The Champion's Ruin Read online

  The Champion’s Ruin

  Age of the Andinna Book Six

  Kristen Banet

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Mave

  2. Mave

  3. Alchan

  4. Mave

  5. Rainev

  6. Mave

  7. Emerian

  8. Mave

  9. Lilliana

  10. Mave

  11. Alchan

  12. Mave

  13. Mave

  14. Mave

  15. Trevan

  16. Rainev

  17. Mave

  18. Mave

  19. Matesh

  20. Zayden

  21. Mave

  22. Mave

  23. Luykas

  24. Brynec

  25. Mave

  26. Lilliana

  27. Mave

  28. Zayden

  29. Emerian

  30. Mave

  31. Mave

  32. Luykas

  33. Mave

  34. Alchan

  35. Trevan

  36. Mave

  37. Mave

  38. Mave

  39. Mave

  40. Rainev

  41. Luykas

  42. Trevan

  43. Mave

  44. Alchan

  45. Mave

  46. Mat

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader,

  About The Author- Kristen

  Also By Kristen Banet

  Also by K.N. Banet

  Andena Glossary

  Copyright © 2020 by Kristen Banet

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Illustration by Merilliza Chan

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Prologue

  ???

  He sat silently on a mountaintop cliff, watching the clouds drift. He had seen this visage many times in his life, though it had been over a thousand years since the last time he was granted the sight.

  It always filled him with awe—such a beautiful view. He was on top of the world, the highest point in all of Anden, a place few had ever seen, and fewer lived to tell the tale.

  This beautiful view was something of a double-edged sword, however.

  “Love, it’s been too long,” a beautiful bird-song voice said with a familiarity that made him want to weep. It had been over a thousand years since he had heard that voice.

  He gave no response as the most beautiful female who had ever lived sat beside him, hanging her feet off the same cliff. She was so close to him, he could practically feel the blood beating in her veins and the warmth radiating from her. It wasn’t until her hand came up and wiped the tear off his cheek, he realized he was crying.

  “Please don’t do that,” she murmured. “Tears never suited you. They always break my heart.”

  It’s been so long. How could I not cry at being reunited with you?

  “You left,” she said plainly, tilting her head to the side. He was glad she could hear his thoughts. Eyes the color of a multifaceted jewel stared at him, a myriad of reds, pinks, and purples set in black. She always had the most vibrant eyes of anyone he had ever seen.

  It was fitting. She was no ordinary Andinna.

  I had no choice.

  “I know,” she whispered, leaning in close, her lips brushing against his cheek as though she wanted to kiss him. “But the ability to reach you ends when you leave the Land of Dragons. The ability to see you, to comfort you, to tell you how much I love you. I couldn’t do that while you were gone.”

  You still held sway over me…and others. You still had power over our lives.

  “Yes, that’s true. I used it as much as I could, where it was appropriate.” She nodded, leaning away from him and getting comfortable as she looked over the cloud tops drifting by.

  He turned to see her fully, ignoring the beautiful vista. He took in her curvy body, a voluptuous form that made mouths water and knees weak. She was the only female he’d ever loved in a physical or spiritual sense. Others he saw as friends and family, but this female always made him ache—an ache she never helped him with. She never breached the trust and relationship between them.

  Did you use it on her?

  A question he had wondered now for nearly three years. He couldn’t resist asking it now that he had this female by his side.

  “I did,” she whispered, this time not looking at him. “I had no choice in the matter. That which is destined to bring death into the world cannot create life. Others made that decision as she set on her path.”

  The Andinna don’t believe in destiny.

  “No one is born to destiny. In that, you are correct, but people make choices, and those choices put them on paths. Every path has its own journey and an inevitable destination. We just see the way the paths turn and twist long before you can. We’ve lived longer, you see.”

  He nodded once, accepting her words. He had made his choice once, long ago. He had given himself in the name of love, and she had given him the new path he had to walk. Had she seen him coming? He would never know, and she would never tell him. The beautiful female beside him wasn’t omniscient, but he could never deny she knew more than he ever would.

  “You know, all I have ever asked of you is to love,” she said, sounding distant as if her thoughts had wandered down a path he couldn’t follow because he had wandered elsewhere. “And all I will ever ask of you is to love. To spread love. To show others how to love. To bring more love into the world.”

  I know.

  “Then why do you push so much? Why do you push them, darling? They’re on dangerous paths.”

  He had no other option than to push them. His path was chosen long ago. Did she not see that? He certainly hadn’t realized where his path would lead him until recently, but now it was clear. How did he make her understand that?

