I brush her hair out of her face. Her freckles glow brighter than ever.
“I’m sorry,” is all I say.
Two words that are utterly insignificant after what’s happened. But if she hears nothing else from me in this life, she needs to know that I am sorry for what I’ve brought on her. My actions have leveled kingdoms. Started wars.
I’ve never apologized once for what I’ve done in the name of my crown. Not until her.
“Did you do it on purpose?” Her eyebrows pinch.
“Yes. No.” There’s no good answer. “I was trying to protect you, but I never meant to take your choice away. It just…”
“Happened,” she finishes my thought, understanding whether she likes it or not.
From the moment her voice trickled through the screams tearing me apart in the prison, this path was inevitable. Our bond unbreakable.
For centuries I hoped I’d never meet my mate. I didn’t like the idea of the gods or the Luminess deciding my path for me. Until I saw Elorie, and I understood there was no path without her.
No light.
No future.
She is the other half of my heart, even as it beats too quickly—too mortal. I was incomplete, and now I’m whole. I don’t deserve her, but she’s mine.
Her silver eyes set on me, hearing every thought. Understanding me in a way I’ve never understood myself.
“I’m sorry,” I say again.
“I know.”
The ground shivers, pulling my attention back to the battle. My gaze settles on Malachi, who is still standing in place while Hazel whispers in his ear. Selia brews a storm over Callum, but he easily wipes it away with his magic.
“Don’t.” Elorie grabs my arms when I focus on Malachi. “I know you want to go after him, but you can’t. There’s something wrong. He’s too strong. It’s not natural.”
She’s right, and I have a feeling it has to do with that orb around his neck. I wish I knew where he got it so I might know its limits. He started wearing it religiously a few hundred years ago, and he’s slowly changed since then.
“We need to get out of here.” Elorie glances to her left. “But I’m not leaving Greer or Callum.”
Reaching into my pocket, I snag the small seed Lochlan left for me in Solace. The last bit of hope if all goes as planned.
“What is that?” Elorie asks as I drop the seed to the ground. The stones part as the realm drinks it down.
“Hopefully, backup.” So long as Atlas made the arrangements we discussed. “I need to get to Selia.”
Our mother gave up on us.She used us.But I refuse to leave my sister.
“Go,” Elorie says, squeezing my arms.
She stands back, burning up, until her blue hair turns pure white, glowing like snow reflects the sun when the blizzard wanes and morning comes. She shines in the center of the madness and casts a path of starlight out around her, sending four guards to their knees.
“We’re going to circle back around to how incredibly hot that is, Starfire,”I say, and she smiles.
But not right now. Right now, I need to get to Selia, and Hazel stands in my way.
Elorie runs to help Callum and Greer, who are taking arrows and trying to fight them off with spits of magic and daggers. Selia has them cornered, but Elorie manages to push her back with a burst of a blue shining wave.
Malachi’s eyes are closed, and it’s unnerving. He twists the orb between his fingers, somewhere in his mind instead of here.
“Get out of my way, Hazel,” I warn her when she steps in my path.
