I just prayed that this was all worth it.
Chapter 44
MORRIGAN
Malakai retrieved me from my room the nextmorning.
Instead of walking to the dining hall together, he took me toward the stairwell that led to the dungeon beneath. “I thought… if this goeshorribly wrong and it resulted in yourdeath, well, you might want some closure first.”
I laughed at his brazen comment. “Thanks, Mal. How thoughtful of you.”
He flashed me a cocky grin, but the smile didn’t quite meet his eyes, and he quivered a little as his lips straightened back out. “You’ll be okay, though.” I wasn’t sure if he was convincing me or himself.
I gave him a light pat on the shoulder, hoping to give us both some temporaryrelief. “I’ll be okay.”
Once we descended the spiral stairs, I could hear the throwing of rocks, one after the other, against a stone wall. Malakai didn’t need to tell me who was here. I couldfeelhim—the bond.
We stopped in front of his cell, and I stepped toward the bars to get a good look at him. He sat on the same floor where Aamon had sat only days ago. Malakai left a deep bloodstain there, and I wondered if Cain knew who it came from. His chains were made of what appeared to be obsidian, and they were wrapped around his wrists and ankles.
He seemed to sense my presence and stilled suddenly before turning toward me. “Morrigan,” Cain said meekly.
Anger boiled in my veins, but I had to stifle it and keep a level head. “A cage is very fitting for you, Cain.”
He dropped his head back against the wall and peered up at the ceiling. “You won’t be getting an apology from me.”
“I wouldn’t dare expect one.” I gave him a good perusal. With the threat gone, he just looked… weak. “I survived you, Cain,” I said to him. “I survived Maeryn, I survived Aamon, and I survivedyou. That is what I will continue to do. Survive.”
“This isn’t over, princess,” he sighed theatrically, swaying his head to the side to look at me. “That god out here? You have noideawhat is going to happen if he steps foot outside of this world.Death, Morrigan. That is what he will bring. And when you look death in the eyes, you’llwishyou were back in your cage.”
I shook my head. “No, Cain. The only one who will be greeting death soon, isyou. Once we go back, Iwillfigure out a way to break this bond. And when I do, I’m going to kill you.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond as I turned back to Malakai. “Are you ready?” he asked, offering me his arm.
“As I’ll ever be.” We left the dungeon, and I stopped him once we made it to the hall. “Wait. I need to tell you something.”
“We aren’t doing some kind of goodbye speech are we?” he asked, fidgeting nervously. “Nothing will happen. You’ll be fine. I have full faith that you and Tristan will?—”
“I just want to thank you.”
He paused at my words, almost as if taken aback by them. “Thank me for what?”
“Since I left that little house, I’ve been tossed around by every person who wanted to get their hands on me. I’ve been lied to—used, in every possible capacity—but you…” I let go of his arm and pulled him in for a hug. Malakai didn’t know how to respond or what to do with his hands. “You helped me find myself, Malakai. No conditions, no expectations.”
“I mean,” Malakai drawled, “if the offer is on the table?—”
I laughed as I shoved him away, and Malakai’s chest shook as he chuckled. Then, he reached for me, pulling me back in, and wrapped his arms around me. “You didn’t needmeto find your fight, spitfire. But I am grateful to have been a part of it.”
Everyone gathered in the throne room as my mother helped me pin up my hair.
“I wish I could take you with us,” I whispered, trying to ignore the tightening in my chest at the thought that she would be leaving soon for good.
“Shhh,” she hushed me, moving to my front and kneeling at my feet. “Flower, I don’t know how, but, somehow, the gods have gifted me this time with you. I have adored every second of seeing you become the woman Iknewyou were meant to be. But you were right. It’s time for me to go.”
My breath hitched a little as I stared into her eyes. “Mom?—”
“No. There will be no tears. No sadness. It’s time, my love. I’ve been tired for a long time… and I would like to rest now.”
I sniffed away the tears she forbade, and nodded.