  Because I love them. As you’ve said, it’s all you have ever asked of me.

  Her beautiful laugh was the last thing he heard as the world drifted away.

  1

  Mave

  Mave raised her sword and roared as bodies dropped and blood sprayed. Andinna around her raised their swords as well. She felt powerful. She felt undefeatable as the Elvasi ran for their lives. Her soul rang out with the trueness of the moment, feeling perfectly at home in the carnage. This was her place.

  Another battle fought.

  Another victory.

  This was her spring season. With the world coming to life after a long winter, she was on the battlefield, bringing death. Beside her, warriors were ready to give their lives to the rebellion.

  Their commander landed in the middle of the battlefield and raised his sword as well.

  “For the glory of the Andinna!” Nevyn yelled over the Andinna high on the victory.

  “For the glory of the Andinna,” they roared in return.

  “What’s the news?” Mave called out, moving to get to his side. As she ran for him, the Andinna parted for her to pass through easily. Some even kicked the bodies of Elvasi out of the way. “Nevyn, what’s the news?” A messenger had caught up to them as they had prepared the assault. Nevyn had told the male to wait for them to finish the fight before he would entertain a message from home.

  Nevyn saw her, and she saw the glow of joy in his eyes. He was also riding the hi
gh of their victory. There was something else, though.

  “We’ve been asked to come home,” he answered. “Alchan thinks we’ve done enough for now. We’ll be heading back and letting his second wave head out for summer.”

  Mave nodded, accepting the information, and looked around.

  “How many?” she asked softly.

  “We’ve probably killed over two-thousand Elvasi and human soldiers in the Empire’s army since the beginning of spring,” Nevyn answered, crossing his arms as he looked around as well. “It’s been a good campaign.”

  “Agreed.”

  And now it was time to go home. Mave smiled. Now, it was time to go home with stories of victory to tell her people.

  Mave was on the back of a horse at midday as she crossed over the ridge into the valley, with nearly two hundred warriors behind her. Kian rode at her side while Nevyn and Varon rode just ahead of them. They were the only members of the Ivory Shadows who had gone on the long campaign. The others were waiting for them in the village that was finally in her sight.

  Below her, visible from the ridge, was the village she called home. She hadn’t seen it in a season, but now it was right in front of her. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest as their slow ride took them closer, step by step. Her blood called out to its bonded lover, who wasn’t in the valley for some reason.

  “We’re almost there,” Kian said softly.

  “Almost,” she agreed. “Can you believe we’ve missed all of spring?”

  “Sometimes, that’s just the way of things. Alchan sent us out to handle Shadra’s initial push into the mountains on the eastern front, and we did. I’m just glad he’s finally called us back.”

  Me, too…sort of.

  Mave chuckled at her indecision. It had been an exciting season, and a large part of her had craved it after the long, cold winter. She was almost sad to be called back to the village.

  An entire season. As winter had given way to spring, they had received word that Shadra was with her troops, just south of the Dragon Spine, ending her time of grieving for Lothen early. She started sending troops into the mountains the moment she had arrived and faster than the Andinna had been able to prepare.

  Alchan had responded by sending out strong units to crush her attempts to create forward camps early in the new year. If they put her down early enough, it would be harder for her to gain traction later in the year.

  So, Mave had kissed all of her husbands goodbye, all needing to do their own work for the rebellion. She got onto a horse and left with her father—technically adopted, but no one ever mentioned that part—and left to fight Elvasi in the unit led by Nevyn. They had headed southeast of the main village and done exactly as Alchan had asked of them. They crushed every Elvasi camp they could find and pushed Shadra back out of the mountains, at least for the time being.

  They rode into the village, laughing as they were welcomed home. It was a hero’s welcome. Mave jumped off her horse and handed the reins off to someone while Kian stayed next to her. Still ahead of her, Nevyn and Varon were handing off their own horses. Mave went up to them, smiling as Varon wrapped an arm around her waist. Kian jumped on Nevyn’s back.

  “We’re home!” he said, laughing. Behind them, warriors cheered at Kian’s proclamation.

  “And what do you bring me?” someone called out. The crowd parted, and Alchan walked through it, smiling.

  “Good tidings!” Nevyn called out, grinning. “In the time we have been away, we have engaged the Elvasi in five battles and came out victorious every time!” He was yelling by the end. Mave threw her fist into the air, cheering along with the warriors around them. “We’ve brought glory back to you and to the rebellion! Our campaign was a success!”

  Andinna around them were jumping in excitement and screaming in victory.

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Alchan replied. “Nevyn, come with me, and we’ll discuss. Everyone else, welcome home.”

