“Tonight is the sixth night after the first new moon upon her death. The ceremony must be performedtonight, Ethan, or it won’t work, do you understand?”
“Yes. I’ll do anything.”
“Then leave this cathedral,” Arthur ordered. “Gather lavender, cedar, mugwort, and a branch from an elder tree. Once midnight falls, we will prepare the body and proceed to make the sacrifice.”
I paused, only briefly. “Sacrifice?”
“Death has claimed her. For her to come back, someone will need to take her place, and the only one who can do that is someone who has a soul bond with her,” Arthur said.
I didn’t even take a moment to reconsider. “Very well. It is what must be done.”
“Ethan, are yousure—”
“I’ve never had greater certainty that this was what I was born to do; to give myself for my love. Malovia needs her queen far more than she needs her king, and Emma was the greatest fae queen that ever lived,” I said in a choked tone. “Shemustbe restored to power, so she can lead the country into a better world. I cannot do it, couldneverdo it, but she can. I will take her place on the other side of death. That way, she can lead the fae into a new tomorrow. She was a better monarch than I could ever be. Our country must be governed by her, and her alone. She’s the only one selfless enough to do the job properly.”
We’d all been so self-absorbed. Elijah, Gabby… even me. We all wanted power for our own selfish reasons, though I’d tried to delude myself into thinking mine were noble.
I knew better now. Emma was the only one who’d risen to power purely for the benefit of others, and not herself. The fae had changed, but we hadn’t changed enough to sustain our future. Emma would see to it that we remained on the right path.
Arthur nodded. “Then meet me back here once all others are gone. This is dark Unseelie magic, and we can’t risk anyone interfering. We only have one chance to get this right.”
I nodded, then burst out of the library to gather the necessary supplies. Beside me, Tygrys gave the first happy hum he had since before the battle had begun. I wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do, or if I was fooling myself, tricking my heart into believing there was a way to repair what I’d done.
I just had to believe. Hope beyond hope, no matter what my senses were telling me. Emma was gone for now, but she wouldn’t be forever.
I wouldn’t accept any other alternative.
It felt agonizing waiting for darkness to fall, waiting for the patrons clear out of the cathedral. I hovered by the doors, watching them drift out one by one. My friends were the last to leave, returning home with heads hung low.
They wouldn’t be grieving for much longer. Emma would be back soon.
Once everyone was gone, I locked the cathedral doors and carried a leather bag up the aisleway. Arthur was standing by Emma’s casket, the thick book from earlier in his hands.
“I got rid of the high priestesses,” he said. “They’ve been busy anyway, with the work at the Sacred Gathering.”
I gave a stiff nod. As the religious leaders of our world, the high priestesses had their hands full with adjusting life in Edinmyre to life here on Earth. They had to lead the people into a new way of life, though it was already a tall task.
Poor Lucien had drank himself into unconsciousness. He’d sprawled out across a pew, giving soft snores. Arthur shook his shoulder, but he didn’t wake.
“He’ll stay out of it until it’s done. Just as well. Don’t want him attempting to stop us,” Arthur said.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked.
“Take petals from the roses scattered around the casket and make an enclosed circle. We must take care not to step outside of it once the circle has been formed, for it cannot be broken,” Arthur instructed. “I’ll light the cedar.”
I did as he asked. Arthur ignited the cedar in an incense holder. An aromatic woodsy scent filled the space, and I began laying out rose petals. “Tygrys, come here.”
Tygrys gave a reluctant buzz, then shook his head. He flew backward, as if he was reluctant to enter the circle.
This was strong magic he was afraid to interfere with. Fine. Suit yourself.
As I finished the circle of rose petals, I turned to Arthur. He was binding the lavender, the mugwort, and the branch from an elder tree together, tying them with twine. He placed it aside and said, “Help me move the glass case off of her.”
Both of us took an end, and lifted the top of the casket off. We laid it on the ground, and Arthur placed the bundle on top of Emma’s chest.
Being so close to her still body was unnerving. I nearly reached out to brush her perfect face before I pulled away. I didn’t wish to caress her when she was still cold, and she’d be alive again in a moment. This time, it would be me who was immobile and lifeless, not her.
“What now?” I asked. Arthur had opened the book and was thumbing through pages.
