Light and dark now join together,
Guiding our way home.”
The light that connected the Crystals erupted toward the sky, creating a halo as it shot into space. I began to hover off the ground, and all of Dolinska shook. Magic surged, creating a sonic boom that echoed throughout the area. The powerful shockwave nearly knocked Droga off his feet, making him stumble against a tree.
As the Worldweaver, I felt my powers expand and grow as a new connection was forged between Earth and Edinmyre. Energy surged through me until I was a conduit, giving life to all the fae in Malovia. Through the colors swirling around me, I watched as magic returned to my friends, rushing into their chests until their entire bodies glowed with a thin, ethereal sheen that glimmered more dazzling than diamonds.
All at once, there was a shattering sound as the Crystals were destroyed. Each one broke into a million pieces, turning to dust with the immense power it took to create the portal, floating away upon the wind. As my feet touched the ground again, I walked forward, completely mystified. An ivory gate had appeared, its features appearing as if it had been carved to look like wood twisted with climbing ivy. Within the gate was a thin veil, displaying beautiful hills and mountains, winding forests and massive trees. All you had to do to get there was step through.
A true,permanentportal to Edinmyre. Now the fae could go back and forth whenever they wanted. The Sacred Gathering had been changed. Any faerie could come to this gate and enter in, and through it, they’d be able to return to their ancestral home. Tears coursed down my cheeks as I witnessed the incredible, magical sight.
I realized that all was silent. The howls of the walking dead were no longer haunting the skies. They, and the ghostly specters, were gone. Droga could not summon them to fight without the Crystals.
No! This cannot be! Droga raged. He stomped his hooves, tossing his antlered head angrily as he cried,I am going to destroy you!
I faced Droga without fear. He could kill me. I’d done what I needed to do and fulfilled my destiny. He’d already killed two beloved friends. In my eyes, what he proceeded to do now didn’t make any difference, because he’d already lost.
Droga fixated his eyes on me. I knew he was working his dark magic upon me, calling upon it to drain my powers and take my life force for his own. But his red gaze flashed as I felt his power swell around me.
It refused to touch me. His magic came close, then drew away like it was burned. I felt a thick, warm energy surrounding me like a blanket, and a golden light shimmered on my skin and armor. I turned my hands over as I observed them, completely mystified.
You have been shielded by Milonna’s grace. I cannot take your life,Droga said with astonishment.
Droga’s attention moved to the side, where Ethan was hiding behind a tree. He’d been creeping up behind him, attempting to get close for a silent strike.
However…Droga breathed.That doesn’t mean I can’t get someone else to take it for me.
My breath was stolen from me as Droga whipped out and grabbed Ethan. He used his Unseelie magic to wrap him in dark chains, hovering him over his antlers. My mate struggled against the bond, his expression cold with fear.
“Let him go!” I shrieked. My hands shook with fury, and my heart was overtaken by panic as I watched my mate be captured by Droga’s dark power.
If you want him, claim him for yourself! Droga took off. Trees toppled over in his path as the Black Stag of Wrath ran away from the Sacred Gathering and back toward the city, taking Ethan with him.
I took a running start forward, grabbingLodburzanfrom the ground before leaping into the air. My wings lifted me into the sky, and I beat them faster and faster in order to keep pace with Droga, who had already gotten a decent head start. He was toppling over buildings in his escape, laughing maniacally as I hurtled behind.
The sunset crashed over the horizon as I gave chase. The heavens above had turned from orange to red, bathing Dolinska in a bloody light.
I didn’t know where he was taking me, until I watched Droga collide with the Field. The east side of the massive wooden arena where the King’s Contest was held blew to pieces as Droga smashed through it.
Once I got there, Droga faced me at the other end, shoulders heaving as he shuddered with hatred. Ethan was on the ground underneath his hooves, on his hands and knees and looking more trapped than I’d ever seen him appear.
“Droga!” I screamed. I cast my hand out. With the full power of Edinmyre flooding through me, I summoned the height of my magic.
A pack of sapphire, glowing wolves as large as Droga manifested in the arena. They turned on Droga with snarling forms and ran at him, their paws pounding against the earth. The ground shook, and Droga let out a scream as the wolves descended upon him. They pounced on his pack, sinking their teeth into his neck and sides. The group fought as real animals would, and I watched as my pack tore into Droga like he was a stag they’d cornered on the hunt.
When Droga was busy, Ethan and I ran to each other. We met up in the middle of the arena, and grabbed each other’s arms.
“Onawilke, the silver crown,” Ethan panted. “Use it now.”
“You need to run—” I began to say, because I didn’t want Ethan to be here. Putting Droga in his grave would be a lot easier if I wasn’t worried about my mate getting hurt. But the ground shook again, and Ethan and I held on as cracks began to form in the earth. The scream from Droga made my heart nearly cease to beat in my chest.
I’ve had enough of this! Droga had defeated my wolves. They faded away into the wind as he approached us, though his steps were staggering. The wolves had torn into him, and he was dripping blood, his skin ripped to pieces as he approached. I forced myself to have courage as I got to my feet to face him.
“You can keep knocking me down, but I’ll get up every time,” I told him. “No matter how many scars you give me, all it does is provide me with strength. I’llalwayskeep fighting you, no matter what I lose. Champions are built, not born. I earned my title as Worldweaver every time I had to pick myself back up and keep fighting, and now, I don’t know how to stay on my knees.”
Droga sneered.Milonna’s champions are weak. This won’t be the happy ending you think it is.
“You can’t stop me, Droga,” I told him. “Nothingcan stop me, because you know what? No one can. To become what I desired to be, all I had to do was know that I was unstoppable, and that my victory was inevitable. I had already won before I even came to Malovia, before I knew about my destiny… all of it. Not you, or hell, or even my own fear was able to stand in my way.Nothingis powerful enough to stop me, unless I choose that it will. I decide my fate and my life. You say that you are a god, but I create the magic in my life. And because of that, I’m stronger than you could ever be.”