  Mave jumped forward the moment he was done speaking and wrapped her arms around the smaller male at Alchan’s side. Rain laughed as they entered a bone-crushing hug.

  “I’ve missed you,” she whispered. “How are you?”

  “I’m great,” he answered, laughing until he cried. “Now, I need to let you go—”

  He didn’t get the chance to finish as Mave was pulled away. She didn’t fret as the large arms wrapped around her and the world began to spin. The spicy scent of her first husband filled her senses as her mouth found his full lips. Her first husband always seemed to be the first one to find her. A wave of need flew through her as Luykas flew overhead, trying to find her.

  “I need the crowds to disperse!” Rain called out. “Move for the King!”

  Mave didn’t pay attention as she stared at emerald green eyes and a self-confident smirk that owned so much of her heart.

  “It’s been too long,” he whispered as he leaned in for another kiss.

  “We were winning,” she replied, chuckling. “We couldn’t pass up the opportunities as they came. Where are Bryn and Zayden?”

  “Zayden went to get Bryn. He was in the next valley over, training with his latest batch of scouts. They’ll be here soon.”

  “We should get to the war room—”

  He cut her off with another passionate kiss, this one prompting cheers of the Andinna around them. Luykas finally found them and landed behind her. Mat let her go as Luykas grabbed her hand and spun her around.

  “Who gives a shit about the war room right now?” he growled. His gold eyes were full of emotion, the same one she felt pulsing through the bond between them.

  “Well, I’m certain Alchan does,” she said, the laughter coming back to her as he growled again and kissed her.

  “You’re not needed there,” he reminded her. “He asked for Nevyn because he’s the general. You can go see him later. You’re going to spend the evening with us. Alchan can come tomorrow.”

  “Really?” She let Luykas pull her out of the crowd. “I’m certain he and I can find something—”

  “No,” Mat said with little patience. “We’re going to get you into a hot spring for a bath, then we are going home. You’re not going to work your first night back from a victorious campaign, Mave. Let Nevyn and Varon pass along all the news and just enjoy some time with us.” There was a note of desperation at the end that echoed in her own soul.

  “I’m only teasing, love,” she promised. She took off, glad to get the wind under her wings, and headed for her home. Mat and Luykas followed quickly. She was able to make it out of the crowd and over the village first, beating them to the hot spring. As she landed, Bryn and Zayden appeared, landing shortly after while Luykas and Mat were still trying to catch up with her.

  Bryn swooped her up and spun her around the same way Matesh had, his lips greedy for her.

  “Ya tell me to never leave, but I’m not allowed to tell ya the same. It’s not fair,” he murmured in her ear as they finally slowed, and her feet could touch the ground again.

  “I won’t go away again without one of you. You were all just so busy here.” She touched his cheek gently. “And the Champion must go and fight in the name of the king.”

  “I know,” he whispered, kissing her softly. “We’ve missed ya, though.”

  “And I’ve missed you.”

  When Bryn stepped back, her most recent husband stepped forward, but he didn’t give a display of passion like the others. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and walked toward the spring. His fingers toyed with the strings and ties that kept her armor on, slowly undoing them.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said with a casual note she didn’t quite believe.

  “You don’t want to proclaim your love for me and cause a scene? Everyone else has.” She tried to hide her smile as he looked down at her.

  “I’ll make sure you know how much I missed you tonight when you’re on your back,” he whispered hotly in her ear. “After I’ve fed you a proper fucking meal since you’ve
been on rations for months.”

  She took her armor off slowly, letting Zayden and Bryn help. Luykas and Mat stripped fast to join them, half jumping in.

  “How was it?” Mat asked as he waded through the water. “How was the campaign?”

  “It was…” Mave was grinning as she thought about it. “We hit hard at night, taking the Elvasi by surprise every time. We partied after victories. We hunted for food when rations got short.” Repeating all of this to her males made it sound like the campaign was hard, but there was something so alive about it that made Mave miss it already. “We were unstoppable. The last fight was the hardest, though.”

  “Tell us everything,” Zayden growled, coming closer. Soon, all four of her husbands were nearly on top of her, forming a semi-circle that kept her pinned to one side of the hot spring.

  She launched into the story of the last fight of the campaign—the anticipation, the assault, the blood, the length of the battle. It had begun at the darkest point of a moonless night, raged past dawn into midday. By the end of the day, they were eating gryphon for dinner and had more steel than they could carry as spoils of war to bring home.

  Her males listened with an attentiveness that reminded her of some of the children she had met. They took in every word, every small detail.