haunted him since his cousin’s death, none of the fear of being pursued by the men who had chased him relentlessly for hours.

  Pushing back against the fear building up, Lukas opened one eye and saw the blurry grey ceiling above. As seconds passed, his vision cleared. It took some time, but as he slowly moved his eyes, unable to move his body, Lukas recognized the spacious room as the one he had stayed in before leaving with Marcellus. Relief and confusion swirled in his mind. Had everything just been a dream? But alas, Lukas knew in his heart and mind that no matter how much he hoped that sentiment to be true, there was only one cold, hard truth bearing down on him now: Marcellus was dead.

  Questions marred Lukas as he lay in the Sulli Estate, his mind trying to comprehend everything that had transpired in the past few days. Lukas had anticipated being with his cousin at the Legions fortress, learning to control his Wraith and training tirelessly until exhaustion overcame him.

  But now, everything had changed. The exhaustion was present, but nothing else of the plans meticulously laid out by his father and uncle remained. Lukas seized control of his situation and focused on the few questions that truly mattered. How had he ended up here? Who was the man who had saved him? And finally, and most importantly, how long had he been away from the world?

  The first question was answered reasonably clearly, as Lukas’s mind played through the memories of a man appearing and disappearing as a shadow through his pursuers. With such ease, he cut each one down. These weren’t fanciful dreams; they were reality. The power he displayed was something Lukas had only expected the Archons to possess. But a stranger had managed to cut down so many within mere heartbeats, igniting a burning desire within him to know more. He would have to learn the man’s name from his Uncle or someone. He was certain they would know or be able to find out.

  Having heard no one approach his room, Lukas attempted to sit up and get someone’s attention. However, no matter how much he wanted to move, every limb, muscle, and bone protested against his will. He tried several times before finally giving up. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling, barely able to make a whisper. His entire body felt as if he had been pulled from all his limbs by galloping horses.

  Lukas wondered how long he would be like this. He didn’t know and tried not to dwell on the nightmares that began to creep into the back of his mind. Even the thought of never being able to move again had no place in his mind. He would not allow such thoughts to plague him any longer.

  Minutes ticked by, and the only change in the room was the slow movement of the tiny light elemental within its glass prison. Lukas remained vigilant, watching as it illuminated the room with its radiant body, one of many such elements that lit the entire estate’s numerous rooms and buildings. Time ebbed away until Lukas felt a faint energy surge within him, just enough to stir his fingers and allow him to move his head back and forth, albeit with some discomfort due to his aching muscles. As time passed and he regained his mobility, thirst finally emerged as the most pressing of the many discomforts that plagued him. He was uncertain how long he had been without water, but he desperately needed something to quench his parched throat.

  Before he could search for a cup or pitcher in the room or raise his voice to attract attention, the door swung open. Lukas slowly turned his head to see a young woman dressed in the grey garments worn by his uncle’s household servants. She was roughly his age, with long hair tied into a braid that almost reached her waist.

  “Water, please,” he rasped, his voice barely audible above the soft murmur of the room. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she hadn’t heard him.

  She glanced up from the folded blankets in her hands, then dropped them as her hands instinctively covered her mouth. Without uttering a word, she dashed out of the room, and Lukas could hear her exclaiming loudly, “He’s awake, Lukas is awake!”

  I just wanted water, Bloody Echoes, and the Fae be damned. Lukas sensed a change, a new spark of power forming within his core. It was a mere spark, but enough for him to attempt to rise. Slowly, he moved his arms, using every muscle, each burned from the effort, to lift himself to a sitting position. Minutes later, someone familiar opened the door again.

  Marie rushed through the door and sat on the edge of the bed, hugging Lukas tightly. “You’re finally awake,” she cried, her voice filled with tears. Lukas could hear her tears as she spoke into his shoulder.

  He flinched from the fire that burned through his ribs as she held him. Marie let go of him and backed away to the far edge of the bed, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes filled with concern.

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  “I’m so sorry. I should have realized you were in pain. How are you feeling?” She asked, her eyes scrutinizing every exposed inch of him.

  Lukas felt his skin burn as he realized he was severely underdressed and shirtless. With difficulty, he pulled the covers up, concealing himself from her view.

  “I’m alright,” he croaked out, his voice barely audible.

  “Oh, you need water. Hold on.” She jumped up and rushed to the dresser on the opposite wall, retrieving a glass of water from a stone pitcher. When she returned, she handed the cool cup to him.

  “Drink slowly. You’ve been out for too long and need to take your time.” She ordered, reclaiming her seat at the end of the bed.

  Lukas slowly sipped the ice-cold water, the coolness penetrating his bones. It felt invigorating, and even his muscles responded positively to the refreshing liquid. “Thank you.”

  The words came out stronger, with less of the rasp in his voice since his awakening, but still only a whisper. As he took further sips, he felt a gradual increase in strength returning. His muscles absorbed the refreshing water with renewed vigor.

  The door swung open, and Lord Sulli entered the room with a determined stride, standing at the end of the bed. “You may leave, Marie.”

