This would be the true test. Traveling was one thing, this was quite another. But my mom was depending on me, and beyond that, this could make the Bogs permanently stable—unless the lurking darkness found its way through and destroyed everything.
But one disaster at a time.
Each of the guys gathered around. We weren’t quite sure how this part would go, so I had Ringo bundled up inside my coat rather than on my shoulder. I didn’t want to risk losing him.
We waited while Mistral and Avery said their goodbyes, which they kept short because in theory, they could see each other again soon. It took time for non celestials to travel the pathways, but all goblins would be able to make the journey if they so chose.
As Mistral embraced his uncle, Sebastian leaned over my shoulder to whisper in my ear. “Remember, we’re not just traveling now, so don’t try to jump us back to the Bogs without finishing the task. It will be a proper test before you make the pathway for my sister.”
“Don’t tell me you actually care that she gets what she wants,” I whispered, not wanting to interrupt the goblin goodbyes.
He leaned in closer, his cheek brushing mine. “We must complete the contract before we can kill her.”
“Right.” I rolled my eyes. Sebastian might have a soft spot for me, but I was dreaming if I thought he’d grow a heart in anyother regard. Not that Penelope hadn’t earned whatever she had coming.
Ready to depart, Mistral joined us, his uncle and the others standing back with the horses to watch.
With Ringo trembling inside my coat, I withdrew the Realm Breaker. The movement was a little more smooth this time, and I didn’t come close to cutting off my braid, which was nice since we had an audience. I was asking them to put their faith in me, the half-blooded celestial who couldn’t even draw a sword without injuring herself.
But now that it was drawn, I hesitated. That instruction manual would be really nice to have right about now.
Sensing my dilemma, Mistral wrapped his hands around mine, turning the blade pointy side down before planting it into the earth.
I blinked at him, and he smiled. “Seemed logical.”
“Sure,” I said, then knelt before the blade.
All four guys knelt with me, Mistral and Gabriel at my sides and a little back, and Sebastian and Crispin directly behind me. I realized they had formed a little star. A wonky star, but still a star. Because I wasn’t the center, I was the point.
I gripped my hands around the sword hilt as each of the guys gripped onto me and onto each other. It wasn’t just normal touch this time. All of their magic hit me at once. It built quickly, and because I was so nervous I forgot to breathe, the pressure growing too great.
But we had practiced this. The magic would overwhelm me if I didn’t use it for something. All I had to do was breathe out and let it go.
So I did just that, releasing all of that magic into the blade.
Gasps sounded from the goblin crowd as stars swirled around my hands and the blade. Where each of the guys touched me, the different magics glowed—moonlight, sunlight, stars, anddark aurora. I closed my eyes and searched for the pathway, feeling the guys helping me along, all of our intents aligned for once.
Cold sweat broke out across my forehead, and my hands ached where I gripped the sword hilt. I felt the vortex come alive, siphoning magic from the ground at my feet and pouring it into the pool of our joined will.
With that last push of magic, the earth around the blade flashed silver, at first just a thin line, but it grew with every drop of magic pushed into it. I realized I didn’t have to know everything, nor did the guys. The knowledge of my ancestors was in the blade. It knew every map, every path, and every realm.
With a final exhale, the pool of silver flashed outward, creating a portal the same mother of pearl as the blade. I was standing right on top of it, but it wasn’t my will to cross yet, so we didn’t.
Avery approached cautiously, his gray eyes reflecting the light of the portal.
The guys kept their hold on me as I pulled the blade free with trembling arms, then they helped me stand.
I ended up leaning heavily on Gabriel as Avery addressed us. “There are many in this realm who were separated from loved ones. I understand that separation now, but I am still grateful that it can come to an end.” He smiled warmly at Mistral as he said the last.
With everyone smiling at each other, I was the first to notice the tendrils of darkness creeping toward us through the grass.
11
“Get everyone back!” Mistral stepped between his uncle and the creeping darkness. It had gathered itself since the previous night, now forming an almost solid cloak over the ground, the edges all reaching tendrils like a blind predator looking for its prey.
Gabriel and Crispin had both pulled me back while Sebastian stepped in between us and the darkness.
“How do we fight it?” I said, the Realm Breaker nearly forgotten in my hand. It wasn’t exactly a weapon. It was sharp, but not really heavy, and I didn’t know how to swing it well regardless.