  She rose, turning to face the man in a protective stance. “He’s just waking up. You shouldn’t push him too hard.” She pleaded weakly.

  However, he remained unresponsive. “Close the door behind you.”

  Defeated, Marie nodded and gave Lukas one final hug before retreating from the room and closing the door behind her. Lord Sulli turned his attention away from her, his gaze fixed on Lukas.

  Lukas maintained a straight posture, attempting to maintain composure in front of his uncle and the head of the family. He managed to hold it for only a moment before succumbing to the urge to slump back into a more comfortable position on the bed. He waited patiently for Lord Sulli to speak, but instead, he continued to observe. Lukas finally broke eye contact and looked down into his mostly empty water cup. He yearned for more, but it would have to wait.

  A visit from Lord Sulli was never merely a conversation. The man meticulously analyzed every aspect of the exchange, down to the emphasis of each syllable. Based on his reactions, he drew conclusions and made his next move. Lukas was ill-prepared for such an intense meeting.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked, his hands clasped behind his back and standing firmly at the end of the bed. His voice was surprisingly stern.

  “Weak, but I’m feeling slightly better already. The water helped,” Lukas replied. His stomach growled in agreement. When was the last time he had eaten? It had been two or three days, maybe. He had no idea how long he had been asleep. It could have been weeks, for all he knew.

  “I would love something to eat,” he said.

  Lord Sulli’s expression remained unchanged. “I’ll have one of the servants bring you something. You need to rest and recover quickly. You’ve been asleep for a full day, and there’s no time to waste.”

  Time? What did he mean by no time to lose? “I don’t understand. What do you mean by no time to lose?” Lukas asked.

  Time to lose? He had only woken up about half an hour ago. Cryptic half-answers were not what he needed in his current state.

  “Lukas, things have taken a turn for the worse since Marcellus’s passing. Our family was utterly unprepared for such a calamity.” Lord Sulli’s words carried no hint of personal grief, only cold, unfeeling facts. How did he manage to remain so composed?

  Lukas gazed down into his cup, recalling the final moment he saw Marcellus plummeting from the house. Damn it, keep it together. He had saved you by doing that.

  “I have no other sons, Lukas. My granddaughter is merely six months old; she is too young to inherit the household. Therefore, I must designate a new heir.” With that, Lord Sulli turned away, leaving Lukas alone in his thoughts. As he walked, his eyes lingered on the hanging painting across from the bed, where a family sat on a lavishly decorated couch—two young children and their parents.

  Why was he addressing Lukas in such a manner? Lukas held no significance for such conversations. His father was Lord Sulli’s younger brother, belonging to a secondary family. His father had never attempted to influence or participate in family politics. He preferred to reside at the family estates outside the city, far from any political intrigue. Despite his weakened state, it took longer than it should have, but the profound meaning of those words finally dawned on Lukas.

  “I see you understand, so I shall not prolong this conversation any further. You shall be my heir,” he resumed his position, his hands firmly gripping the wooden bed frame, gazing down at Lukas. Your father has already consented to this arrangement. You shall reside, study, and train here, and in time, you will succeed me as the head of this family.”

  Lukas was speechless. There were no words to express his thoughts. How could this even have crossed his uncle’s mind at such a moment? It would have been one of the last things he would have considered so soon after Marcellus’s passing. Lord Sulli waited patiently, and the silence between them gradually grew until Lukas finally succumbed to his emotions.

  “I’m honored. I don’t know what else to say,” Lukas responded, feeling overwhelmed.

  “Nothing at this point. You have two days until I expect you to be up and about. The healers will arrive in the next hour to assist with your recovery. Until then, please rest. You have a lot to do after that,” Lord Sulli said, turning to leave.

  “What’s in two days?” Lukas asked, feeling doubtful. Even with the assistance of a hundred healers, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to recover so quickly. Moving a single arm felt like pushing it through water, as if the weight was dragging it down.

  “You’ll be my representative and someone else in the family to Lord Reza’s Anceslia. This is a reward for the soldier who saved your life outside the city,” Lord Sulli explained, ending the conversation.

  As Lord Sulli exited the room, Lukas’s mind wandered back to the fight. Reza had been a whirlwind of motion, swiftly maneuvering across the battlefield and eliminating soldiers with remarkable skill. He and his wraith, a partnership that had forged deadly abilities, had been an unstoppable force.

  Reaching out, Lukas summoned his own wraith using his limited power. The crimson figure of his wraith materialized beside the bed. He gazed down at Lukas with a wicked smile, his cards dancing through his hands. The surge of power coursing through his limbs felt exhilarating, granting him a burst of energy that allowed him to move freely for a few precious moments.

  “I need to figure out what you can do,” Lukas instructed his wraith. “I won’t be that useless the next time I find myself in a fight.”

  However, these were plans for the future; for now, all he had to do was rest and recover. Lukas would make the most of the next two days to prepare himself. He would fulfill his duty as heir and then get to work. Lukas closed his eyes, placing the water cup on the side table. He lay down under the warm covers. “I won’t be useless again.”

  He relinquished the power of the wraith and drifted back to sleep.